NOAA recommends Wednesday that sunflower sea stars be protected under Endangered Species Act

March 15, 2023

By CATRIN EINHORN/The New York Times Sunflower sea stars, huge starfish that until recently thrived in waters up and down the west coast of North America, are threatened with extinction and should be protected under the Endangered Species Act, federal officials said Wednesday. The starfish have been devastated by a wasting syndrome that has been linked to the effects

Alarmed about impacts to fisheries, West Coast council asks feds to start over on Oregon wind energy studies

March 15, 2023

BY DANA TIMS/YachatsNews An influential group charged with helping manage West Coast fisheries is asking the federal government to completely start over with plans for floating offshore wind energy development. The Pacific Fishery Management Council, meeting recently in Seattle, cited fishing sustainability concerns in approving a resolution asking that two “call areas” already approved off the southern Oregon coast be

Yachats Fire board agrees to pay — but uncertain how much — two administrators for also volunteering

March 15, 2023

By KENNETH LIPP/YachatsNews YACHATS — The Yachats Rural Fire Protection District board voted Monday to potentially pay tens of thousands of dollars into retirement accounts for two employees in recognition of their years of dual volunteer service, payments they missed since 2016. Another volunteer could receive their first, smaller contribution. The fire board voted in 2015 to participate in

Oregon legislators hear pleas to help fund drug and alcohol treatment centers, including one in Newport

March 14, 2023

By BEN BOTKIN/Oregon Capital Chronicle SALEM — In Lincoln County, nearly one in 20 adults have an addiction. Yet the county lacks a residential facility to house and treat people who suffer from drug and alcohol addictions, forcing them to seek help in Baker City, which is sometimes the closest option but far from family and friends. County and

New Waldport regulations on takeout food containers will go into effect July 1 after city council vote

March 13, 2023

WALDPORT — Get ready to ditch those foam and plastic food takeout containers July 1. The city of Waldport officially moved ahead with a tough, new ordinance on most food containers during a brief city council hearing and unanimous vote last week. The quick action – there was no opposition — followed a more detailed presentation and longer discussion

Dwindling Chinook stocks forces ODFW to cancel commercial and some recreational salmon fishing along much of the Oregon coast

March 12, 2023

By ALANNA MADDON/Courthouse News Service An extremely low “abundance” of California Chinook salmon stocks and projected low spawning escapements has led to the cancellation of the upcoming commercial and recreational salmon fishing season along much of the Oregon coast. The announcement Thursday came in two parts from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, with both actions canceling fishing seasons

Waldport library announces contest for young writers with $200 top prize

March 12, 2023

WALDPORT — Continuing its tradition of more than 10 years, the Waldport Public Library is urging young writers to “Find Your Voice” in the 2023 Young Writers’ Competition. This year, the theme aligns with the summer reading program theme, and the prompt or premise is “How will you find your voice?” detailed as “What matters to you? Do you express

School district puts downtown Waldport property back on the market — getting same interest plus donation request from fire district

March 12, 2023

By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews The Lincoln County School District has put its 2.81-acre property in downtown Waldport back on the market – and already has two offers that led it to pull the listing last fall. In addition to two purchase offers, however, the Central Coast Fire & Rescue District Volunteer Association is asking the district to donate the property

Former college president urges yes vote on trades bond in May election

March 12, 2023

To the editor: This May, Lincoln County residents have the opportunity to vote yes on a trades training bond at Oregon Coast Community College. Now is the time to add training facilities in Lincoln County that will support career training in skilled trades needed locally and statewide, such as welding/fabrication, construction, maritime engineering, mechatronics and other vocational trades. Providing these

After some debate over concepts and specifics, Yachats city council adopts six goals for 2023

March 11, 2023

YACHATS — The Yachats city council has adopted its goals for the year, opting for broader concepts and excluding more specific objectives. The council began its March 3 work session relatively far apart on what form the goals should take. Mayor Craig Berdie and councilor Catherine Whitten-Carey favored a more detailed product, breaking down overall goals into measurable outcomes,