Need help with state and federal tax returns? Eager volunteers available three days a week in Waldport

January 28, 2025

By KATHLEEN O’CONNOR/YachatsNews WALDPORT – Federal and state tax help from a real person. Yes, once again you can sit down with a trained tax preparer for help with filing your state and federal tax returns beginning Saturday, Feb. 1 and ending April 12. The program offered by the American Association of Retired Persons is available to everyone, not

Siletz Tribe purchases 2,000 acres of land in southern Oregon with significant Native history

January 28, 2025

By NIKA BARTOO-SMITH/Underscore News A stretch of land in Southern Oregon with historical significance, including the likely location of a treaty signing and near the site of a massacre, is returning to the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians. The Siletz announced the historic land return in November with the purchase of approximately 2,000 acres of privately owned land adjacent

5 Questions and A Secret: Central Lincoln’s Ticker Ekelund has long family history with the utility

January 28, 2025

By KATHLEEN O’CONNOR/YachatsNews Sixty-nine years of institutional history — that’s what Ticker Ekelund brings to his position as a serviceman for the Central Lincoln People’s Utility District. Ticker joined the Newport-based utility in 1998, following his stepfather who started in 1956 and at least 10 other extended family members. The family’s connections continued two years ago when his daughter

Merkley, Hoyle hold joint town hall Saturday in Newport

January 28, 2025

NEWPORT – Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore. and Rep. Val Hoyle, D-Ore. have scheduled a joint town hall beginning at noon Saturday, Feb. 1 at Oregon Coast Community College. The Newport visit is one of five town halls Merkley has scheduled the first weekend in February, including stops in Benton and Linn counties on Saturday and then two more in Lane

News release: Newport school locked down Friday during menacing incident

January 27, 2025

About 3 p.m. Friday, Jan. 24, the Newport Police Department and Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office responded to the area of Sam Case Elementary School on the report of a man who had a firearm and was acting threatening. The man, identified as Timothy A. Bottorff, 48, was located walking east bound on Northeast Eads Street near Northeast Seventh Street. Bottorff

News release: Newport police arrest man after drug bust Thursday

January 27, 2025

On Thursday, Jan. 23, at about 8:50 p.m. members of the Newport Police Department conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle occupied by Norman F. Casas, 51, as part of an ongoing narcotics investigation. Officers had received information that Casas was transporting a large quantity of narcotics inside of the vehicle. Officers had also received information that Casas was selling

Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek’s executive order on state construction work prompts outcry in Salem and beyond

January 26, 2025

By DIRK VANDERHART/Oregon Public Broadcasting SALEM — The most controversial policy being debated in Salem these days has nothing to do with the thousands of bills that have been introduced in the brand new legislative session. It’s an executive order issued by Gov. Tina Kotek late last year – one that offers a leg up to her labor union allies

News release: Lincoln City police arrest beach driver on DUII charges

January 26, 2025

LINCOLN CITY — On Saturday, Jan. 25, the Lincoln City police dispatch center began receiving multiple calls from people regarding a vehicle driving at a high rate of speed on the beach at D River. The driver departed southbound at a high rate of speed prior to police arrival. At the time numerous families were enjoying bonfires in the area

Fishing support group uses $50,000 in grants for commercial safety gear

January 26, 2025

NEWPORT – Members of Newport’s commercial crab fleet are a little safer this winter thanks to equipment purchased with more than $50,000 in grants to the Newport Fishermen’s Wives organization. The nonprofit received $44,925 from the Northwest Oregon Works maritime program and $6,750 from the Siletz Tribal Charitable Activities Fund to purchase safety equipment for Newport-area crabbers. With the money,

Rep. Hoyle announces subcommittee assignments for new session of Congress

January 26, 2025

Rep. Val Hoyle, who represents Oregon’s Fourth Congressional District including all of Lincoln County, has received her subcommittee assignments for the 119th Congress. In the House Committee on Natural Resources, Hoyle was selected to serve on its subcommittee on water, wildlife, and fisheries, in addition to an appointment to serve on its subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs. In the House