Oregon agencies close much of coast to shellfish harvesting because of paralytic poisonings

May 31, 2024

By APRIL ERHLICH/Oregon Public Broadcasting Oregon officials closed many sections of the Oregon coast to some types of shellfish harvesting Friday after an unprecedented outbreak of paralytic shellfish poisoning, which appears to also be affecting parts of Washington and California. During a press conference Friday, officials said Oregon had never experienced such a large outbreak before, in terms of

Yachats budget committee OKs 2024-25 spending plan

May 31, 2024

YACHATS – The city of Yachats’ 2024-25 proposed budget was passed unanimously by the city’s 10-member budget committee after eight hours of discussions over two meetings. The proposed budget now goes to the five-member city council, all of whom are on the budget committee, for final approval June 12. Yachats started the year with $10.2 million set aside in savings.

YachatsNews launches third local fundraising campaign to expand coverage countywide

May 31, 2024

By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews Three months ago, YachatsNews published its annual “Report to Readers” with the stated goal for 2024 to “do more and better.” June is the month you can help us do that. Our goal this year is to hire a second full-time reporter by late summer to be based in Newport and cover Lincoln County and Newport

Builder begins work on eight-unit townhome project overlooking Alsea Bay in downtown Waldport

May 30, 2024

By GARRET JAROS/YachatsNews WALDPORT – Foundation work is underway for eight new luxury townhomes on a vacant lot in the heart of Waldport. The three-story units are being built on less than a half-acre on Northwest Huckleberry Street by Chad Berry, who purchased the property for $225,000 in January 2023. Berry built two homes in the Bayshore community north

For Siletz tribe this weekend’s Run to the Rogue represents a long road to healing from trauma at Table Rock

May 30, 2024

By JAMIE HALE/The Oregonian/OregonLive Forged by an explosive volcanic eruption in southwest Oregon, Table Rocks took their shape over millions of years, carved by the steady waters of the Rogue River which flows more than 800 feet below the rim. Every autumn, as temperatures drop and rainclouds return, acorns fall from oak trees that surround the pair of flat-topped

Most major Oregon counties plan to have new drug addiction programs ready by September

May 30, 2024

By BEN BOTKIN/Oregon Capital Chronicle SALEM — A dozen urban and rural Oregon counties plan to have new drug addiction treatment programs available in September, when the state’s new misdemeanor penalty for drug possession takes effect. When Oregon lawmakers passed House Bill 4002, which recriminalizes low-level drug possession starting in September, they asked counties to step up with new deflection programs

“Tillie” washed ashore north of Yachats in 1938 and her bones became a tourist attraction for years

May 30, 2024

On Aug. 21, 1938, a dead whale washed up on the shore near Big Creek north of Yachats. The Corvallis Gazette-Times said the following day said “thousands” hit the beach trying to get a glimpse of the decaying and rather disgusting “monster” as it was often referred to, according to a story in the Oregon Coast Beach Connection. Some

Cape Perpetua group offering free summer tidepool tours

May 30, 2024

YACHATS — Naturalists with the Cape Perpetua Collaborative are offering free guided tidepool tours this summer at Yachats Sate Park, Bob Creek and Heceta Head. The tours mark the launch of the Tidepool Ambassador Program aimed at promoting coastal conservation and education in the Cape Perpetua area. Participants can learn about intertidal life and the marine reserve while also becoming

National Democratic campaign committee adds Rep. Hoyle to its list of vulnerable incumbents

May 30, 2024

By JULIA SHUMWAY/Oregon Capital Chronicle The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee on Wednesday moved Oregon Rep. Val Hoyle to its “frontline” list of vulnerable incumbents, signaling to donors that the first-term representative from Eugene may need help to keep her seat. Hoyle’s 4th Congressional District, based in Eugene and along the central and southern Oregon coasts, is one of three

Eugene Emeralds likely hitting the road after voters reject bond for new baseball stadium

May 29, 2024

By KVAL News EUGENE — Things don’t look good for the future of Emeralds Minor League Baseball in Eugene at the Lane County Fairgrounds. This time last week, a ballot measure to provide bonds to fund a multi-use stadium at the fairgrounds failed to pass in the May primary election. The vote was a lopsided 66 percent no to 34