Mussel harvesting reopens along entire Oregon coast

November 15, 2022

NEWPORT – The state has announced the reopening of mussel harvesting along the entire Oregon coast after two consecutive weeks of testing showed levels of the marine toxin domoic acid are below the closure limit. Oregon razor clam harvesting remains closed coastwide as domoic acid levels remain elevated. Razor clams are often slow to clear toxins from their tissues, especially

Longtime singer/songwriter now living in Newport with 300 titles to his credit, performs Saturday and Sunday at PAC

November 15, 2022

By Oregon ArtsWatch NEWPORT — Songwriter Rand Bishop is not, by his own admission, much of a sport about aging. But he is realistic and not without a sense of humor. So, a few years ago, when Bishop took his parents to the movies and his father offered to pay, Bishop reminded him, “Three seniors, Dad.” What might have been an ouch

Waldport man in jail on second-degree attempted murder, 9 other charges

November 14, 2022

WALDPORT – A 36-year-old Waldport man is being held without bail in the Lincoln County Jail after his arrest Friday night for second-degree attempted murder and nine other charges after five sheriff’s deputies had to break down the door of his bedroom to arrest him after a three-hour standoff. A preliminary hearing for Erich M. Rennspies is scheduled Nov. 21

Residents of 25 counties and 112 cities in Oregon vote to block or ban the start of psilocybin treatment centers

November 14, 2022

By MIKE McINALLY/Oregon Capital Chronicle Thousands of voters across Oregon have decided to ban or block the rollout of psilocybin treatment centers. But two counties bucked that trend: In Deschutes and Jackson counties, voters rejected the proposed bans and chose to move ahead with Measure 109, which passed statewide in 2020 and legalized the limited use of psilocybin in state-regulated

Yachats Celtic Music Festival came back with a bang — to the delight of appreciative audiences, volunteers and community

November 13, 2022

By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews.com YACHATS – Susan Emerson came from Corvallis. Jennie Smith and her daughter, Katherine, from Madras. Mike Kin drove up from Brookings. And on their years-long tour of north and south America, Dan and Geraldine Wood of Glasgow, Scotland stumbled upon Yachats and the 2022 Celtic Music Festival, staying long enough to fall in love with the

Waldport council, COCF&R board officially approve fire station sale, purchase

November 13, 2022

WALDPORT – The Waldport city council last week formally voted to sell – and the Central Oregon Coast Fire & Rescue board formally voted to buy – the city-owned fire station in downtown Waldport. The agreement allows the fire district to proceed with remodeling it into a safe, modern station and requires the district to help lobby the 2023

Two local Samaritan hospitals win high marks from Medicare agency

November 13, 2022

The federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services have recognized the two Samaritan Health Services hospitals in Lincoln County for their quality and patient experience. On a scale of one to five, Samaritan North Lincoln Hospital in Lincoln City earned four stars for overall quality and five stars for patient experience. Samaritan Pacific Communities Hospital earned four stars in both

10th annual Cape Perpetua Land-Sea Symposium is Thursday in Yachats and online

November 12, 2022

YACHATS — Both the history and the future of the Cape Perpetua Marine Reserve are getting top billing at this year’s 10th anniversary celebration of the protected area’s establishment. The formally titled “Land-Sea Symposium” takes place Thursday, Nov. 17 in the Yachats Commons. The event is 5-8:30 p.m. The 130 available in-person slots have already sold out, but a virtual

Linn County sheriff says she will not enforce part of Measure 114 if approved by Oregon voters

November 11, 2022

BY CHRIS LEHMAN/Oregon Public Broadcasting The sheriff of Linn County said she won’t enforce a ban on high-capacity ammunition magazines that’s part of an initiative leading in current election results. If its current lead holds, Measure 114 would tighten Oregon’s gun laws by creating a permit-to-purchase system. It would also ban ammunition magazines that hold more than ten rounds. Linn County Sheriff

Life-sized bronze statue of Louis Southworth — the Black homesteader and namesake of new Waldport park — will be unveiled Nov. 19

November 10, 2022

By SUSAN PALMER/For YachatsNews.com It’s only a matter of time until someone makes a movie about Louis Southworth’s remarkable life. An Oregon pioneer, a professional fiddle player, a blacksmith, a soldier, a horse trainer, a landowner who donated property for a school: That’s Louis Southworth. And, oh yes, born a slave in Tennessee, a man who purchased his freedom