Seal Rock fire board votes 3-1 – after one resignation — to hire former Toledo chief as consultant until it can find new leader

October 7, 2021

By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews.com SEAL ROCK – The Seal Rock Fire District board voted 3-1 Wednesday to hire the former fire chief in Toledo to manage the department until it can find a new chief to replace the one they fired last week. The district will pay Will Ewing $3,500 a month to oversee the district as a consultant and

As deadline nears on Oregon vaccination mandate, rates for Lincoln County educators and most medical providers hits 93-96 percent

October 7, 2021

By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews.com and LYNNE TERRY/Oregon Capital Chronicle Schools and medical providers in Lincoln County who fall under the governor’s vaccination mandate say they have compliance rates of 93 percent to 96 percent with only a handful of people in each organization resigning from their jobs rather than get vaccinated. Gov. Kate Brown issued a mandate this summer that

Yachats commission asks City Council to allocate funds for open space design, pocket parks and bike rack projects

October 7, 2021

The Yachats Parks & Commons wants the city to keep moving on some projects. The commission voted unanimously Tuesday to recommend to the City Council that it: Release up to $60,000 in the Commons capital reserve budget for the landscape design and engineering of the green space area behind City Hall; Release up to $25,000 from the city’s visitor

Oregon State Police/Newport activity log for Oct. 4-6

October 7, 2021

OREGON STATE POLICE DAILY MEDIA/DESK LOG SP21283952 10/04/2021 23:58 Officer #44704 KATSIKIS, KELLY Towed vehicle – Abandoned/Hazard SP21284293 10/05/2021 12:43 Officer #55167 WERTZ, DAVID Warrant Arrest Location 101 and 20, OR USA Narrative Summary On 10/5/21 at approximately 12:43 pm I contacted a male and female pedestrian on US 101 near the US 20 intersection who appeared to be engaged in a verbal confrontation. It was determined

Oregon coronavirus report for Thursday, Oct. 7: 1,453 new cases, 9 in Lincoln County; 59 more deaths

October 7, 2021

Oregon reports 1,453 new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases, 59 new deaths PORTLAND, Ore. — There are 59 new COVID-19 related deaths in Oregon, raising the state’s death toll to 3,959 the Oregon Health Authority reported at 12:01 a.m. Thursday. Oregon Health Authority reported 1,453 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 as of 12:01 a.m. Thursday, bringing the state total

Oregon governor asks feds for disaster relief for commercial salmon industry

October 6, 2021

By Oregon Public Broadcasting Oregon Gov. Kate Brown is asking the federal government for disaster relief for the state’s struggling commercial salmon industry. The governor submitted the formal aid request Monday to the U.S. Department of Commerce. In her letter Brown said the economic return from commercial salmon fishing along most of the coast since 2018 has been less than one-third of

Passage of anti-STR ballot measure would badly hurt Lincoln County economy

October 6, 2021

To the editor: A few property owners don’t want a vacation rental in their neighborhood and are trying to eliminate many short-term rentals. Lincoln County has strict regulations for STR’s relating to licensing, quiet hours, number of persons and vehicles allowed per each property, parking, health and safety, enforcement mechanisms, and is currently considering additional regulations such as limiting densities. County

Florence woman dies in auto accident east of Eugene

October 6, 2021

On Wednesday, October 6, 2021 at approximately 1:06 AM, Oregon State Police Troopers and emergency personnel responded to a two-vehicle crash on Hwy 58 near milepost 26. Preliminary investigation revealed an eastbound Honda Civic, operated by Ellen Fiske (52) of Florence, crossed over into the oncoming lane and struck a Peterbilt commercial motor vehicle, operated by Travis Murphy (48) of

Despite return to in-person classes, many Oregon families who chose homeschooling during pandemic are staying home

October 6, 2021

By ALEX BAUMHARDT/The Capital Chronicle By May 2020, Ethan Kemper had all but given up on school. Banks High School, where he was finishing his freshman year, had gone to a pass/no pass grading system after having in-person school derailed by the coronavirus. Jacoba Kemper said her son’s classes felt unplanned, communication between the teachers and Ethan lagged and filling

Bandon’s “Circles in the Sand” creator coming to Florence Oct. 16

October 6, 2021

FLORENCE — A Circles in the Sand event that draws thousands to the beaches near Bandon each summer is coming to Florence on Saturday, Oct. 16. A giant labyrinth will be carved in the sand on the beach in front of Driftwood Shores motel complex beginning around 3 p.m. The public walk- through begins at 5 p.m. Low tide