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

Looking for a green thumb? Lincoln County Master Gardeners hold annual plant sale Saturday

May 18, 2023

NEWPORT — What better way to source the food or decorative plants that will fill your garden this year than from the Lincoln County Master Gardener Association? The group’s popular annual plant sale will be held in the newly-remodeled 4H barn at the Lincoln County Fairgrounds this Saturday, May 20. There will be more than 25 varieties of tomatoes,

Yachats commission denies variance for small building along Yachats Ocean Road

May 17, 2023

YACHATS – The Yachats Planning Commission voted unanimously Tuesday to deny a variance request by a homeowner along Yachats Ocean Road to build a 780-square-foot structure within 20 feet of the street. Richard Henkens Jr. owns a house and a triangular piece of property at 550 Yachats Ocean Road that intersects with U.S. Highway 101. He asked for a variance

Oregon governor and legislative leaders get good news Wednesday with robust revenue forecast

May 17, 2023

By PETER WONG/Oregon Capital Bureau Oregon lawmakers will have more money available for state spending, taxpayers are due record credits on their 2023 returns, and the state school fund will get a record amount from excess corporate income taxes. State economists delivered that news Wednesday, May 17, to members of the House and Senate revenue committees in Salem. This quarterly

Marine reserve researchers deploy sensors to see how water temperature and oxygen levels affect ocean life

May 17, 2023

By MARK FREEMAN/ODFW News Service NEWPORT – Ocean monitoring in Oregon’s five marine reserves is trying to unlock secrets about temperatures and oxygen levels known to impact groundfish and invertebrate activities, create stresses on ecosystems and even alter sport anglers’ catches. Some of the data go back two decades at what is now the Cape Perpetua Marine Reserve near

New rules by Gov. Kotek will require Oregon’s marijuana dispensaries to prove they paid taxes

May 16, 2023

Sol Sisters Farms in Independence grew marijuana for recreational use. (Oregon Department of Agriculture) By JULIA SHUMWAY/Oregon Capital Chronicle SALEM — Cannabis companies will need to prove they’ve paid their state taxes to receive licenses under new rules announced Tuesday. The new policy requested by Gov. Tina Kotek will require marijuana dispensaries to provide certificates from the Department of Revenue