Proposed legislation allowing liability waivers is bad policy and needs to die

February 18, 2023

To the editor: Lincoln County legislators Sen. Dick Anderson, R-Lincoln City and Rep. David Gomberg, D-Otis, are among sponsors of a horrible bill that would rob consumers who suffer terrible injuries of the ability to sue river raft trip operators, ski areas, companies that rent mountain bikes and other recreation outfitters for ordinary negligence. When I was younger, I paid

Friday fire heavily damages home on Pacific View in Waldport

February 18, 2023

WALDPORT – A deputy state fire marshal is investigating the cause of a house fire that extensively damaged a home Friday on Southwest Pacific View Street in Waldport. Smoke from the mid-morning fire could be seen around much of the city as crews from three departments fought the blaze. Four occupants of the house and four of their five dogs

With goal of maintaining educational momentum, Lincoln County School District board votes 4-1 to hire Tolan as next superintendent

February 16, 2023

By KENNETH LIPP/YachatsNews Majalise Tolan likes data and sports. She likes being in school buildings and with students. She likes reading — her goal is 100 books a year — and loves the New York Yankees. Now she’ll have to bring her passion to the 5,000 students and 600 employees as superintendent of the Lincoln County School District. The

Don’s Place — the only cold-weather emergency homeless shelter in Lincoln County — opened this week in Yachats

February 16, 2023

By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews YACHATS – David Jones has been homeless a long time, but making it through the winters on the Oregon coast is especially tough. There’s the rain, the cold, all your personal belongings to keep track of and care for. “I must have gone through 8-10 tents the last two years,” Jones said Thursday. “I’ve been through

Idaho House passes non-binding measure calling for formal ‘Greater Idaho’ talks with Oregon

February 16, 2023

One of the proposed “Greater Idaho” maps, which calls for several Eastern Oregon counties to secede and join Idaho. By CLARK CORBIN/Idaho Capital Sun BOISE — With a wink and a smirk the Idaho House of Representatives on Wednesday passed a nonbinding memorial calling for formal talks between the Idaho and Oregon legislatures to discuss moving some rural Oregon counties

Oregon Coast CC board votes unanimously to ask voters in May for $32 million for new trades building

February 16, 2023

By KENNETH LIPP/YachatsNews The Oregon Coast Community College board is moving forward with a May ballot question – asking Lincoln County voters to approve $32 million in bonds to build a cutting-edge trades education center on its main campus in South Beach. During the board’s monthly meeting Wednesday, chair Chris Chandler directed business quickly between the agenda’s action items following lengthier

Lincoln County Historical Society hopes for rejuvenation of heritage center, volunteers and finances with series of programs

February 16, 2023

By OREGON ARTS WATCH NEWPORT — When guests sit down to the Crab Krack hosted by the Pacific Maritime Heritage Center on Sunday, it will be thanks to the generosity of countless strangers – fishermen, artists, businesses, and, of course, the visitors and members who support the center. Like nonprofits everywhere, the maritime center exists largely through the largesse

Chair of embattled OLCC board resigns Thursday at governor’s request following Wednesday defense of agency

February 16, 2023

By JULIA SHUMWAY/Oregon Capital Chronicle Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission chairman Paul Rosenbaum resigned Thursday, one day after delivering a fiery defense of the state’s liquor agency and how it handled a bourbon hoarding scandal. Gov. Tina Kotek requested his resignation, Kotek spokeswoman Elisabeth Shepard confirmed to the Capital Chronicle. Shepard declined to comment on the reason the governor wanted

Oregon’s recreation industry making big push in 2023 Legislature for bill to limit injury lawsuits

February 16, 2023

By GARY A. WARNER/Oregon Capital Bureau The long battle over Oregon’s unique recreational liability standard was renewed Wednesday at a hearing in the state Capitol on a bill to limit lawsuits by those injured while using ski resorts, gyms, on rafting trips or in community marathons. Senate Bill 754 would overturn an Oregon Supreme Court ruling in the case of

Oregon Court of Appeals rejects “Second Amendment Sanctuary Ordinance” by Columbia County voters

February 16, 2023

By ANNA DEL SAVIO and AURORA BIGGERS/Oregon Capital Bureau An ordinance that aimed to prevent the enforcement of most state and federal firearm regulations within Columbia County is void, the Oregon Court of Appeals ruled Wednesday. The “Second Amendment Sanctuary Ordinance” is pre-empted by state law and can’t be enforced, the court found. Columbia County voters approved measures in 2018