Lincoln County district attorney files lawsuit against commissioners in disagreement over blocked promotion of deputy

May 21, 2023

By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews Lincoln County district attorney Lanee Danforth has gone to court seeking to prohibit county commissioners from preventing her from creating a second chief deputy’s position and promoting someone to fill it. It’s the second public, personnel fight involving Danforth, who took office in 2021, and county commissioners in the past 18 months. Danforth filed suit

Florence woman dies in crash Wednesday east of Reedsport

May 19, 2023

REEDSPORT – A 79-year-old Florence woman died about noon Wednesday, May 17, when her car left Oregon Highway 38 about eight miles east of Reedsport and crashed into a tree. Oregon State Police said their preliminary investigation indicated a Chrysler PT Cruiser operated by Betty Ann Hodges of Florence was headed west on Highway 38 when it left the road

Lincoln City police arrest Otis man during child luring sting

May 19, 2023

News Release from Lincoln City Police Posted on FlashAlert: May 19th, 2023 12:21 PM During the months of April and May, Lincoln City police officers conducted several online child-luring investigations. Posing as underage children on various social media platforms, the undercover officers went online and were subsequently contacted by adults who offered to meet for sex with a person they

Owe Oregon taxes? Better pay up by July 14 or be on publicly published list

May 19, 2023

By The Oregonian/OregonLive People and businesses who fail to pay significant amounts of Oregon taxes could soon see their names plastered publicly on the state’s website. The Oregon Department of Revenue on July 14 will begin publishing a list of delinquent taxpayers who owe at least $50,000 in state taxes. The department plans to begin notifying affected taxpayers next week. Those who respond by paying their

Habitat for Humanity wins $360,000 state grant to help it build two more houses in Waldport for low-income families

May 18, 2023

By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews WALDPORT – Habitat for Humanity of Lincoln County has received a $360,000 grant from a statewide housing organization to help build two homes on property it owns in downtown Waldport. The two houses will be on lots next to two homes the organization built in 2013 and 2015 at Northwest Fayette and Commercial streets. Habitat for

Yachats council misses out on interviewing two candidates for interim manager’s job, will now look locally — again

May 18, 2023

By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews YACHATS – The city of Yachats has struck out on interviewing two potential interim city manager candidates but has scheduled time next week to possibly talk to a Yachats man about the job. Mayor Craig Berdie told councilors Thursday that an experienced former city manager who they had hoped to talk to about coming to Yachats

It’s beach season for harbor seals, sea lions and humans — and the experts would like to offer a few words of advice

May 18, 2023

By SUSAN PALMER/YachatsNews Mammals — both marine and terrestrial — are headed for Oregon beaches this spring and Jim Rice would like a word with the humans. Rice, stranding program manager for Oregon State University’s Marine Mammal Institute, is the guy who gets the call when people stumble on seals and sea lions — the charismatic megafauna that can

Third of Oregon Senate now barred from re-election by penalties of 13-day GOP-led walkout

May 18, 2023

By GARY A. WARNER/Oregon Capital Bureau SALEM — One third of all Oregon senators are now ineligible for another term following the 13th day of a Republican walkout in the Senate. Six more Republicans on Thursday joined three Republicans and one conservative Independent in having at least 10 unexcused absences from Senate floor session roll calls. That triggers a new

Eugene doctors and first responders honor Olive Garden employees who used CPR to save Waldport man

May 18, 2023

By KENDALL BARTLEY/KVAL-TV EUGENE — There were terrifying moments at the entrance to the Olive Garden restaurant in Eugene last year, when George Koskela of Waldport suddenly collapsed in cardiac arrest. “I will never forget the way he looked… you could tell he was gone,” said his wife, Sherry Koskela. “You could tell that he wasn’t there anymore, and

Second annual “Bloom Newport” takes place Saturday at Performing Arts Center

May 18, 2023

NEWPORT — It started as the bud of an idea, then blossomed into a full event packed with dancing, shopping, activities and more. The second annual Bloom Newport community celebration will once again take place at the Newport Performing Arts Center this Saturday, May 20. The fun will blossom from 3-7 p.m. at the Newport Performing Arts Center, located