Annual Yachats New Year’s peace hike will involve individual rituals and online video because of COVID-19 precautions

December 26, 2020

By CHERYL ROMANO/YachatsNews.com Like so many Yachats traditions, this season’s New Year’s Day Peace Hike won’t go on as planned — but it will take shape person by person and online. “Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the absolute need to follow all safety protocols, there will be no traditional large-group hike as we have known it,” said Joanne

Oregon Health Authority’s coronavirus report for Friday, Dec. 25; state has 908 new cases, Lincoln County 5

December 25, 2020

Oregon reports 908 new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases, 7 new deaths PORTLAND — On this holiday, state health officials regret to report that the COVID-19 virus has claimed 7 more lives in Oregon, raising the state’s death toll to 1,422, according to Oregon Health Authority data collected as of 12:01 a.m. Friday. The Oregon Health Authority reported 908 new

Oregon Health Authority’s coronavirus report for Thursday, Dec. 24: Oregon has 871 new vases, Lincoln County a spike of 16

December 25, 2020

Oregon reports 871 new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases, 12 new deaths PORTLAND — COVID-19 has claimed 12 more lives in Oregon, raising the state’s death toll to 1,415 the Oregon Health Authority reported at 12:01 a.m. Thursdayday. Oregon Health Authority reported 871 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 as of 12:01 a.m. Thursday bringing the state total to

Yachats Planning Commission asks City Council for 11 p.m. shutoff and three years to negotiate future of motels’ marine lighting

December 24, 2020

By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews.com The Yachats Planning Commission has tossed another hot potato into the lap of a new City Council when it begins work next year. The commission voted unanimously Monday to give two motels with spotlights that shine into the ocean three years to work out some sort of compromise with the city on their use. If nothing

Fishing for data: Sensors on hundreds of crab pots help real-time search for oxygen “dead zones” off Oregon coast

December 24, 2020

By NANCY STEINBERG/Oregon State University Last spring and summer, when some Oregon Dungeness crab fishermen dropped their pots into coastal waters, they were gathering more than just the leggy delicacy. In partnership with Oregon State University researchers, they were collecting critical data on oxygen levels in Oregon’s ocean via small sensors attached to their crab pots. The data they

YachatsNews is taking a break for a week. Except for any urgent news stories, see you in January!

December 24, 2020

To readers of YachatsNews: Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from YachatsNews. While it has been a big year for all kinds of news stories and remarkable growth for this news site, frankly we cannot wait for this (mostly) disaster of a year to be done with. This note is to also let you know we’re also taking a little

Waldport City Council votes to name new City Hall building for slain council member

December 24, 2020

The Waldport City Council voted during a special meeting Tuesday to name its new City Hall building after Mark C. Campbell, a longtime council member who was killed Dec. 6 while responding to a break-in at a neighbor’s apartment. Waldport is moving its city offices across Oregon Highway 34 to the former Umpqua Bank building in early 2021. Umpqua

Watch out for an invasion of chia seeds washing up on Oregon’s beaches

December 23, 2020

By the Salem Statesman-Journal While usually limited to smoothies and salad dressings, chia seeds have started showing up in unwelcome places this week. Beachgoers reported large, commercial-size bags of the seeds north of Nye Beach in Newport on Tuesday morning, according to the Oregon State Parks and Recreation Department. Later the same day, visitors to a beach north of Florence

In abrupt about-face Wednesday, Oregon governor will let local schools and districts decide when to re-open for classroom instruction

December 23, 2020

By TERESA CARSON/Pamplin Media Gov. Kate Brown on Wednesday abruptly announced new rules for school re-openings, making former directives optional and allowing districts to open if they follow safety precautions. In a letter to health and education agencies, she said “effective Jan. 1, 2021, Oregon’s COVID-19 Health Metrics for Returning to In-Person Instruction will become advisory rather than mandatory.

Oregon Health Authority’s coronavirus report for Wednesday, Dec. 23; state has 1,000 new cases; Lincoln County 5 new cases and 1 death

December 23, 2020

Oregon reports 1,000 new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases, 21 new deaths PORTLAND — COVID-19 has claimed 21 more lives in Oregon, raising the state’s death toll to 1,403, the Oregon Health Authority reported at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday. Oregon Health Authority reported 1,000 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 as of 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, bringing the state total to