Lincoln County commissioners pass 1-year moratorium on new vacation rental licenses as they wait for judge’s decision

August 17, 2023

By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews While they wait for a judge’s ruling on vacation rental regulations, Lincoln County commissioners took the pre-emptive step Friday of putting a 1-year moratorium on issuing new licenses in case the judge tosses out the contested rules. Circuit pro-tem judge Joseph Allison said at the end of a 5-hour hearing Wednesday that he intended to rule

Yachats businesswoman’s attempt to provide workforce housing on land zoned for forest use may land her in court

August 17, 2023

By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews Linda Hetzler is the well-known owner and operator of a popular restaurant, a small hardware store and a boutique hotel in Yachats and knows the struggles many of her 80 employees have finding places to live. “All of the businesses in Yachats are just screaming for help,” she says. “We have people in cars, in tents,

Yachats council agrees to seek grant to help buy $230,000 tourist trolley, but wants more information on operating costs

August 17, 2023

By GARRET JAROS/YachatsNews The light was green at the Yachats city council meeting Wednesday as councilors put the wheels in motion to pursue a local trolley service, a plan for emergency preparedness, secure a backup water supply, shift its interim city manager to a four-day work week, and codify height limits for fences, walls and hedges. Despite reservations about

NOAA recommends $106 million in salmon and steelhead recovery grants for five Western states

August 17, 2023

By JACOB FISCHLER/States News Service The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is recommending sending $106 million to 16 salmon and steelhead recovery efforts in five Western states, the federal agency said Thursday. NOAA and the Department of Commerce recommended grants to state agencies with salmon protection missions, tribes and tribal partnerships in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Washington and California. The funding

After uproar, consultant says it’s “highly unlikely” Beaver Creek timberland owner will proceed with aerial spraying

August 17, 2023

By GARRET JAROS/YachatsNews SEAL ROCK – A plan to spray herbicides from a helicopter on 473 acres of clearcuts in the South Beaver Creek watershed by a private timber owner is unlikely to happen anytime soon, a company representative said Tuesday. “It’s highly unlikely we will be doing the aerial spraying at this point,” Tyrol Forfar, a consultant who

DUII-related crash closes Yaquina Bay Bridge Thursday morning

August 17, 2023

News release from the Newport Police Department: On Thursday August 17th, 2023 at approximately 7:33 AM, Newport Police Officers were dispatched to a one vehicle crash on the south end of the Yaquina Bay Bridge. Callers reported a vehicle had struck the bridge railing and was blocking the southbound lane of travel. Officers arrived on scene and located the

Toledo’s annual wooden boat show launches Saturday with all types of crafts and music too

August 17, 2023

By Oregon Coast TODAY TOLEDO — Big boats, little boats, handmade boats and even antique boats — as long as they are made from wood, or, for one event, wood pulp, they are welcome at the Port of Toledo’s annual Wooden Boat Show. Located at Toledo’s Waterfront Park, this family-friendly event is Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 19-20. Wooden boats

Eugene team becomes “Exploding Whales” Saturday to benefit Newport institute

August 17, 2023

A minor-league baseball promotion rooted in a quirky bit of Oregon history will culminate this weekend in Eugene with a fundraising auction to benefit Oregon State University’s Marine Mammal Institute in Newport. The Eugene Emeralds, an affiliate of the San Francisco Giants, have played several games this season using the alternate identity Eugene Exploding Whales. The moniker is a nod

Lincoln City Cultural Center has opening reception for two new shows featuring paintings, basketry

August 16, 2023

By Oregon Coast TODAY LINCOLN CITY — Friday will be a big day at the Lincoln City Cultural Center, with an opening reception for two new shows, “Flight of Fancy, Moments of Doubt” by Angela Passalacqua the Columbia Basin Basketry Guild show. Guests can also view new work from cultural center members in the hallway exhibit area. The opening reception

Federal energy agency asks for public comment on two Oregon coast sites slated for floating offshore wind farms

August 16, 2023

By DANA TIMS/YachatsNews Most of Oregon’s congressional delegation is hailing what they call a 60-day pause in federal efforts to develop floating offshore wind-energy platforms off the southern Oregon coast. Their comments, made in a letter to the director of the federal agency overseeing wind-energy planning, came after the government identified two draft “wind energy areas” off Coos Bay