Dick Anderson, GOP senator from Lincoln County plans to file for re-election

July 30, 2023

There are 67 weeks until the November 2024 election, but some campaigns have set their alarm clocks extra early. The Oregon Senate Republican Caucus said three senators who did not miss 10 or more floor sessions this legislative session plan to file for re-election. They are Dick Anderson of Lincoln City, David Brock Smith of Port Orford, and Fred Girod

Oregon governor indicates Friday she will let legislation allowing self-service gasoline to become law in early August

July 28, 2023

By DIRK VANDERHART/Oregon Public Broadcasting After five decades, Oregon’s ban on self-serve gas is about to come to a close. Gov. Tina Kotek on Friday gave notice that she plans to veto two bills and four budget items passed by lawmakers in the frenetic final days of this year’s legislative session. Most notably, the governor’s veto pen is targeting $600,000 that would

Is a drug and alcohol rehab facility a good fit for Bayshore? More than 100 residents say “no” during special HOA meeting Wednesday

July 27, 2023

By GARRET JAROS/YachatsNews BAYSHORE – A Colorado company considering buying the Alsi Resort and transforming it into a drug rehabilitation facility ran into a united wall of “not in our backyard” during a special meeting of the Bayshore Homeowners Association Wednesday evening. If the missing welcome mat left any doubt how the standing-room only crowd felt about having Sunshine

Samaritan’s two Lincoln County hospitals emerge from pandemic in strong financial shape, but face persistent staffing issues

July 27, 2023

By CHRISTIAN WIHTOL/YachatsNews With the pandemic over and Samaritan Pacific Communities Hospital in Newport back to regular operations, the four-year-old facility is proving stunningly popular with record numbers of patients. That has turned the landmark campus just off U.S. Highway 101 into a strong financial engine — at least for now — for its nonprofit owner, Samaritan Health Services.

There’s no Bronny James in these parts, but Yachats — and maybe Waldport soon — is installing defibrillators around town

July 27, 2023

By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews When – not if – someone in the Yachats Commons has a cardiac arrest they now have a better chance at survival thanks to a recently-installed defibrillator in the hallway outside the multipurpose room. And there will be four more placed soon in city facilities – and maybe even one in a downtown Yachats business to

Threatened snowy plovers having a very successful nesting season — so far — on the central Oregon coast

July 27, 2023

By DANA TIMS/YachatsNews Lincoln County’s narrow beaches can make life difficult for western snowy plovers, those diminutive, long-endangered birds that nest in small crevices along the sand. Take last year, for instance. Volunteers counted a total of 29 nests scattered between Newport and Yachats. After torrential rains hit in June, during peak nesting season, only five surviving nests produced

Kotek celebrates new housing laws but says more work needs to be done; stays mum on self-service gas legislation

July 27, 2023

Gov. Tina Kotek signs housing bills in Salem on Thursday. By JULIA SHUMWAY/Oregon Capital Chronicle SALEM — The Oregon Legislature made progress this year on addressing the state’s housing crisis with new policies and $1.2 billion in new spending on housing and homelessness but more work needs to be done, Gov. Tina Kotek said Thursday. Flanked by legislators and homeless

Lincoln County racing to open its first emergency homeless shelters by October, but faces hurdles with staffing, locations

July 27, 2023

By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews Lincoln County officials are on an aggressive timeline to set up a winter emergency shelter program for the homeless within the next two months, seeking someone to manage the effort and working with other organizations to coordinate services. But the effort faces issues with finding the right buildings in Newport and Lincoln City to house the

Hikers find body Tuesday in remote campsite along Yachats River

July 27, 2023

YACHATS – Lincoln County Search & Rescue crews recovered the body Tuesday of a person found by hikers in a remote campsite along the Yachats River. In a news release, the sheriff’s office said the body had been “exposed to the environment for a prolonged period” and that they had made a tentative identification. The sheriff’s office said more forensic

Waldport-based hiking group aims to get people together to socialize and explore the many coastal trails

July 27, 2023

By BARBARA B. COVELL/Oregon Coast TODAY WALDPORT — Part of what lures people to the Oregon coast is the bounty of recreational opportunities. Both water and land based activities offer excitement, beauty and challenges. For many it is the hiking and walking trails that bring peace of mind, measured exercise and photographic moments to take in the lush beauty