Former colleague supports Hall for re-election to commission

October 12, 2024

To the editor: I am writing in support of Commissioner Claire Hall’s candidacy to retain her seat as Lincoln County commissioner. I have had the honor of working with Claire in the past while reporting for the Newport News Times, through other organizations, and most recently as a friend. Claire is and continues to be one of the most prominent

4th Congressional District debate Friday draws packed, vocal crowd in Eugene

October 12, 2024

By ALEX BAUMHARDT/Oregon Capital Chronicle EUGENE — Every chair in Eugene’s WOW Hall was filled Friday afternoon for lively forum between four candidates vying to represent the 4th District in Congress. Many of the more than 100 attendees at the event hosted by the Eugene City Club appeared to have made up their minds about the candidates. Many sported campaign

Neighbor says Kilduff will add transparency to Waldport city hall

October 11, 2024

To the editor: I have lived across the street from Melaia Kilduff for five years. In those five years I have witnessed her life with her family, I watched as she transitioned from teacher to working from home, and I have seen her step into city leadership with confidence and integrity. Two years ago, following a public conflict with city

Lincoln County health department announces flu shot clinics

October 11, 2024

Lincoln County Public Health has scheduled vaccine clinics throughout the county this month. No appointment is necessary, but people getting shots are asked to bring insurance information or let clinicians know if you do not have insurance, health officials said. The health department said is it working to secure Covid-19 vaccines, which will be offered alongside flu vaccines once they

YachatsNews asks readers’ help to continue filling reporting gaps in Lincoln County’s “news desert”

October 10, 2024

By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews Not everyone is as keen on covering the news or reading about it as your staff at YachatsNews – its editor, reporter and freelancers. But for many Lincoln County residents or people who have an interest here, local news reporting is one of the vital ways to keep informed on issues or events. Hopefully, it’s just

Yachats council will review appraisal of proposed clearcut property south of city on Tuesday

October 10, 2024

By GARRET JAROS/YachatsNews YACHATS – Whether the view in Yachats will include a clearcut at the south end of town is uncertain. But not for long. Efforts to stop the potential logging began shortly after landowner Clemente Rocha of San Jose filed notice with the Oregon Department of Forestry in June to cut 20 acres of his 40-acre parcel

Beachcomber supporters pack Waldport council meeting to protest permit suspensions

October 10, 2024

By QUINTON SMITH and GARRET JAROS/YachatsNews WALDPORT – Citing what it believes are “financial irregularities,” the city of Waldport says it has stopped its permission for Waldport Beachcomber Days to use city property until the nonprofit clears up questions on a variety of funding and legal reporting issues. More than 50 Beachcomber volunteers and supporters packed a city council

New report on dozens of measures and benchmarks paints troubling, challenging picture for Lincoln County

October 10, 2024

By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews A new by-the-numbers report by a southern Oregon foundation that focuses on rural issues paints a troubling and challenging picture of Lincoln County on subjects ranging from education to food insecurity and child poverty to family financial hardship. The “Oregon by the Numbers” report by Roseburg-based The Ford Family Foundation is the seventh it has issued

Government announces Social Security payments for millions of Americans will increase by 2.5 percent in 2025

October 10, 2024

By JULIE WEIL/The Washington Post Social Security recipients will see a 2.5 percent increase in their monthly checks next year, the federal government announced Thursday. It’s a smaller hike than in recent years, which was expected given the cooling of inflation. Soaring prices in recent years brought unusually large cost-of-living increases in benefit checks, since Social Security payouts are automatically adjusted once a

After five years of planning, county officials stage ceremonial groundbreaking for animal shelter in Waldport

October 10, 2024

By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews WALDPORT – By this time next year a $5 million Lincoln County animal shelter with plenty of room for dogs and cats and where employees can better care for them should be up and operating at the edge of an industrial park in Waldport. With heavy machinery growling in the background, a phalanx of public officials,