Oregon Coast CC board names three finalists to become college’s third president

August 1, 2024

By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews The Oregon Coast Community College board has selected three finalists to come to campus in late August to go through two days of interviews to succeed Birgitte Ryslinge as the third president in the college’s 32-year history. The board met in special session Wednesday night to name three men as finalists: Joel Keebler, dean of science

Monday’s rainstorm briefly bumped stream flows during a normally very dry coastal July

August 1, 2024

July is usually the driest month of the year on the central Oregon coast, and July 2024 was no exception. But a day-long rainstorm on July 29 bumped up the numbers for the month and likely gave the city of Yachats a short reprieve on water issues. Monday’s rainstorm dropped .28 inches of rain in Yachats, but surprisingly less

Beverly Beach State Park reopens after 11 months of repairs

August 1, 2024

Campers and beachgoers can finally return to Beverly Beach State Park after an 11-month closure. The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department reopened the campground and day-use area of the park Thursday after finishing up a lengthy construction project at the popular destination just north of Newport. Park officials closed Beverly Beach last September so crews could install underground power lines and

Toledo lumber mill closes Thursday, lays off 50 workers

August 1, 2024

A lumber mill that has been operating in Toledo for 25 years was scheduled to shut down Thursday, the latest in mill closures this year in Oregon. Western Cascade Industries’ mill, which employs 50 people at its 25-year-old site in Toledo, is slated to fully shut down Thursday. Employees were informed last week that the mill would be closing at

Now with 300 handmade quilts, 31st annual show Friday and Saturday is bigger than ever

August 1, 2024

By BARBARA B. COVELL/Oregon Coast TODAY The 31st annual Quilts by the Sea show is this weekend and it is bigger than ever. What started in 1991 as a small collection, now features 300 handmade quilts that will be on display Friday and Saturday, Aug. 2-3 at the Newport Recreation Center. “It originally was a small quilt show at

Toledo community combines two events into one big celebration this weekend

August 1, 2024

By Oregon Coast TODAY Stunning murals throughout the town are just one of the indications that when you enter Toledo, you’ve arrived at a place that makes art a priority. The monthly First Weekend event, where studios open their doors to art lovers, will coexist with the annual Art, Oysters & Brews event on Main Street on Saturday and

School board selects Newport police chief to fill vacancy

July 31, 2024

NEWPORT — The Lincoln County School District board has selected Newport police chief Jason Malloy to fill a vacancy created with the resignation of board member Mike Rawles. During a special meeting Wednesday night, the board voted 4-0 to have Malloy complete the 11 months remaining on Rawles’ term. Two other candidates were Amanda Capri and Stephen R. Davis. The

Watershed group wants Siuslaw Forest to stop allowing herbicide use

July 31, 2024

To the editor: Protect Oregon Watersheds supports the Forest Service’s proposal to develop a comprehensive approach to treating invasive weeds in the Siuslaw National Forest. We strongly oppose drone spraying of herbicides or adding new herbicides to those already being used. The existing Siuslaw Forest Plan already permits the use of glyphosate, which the Forest Service states it uses regularly,

5 Questions and a Secret: Mai Shearer brings a store full of Asian influence to the Oregon coast

July 31, 2024

By KATHLEEN O’CONNOR/YachatsNews There’s an explosion of colorful chaos that greets you upon entering Mai Asian Market on East Olive Street in Newport. The shelves are so crowded with such a variety of Asian products that it’s hard to decide where to look first. The ceiling is full of lanterns and shelves are brimming with bright packages of Asian

Small nonprofit in along Umpqua River in Elkton aids regional monarch butterfly research

July 30, 2024

Barbara Slott stands near some flowering plants that will provide nectar for monarch butterflies. By KAREN RICHARDS/KLCC News ELKTON — A small nonprofit in rural Douglas County is a key player in monarch butterfly research and conservation on the West Coast. The Elkton Community Education Center houses a replica of Fort Umpqua, a native plant nursery, and for the past