As reimbursement policy ends, more Oregon employees are working from out of state

September 3, 2023

By DIRK VANDERHART/Oregon Public Broadcasting State employees who live outside of Oregon can no longer be reimbursed for the cost of traveling back to the state for work purposes, under a rule change that took effect on Friday. That hasn’t stopped state employees from opting to work for the Beaver State from outside of its borders. According to the Department

Salem news company buys Newport News-Times, two other papers

September 2, 2023

NEWPORT – A Salem-based company that owns eight newspapers in Oregon and northern California has purchased the Newport News-Times and its sister publications in Florence and Cottage Grove. The purchase was announced Friday; the price was not disclosed. Country Media, which is owned by Steve and Carol Hungerford of Salem, purchased the three newspapers from the News Media Corp. of

Athletic conference realignments continue to shake up two of Oregon’s largest universities

September 2, 2023

Oregon wide receiver Troy Franklin, right, is brought down by Oregon State defensive back Kitan Oladapo during their football game on Nov 26, 2022, in Corvallis, Ore. The Ducks and Beavers are likely to keep playing annual games, even as they compete in different athletic conferences starting in 2024. By MEERAH POWELL/Oregon Public Broadcasting Shake-ups in athletic conferences will seriously

Timber company now seeks to ground spray 473 acres in Beaver Creek watershed, but whether it also uses helicopter is unclear

August 31, 2023

By GARRET JAROS/YachatsNews SEAL ROCK – The timber company approved to spray herbicides by helicopter on 473 acres in the South Beaver Creek watershed has submitted a new notification to conduct ground spraying on the same tracts. The area is the water source for the largest water district in Lincoln County. The notification made Wednesday is what the Seal

With art, crafts, books, music and breakfast, there’s plenty of end-of-summer activities this Labor Day weekend in Yachats

August 31, 2023

By CHERYL ROMANO/YachatsNews YACHATS — You don’t have to work hard to find fun this Labor Day weekend. From handmade baked goods to hand-painted art, a pancake breakfast to free, live music and a big book sale, there’s a roster of events to usher out the summer season. Saturday and Sunday Yachats Ladies Club Labor Day Craft Bazaar, 10

PeaceHealth’s closure of downtown Eugene hospital reflects strained finances, including facility in Florence

August 31, 2023

By CHRISTIAN WIHTOL/The Lund Report EUGENE — When PeaceHealth opened its cutting-edge 1.2-million-square-foot RiverBend hospital in Springfield in 2008, its executives assured the public there was still plenty of demand for services at the system’s former Lane County flagship hospital, near the University of Oregon. Fourteen years later, reality has finally caught up. In that span, the PeaceHealth University

Waldport schools welcome new and returning students and teachers during busy back-to-school event

August 31, 2023

By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews WALDPORT – Sandi Battles has been working 18 years for this — her first school principalship. She’s been an elementary and middle school teacher in Las Vegas, Clackamas, and Lincoln County, handled special assignments on reading and behavior, and served as an assistant elementary principal in Newport and the last three years at Crestview Heights School.

Fire in Siuslaw National Forest northeast of Florence grows to 144 acres this week

August 31, 2023

While 156 firefighters try to contain a 144-acre fire in the Siuslaw National Forest northeast of Florence, officials expect a 12-acre fire near Marys Peak to be fully contained and under control by the weekend. Forest officials said fire crews on the Rock Creek fire near Marys Peak were on a “search and destroy” mission to extinguish remaining hotspots

Seal Rock gallery owner organizing businesses to help bring attention to community’s many offerings

August 31, 2023

By Oregon Coast TODAY SEAL ROCK – The community of Seal Rock is named for a picturesque rock formation just off the coast that people can enjoy as they cruise U.S. Highway 101 five miles north of Waldport. But if you fail to stop for the charming storefronts and cute wood carvings of the town as you drive past,

Yachats Library makes plans for move to Commons and reduced offerings during upcoming construction

August 31, 2023

By CHERYL ROMANO/YachatsNews YACHATS — With a $1.09 million makeover coming soon, the Yachats Library has plans in place to keep offering its full range of services almost seamlessly during the transition period. Groundbreaking on the expansion and remodel of the 49-year-old library on West Seventh Street is expected to happen by early fall. Very soon — although the