City of Yachats increases amount of individual business loans to $10,000

June 7, 2020

The city of Yachats’ business loan program that hasn’t drawn much interest has increased the amount of money available to $10,000. The city began a low-interest business loan in April as a way to help struggling businesses stay afloat during and after coronavirus restrictions on their shops and restaurants. It directed $100,000 to a non-profit program based in Springfield to

Oregon Health Authority coronavirus report for Saturday, June 6

June 7, 2020

Oregon reports 93 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 163, the Oregon Health Authority reported as of 12:01 a.m. Saturday. Oregon Health Authority reported 93 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 as of 12:01 a.m. Saturday, bringing the state total

Oregon Health Authority experts cautioned Gov. Brown about reopening in mid-May, wanted later restart

June 7, 2020

By NICK BUDNICK/Portland Tribune Oregon Health Authority epidemiologists felt it would be “more prudent” to delay Gov. Kate Brown’s reopening plans to later in May or June 1 to ensure the state could combat any resurgence of COVID-19, according to emails obtained by the Portland Tribune. As Oregon sees a rise in new coronavirus cases over the past week, the

Worried about sudden surge of COVID-19 cases, Lincoln County commissioners decline Friday to apply to enter Phase 2 reopening

June 5, 2020

By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews.com Despite increasing pressure from the lodging industry and other businesses, Lincoln County commissioners Friday said they will wait until at least Wednesday to seek entry into the second stage of Oregon’s reopening plan. Citing a tripling of COVID-19 cases in the past week and an inability to fully trace contacts from an outbreak that has closed

Oregon Health Authority’s coronavirus report for Friday, June 5

June 5, 2020

Oregon reports 97 new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases, 2 new deaths PORTLAND, Ore. — COVID-19 has claimed two more lives in Oregon, raising the state’s death toll to 161, the Oregon Health Authority reported at 12:01 a.m. Friday. Oregon Health Authority reported 97 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 as of 12:01 a.m. Friday, bringing the state total to

Lincoln County sees fewest new jobless claims since mid-March closures

June 5, 2020

Another 122 Lincoln County workers filed unemployment claims for the week ending May 30, the lowest level since coronavirus-related business closures were ordered in mid-March. Still, the continued claims – there were an average of 30 a month before the pandemic hit – helped raise the total to 4,855 for Lincoln County. Last week the Oregon Employment Department estimated

Interim Employment Department director hears ‘clear message’ to end mounting backlog

June 5, 2020

By PETER WONG/Oregon Capital Bureau The new interim director of the Oregon Employment Department says the staff has made measurable progress in reducing the backlog of regular claims and increasing the number of phone calls answered. David Gerstenfeld spoke with reporters Wednesday, three days after Gov. Kate Brown fired department Director Kay Erickson. Brown put him in charge of the

Oregon Health Authority’s coronavirus report for Thursday, June 4

June 5, 2020

PORTLAND — The state’s death toll from COVID-19 is unchanged from yesterday and remains at 159, the Oregon Health Authority reported at 12:01 a.m. Thursday. Oregon Health Authority reported 76 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 as of 12:01 a.m. Thursday bringing the state total to 4,474. The new cases reported today are in the following counties: Clackamas (9),

Oregon State Police/Newport activity report for June 1-2

June 5, 2020

OREGON STATE POLICE DAILY MEDIA/DESK LOG SP20147025 06/01/2020 10:16 Officer #59922 TAYLOR, ZACH Crash – Hit and Run Location 20, Mile post 9 10 EB, NEWPORT, LINCOLN OR USA Narrative Summary On 6/1/2020 at approximately 10:16 AM OSP responded to a hit and run crash that occurred on US-20 near mile post 9.5. When OSP arrived, the vehicle was parked on the eastbound shoulder

After initial resistance, city of Yachats agrees to begin collecting sewer samples for COVID-19 study

June 4, 2020

By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews.com Ken Williamson wants to study Yachats’ poop for traces of coronavirus. Until Thursday the city of Yachats was reluctant to cooperate, questioning aspects of Williamson’s study powered by a $100,000 National Science Foundation grant, and the possibility that bad coronavirus publicity could scare off tourists. But forced to discuss it at Thursday’s meeting by Councilor Leslie