Fish and Wildlife commission OKs new rules for commercial crab gear

August 8, 2023

The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission, as expected, has indefinitely adopted regulations intended to reduce whale entanglements from deep vertical ropes that connect surface buoys with commercial crabbing gear. The regulations, which are scheduled to be reviewed in two years, were unanimously endorsed by commissioners at a meeting in Salem on Friday. Without the action, the rules would have automatically

Central Coast fire board hires investigator to examine allegations surrounding chief’s response to accident involving wife

August 8, 2023

By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews WALDPORT – The Central Oregon Coast Fire & Rescue board voted during a special meeting last week to hire an outside investigator to sort out chief Jamie Mason’s response to a July 2 auto accident involving his wife. The investigation is expected to take 3-4 weeks. Ericka Mason was pulling onto U.S. Highway 101 at North Bayview

Some scholarships available for OCCC’s year-long business program

August 8, 2023

A limited number of $900 tuition scholarships are available this fall for anyone enrolling in the small business management program at Oregon Coast Community College, thanks to donations from the city of Lincoln City and Northwest Oregon Works. “We’re encouraging anyone who’s considering applying for the small business management courses to reach out soon,” said David Price, OCCC’s vice president

SW Lincoln Water district embarks on more than $6 million in pipe, valve upgrades with grants, loans, and rate increase

August 8, 2023

By GARRET JAROS/YachatsNews The growing special service district that provides water to 1,400 customers from Yachats to south Waldport is embarking on more than $6 million in infrastructure projects to repair valves and replace miles of deteriorating pipes. While much of the work is being done via grants and low-interest loans, the Southwest Lincoln County Water Public Utility District’s

Big ship moves just offshore north of Waldport to begin new phase of OSU’s PacWave project

August 8, 2023

By MICHELLE KLAMPE/OSU News Service WALDPORT — The next step in Oregon State University’s construction of a wave energy testing facility off the Oregon coast is now visible to residents and visitors to the area. Crews are working on shore and from a vessel anchored about a mile offshore from Driftwood Beach State Recreation Site north of Waldport. The

Yachats chess club open to players of all skill levels Sunday

August 7, 2023

YACHATS – A fledging chess club in Yachats is inviting players of any skill level to its next session Sunday, Aug. 13. The Yachats Chess Club meets every other Sunday at 1 p.m. in the loft area above the lounge at the Adobe Resort. Chess players of all skill levels are invited, said organizer Don Phipps. Chess club members play

25-year-old Central Coast Chorale changes name, keeps vision

August 6, 2023

The board and members of Central Coast Chorale, a community chorus since 1998, have changed the group’s name to Coastal Voices, as part of a newly developed post-pandemic vision. The Central Coast Chorale group — now Coastal Voices — has performed seasonal vocal music up and down the central Oregon coast for 25 years at venues located primarily in Yachats,

Forest Service firefighter killed in Coos County truck accident

August 6, 2023

COQUILLE — A 21-year-old U.S. Forest Service firefighter from Colorado working in the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest died Friday after a pickup truck they were in left the road near Powers in Coos County. The U.S. Forest Service identified the firefighter as Benjamin C. Sapper of Boulder, Colo. The agency said in a news release Sapper was a first-year hand

Highway 101 crash near Coos Bay kills couple from Port Orford

August 6, 2023

COOS BAY – A couple from Port Orford were killed Wednesday night 10 miles south of Coos Bay when their car sideswiped loaded chip trailer and then collided with an oncoming vehicle. Killed were Wayne C. Lannin, and his wife, Melida Lennin, both 79, Oregon State Police said. Police said the accident occurred about 7:30 p.m. Wednesday when the Lannin’s

OHA ends public health advisory for Seal Rock beach

August 6, 2023

SEAL ROCK — The Oregon Health Authority on Friday lifted a public health advisory for contact with ocean water at Seal Rock beach three days after water samples showed higher-than-normal levels of fecal bacteria in ocean waters. Results from follow-up tests taken by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality showed lower bacteria levels, the OHA said in a news release