Yachats Chamber of Commerce’s new executive director shares thoughts about the community, tourism and help for businesses

October 6, 2022

BY QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews.com Bobbi Price may have a new job in Yachats, but she’s no stranger to town. Her father, Rick Nyhus spent his early childhood living at the corner of Ocean View and Marine drives and once served as the Lions Club’s “Smelt King” during one of its long-ago smelt fries. Her two young children – one who

Nike’s Phil Knight begins to hedge his gubernatorial bets — giving $1 million this week to GOP nominee Drazen

October 6, 2022

By GARY A. WARNER/Oregon Capital Bureau Nike co-founder Phil Knight is hedging his bet on the outcome of the Oregon governor’s race, giving $1 million on Thursday to Republican Christine Drazan. The move comes after Knight has given unaffiliated candidate Betsy Johnson $3.75 million, the largest contribution total of his long involvement in Oregon political races. Knight’s dual contributions to

Yachats’ emergency preparedness committee in turmoil over cache proposal stalled by city hall and council

October 6, 2022

By CHERYL ROMANO/YahatsNews.com YACHATS — Some members of Yachats’ Emergency Preparedness Committee are clashing with the city over how to best help people survive a tsunami. Frustrated by what they see as inaction, they’re circulating a petition to muster support for a proposal to increase the number of “caches” — big metal shipping containers holding emergency supplies. However, City

Wood cutting now allowed on Siuslaw National Forest — but first get a permit

October 6, 2022

WALDPORT – It’s firewood cutting season on the Siuslaw National Forest – but permits are needed from the Central Coast Ranger District in Waldport. Commercial and personal use permits are required when harvesting or transporting firewood. Personal use permits are free of charge but commercial use permits will cost $20 per cord — both issued on a first-come, first-served basis.

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