In Oregon, several tribal bids for urban casinos threatens a gambling “arms race’

July 30, 2024

By DAVID W.CHEN/The New York Times As the franchise owner of an Elmer’s family restaurant in southern Oregon featuring German pancakes “almost as big as Crater Lake” and omelets stuffed with local Tillamook Cheddar cheese, David R. Thomason has always tended to his customers, even before they walk through the front door. But these days, he is more worried about

Sheriff’s deputies arrest Depoe Bay man on robbery, assault charges

July 30, 2024

On July 29 at 7:15 p.m. deputies with the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to 4600 block of N. Highway 101 in Lincoln Beach where a resident reported observing someone rummaging through their personal vehicle in their driveway. The resident confronted the subject who then presented a machete and attempted to strike the resident with it. The resident was

National Republican group names DeSpain a top challenger in 4th District race against Hoyle

July 30, 2024

By JULIA SHUMAY/Oregon Capital Chronicle National Republicans will provide more support to congressional candidate Monique DeSpain in her campaign against first-term Democratic incumbent Val Hoyle. The National Republican Congressional Committee announced Monday that DeSpain is one of its 26 Young Guns, the committee’s designation for top challengers to Democratic representatives. Being part of that list brings more mentorship and support

Fall Chinook season opened Thursday in coastal rivers with “pretty good” returns expected again this year

July 30, 2024

By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews The salmon should be there, it’s just a matter of whether the rains will cooperate this fall to allow for another reasonable fishing season on central coast streams. The Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife is forecasting “pretty good” fishing for fall Chinook on streams in Lincoln County as the season officially opened Thursday. Fishing for

Siuslaw forest awards $1.07 million in restoration grants

July 29, 2024

A Siuslaw National Forest committee has awarded $1.07 million to 12 organizations to help pay for 21 projects to eradicate noxious weeds, improve roads, enhance fish habitat, and support trail maintenance. The largest grant was $203,475 to the Midcoast Watersheds Council to replace damaged culverts, reduce the spread of invasive species, and restore native plants on properties affected by the

Oregon newspapers continue to downsize, but the problem is especially acute in smaller towns

July 29, 2024

YachatsNews is a five-year-old nonprofit local news site providing local journalism for south Lincoln County. To support its efforts see the May 31 story about its third local fundraising campaign. By MIKE ROGOWAY/The Oregonian/OregonLive The 21st Century has not been kind to Oregon newspapers. The state’s papers have shed three-quarters their jobs since 2001 as readers and advertisers

Highway 101 pollinator group dedicates years of work with new interpretive sign near Seal Rock

July 25, 2024

By CHERYL ROMANO/YachatsNews If you like to eat, thank a bee. Or a butterfly. Or a hummingbird. And also thank a local volunteer group that’s building awareness of these critters as vital aids to humans’ food supply. The Waldport-based Highway 101 Pollinator Project has created a stretch of U.S. Highway 101 unique in all of Oregon. The 25 miles

Waldport accepting applications for mayor position and council seats; Holland not running again

July 25, 2024

WALDPORT — The city of Waldport is accepting applications for the position of mayor and three council seats for the Nov. 5 general election. Anyone wanting to run must fill out an application, complete the filing process and submit it to the Lincoln County clerk’s office no later than 5 p.m. Aug. 27. It is suggested mailed forms

Heceta Bank off the central coast is the center of marine diversity and production. Does it need more protection?

July 25, 2024

By DANA TIMS/YachatsNews Accounts of the stunning biological diversity and productivity of an undersea formation 35 miles off Cape Perpetua are hardly new. They first appeared, after all, in the 1775 ship’s log kept by Spanish navigator and explorer Bruno Heceta. But the Heceta Bank, as the formation is known, continues to marvel everyone from marine researchers to commercial

Oregon Coast CC and two employee unions announce agreement on new 5-year contracts

July 25, 2024

Oregon Coast Community College and its staff and faculty have settled contracts resulting in wage increases of more than 30 percent over five years. The American Federation of Teachers-Oregon bargains for full- and part-time faculty and classified employees, but each employee group has its own contract. The college and the union settled new five-year contracts July 17 retroactive