Louis Southworth — a slave who bought his freedom, homesteaded near Waldport and donated land for its first school — is namesake of city’s new park

August 26, 2021

By CHERI BRUBAKER/YachatsNews.com WALDPORT — Louis Southworth came to Oregon in the 1850s along the Oregon Trail, a young Black slave owned by a man from Tennessee. He paid $1,000 for his freedom in 1858, eventually making his way to the upper Alsea River bay, where he homesteaded and donated land for the area’s first school. Jesse Dolin

State parks says construction of Amanda Trail suspension bridge still on schedule despite higher-than-expected cost

August 26, 2021

By DANA TIMS/YachatsNews.com Despite cost increases driven by inflation, a year-long shutdown triggered by the coronavirus and other factors, construction will start as scheduled on a key bridge along a popular Yachats-area hiking trail. Work is set to begin Oct. 1 to build a 142-foot-long suspension bridge over a creek on Amanda Trail. Completion is expected by the end

Lincoln County commissioners OK $500 bonus to encourage employee vaccinations, add more sick leave and give out COVID-19 test kits

August 26, 2021

By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews.com Lincoln County’s commissioners are betting up to $230,000 that the carrot is more effective than the stick. Despite being told a week earlier by its top health official that incentives do little to increase vaccination rates, the commissioners decided Wednesday to give $500 to any of its 465 full- or part-time employees to get or show

Waldport distillery fails to meet fire regulations or get occupancy permit after 5 years, so city ends lease effective Sept. 1

August 26, 2021

By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews.com WALDPORT – The city of Waldport has ended the lease of its former city shops to a distillery after its owners failed to get permits, including a certificate of occupancy, while operating there since 2016. The owners of Gatsby Spirits, operating as Tides Distillery, has agreed to move out by Sept. 1 – five months before its

Oregon climate experts tell water commission that state is less resilient to drought conditions

August 26, 2021

By The Associated Press SALEM — Experts say Oregon is becoming less resilient to drought as fewer seasons of abundant rain and snow prevent it from bouncing back from hot and dry conditions. The Capital Press reports that Larry O’Neill, state climatologist at Oregon State University, says the current drought is “historically significant,” with about three-quarters of the state experiencing conditions

Guardrails and walking path markers go up along Ocean View Drive in Yachats

August 26, 2021

New guardrails were installed along a five-block stretch of Ocean View Drive in Yachats this week and many of the 150 markers separating the 804 Trail from the street have been placed by Lincoln County road crews. After installing the 3-foot-high markers – called delineators – on the north and middle portion of the street Wednesday, the county ran

Chinook Winds Casino in Lincoln City will remain closed for at least another week

August 26, 2021

LINCOLN CITY — After closing two weeks ago because of COVID-19 cases among its staff and hoping to reopen Thursday, Chinook Winds Casino and Resort has announced it will remain closed until at least Sept. 2. In a statement late Tuesday, the casino announced that due to COVID-19 and the Delta variant, the closure has been extended another week. All

Oregon coronavirus report for Thursday, Aug. 26: 2,057 new cases, 24 more in Lincoln County

August 26, 2021

Oregon reports 2,057 new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases, 9 new deaths PORTLAND — There are nine new COVID-19 related deaths in Oregon, raising the state’s death toll to 3,095, the Oregon Health Authority reported at 12:01 a.m. Thursday. Oregon Health Authority reported 2,057 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 as of 12:01 a.m. Thursday, bringing the state total

OSU’s Sea Grant director leaving for job at the National Science Foundation

August 26, 2021

CORVALLIS – Shelby Walker, director of Oregon Sea Grant, the Oregon State University-based marine research, outreach, education and communication program, has been appointed to a senior leadership position within the National Science Foundation. She will help oversee major infrastructure within the NSF’s Geosciences Directorate, including national laboratories, high altitude aircraft, a seismic observing system, facilities in the polar regions and the

Oregon State Police/Newport activity log for Aug. 25

August 26, 2021

OREGON STATE POLICE DAILY MEDIA/DESK LOG SP21242604 08/25/2021 08:58 Officer #50607 TUCKER, BRIAN Agency Assist Location 165 NW 25TH ST, NEWPORT, LINCOLN OR USA 97365 Narrative Summary On 08/25/21 at approximately 8:58 AM, Oregon State Police assisted Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office and Newport Police Department with the location and detainment of a hit and run driver. The driver/suspect was reported to have driven into