Inaugural “Big Blue” film festival at Hatfield Science Center designed to raise awareness of marine issues

January 17, 2023

By MICHELLE KLAMPE/OSU News Service NEWPORT – Sixteen ocean-themed films will be featured during the inaugural Big Blue Film Fest Friday and Saturday, Jan. 27-28 at Hatfield Marine Science Center. The festival is designed to raise awareness about marine issues and engage the community in scientific research in an entertaining way, organizers said. It is a new iteration of the popular

Waldport swears in two new council members, OKs new parking and garage rules and gets briefing on homeless laws

January 16, 2023

By KENNETH LIPP/YachatsNews WALDPORT — The Waldport city recorder swore in four councilors and the mayor for new terms Thursday, adding two more educators to the dais. Some of the Waldport City Council’s first regular meeting of the year was a housekeeping session. They scheduled a goal-setting workshop, divided up appointments to the various outside boards and committees on

Yachats Lions Club crab feed returns Saturday; ticket deadline is Wednesday

January 15, 2023

YACHATS – The Yachats Lions Club’s annual fundraising crab feed is returning to in-person dining Saturday as the Covid pandemic fades and Oregon’s commercial Dungeness crab season reopens. The deadline for ordering tickets is noon Wednesday. The pandemic forced the crab feed to on-line ordering and takeout meals the past two years. But the club is still making adjustments.

State’s lawyers ask Oregon Supreme Court to dissolve preliminary injunction blocking gun laws

January 14, 2023

By LILLIAM MONGEAU HUGHES/Oregon Public Broadcasting The Oregon Department of Justice filed a petition Friday asking the Oregon Supreme Court to dissolve a preliminary injunction that is keeping Oregon’s new gun laws from going into effect. Measure 114 was passed by voters on a tight margin and has been stuck in legal limbo ever since. Four cases were filed in

Decades after lobbying for Oregon Farm Bureau, new executive director returns to lead it

January 14, 2023

Greg Addington was previously executive director of the Klamath Water Users Association, a nonprofit focused on securing water access for Klamath Basin farmers and ranchers. . By ALEX BAUMHARDT/Oregon Capital Chronicle SALEM — One of Greg Addington’s first jobs out of college involved driving around the state talking with farmers and ranchers on behalf of the Oregon Farm Bureau. Now,

Back to work. After 40 years of creating stained glass art, Chuck Franklin’s retirement to Waldport didn’t last long

January 12, 2023

By JORDAN ESSOE/YachatsNews WALDPORT – At first it sounded good to finally set his grozing iron down. After more than 40 years of around-the-clock work, it seemed reasonable. Who wouldn’t be a little burned out from years of relentless deadlines? But some shops just won’t stay closed. Following three years of tending to the yard and assembling model trains

County commissioners begin long-awaited discussion on how and where to limit vacation rental licenses

January 12, 2023

By KENNETH LIPP/YachatsNews During its first open discussion on vacation rental license caps in nearly two years, Lincoln County commissioners Wednesday considered buffers to lower the density of rentals even though doing so would require changing the original ordinance. Commissioners adopted Ordinance 523 in October 2021, significantly expanding the county’s vacation rental regulations, but it was never fully implemented.

As climate warms, drier air likely to be more stressful than less rainfall for Douglas fir trees, according to new OSU study

January 12, 2023

By STEVE LUNDEBERG/OSU News Service CORVALLIS – Douglas-fir trees will likely experience more stress from drier air as the climate changes than they will from less rain, computer modeling by Oregon State University scientists shows. The research is important because Douglas fir are widespread throughout the Pacific Northwest, an iconic species with ecological, cultural and economic significance, and learning how

New audit says Oregon’s broadband office not prepared for federal infrastructure grants

January 12, 2023

An audit found that work needs to be done for Oregon to be ready to receive federal broadband funding. (Steven Puetzer/Getty Images) By JULIA SHUMWAY/Oregon Capital Chronicle SALEM — Oregon’s broadband office doesn’t have the staff or plans it needs to take advantage of up to $1 billion in federal money to expand internet access, according to an audit released

Yachats nonprofit seeks community comments for strategic planning

January 12, 2023

To the editor: View the Future, a Yachats-based non-profit organization, was founded in 2004 to help preserve, protect and enhance our area’s natural, cultural and recreational environment for the Yachats community and future generations. VtF has done many projects with partners over the years such as securing conservation easements with private landowners, raising funds and writing grants for local trail