Controversial bill on farmworker overtime in Oregon Legislature heads to special committee to sort out

February 22, 2022

By LYNNE TERRY/Oregon Capital Chronicle SALEM — A divisive proposal in the Oregon Legislature that would require employers to pay farmworkers overtime was shuttled on Tuesday to a joint bipartisan committee to work out a solution. House Bill 4002 would require that an estimated 86,000 farmworkers in Oregon are paid time and a half after a 40-hour workweek. That requirement would

$1 billion timber case that pits Oregon counties versus the state is heard by the Court of Appeals

February 22, 2022

By BRADLEY W. PARKS/Oregon Public Broadcasting The Oregon Court of Appeals heard arguments Tuesday in a case that has major implications for how the state manages forestland and whether counties can depend on timber revenue from state forests. The state of Oregon is challenging a 2019 jury verdict that required the state to pay more than $1 billion to a handful of timber counties

Interested in nearby science projects? Well, now there’s an app for that

February 22, 2022

The Oregon State University STEM Research Center has helped launch a national website aimed at connecting the general public with science in interactive ways. The mobile-friendly site is Science Near Me and the premise is simple: Plug in your location, dates and interests and peruse the options that pop up. “Science Near Me provides the first convenient tool to find all types of

After canceling in-person event again this year, Newport Wine & Seafood Festival offers smaller events this week to fill the void

February 22, 2022

By BREEANA LAUGHLIN/YachatsNews.com Although it cancelled a scaled down in-person event again this year, organizers of 45th annual Newport’s Seafood and Wine Festival are trying to keep the tradition alive by offering smaller alternatives this week to the annual celebration. The three-part celebration includes both in-person and virtual options. Anyone can take part in any or all of the

Yachats Ladies Club’s yummy “Pi Day Pie Sale” is open for orders

February 21, 2022

YACHATS — What better way is there to celebrate world math “Pi Day” on March 14 than with a handmade pie from the Yachats Ladies Club? In its second annual “Pi Day Pie Sale” fundraiser, the club is offering whole pies by pre-order only through March 8 — or until they’re sold out. At $25 each, the pies are already

State meteorologist predicts wet March, April but Oregon is still in third year of drought

February 21, 2022

Oregon got more snow this winter than normal but the state is still in a drought. (Oregon Department of Forestry, Flickr) By LYNNE TERRY/Oregon Capital Chronicle The current dry spell is likely to end soon but Oregon will need a lot of rain to help it recover after two years of drought. Pete Parson, lead meteorologist with the Oregon Department

Worried about sharing agreement with Seal Rock, Central Coast Fire board votes to hire two firefighters to fully staff its engines on all calls

February 21, 2022

By QUINTON SMITH and JORDAN ESSOE/YachatsNews.com WALDPORT – Sensing that a personnel-sharing agreement with Seal Rock is going to end soon, the Central Oregon Coast Fire & Rescue Board voted unanimously Thursday night to hire two more firefighters to ensure that engines are fully staffed when responding to calls. For the last two years the districts have shared personnel

Oregon State Police/Newport activity log Feb. 11-17

February 20, 2022

OREGON STATE POLICE DAILY MEDIA/DESK LOG SP22035292 02/11/2022 23:01 Officer #58625 STEWART, JOSHUA Towed vehicle – Abandoned/Hazard Location 101, Mile post 121, LINCOLN OR USA Narrative Summary On 02/11/2022 at approximately 11:00pm. A 911 caller reported a vehicle (Red Pontiac Grand Prix) fire on highway 101 near milepost 121 in Lincoln County. Upon arrival the vehicle fire was put out by the Depoe Bay

In first meeting with new city manager, Yachats council votes to again proceed with church repair estimate — after getting an earful of complaints

February 17, 2022

By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews.com YACHATS – Wednesday’s Yachats City Council meeting was probably not the way councilors wanted to show new city manager Heide Lambert how they operate. Just three days into her job, Lambert was thrust into the middle of a procedural mess and yet another long-running disagreement over proposed repairs to the city-owned Little Log Church Museum. Just

State Farm Insurance sues PacifiCorp for $10.5 million, blaming it for 2020 wildfire that destroyed much of the Otis community

February 17, 2022

By DANA TIMS/YachatsNews.com A wildfire that all but destroyed the community of Otis in September 2020 was caused by negligence when PacifiCorp failed to shut down its power lines in the area, according to a lawsuit filed against the utility in Lincoln County Circuit Court. The suit, filed on behalf of State Farm Fire and Casualty Company, seeks more