For the first time in more than a year, Yachats city hall was fully staffed this week as new workers learn and train

March 24, 2022

By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews.com YACHATS – For the first time in more than a year, Yachats city hall was fully staffed this week. Although the office will remain closed to the public until April 4, this week a receptionist was answering the phones and sorting emails and the planner was planning. A new events coordinator was getting familiar with the

Longtime Oregon women’s writing nonprofit honors Newport author and publisher for her decades of work

March 23, 2022

A Newport author, poet and founder of the Nye Beach Writer’s Series has been honored with the 2022 Soapstone Bread and Roses Award for her decades or work helping sustain Oregon’s writing community. Carla Perry, a former Yachats resident, was selected for the annual award by Soapstone, a 30-year-old Oregon nonprofit that supports women writers. Soapstone said it selected

After two-year absence they’re back! Yachats will have fireworks and La de da Parade over Fourth of July weekend

March 23, 2022

By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews.com YACHATS – After a two-year absence, there will be fireworks and the La de da parade in Yachats over the three-day Fourth of July holiday. The Yachats Chamber of Commerce and the city of Yachats have rescued the fireworks show — but it will occur Saturday, July 2. The quirky, homemade La de da Parade will

Man charged in Baker’s 2021 killing will be arraigned June 1 in San Diego

March 22, 2022

The man charged with murder in the 2021 death of former Yachats resident Martin Baker will be formally arraigned in June in San Diego North County Superior Court. Eugene Focarelli, 37, is scheduled to be arraigned June 1 on the murder and other charges related to an alleged assault on Baker, who died a few days after being attacked in

Award-winning “Hamilton” will make its Eugene debut for two weeks in September

March 21, 2022

EUGENE — You don’t have to start a revolution or live on the East Coast to get a front-row seat to the Broadway musical sensation “Hamilton” this year. Musical fans will now have a shot at seeing “Hamilton” in Eugene, as part of the 2022-2023 Broadway in Eugene season. The American Theatre Guild, the largest not-for-profit touring Broadway presenter in

State agency takes next steps on plan to protect threatened species in western Oregon forests

March 21, 2022

A view from King’s Mountain in the Tillamook Forest. The Western Forests Habitat Conservation Plan creates a patchwork of protected habitat areas, mostly in Tillamook and Clatsop counties, that cover about 4% of the Oregon Coast Range. (Oregon Department of Forestry, Flickr) By ALEX BAUMHARDT/Oregon Capital Chronicle A plan to protect critical animal habitat in nearly 640,000 acres of western

ODFW enacts new rule prohibiting starfish harvest, but allows more invasive green crabs to be caught

March 21, 2022

By APRIL EHRLICH/Oregon Public Broadcasting A new administrative rule that went into effect Friday prohibits Oregon recreational harvest of starfish. Sea stars have struggled for survival along the Pacific Coast since a massive die-off in 2013, when they were hit with “sea star wasting syndrome.” The disease causes sea stars to develop lesions, then their limbs break off, and their bodies fully

Oregon State Police/Newport activity log for March 18-19

March 21, 2022

OREGON STATE POLICE DAILY MEDIA/DESK LOG SP22065842 03/18/2022 10:50 Officer #53141 SEVERSON, SCOTT Warrant Arrest Location 34, Mile post 1 1 WB, LINCOLN OR USA Narrative Summary On 3/18/22 at approximately 10AM I observed a male subject in Waldport, I knew had an outstanding warrant. Subject was detained and ultimately taken into custody after the parole violation warrant was confirmed. Subject transported and lodged

Man on probation for car theft arrested Monday after Seal Rock burglary attempt

March 21, 2022

SEAL ROCK – A 41-year-old transient who had just been put on probation for stealing a car was arrested early Monday for attempting to break into a Seal Rock house. Deputies say Joshua S. Preble, who has lived in Olympia and Portland, threatened the homeowner, forcing her to jump from a second-story window and injuring herself. Preble is in jail

Seal Rock fire board hires Ewing as chief on 2-year contract, suspends IGA negotiations with Central Coast

March 21, 2022

By JORDAN ESSOE/YachatsNews.com SEAL ROCK – After one member briefly tapped the brakes, the Seal Rock Fire District board voted unanimously Thursday night to hire Will Ewing as its new fire chief. Ewing was brought into the department last October on a consulting contract after a board majority voted to fire its previous chief, Tom Sakaris. The board soon