Newport mural artist Casey McEneny is applying his talent — and paint — to Astoria’s old armory building

July 16, 2025

By MIKE FRANCIS/Lincoln Chronicle ASTORIA — Casey McEneny and friend Jay Scott receive lots of encouragement as they apply vibrant colors to the north wall of Astoria’s old armory building. They’ve been fed fish and chips by the Bowpicker crew across the street. They’ve gotten compliments from assorted passersby — folks living on the streets to tourists who stopped

Yachats Fire board sets March deadline for decision on ambulance service

July 15, 2025

By GARRET JAROS/Lincoln Chronicle YACHATS — The Yachats Rural Fire Protection District board Monday set a deadline of March 31, 2026 to reach a decision on whether it wants to continue its current staffing agreement with South Lincoln Ambulance. The deadline will need to be agreed upon by the three-member board of the nonprofit ambulance service before taking effect.

Lincoln City council terminates its temporary city manager

July 15, 2025

LINCOLN CITY – The Lincoln City council has terminated their pro-tem city manager after a month on the job. The city council hired David Benson of Tillamook to be its temporary manager in May after Daphnee Legarza resigned after three years in the job. Benson had more than 30 years of local government experience under his belt including the role

Newport’s airport awarded $650,000 for new weather data system

July 15, 2025

More than $5 million in federal funds are coming to airports across Oregon, including Newport’s city-run airport. On Monday, Oregon senators and representatives announced $5.15 million in grants from the Federal Aviation Administration would be divided between airports in Newport, Aurora, Portland, Salem, John Day, and Brookings. Newport will receive $650,000 for a new automated weather observing system that provides

5 Questions and a Secret: Custom bike builder finds his home and business niche on the coast

July 15, 2025

By KATHLEEN O’CONNOR/Lincoln Chronicle When bicycle riders become really serious about their transportation, they start to dream about having a custom bike built specifically for their needs. If they are cyclists who are commuters or are planning days-long or months-long rides, they might hope to have a touring bike made by Joseph Ahearne of Newport. Besides being an expert

Yes, there is a free lunch (and breakfast) at four school locations this summer

July 14, 2025

Lincoln County School District is again offering free breakfasts and lunches this summer for any child 18 years and under. Four locations in the county will serve the grab-and-go meals – Sam Case Elementary in Newport, Toledo Elementary, Oceanlake Elementary in Lincoln City and DaNoble House in Waldport. The program began Monday and will run every weekday until Aug. 15

With federal funds uncertain, Lincoln County says bus services OK — for now

July 14, 2025

Although uncertainties with federal funding have caused some transit agencies in rural Oregon to limit services, that won’t be the case in Lincoln County – yet. New revisions to an agreement between rural transit agencies and the federal Transportation Administration requires compliance with federal immigration enforcement action, which contradicts Oregon’s sanctuary law. The new requirement caused federal transit funds to

Avelos Airlines announces end of flights to and from Eugene, Salem

July 14, 2025

The low-cost Avelo Airlines will cease serving four Oregon cities in December as it closes its operations based in Burbank, Calif, and discontinue its West Coast flights, the company announced Monday. Avelo’s closure of its West Coast operations will affect weekly or twice-weekly service to Eugene, Salem, Redmond, and Medford. Redmond and Medford are served by other airlines, but Avelo’s

Warrant issued for driver involved in Yachats hit-and-runs July 8

July 14, 2025

A Lincoln County judge has issued an arrest warrant for a southern Oregon man who was involved in a series of hit-and-run vehicle accidents in downtown Yachats on July 8 and arrested hours later in Coos County. But Jason W. Rountree of Kerby, Ore. was released from jail July 9 and failed to appear as promised at his arraignment the

Duncan B. Jones, Newport

July 14, 2025

Duncan B. Jones, Newport April 28, 1992 – July 4, 2025 Duncan Baxter Jones died at home in Newport on July 4, 2025, following a long illness. He was 33. Born on April 28, 1992, in Newport, Duncan lived a life full of a variety of activities and fun. He was a talented athlete and participated in youth sports including