Oregon Housing Stability Council approves $100 million to build nearly 650 affordable homes

July 11, 2023

Construction will begin as early as this fall on new affordable housing projects throughout Oregon. By JULIA SHUMWAY/Oregon Capital Chronicle SALEM — The Oregon Housing Stability Council has approved spending more than $100 million to build nearly 650 affordable homes in urban and rural areas throughout the state. The council approved funding requests for 10 affordable housing developments during its

In aftermath of massive Ziggurat House fire, group of Tenmile residents approach Yachats Fire board about annexation

July 11, 2023

By GARRET JAROS/YachatsNews YACHATS – A contingent of Tenmile residents attended the Yachats Fire Protection District’s regular board meeting Monday to request the area be annexed into the agency’s fire protection zone. The request comes in the wake of the devastating fire Thursday that left the neighborhood’s iconic Ziggurat House in ruins and laid bare the fact that Tenmile

Newport mayor Dean Sawyer resigns Monday after revelations Friday and protests Saturday over years of hateful Facebook posts

July 10, 2023

By JONATHAN LEVINSON/Oregon Public Broadcasting NEWPORT — Mayor Dean Sawyer resigned Monday, three days after OPB revealed he has been posting offensive content in a private Facebook group for current and former law enforcement officers. Sawyer notified city manager Spencer Nebel and city council president Jan Kaplan of his resignation in an email just before 9 a.m. “I am sorry —

53-year-old Sitka Center in Otis takes a fresh look at art through youth programs, residencies, and Indigenous fellowships.

July 10, 2023

By OREGON ARTSWATCH OTIS — Jonathan Case may best be known as an award-winning cartoonist, the author and the creator of the graphic novel Little Monarchs. But once upon a time, he was just a bullied kid growing up in rural Tillamook County. Case didn’t have many friends, but he did have a passion for art. That passion led him

Marine reserve researchers begin surveying coastal visitors

July 9, 2023

Researchers are visiting nearly two dozen sites along the Oregon coast to find out what visitors know about Oregon’s Marine Reserves and whether their visits will help foster change in habits to help curb climate change. Two groups of two interviewers from Oregon State University will ask random visitors questions focused on education outreach about ocean acidification and whether visiting

Newport mayor should resign over Facebook posts

July 9, 2023

To the editor: I have not been a fan of Newport mayor Dean Sawyer for a while. Previously I was collecting signatures door to door and at the Newport Farmers Market to recall the mayor. Many of the people with whom I spoke about the facts known at the time told me that they’d like to sign but were afraid

Hillsboro bicyclist killed in collision with log truck near Gleneden Beach

July 9, 2023

GLENEDEN BEACH – A 57-year-old Hillsboro man died Friday afternoon when his bicycle collided with an empty log truck just north of Fogarty Creek State Park. Oregon State Police said Bradley J. Stark of Hillsboro was riding south on his bike “when for unknown reasons it contacted the side” of an empty log truck driven by Richard Wiser of Newport.

Three deaths in Highway 126 crash near Walton are 10th in past two years

July 7, 2023

WALTON – Three people were killed Wednesday evening on Oregon Highway 126 about 30 miles east of Florence when the driver of a westbound car lost control and hit two eastbound vehicles. Killed were Allen D. Weaver Jr., 51, of Grace, Idaho, the driver of the Dodge Challenger that caused the crash, and two passengers in one of the vehicles

Thank you! YachatsNews surpasses its $50,000 local fundraising goal — but you can still help

July 6, 2023

Thank you. You are all so very generous. YachatsNews surpassed its June local fundraising goal of $50,000 this week (yes, it was extended through the July 4 holiday) with the receipt of two large donations and two $2,500 matching contributions after reaching our $25,000 and $45,000 milestones. After depositing some checks Thursday, our total for the campaign is just under

A record dry June following a very dry May could lead to water-use restrictions this summer in Yachats

July 6, 2023

By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews YACHATS — A nearly bone dry June and the prospect of little rain in July and August likely means some water restrictions coming to Yachats. The question is when. The key for coastal water providers is the amount of rain their areas receive in May and June. A wet spring usually means lots of water through