The wheels on the bus go round and round all over Lincoln County as drivers shuttle passengers from Yachats to Rose Lodge

March 7, 2024

By GARRET JAROS/YachatsNews NEWPORT – Mile after miles fall away with the world outside passing like so many picture postcards as the Lincoln County Transit bus rolls through forests riven with streams and hidden sloughs seldom seen from any other vantage. “When you ride the bus, you get to look out and see views you don’t normally get to

Yachats city manager suspends disputed and expensive work on upgrading websites, computer systems

March 7, 2024

By GARRET JAROS/YachatsNews YACHATS – After getting apprised of a contractor’s work to upgrade the city of Yachats’ website and some digging to find out why some necessary approvals were not followed – city manager Bobbi Price decided this week that a fresh start is in order. That decision came after a presentation by the contractor – Oregon State

After six years of trying, COCF&R can now quickly launch rescue boat from floating dock at Port of Alsea

March 7, 2024

By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews WALDPORT – The next time there’s an emergency in Alsea Bay it shouldn’t take Central Oregon Coast Fire & Rescue firefighters very long to respond. The district – after six years of trying to find a quicker way to launch its 25-foot rescue boat – installed a floating (and submersible) dock this week at the Port

In landmark vote, Oregon lawmakers Thursday approve campaign finance limits — starting in 2027

March 7, 2024

By DIRK VANDERHART/Oregon Public Broadcasting SALEM — A bill to cap political giving in the state easily cleared the Oregon Senate on Thursday, in a landmark vote that could reshape how campaigns are run in the state. With a 22-6 vote, senators sent House Bill 4024 on to Gov. Tina Kotek, who has indicated she will sign it. Once fully

Plan to reduce logging, protect habitat in Oregon’s western state forests passes on split vote Thursday

March 7, 2024

By ALEX BAUMHARDT/Oregon Capital Chronicle Following years of planning, tense negotiations and heated public comment, a landmark plan to reduce logging in Oregon’s western state forests to protect threatened species is nearing the finish line. The Oregon Board of Forestry on Thursday voted to advance the Western Oregon State Forests Habitat Conservation Plan. It next goes to federal agencies for approval,

Bayshore off-leash dog injury leads to $900,000 negligence lawsuit

March 7, 2024

A 78-year-old resident of the Bayshore community north of Waldport is suing another resident and two dog sitters for $900,000 after an off-leash incident in March 2022 resulted in a broken leg and medical complications. Lawyers for Ilona Ridling, 78, filed a lawsuit Feb. 19 in Lincoln County circuit court accusing dog owner Denise Jensen and dog sitters Kristine Carey

Oregon’s legislative session will end this week without solution to wildfire funding issues

March 7, 2024

By ALEX BAUMHARDT/Oregon Capital Chronicle SALEM — Oregon legislators began their short session in February hoping to fill gaps in wildfire funding, with three bills to address landowner wildfire protection fees, home hardening, wildfire prevention and response, and survivor compensation. But those proposals failed. Only one proposal, Senate Bill 1520, which ensures wildfire survivors do not need to pay state income

Yachats researcher will talk about health, happiness at Samaritan event

March 7, 2024

Dean Schrock of Yachats has spent years researching the effects of happiness and health and concluding that positive emotions can help make life longer and healthier. Schrock will talk about health and happiness during a free seminar from 2-3:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 12 at the Samaritan Center for Health Education in Newport. Shrock will explain why there’s real sense for

Original Alsea Bay Bridge was one of 11 coastal spans designed by legendary engineer

March 6, 2024

Construction on the original 3,011-foot-long Alsea Bay Bridge was funded by the federal Public Works Administration and completed in 1936 after three years of work. It was one of 11 Oregon coast bridges designed by Conde McCullough, who was known for his art deco designs. The Alsea Bay Bridge was one of five PWA-funded bridges built over Alsea Bay,

Wyden reschedules Lincoln County town hall to March 16

March 6, 2024

Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore. has rescheduled his town hall in Lincoln County that he had to cancel in February because of votes in the Senate. Wyden’s Lincoln County town hall will be at noon, Saturday, March 16 at the Lincoln City Cultural Center, 540 N.E. Highway 101. He also rescheduled town halls in Tillamook, Clatsop and Polk counties that were