County buys property in Lincoln City for part of shelter program

March 16, 2024

Lincoln County has purchased a 2,000 square foot building one block off U.S. Highway 101 in the Oceanlake area of Lincoln City to serve as its second homeless shelter. Including closing costs, the price was $350,000, said Jayne Romero, director of the county’s Health & Human Services Department. The property at 1516 N.E. 14th St. had been used as a

Spring on Oregon coast is also herbicide spraying season

March 15, 2024

To the editor: At last, after suffering through ice storms, power outages and road closures we can take a deep breath, relax and enjoy the coming of Spring heralded by the recent sunny days, budding rhododendrons and blooming daffodils. Or can we? Along with Spring on the Oregon coast comes herbicide spray season, sometimes called “Spring Spray Fever.” For those

Lincoln County courts change juror notification mailing and systems

March 14, 2024

Prospective jurors in Lincoln County will be getting their notices with a new look beginning Monday and be able to do much of their communication online. Lincoln County trial court administrator Sally Bovett announced this week the court will send prospective jurors postcards with instructions for accessing online information and resources – all designed to make response and communication easier,

Short on staff and full of dogs and cats, Lincoln County animal shelter awaits hires and 2025 move to Waldport

March 14, 2024

By GARRET JAROS/YachatsNews NEWPORT – Two-year-old Texas has been passed over by a few potential adopters during his six-month stay at the Lincoln County Animal Shelter. It is not for lack of putting his best paw forward – he always does that – and then some. Which staff acknowledges may be what has left him behind when it comes to

Speaker tells Lincoln County economic conference that rural America isn’t declining, just changing

March 14, 2024

By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews Ben Winchester may have been dialing in from Minnesota, but he had a clear message for 75 people attending the 2024 Lincoln County Economic Summit on Thursday – rural communities aren’t dying, they’re just changing. They always have. They always will. There is no brain drain, said Winchester, a rural sociologist for the University of Minnesota

Delivery, addressing and staffing problems continue to plague Yachats Post Office despite congressional questions

March 14, 2024

By GARRET JAROS/YachatsNews YACHATS – The U.S. Postal Service has ended the Waldport postmaster’s oversight of the Yachats Post Office, but staffing and addressing issues continue to bedevil the operation. Waldport postmaster Tamara Hamilton, who stepped into the role of officer in charge of the Yachats post office after postmaster Chanda Kowitz left the job in January for undisclosed

Ceremonial ribbon cutting Monday heralds opening of second motel-to-apartment project in Lincoln County

March 14, 2024

By DANA TIMS/YachatsNews The newest chapter of an effort that began as a way to provide housing for wildfire victims and Covid-19 sufferers opens Monday with a ceremonial ribbon-cutting in Newport. The 1:30 p.m. gathering will mark the official opening of “Nate’s Place” – now refashioned from a former motel as a 33-unit facility offering transitional housing services. “It’s

Oregon’s congressional delegation asks federal help for January storm damage in Lincoln, 10 other counties

March 14, 2024

By LYNNE TERRY/Oregon Capital Chronicle In a rare show of unity, all eight members of Oregon’s congressional delegation urged the White House to declare a major disaster in Oregon following the devastating January ice storm that killed 17 people and pummeled much of the state. The appeal to President Joe Biden by both Democrats and Republicans follows a formal request

State health agency approves emergency takeover of struggling Corvallis Clinic

March 14, 2024

By AMELIA TEMPLETON/Oregon Public Broadcasting The Oregon Health Authority on Thursday granted emergency approval for a merger between the Corvallis Clinic and Optum Oregon, a division of the largest for-profit healthcare company in the country. Attorneys for the Corvallis Clinic said the business was running out of cash and would have to start layoffs and stop seeing patients unless

Agencies warn beachgoers about disturbing plover nesting areas

March 14, 2024

The Siuslaw National Forest and Oregon Parks and Recreation Department are urging beachgoers to help the recovery of the threatened western snowy plover by respecting nesting areas and beach restrictions during nesting season from mid-March through mid-September. Beachgoers will see signs and ropes that identify sensitive plover nesting areas and list restrictions, including dogs (even on a leash), vehicles,