Celeste McEntee will take her Newport activism to Salem

October 6, 2022

To the editor: When Celeste McEntee heard that the city of Newport heartlessly tried to pass a 5 percent food and 5 cent per gallon gas tax at a time the community was already experiencing Covid-19 hardship she was appalled. Talk about kicking people when they’re down. Rather than merely complain and accept this injustice she fought back and helped

Lincoln City vehicle charging company appeals record fine of $2.7 million; owner says he was mistaken how program works. Agency said he acted recklessly

October 6, 2022

By ALEX BAUMHARDT/Oregon Capital Chronicle A Lincoln City company that builds electric vehicle charging stations and allegedly defrauded the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality out of $2 million in carbon credits is appealing the ruling. On Friday, the agency fined Thompson Technical Services, or TTS Charging, of Lincoln City $2.7 million for falsely claiming credits through a state greenhouse

OSU researchers based in Newport develop new tagging device to better track whales’ behavior

October 6, 2022

BY MICHELLE KLAMPE/OSU News Service NEWPORT — Oregon State University researchers have developed a new satellite tag that allows them to better track whales’ behavior, including previously unobservable feeding events during dives. The tag is a significant advancement in researchers’ ability to observe key whale behavior events, identify important habitat and better understand whales’ response to human activity such

Sea otter advocacy group talks about efforts Saturday in Yachats

October 5, 2022

YACHATS – A Lincoln County nonprofit urging the re-introduction of sea otters on the Oregon coast will talk about its efforts during a public presentation at 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 8 in the Yachats Commons multipurpose room. The presentation by Peter Hatch of the Siletz-based Elakha Foundation is sponsored by View the Future, a Yachats conservation group. A federal report

Lincoln County getting an additional $1.24 million in federal relief funds

October 4, 2022

NEWPORT – Lincoln County learned last week it is getting $1.24 million from the federal government over the next two years as part of the 2021 American Rescue Plan Act. Now county officials need to wade through 60 pages of rules and regulations that came with the award to see what spending restrictions there may be. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore.

Oregon DEQ sets virtual public hearings for comments on proposed ban of new gas-powered cars

October 3, 2022

By ALEX BAUMHARDT/Oregon Capital Chronicle Oregon could soon join California and New York in banning the sale of new gas-powered cars by 2035 in an effort to cut emissions and curb the worst effects of global climate change. Under proposed rules from the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, car manufacturers would need to increase the amount of zero-emission vehicles available in Oregon

Siuslaw National Forest now hiring for fire and seasonal jobs

October 3, 2022

The Siuslaw National Forest is hiring for five permanent fire positions and over 40 seasonal positions on the Central Coast and Hebo ranger districts. Applicants can search USAjobs.gov for available Forest Service positions in the coastal towns of Waldport, Hebo, and Reedsport. Hiring for permanent fire positions began Sept. 21 and will continue through Oct. 11. Seasonal hiring for spring and summer of 2023 began

Voters in Clatsop County will get a chance to weigh in on vacation rental issues next May

October 2, 2022

By ERIC BENGEL/The Astorian A referendum to repeal a Clatsop County ordinance that made vacation rentals a recognized use in zones throughout unincorporated areas is headed for the May 2023 ballot. Clatsop County clerk’s office confirmed that the group North Coast Neighbors United has gathered enough signatures to bring the issue to voters. County commissioners passed an ordinance in June

End of month storm saves September from being one of driest in years

October 2, 2022

An end-of-the month rainstorm saved the Yachats area from having the driest September in 10 years. A two-day rainstorm that hit Wednesday dropped anywhere from .59 inches to 1.49 inches of rain on the area – saving the month from being the driest since 2012. In Yachats, most of the rain for the month fell on Sept. 28 — .49

Siletz Tribe getting $525,000 to battle sexual assaults among members

October 2, 2022

SILETZ – The Confederated Tribes of the Siletz is one of three Oregon tribal organizations to receive a total of $1.6 million from the U.S. Office on Violence Against Women to continue to provide victim and intervention services after sexual violence on tribal lands. The Siletz is receiving $525,000 to create, maintain, and expand sustainable tribal sexual assault services, according