New $30,000 reader board at Yachats Commons designed to improve safety, communication for everyone

May 2, 2024

By GARRET JAROS/YachatsNews YACHATS – People passing by the Yachats Commons now have a high-resolution nod to modernity with the debut Thursday of an electronic reader board. Safety concerns triggered the upgrade from the old board with its manually-maneuvered individual block letters. “We will be able to change the wording on the new one from an app on our

April rainfall was slightly below normal, but 2024 amounts still very high

May 2, 2024

Even though rainfall for the year is running quite a bit above average, central Oregon coast weather in April was pretty unremarkable. Even YachatsNews’ weather watchers described it as “ho hum.” Maybe that’s a good thing for spring. “We did have a stretch of very nice weather in the middle of the month,” said weather watcher Adam Altson of Yachats. “It

Demand for electricity in Northwest projected to grow 30% in decade, triple previous estimates

May 2, 2024

By ALEX BAUMHARDT/Oregon Capital Chronicle Electricity demand in the Northwest is expected to grow more than 30% in the next decade, or about 5% more than estimated last year and triple the prediction three years ago, industry experts said in a new report. Large data centers, an increase in high-tech manufacturing and growing electrification in homes, buildings and transportation are

Phyllis Joan Caswell, former Yachats resident

May 2, 2024

Phyllis Joan Caswell Oct. 4, 1943 – April 21, 2024 Former Yachats resident Phyllis Joan Caswell of Milpitas, Calif. passed away April 21, 2024, in Mountain View, Calif. after a short battle with cancer. She was 80. Phyllis Joan Caswell was born in Evanston, Ill. to Robert and Wanda Reitz on Oct. 4, 1943. She graduated from St. Patrick Academy

After rousing first community dance, Yachats group stages another Saturday in series of free musical gatherings

May 2, 2024

By CHERYL ROMANO/YachatsNews YACHATS — You don’t have to be in recovery to enjoy an alcohol-free dance party. That point was made emphatically last winter when almost 100 people turned out for what was billed at the time as a “sober dance party” at the Yachats Commons. “That was a real eye-opener,” said local businesswoman Cheri Capron. So much

Newport-area community celebrates 67th Loyalty Days and Sea Fair Festival with three days of events

May 2, 2024

By Oregon Coast TODAY NEWPORT — Started in response to a proclamation signed by President Eisenhower in 1958, Loyalty Days events began popping up around the country. Now in its 67th year, the Newport event continues to salute veterans while also honoring and remembering members of the local fishing industry. This year’s Loyalty Days and Sea Fair Festival, running

Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek apologizes Wednesday and ends plans to expand first lady’s role after pushback

May 1, 2024

By JULIA SHUWAY/Oregon Capital Chronicle SALEM — After weeks of criticism from within and outside her office and the departure of key staff, Gov. Tina Kotek is abandoning plans to expand first lady Aimee Kotek Wilson’s role in the office. Kotek announced her change of heart in a statement Wednesday and answered questions from reporters during an afternoon news

UO president rejects demands of students wanting school to cut ties with Israel

May 1, 2024

Organizers began setting up Monday morning on the University of Oregon campus in Eugene. They say the encampment isn’t intended to interfere with campus activities or classes. By NATHAN WILK/KLCC News EUGENE — University of Oregon President John Karl Scholz has responded to the demands of the student encampment on the school’s Eugene campus. Pro-Palestinian student groups have been

1,000 survivors of 2020 Oregon wildfires file $30 billion “mass complaint” lawsuit against PacifiCorp

May 1, 2024

By ZACH URNESS/Salem Statesman Journal One-thousand Oregon wildfire survivors are suing PacifiCorp for $30 billion in the latest lawsuit filed as part of the massive class action lawsuit over the 2020 Labor Day wildfires. The complaint, filed Monday in Multnomah County court, lists 1,000 names of people impacted by four wildfires that a jury last year found the utility at fault

Coastal choir wrapping up season with weekend concerts

May 1, 2024

Four choir concerts over two weekends in May will mark the end of the performance season for Coastal Voices, formerly the Central Coast Chorale. The concerts by the 50-voice community choir, themed “Spring Homage”, will take place in Newport, Yachats and Lincoln City: Saturday, May 4: Newport Performing Arts Center, $25; Sunday, May 5: Yachats Community Presbyterian Church, $20; Saturday,