Travel Oregon and its coastal affiliate seeking responses to pandemic-influenced tourism survey by end of the week

October 26, 2020

By DANA TIMS/YachatsNews.com The triple whammy of a health pandemic, the subsequent economic downturn and wind-whipped wildfires have exacted a heavy toll on the tourism dollars normally flowing to the Oregon coast. State tourism officials are now hoping to figure out possible solutions by tweaking major survey to ask respondents what type of help they need most to help

Former Coos County health director is new deputy director of Lincoln County Public Health

October 26, 2020

Lincoln County Public Health has a new deputy director with both a background in humanitarian assistance in Third World countries and experience on the Oregon coast. Florence Pourtal became second-in-charge of the county agency Sept. 28, replacing Nicole Fields, who left this summer to work in public health in Bellingham, Wash. Pourtal was head of public health for Coos County

Lincoln County first graders returned to classrooms Monday; second- and third-graders will join them in two weeks

October 26, 2020

Lincoln County first-graders are back in school, the first time they have been in class since March because of coronavirus pandemic restrictions. Second- and third-graders are next. On Monday, the Lincoln County School District added first-graders to its in-person, hybrid style instruction at six elementary schools. The first-graders are joining kindergarten and career technical education students who had started

Oregon Health Authority’s coronavirus report for Sunday, Oct. 25; Lincoln County has 2 new cases

October 25, 2020

Oregon reports 366 new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases, 0 new deaths PORTLAND — The state’s death toll from COVID-19 is unchanged from yesterday and remains at 653, the Oregon Health Authority reported at 12:01 a.m. Sunday. Oregon Health Authority reported 366 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 as of 12:01 a.m. Sunday bringing the state total to 42,101.

Capital Chatter: Oregon voters turning out in record numbers to cast ballots early

October 23, 2020

By DICK HUGHES/Oregon Capital Bureau Election Day no longer exists, at least not as we knew it. Whether because of anxiety, enthusiasm or some other reasons, Americans are turning out in record numbers to vote early. Oregonians are among them. By Thursday, more than 25% of registered voters had cast ballots, and John Horvick of DHM Research predicts the final turnout could hit

Oregon Health Authority’s coronavirus report for Friday, Oct. 23; state hits highest daily case count; Lincoln County has 2 new cases

October 23, 2020

Oregon reports 550 new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases, 3 new deaths PORTLAND — COVID-19 has claimed three more lives in Oregon, raising the state’s death toll to 649, the Oregon Health Authority reported at 12:01 a.m. Friday. Oregon Health Authority reported 550 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 as of 12:01 a.m. Friday, bringing the state total to

Siuslaw National Forest will open applications for 60 temporary jobs next spring and summer

October 23, 2020

The Siuslaw National Forest – and the Forest Service in Oregon and Washington — will be accepting applications from Oct. 30 through Nov. 9 for jobs next spring and summer. The Siuslaw Forest will have 60 openings in the coastal towns of Waldport, Hebo and Reedsport, part of 1,000 jobs available in Oregon and Washington. Check USAjobs.gov for all available positions on

Race for mayor of Yachats pits first-term incumbent seeking to finish his work opposed by council member who often questions process, challenges decisions

October 22, 2020

By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews.com John Moore is seeking re-election as Yachats mayor because he wants to complete projects that the city has under way. Leslie Vaaler thinks many of those projects need a closer look. That’s why over the past two years Moore and Vaaler have often been on opposite sides of 3-2 votes on everything from the city

Oregon Geographic Names Board will wrestle with two race-based name changes when it meets Saturday

October 22, 2020

By KEVIN HARDEN/Oregon Capital Bureau It started as a comedian’s global online challenge. Fifteen months later, proposals to rename two Southern Oregon mountains inch closer to approval. Margo Schembre of Wilsoneville wants to change the name of Negro Ben Mountain in Jackson County. Her proposal is expected to get a green light Saturday afternoon, when Oregon’s Geographic Names Board meets

Oregon Health Authority’s coronavirus report for Thursday, Oct. 22

October 22, 2020

COVID-19 is more deadly than the flu The data is clear and decisive: COVID-19 is more deadly than seasonal influenza. Respiratory viruses also tend to be more severe in older adults, and COVID-19 is particularly so. Another key difference is that there is a vaccine for the flu. The flu vaccine is very effective, even when it isn’t a perfect