Yachats drops “24-hour” wait regulation on lodging, Lincoln County remains only jurisdiction with rule

July 16, 2020

By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews.com Motels and short-term rentals in unincorporated Lincoln County are now the only lodging facilities that have to wait 24 hours before housekeepers can enter to clean them. The county and many cities adopted the rule in mid-May to help protect lodging employees and visitors from getting or spreading the coronavirus. But under increasing pressure by the

Oregon Health Authority’s coronavirus report for Thursday, July 16

July 16, 2020

Oregon reports 437 new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases, 2 new deaths PORTLAND — COVID-19 has claimed two more lives in Oregon, raising the state’s death toll to 249, the Oregon Health Authority reported at 12:01 a.m. Thursday. Oregon Health Authority reported 437 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 as of 12:01 a.m. Thursday bringing the state total to

Oregon Legislature’s budget writers propose protecting school funding, cutting $400 million elsewhere; hearings begin next week

July 16, 2020

PETER WONG/Oregon Capital Bureau The Oregon Legislature’s chief budget writers have proposed to shield state aid to schools, but to cut almost $400 million in other spending and draw down reserves to offset reduced tax collections during the coronavirus pandemic. Elements of their plan, which legislative leaders released Thursday, will undergo public hearings next week. Each of the six budget

Oregon state parks officials change direction, agree to proceed with new Amanda Trail suspension bridge

July 16, 2020

By DANA TIMS/YachatsNews.com After a surprising halt due to the financially devastating impact of the coronavirus, the Amanda Trail bridge project – considered one of the most historically and culturally significant projects on the Oregon Coast — is back on. State parks officials said Thursday that a new suspension bridge, intended to replace one wiped out four years ago

Missed in first round of grants, legislators allocate $320,000 in federal relief funds to Oregon Coast Community College

July 15, 2020

By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews.com An Oregon agency that overlooked Oregon Coast Community College’s becoming a standalone institution in February almost cost the college $320,000 in federal coronavirus relief funds. The Oregon Legislative Emergency Board on Tuesday allocated the Lincoln County college an additional $320,000 in federal CARES Act funds to help students affected by the pandemic and defray some of

Lincoln County street crimes team recovers stolen firearms from recent burglaries

July 15, 2020

On Monday, July 13, 2020, the Lincoln County Street Crimes Team received information on the possible whereabouts of stolen firearms from a recent burglary. The Street Crimes Team and the Lincoln City Police Department responded immediately to the area of National Forest Service Road 8493, which is located off the Siletz Highway. Upon arrival, Officers began searching the area for

West Linn man drowns Wednesday after small boat capsizes while crabbing near mouth of Nestucca Bay

July 15, 2020

Tillamook County Sheriff’s Department Pacific City, OR – At approximately 10:49 AM Wednesday, Tillamook County Communications District 911 received a call regarding a capsized 12-foot rigid inflatable boat with 2 occupants south of Haystack Rock. The boaters had just finished laying crab pots in the bay and had gone out to the ocean to do some fishing. They had been

Oregon Health Authority’s coronavirus report for Wednesday, July 15

July 15, 2020

Oregon reports 282 new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases, 4 new deaths PORTLAND, Ore. — COVID-19 has claimed four more lives in Oregon, raising the state’s death toll to 247, the Oregon Health Authority reported at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday. Oregon Health Authority reported 282 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 as of 12:01 a.m. Wednesday bringing the state total to

Oregon governor tightens limits on face coverings and social gatherings effective Wednesday as COVID-19 cases spike

July 15, 2020

By GARY A. WARNER/Oregon Capital Bureau Face masks must be worn outdoors when social distancing is not possible and private gatherings must be limited to no more than 10 people, Gov. Kate Brown announced Monday. The new rules to fight the COVID-19 pandemic go into effect Wednesday, expanding the governor’s directive last week that face masks be worn at indoor

Oregon lawmakers OK fund for $500 checks for 70,000 people waiting for unemployment help

July 15, 2020

By PETER WONG/Oregon Capital Bureau Oregon lawmakers have cleared the way for some unemployed people to obtain one-time checks of $500 if they have been waiting for weeks to obtain unemployment benefits. The Legislative Emergency Board voted Tuesday, July 14, to approve a maximum of $35 million for an estimated 70,000 claimants, most of whom are newly eligible for benefits