Newport hospital begins administering first doses of COVID-19 vaccine to employees, hopes to finish first round by Saturday

December 23, 2020

By Quinton Smith/YachatsNews.com Nurses at Samaritan Pacific Communities Hospital in Newport began administering the first doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine in Lincoln County on Monday, giving shots to front-line employees who eagerly but patiently lined a second-floor hallway as they waited to enter a conference room to get the injections. By the end of the week, the hospital

State clarifies guidelines for what it considers legal “outside” restaurant dining

December 23, 2020

The Oregon Health Authority on Tuesday clarified a question it gets a lot – what is considered “outdoors” when it comes to restaurant dining. It may be instructive to Lincoln County establishments which have converted or created “outdoor” space as state coronavirus restrictions swing back and forth between takeout only and inside dining. Because of a spike in COVID-19 cases,

Landslide that forced evacuation of fish research center and property owners east of Waldport also wiped out county bridge and could move again, say county and state officials

December 22, 2020

By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews.com A landslide that for years has been looming over a unique salmon and steelhead research center 25 miles east of Waldport, gave way during torrential rains Sunday night, wiping out a bridge and causing the evacuation of center employees and residents downstream along Fall Creek. The central Oregon coast was hit with more than eight inches

Oregon Health Authority’s coronavirus report for Tuesday, Dec. 22; Oregon has 1,382 new cases, Lincoln County 6

December 22, 2020

Oregon reports 1,282 new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases, 35 new deaths PORTLAND — COVID-19 has claimed 35 more lives in Oregon, raising the state’s death toll to 1,382, the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) reported at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday. OHA reported 1,282 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 as of 12:01 a.m. Tuesday, bringing the state total to 105,073.

Jobless rate drops again in Lincoln County, but it’s still the highest in Oregon

December 22, 2020

The unemployment rate in Lincoln County continues to slowly drop, but the county still has the highest rate than anywhere else in Oregon. The Oregon Employment Department on Tuesday released county-by-county unemployment rates for November. Lincoln County’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 7.4 percent in November, dropping from 8.5 percent in October. It was 3.7 percent in November 2019, three

Oregon Health Authority’s coronavirus report for Monday, Dec. 21: Nursing homes start getting vaccines; state reports 846 new cases, Lincoln County 4

December 22, 2020

Long-term care residents and staff receive COVID-19 vaccine Today, long-term care residents and staff began receiving COVID-19 vaccinations under a statewide rollout plan that prioritizes Oregonians the pandemic disproportionally impacts. Older adults and people with underlying health conditions are more likely to suffer life-threatening health consequences if they contract the virus. Given that the virus is so contagious, the risks are particularly high for those

Monday’s third special session of the Oregon Legislature began with protests and arrests, ends with $800 million in COVID, wildfire aid

December 21, 2020

By GARY A. WARNER/Oregon Capital Bureau The Legislature held its third special session of 2020 on Monday, amid a pandemic and violent protests at the Capitol organized by a right-wing group. A protest organized by the Patriot Prayer group attracted over 100 people, who at one point forced their way into a side door of the Capitol. Some smashed glass

Oregon State Police/Newport activity report for Dec. 18-20

December 21, 2020

OREGON STATE POLICE DAILY MEDIA/DESK LOG SP20350709 12/18/2020 14:10 Officer #53141 SEVERSON, SCOTT Crash – Injury Location 34, Mile post 22 22 WB, LINCOLN OR USA Narrative Summary eCrash – On 12/18/20 at approximately 2PM a westbound Honda Civic crossed over the eastbound lane and off the embankment and crashed into the river near milepost 22 of Highway 34. Female driver exited the vehicle

Homeowner says Lincoln County should regulate, not eliminate short-term rentals

December 19, 2020

To the editor: I own a house in the South Beach area of Newport. Instead of letting it sit empty I have turned it into a short-term rental in order to generate some income to defray the many costs associated with home ownership, maintain and improve the property, and keep it in good condition so that it’s there in retirement.

Capital Chatter: Oregon Legislature meets in person Monday to keep working to address state’s disasters

December 19, 2020

By DICK HUGHES/Oregon Capital Bureau “There are existential questions with which humankind has wrestled for time immemorial. What exists beyond the edges of the universe? What, ultimately, is the meaning of life? Will the Oregon Legislature convene for a third special session to keep working on 2020’s disasters? “I can’t answer any of them,” state Sen. Jeff Golden, D-Ashland, wrote in