Central coast theater group celebrates 50 years with retrospective of its past plays

October 30, 2024

By Oregon Coast TODAY To celebrate 50 years of bringing live entertainment to the central Oregon coast, Theatre West in Lincoln City is presenting retrospective of past-produced plays, beginning with the classic “Angel Street” that’s running now through Nov. 16. The play tells the story of the Manninghams, who live on Angel Street in 19th-Century London. As the curtain

YachatsNews wrapping up its month-long fundraising campaign; just days left to support local news

October 30, 2024

By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews As I said last week, while there’s never really any deadline for donations YachatsNews is wrapping up its fall fundraising campaign this week in an effort to encourage more small, monthly subscribers to help support its work. As of Thursday, 30 more people have signed up to donate a total of $285 more a month

Oregon Dept. of Education recommends schools ‘limit or restrict’ use of cellphones in new guidance

October 30, 2024

By ELIZABETH MILLER/Oregon Public Broadcasting Students, parents, teachers, principals, and even Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek have all had their say in the debate about cellphones in schools. Now, the Oregon Department of Education is weighing in with policy guidance issued Wednesday. “We know that cellphones can offer benefits to students, including those who may have health and safety concerns, or where students with disabilities require

Bigger than normal quake recorded 170 miles west of Bandon on Wednesday

October 30, 2024

Earthquake monitors detected a sizable shake about 170 miles off the Oregon coast Wednesday near Bandon, but no tsunami is expected. According to the United States Geological Survey, a 6.0 earthquake occurred at a depth of a little over 6 miles around 1:15 p.m. on the Blanco Fracture Zone on the edge of the Juan de Fuca plate. “Four people reported feeling this earthquake

Sheriff’s rescue team finds lost mushroom hunter near Waldport

October 30, 2024

WALDPORT — A mushroom hunter was found exhausted but in good condition Friday after calling 9-1-1 to report he was lost near the Harris Ranch Trail east of Waldport. Cary Kerst, 79, of Eugene, made the call shortly after 2 p.m. Oct. 25 to say he had become disoriented after leaving the trail. A Lincoln County Sheriff’s deputy and its

Newport Symphony’s two performances this weekend highlight violinist Benjamin Baker

October 30, 2024

By Oregon Coast TODAY The Newport Symphony continues its concert season this weekend with “Utterly Transported,” featuring internationally renowned violinist Benjamin Baker on Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 2-3. The concert begins with a 21st-Century composition by Jessie Montgomery, “Hymn for Everyone.” The piece was co-commissioned by the Chicago Symphony, the National Symphony and Music Academy of the West as

Albany teachers overwhelmingly approve strike authorization as negotiations continue

October 30, 2024

By NATALIE PATE/Oregon Public Broadcasting When asked whether to approve a strike — should it come to that — the vast majority of Albany teachers said “yes.” According to voting results Tuesday evening, 92% of Greater Albany Education Association members voted “yes” in this week’s authorization vote. That means that if negotiations with Greater Albany Public Schools administrators don’t appear

Memo to Oregon Gov. Kotek shows first, partial statewide look at new drug deflection efforts

October 30, 2024

By CONRAD WILSON/Oregon Public Broadcasting It’s been two months since Oregon recriminalized drug possession and new data from across the state is starting to show how the new law, which aims to deter drug use and offer treatment, is shaping up. So far, more than 1,424 people have been arrested for drug possession, according to the Criminal Justice Commission, the state

Lincoln County clerk expects a deluge of general election ballots before Tuesday’s 8 p.m. deadline

October 29, 2024

By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews Lincoln County is expecting a flood of ballots over the next four days as the voting deadline approaches in Tuesday’s general election. As of Friday, the county clerk’s office had processed 19,690 of the record number of 41,178 ballots sent to Lincoln County voters, a return rate so far of nearly 48 percent compared to a

Lincoln County grand jury rules police justified in Sept. 5 fatal shootout with Lincoln City man

October 29, 2024

By MAXINE BERNSTEIN/The Oregonian/OregonLive A Lincoln County grand jury found no criminal wrongdoing by state police who fatally shot a 38-year-old man last month after he barricaded himself in a Lincoln City home and then escaped to the roof with a rifle when flames spread through the residence. The jury ruled last week, finding state police Senior Troopers Kyle Winship, Jeremy Smith,