To make the November ballot as nonaffiliated candidate, Betsy Johnson barnstorms the state with a sales pitch for every crowd.

July 29, 2022

Betsy Johnson talks to supporters at a pep rally in St. Helens, Ore., on June 14, 2022. As an unaffiliated candidate for governor, Johnson is hoping to collect enough signatures to make the November ballot. By DIRK VANDERHART/Oregon Public Broadcasting It’s mid-June, in St. Helens and several hundred people have come out to the Columbia County fairgrounds to see

Neil E. Hokkanen Jr.

July 27, 2022

Neil E. Hokkanen Jr. July 15, 1934 – July 13, 2022 Neil E. Hokkanen Jr. of Yachats died on July 13, 2022 after a short illness, two days before his 88th birthday. He was born July 15, 1934, in Portland to Neil and Florence Hokkanen. He attended Franklin High School and enlisted in the U.S. Army where he earned

Oregon State Police/Newport activity log July 20-26

July 26, 2022

OREGON STATE POLICE DAILY MEDIA/DESK LOG SP22184891 07/20/2022 14:29 Officer #60787 NATHMAN, CAMERON Warrant Arrest Location 229, Mile post .5, LINCOLN Narrative Summary While contacting multiple subjects about their camping on ODOT property, an individual with an active warrant out of Lincoln County was identified. The warrant was confirmed and the individual was taken into custody. The individual was then transported and lodged in

Central Coast Chorale offering concerts in Yachats, Lincoln City and Newport

July 21, 2022

After an abrupt Covid shutdown, a cancelled concert series, installation of a new artistic director, vaccination and mask mandates, constant re-evaluation of rehearsal protocols, and a new scheduled then re-scheduled concert series, choral music will once again fill the air on the Oregon coast. The Central Coast Chorale is offering three performances of their concert “Peace by Piece” at three

Does Yachats want more music? Polly Plumb Productions testing the waters with bluegrass concert Aug. 7

July 21, 2022

YACHATS — If you like your bluegrass spiced with swing, ragtime, jazz and Americana music, the Yachats Commons is the place to be for a special concert Sunday, Aug. 7. Damn Tall Buildings, a Brooklyn, N.Y.-based trio, headlines the evening, which starts at 6 p.m. with special guests Cary Novotny and Brongaene Griffin, a Portland-based duo. “Bluegrass at heart,

Lincoln County targets 39 projects for $5.1 million in funding from American Rescue Plan; $3.7 million left to go

July 21, 2022

NEWPORT — Dipping into its allocation of $9.2 million in federal economic recovery money, Lincoln County commissioners have approved 39 projects totaling $5.1 million to help make it more efficient, improve customer service and upgrade technology and other equipment. The money comes from $65 billion allocated to counties across the country as part of the $350 billion American Rescue

Housing consultants helping Yachats plan for the future schedule public presentation Monday afternoon

July 21, 2022

YACHATS – Two consultants helping the city of Yachats determine its future housing needs will report their initial findings to the City Council, Planning Commission and the public during an online meeting Monday afternoon. The webinar is from 3 to 4:30 p.m. A link to the material on the city website and to attend the webinar is here. The

Yachats fire district increases staff pay as it — and most coastal departments — scrambles to hire and keep firefighters and paramedics

July 21, 2022

By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews.com YACHATS – When Yachats firefighters reported for duty this month they started working under a new wage scale designed to keep them happy – and not lured away to another job. The board of the Yachats Rural Fire Protection District aggressively increased firefighter pay last month to attract new staff and keep current ones from moving

Yachats group urges care on rocky areas to protect shorebirds

July 21, 2022

To the Editor: The Yachats Action Alliance and many community members recently worked for months to resist a motel proposed to be built overlooking Yachats Ocean Road. Our group’s opposition to the Agate Pont proposal focused on preserving the wetland and the integrity of Yachats Ocean Road. This led both to new learning and to an affirmation of the fragility

Yachats July 4th events were truly a community effort

July 21, 2022

To the editor: Kudos to Yachats for its Fourth of July celebration. It was truly a wonderful, community event. I would like to applaud and acknowledge the efforts of everyone who donated their time, talents, energy and support to the three-day event. Attendees and participants all seemed happy and relaxed while out celebrating, and feeling “back to normal”. The colorful poster boasted eight events