One of three Lincoln County district attorney candidates suspends his May primary campaign

April 6, 2020

A candidate for Lincoln County District attorney has suspended his May primary election campaign and thrown his support to the newly appointed district attorney. Kenneth R. Park, a longtime deputy district attorney, announced Monday he was ending his campaign and supporting Jonathan Cable, who was appointed in January by Oregon Gov. Kate Brown. In his statement, Park sharply criticized

Oregon State Police/Newport: Activity log April 1-6

April 6, 2020

OREGON STATE POLICE DAILY MEDIA/DESK LOG SP20091846 04/01/2020 11:05 Officer #53141 SEVERSON, SCOTT Crash – Non-injury Location 101, Mile post 152 152, LINCOLN OR USA Narrative Summary Crash – Northbound vehicle near milepost 152 of US highway 101 slid on hail during a sudden hailstorm. Vehicle rotated and left the roadway on the southbound shoulder. Vehicle collided with a utility pole and came to

Getting a $1,200 check this week? Consider donating it to community fund

April 4, 2020

The U.S. government is preparing to send checks out to lots of us, apparently in the amount of $1,200 per person with the idea that these funds will help people in immediate need and will be spent quickly in ways that will have a ripple effect that will help our economy bounce back or, at least, collapse more slowly. Many

Lincoln City police involved in fatal shooting Thursday night

April 3, 2020

On Thursday, April 02, 2020, at about 10:40 PM, Lincoln City Police Officers were involved in an officer-involved-shooting in the parking lot of the Rite Aid Store located at 4041 NW Logan Road in Lincoln City. The involved officers were uninjured and the suspect was transported to Samaritan North Lincoln Hospital where lifesaving efforts took place, however the suspect was

Capital Chatter: A special session of the Oregon Legislature is not imminent

April 3, 2020

Despite the hopes of some, a special legislative session is not imminent after all. A curious press release emerged from the Oregon Legislature after hours on March 27. It lauded the work of the Legislature’s special committee on coronavirus relief and quoted Senate President Peter Courtney, D-Salem: House Speaker Tina Kotek, D-Portland; and House Republican Leader Christine Drazan, of Canby. The press release

Slumping Oregon economy could jeopardize big infusion of money, programs for Lincoln County schools

April 2, 2020

By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews.com An Oregon economy expected to be devastated by the coronavirus pandemic could also delay or derail the infusion of $4.5 million into Lincoln County schools. School districts around Oregon, including the Lincoln County School District, have been working for months on how to use an anticipated windfall in state money under a new initiative called the

Activity in Lincoln County courthouse slows to a crawl as sheriff, DA and courts react to coronavirus mandates

April 2, 2020

By DANA TIMS/YachatsNews.com The jail has 60 fewer inmates. Court and district attorney employees are working from home as proceedings have ground to a near halt. People wanting to get into the Lincoln County Courthouse need an appointment and ring a buzzer to enter. Lincoln County’s justice system, like its counterparts in Oregon’s other 35 counties, is being taxed

County commissioner asks visitors – including owners of second homes — to stay away

April 2, 2020

Fifty years ago, Oscar the Grouch greeted anyone who approached his trash can on Sesame Street with a simple, blunt message: SCRAM! About the same time beloved Oregon Gov. Tom McCall was telling potential newcomers to “Visit, but don’t stay.” Today, as an elected official in Lincoln County, the heart of the beautiful Oregon Coast, I’m delivering a message I

Lincoln County announces its fourth COVID-19 case; state says ‘social distancing’ is working

April 2, 2020

By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews.com Lincoln County Public Health announced another positive case of COVID-19 on Thursday – bringing to four the number of county residents infected and the third confirmed coronavirus case in three days. The county said the latest case is a person in their 30s who had no known contact with a confirmed case. It is being investigated

City of Yachats giving businesses extra time to pay food and beverage taxes

April 2, 2020

The city of Yachats is giving restaurants and markets some extra time to pay quarterly food and beverage taxes that are normally due April 30 because all but a few have closed due to the coronavirus pandemic. The city also announced Wednesday it is temporarily suspending water disconnections for late or non-payment and waiving late fees and penalties through the