Following some debate and questions, Yachats council OKs city manager to negotiate two initial contracts on projects

July 7, 2022

By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews.com YACHATS – Despite some resistance from Mayor Leslie Vaaler on one and a lot of questions on another, the Yachats City Council on Thursday gave city manager Heide Lambert permission to negotiate contracts to provide cost estimates for two long-awaited projects. Lambert will now negotiate a contract with Civil West Engineering of Newport to see what

Yachats readers donate $58,000 during local fundraising campaign to help sustain local effort and hire a reporter

July 7, 2022

Aug. 16, 2022 fundraising update: Wow. You are so generous. Readers of YachatsNews contributed $58,000 between June 3 and July 8 during the online news site’s “help sustain local news” fundraising campaign as part of its transition to a 501(c)3 nonprofit and to hire a full-time reporter. The overall fundraising goal is $70,000 in order to have a full-time

Cape Perpetua collaborative begins tidepool and ambassador programs

July 7, 2022

YACHATS — Two summer-long programs about to start will explore everything from the wonders of tide pools to the needs and purposes of coastal marine reserves. Both programs are hosted by the Cape Perpetua Collaborative. The first gets underway Sunday at Smelt Sands Beach State Park in Yachats, just off the 804 Trail. Volunteers for the Cape Perpetua Marine

Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office news release on firearm arrest

July 6, 2022

AGGRESSIVE DRIVING INCIDENT LEADS TO FIREARMS ARRESTS News Release from Lincoln Co. Sheriff’s Office Posted on FlashAlert: July 5th, 2022 9:20 PM On July 5th, 2022, at approximately 3:15 PM, deputies from the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to a reported menacing in the 3500 block of Yaquina Bay Rd near Newport. Deputies located the vehicle near the intersection of

New state fire risks map leaves property owners with insurance concerns; some cities challenge data

July 6, 2022

A new map from the Oregon Department of Forestry shows Ashland as an island of low-fire risk in a sea of high risk. Chris Chambers, the wildfire division chief with Ashland Fire & Rescue, said he disagrees with some of the areas the new map shows as low risk. By ALEX BAUMHARDT/Oregon Capital Chronicle Juliet Grable and her husband bought

Tickets now on sale for Yachats’ Celtic Music Festival as it returns Nov. 11-13 after two-year hiatus

July 6, 2022

By CHERYL ROMANO/YachatsNews.com YACHATS — One of the city’s most popular events is back with a toe-tapping vengeance when the Yachats Celtic Music Festival returns Nov. 11-13. Silenced by the pandemic the last two years, the festival features world-class Celtic bands such as Altan and Talisk in ticketed concert performances, plus several free events like the “Piper on the

Oregon voters may decide new firearms requirements as deadline for initiative signature approaches

July 5, 2022

By PETER WONG/Oregon Capital Bureau Only two initiatives appear likely to qualify for a statewide vote Nov. 8 as Oregon’s deadline approaches for petitioners to submit signatures. That deadline is Friday. The state Elections Division will have up to 30 days afterward to verify signatures, generally done with sampling. The mass shootings in Buffalo, N.Y., and Uvalde, Texas, have given

Oregon State Police/Newport activity log June 29-July 4

July 5, 2022

OREGON STATE POLICE DAILY MEDIA/DESK LOG SP22161555 06/29/2022 19:13 Officer #53134 KOLACZ, BRYAN Warrant Arrest Location 18, Mile post 4 4 WB, LINCOLN OR USA Narrative Summary The driver was stopped for a moving violation. During contact the driver provided false information about himself, was not carrying a driver’s license, and had three active warrants for his arrest when he provided the false information.

Oregon’s new land conservation and development director tries to see the ‘big picture’

July 5, 2022

The Department of Land Conservation and Development has to balance the push for construction with the pull for preserving green spaces. (Department of Land Conservation and Development) By RAFAEL OTTO/Oregon Capital Chronicle When not working, Brenda Ortigoza Bateman enjoys playing the piano and singing folk songs, hymns and ballads. She also plays piano at her church, the Salem First United

Aboard the Bell M. Shimada: To protect marine life, researchers look for relationship between whales and what they eat

July 5, 2022

Second of three parts. Tuesday, July 12: Life aboard ship By COURTNEY FLATT/Northwest Public Broadcasting NEWPORT — Scientists aboard the Bell M. Shimada keep an eye out for whales hoping to help predict where whales will show up by studying the food they eat. High up on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Newport-based research vessel, the scientists don’t