City of Yachats begins “soft opening” of Commons on Monday, but plans to reopen City Hall, Library and museum will wait

May 20, 2021

By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews.com After a 15-month closure, the city of Yachats will begin taking reservations at noon Monday for use of the Commons’ multipurpose room. Except for bathrooms, no other portion of the Commons will be open — for awhile. In announcing the “soft opening” on its website, the city said the multipurpose room would be open from 9

Voters will get to decide in November 2022 whether health care is a right in Oregon

May 20, 2021

By PETER WONG/Oregon Capital Bureau Mitch Greenlick may achieve in death what he was unable to do during his 17 years in the Oregon House. A vote in the House cleared the way for Oregon voters to decide in November 2022 whether health care should be considered a right in the Oregon Constitution. The House passed Senate Joint Resolution 12

Toledo man dies Wednesday in two-car crash on Highway 101 near Depoe Bay

May 20, 2021

A 46-year-old Toledo man was killed late Wednesday when his car collided with a truck on U.S. Highway 101 just south of Depoe Bay. Oregon State Police said George Linden III died when his car collided with a truck being driven by Jesus Perez, 25, of Salem. Police said Perez was driving north when he crossed into the southbound lane

Latest Oregon revenue forecast this week shows surging state coffers and ‘kicker’ credits

May 20, 2021

By PETER WONG/Oregon Capital Bureau For Oregon’s state budget, and for Oregon taxpayers, it appears everything’s coming up roses these days. An economic surge as the coronavirus pandemic wanes will produce $1 billion more for state coffers than state economists projected just three months ago. That will be enough to boost state spending, without cuts, as lawmakers finish work on

Vacation rental debate in unincorporated Lincoln County comes to a head during annual meeting of Bayshore Homeowners Association

May 20, 2021

By CHERI BRUBAKER/YachatsNews.com WALDPORT — Conflicts between residents of unincorporated Lincoln County and owners of vacation rentals usually take the form of lawn signs, letters to the editor, and strongly worded comments to county commissioners. On Saturday, full-time residents and owners of vacation rentals in the Bayshore community went face-to-face in a contentious and emotional 5-hour meeting in what

New opinion poll shows majority of Oregonians see threat of wildfires affecting their lives

May 19, 2021

By MICHAEL KOHN/Oregon Capital Bureau As wildfires seem to grow in number and severity each year, Oregonians are expressing greater concern for how wildfire affects their own lives. A recent survey conducted by the Oregon Values and Beliefs Center found a strong majority of Oregonians see wildfires as “a somewhat or very serious threat” to residents of the state. Respondents

Oregon coronavirus report for Wednesday, May 19: 394 new cases, 1 in Lincoln County; 24,280 vaccinations, 7 more deaths

May 19, 2021

Oregon reports 394 new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases, 7 new deaths PORTLAND — There are seven new COVID-19 related deaths in Oregon, raising the state’s death toll to 2,601, the Oregon Health Authority reported at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday. Oregon Health Authority reported 394 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 as of 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, bringing the state total

Oregon State Police/Newport activity log for May 14-18

May 19, 2021

OREGON STATE POLICE DAILY MEDIA/DESK LOG SP21128488 05/14/2021 15:58 Officer #53141 SEVERSON, SCOTT DUII – Controlled Substance Location 101, Mile post 143 143 SB, LINCOLN OR Narrative Summary On 5/14/21 at approximately 4PM I observed a southbound Ford Explorer driving with two deflated tires near milepost 143 of US Highway 101. Vehicle continued southbound. I turned behind the vehicle and illuminated my emergency lights.

Legislation reinstating moratorium on Oregon residential foreclosures goes to Gov. Brown

May 19, 2021

By PETER WONG/Oregon Capital Bureau Gov. Kate Brown is the final stop for a bill that reinstates a moratorium on Oregon residential foreclosures through June 30, and possibly to the end of this year if she chooses to extend it by executive order. The House gave final approval on Wednesday to an amended House Bill 2009 by a 36-20 vote.

Voters make changes on boards of Central Oregon Coast and Seal Rock fire districts; Seal Rock levy soundly defeated

May 18, 2021

By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews.com Two coastal fire districts embroiled in controversy got new board members and a jolt of difficult financial news in Tuesday’s election. As of 10 p.m. Tuesday the Lincoln County Clerk’s office said 99 percent of all ballots had been counted – a turnout of nearly 30 percent. The five-member Central Oregon Coast Fire & Rescue board,