Lincoln County Historical Society honors musician-philosopher Ernest Bloch with legacy project on Friday and Saturday

July 19, 2023

By Oregon Coast TODAY Ernest Bloch was a musician, composer, conductor, philosopher, photographer and a man also known during his life as a successful mushroom hunter with a penchant for finding and polishing agates. Bloch, who moved to Agate Beach in 1941 with his wife, Marguerite, and passed away in 1959, is one of the area’s favorite former residents.

The idea for this weekend’s Yachats conference on race was born during Saturday vigils on the sidewalks of Highway 101

July 18, 2023

By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews YACHATS – The conversations started after the first year of their weekly Saturday Black Lives Matter protests along U.S. Highway 101 in Yachats. “Is there something we could do to have a greater and longer-lasting impact,” several group members began asking. Then Karla Scott, an author, consultant and professor of communication at St. Louis University and

Oregon farm estate tax relief bill awaits Gov. Kotek’s signature

July 17, 2023

By MATEUSZ PERKOWSKI/Capital Press A simplified method of estate tax relief for Oregon farmers may soon become law despite complaints it will reduce state revenues to benefit the wealthy. Senate Bill 498, which creates a tax exemption for family farm, forest and fishing estates worth up to $15 million, is intended to ease the succession problems such operations often face.

Number of West Coast gray whales continues seven-year decline, say NOAA researchers, but there are some promising signs

July 17, 2023

By NOAA NEWS SERVICE and YACHATSNEWS The number of gray whales that migrate along the West Coast continued their decline this winter from a high seven years ago, but researchers have found clues suggesting their numbers may soon start to rebound. Researchers with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration counted whales migrating south off the coast of California from

Oregon’s 988 suicide prevention hotline sees 33 percent jump in calls since service began a year ago

July 15, 2023

Texting 9-8-8: If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide or a mental health crisis, call or text 988 for free, immediate support 24/7. By LYNNE TERRY/Oregon Capital Chronicle The new 988 suicide prevention hotline marked its first year in Oregon with a 33% increase in calls from people in crisis. The Oregon Health Authority

Gun store owners, two advocacy groups appeal federal judge’s ruling on Oregon’s BM 114

July 14, 2023

A federal judge ruled Friday that Oregon’s voter-approved tighter gun laws requiring a permit to purchase a firearm and limits on magazine size are constitutional. On Monday, her ruling was appealed by the two gun store owners and two gun rights advocacy groups that brought the case. The appeal is unsurprising and sends the case on to the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court

Shortage of defense attorneys in Lincoln County leaves 160 indigent defendants without court representation

July 13, 2023

By GARRET JAROS/YachatsNews The passage of emergency legislation providing $96 million to restructure Oregon’s public defense commission may take a while to impact a shortage of public defenders and a significant backlog of criminal cases in Lincoln County. What kind of impact the infusion of money from the 2023 Legislature will make, when that will happen and whether it

A real “Monuments Man”, staff, volunteers and public support keep 101-year-old Waldport library busy, busy busy

July 13, 2023

By CHERYL ROMANO/YachatsNews WALDPORT — George Clooney and Matt Damon don’t hang out at the Waldport Public Library — but a tribute to someone responsible for one of their movies does. And in a way, it symbolizes how regard for the past is helping propel the library into the future. Mark Sponenburgh of Oregon was one of the real-life heroes

Salem lands its first commercial air service in 15 years as Avelo Airlines announces flights to Las Vegas and Burbank

July 13, 2023

By ABBEY McDONALD/The Salem Reporter SALEM — Avelo Airlines will begin flights to Las Vegas and Los Angeles this fall, returning commercial air service to Oregon’s capital after a years-long, multi-million dollar effort by the city, local businesses and tourism groups. The first flight is planned for Oct. 5 to Las Vegas, with twice-weekly flights on Thursdays and Sundays. Flights

Lincoln County sheriff drops fundraising affiliation with trafficking group

July 13, 2023

From the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office After concerns were brought to our attention from community members regarding our recent fundraising efforts with Operation Underground Railroad (OUR) to establish an Electronic Storage Detection (ESD) K9 program locally, our team followed up with additional research. Though we will still be working to establish an ESD K9 program, we will no longer be