Interagency training exercise planned April 1 for Lincoln County emergency responders

March 22, 2023

News Release from Lincoln City Police Posted on FlashAlert: March 22nd, 2023 5:45 PM Public safety agencies from all over Lincoln County will be taking part in an interagency training exercise for emergency response to a large-scale critical event on Saturday, April 1, 2023. This training event will be a day-long event that will allow emergency responders from Lincoln County to

One actor plays 11 characters in edgy “Sex, Drugs Rock & Roll” comedy at Newport Performing Arts Center

March 22, 2023

By BARBARA B. COVELL/Oregon Coast TODAY NEWPORT — It’s the 1980s all over again. So, strap on your seatbelt and get ready for the ride of a lifetime in “Sex, Drugs, Rock & Roll,” Eric Bogosian’s edgy raw comedy about life as it was, and — in many ways — still is. Eleven characters come to life in a

Festival of Illusions opens nine-day run at Lincoln City Cultural Center beginning Thursday

March 22, 2023

By SABINE WILSON/Oregon Coast TODAY LINCOLN CITY — The Lincoln City Cultural Center’s treasured Festival of Illusions is back, with nine days of festivities taking place from Thursday through Saturday, April 1. “This year’s festival is one of our biggest yet with new acts, returning magicians, classes, workshops and photo opportunities,” said communications coordinator Frank Hoovestal. “This is a

Oregon Senate passes $200 million emergency housing package which now goes to Gov. Kotek for her signature

March 22, 2023

By PETER WONG/Oregon Capital Bureau SALEM — Gov. Tina Kotek is the final stop for a $200 million-plus package that she and lawmakers crafted to aid unhoused people, avert homelessness and lay the groundwork for more housing production in Oregon. The Senate gave final legislative approval to both bills Tuesday night, following House votes on March 15, after the full

5 Questions and a Secret: Rural route mail carriers Michael and Cherish Nowatchik

March 22, 2023

By JORDAN ESSOE/YachatsNews The husband-and-wife team of Michael and Cherish Nowatchik, both 34, are Waldport’s newest mail carriers. Last August they took up what is referred to internally by the United States Post Office as Route 71, which includes roughly 720 addresses between Crestline Drive near Waldport High School and Fircrest Way in the Sandpiper Village neighborhood on the

Pushback by locals over development of Alsea River park may have state and county agencies re-thinking plans

March 21, 2023

By KENNETH LIPP/YachatsNews WALDPORT — State officials say 10-year-old funding agreements require the development of Don Lindly Park to include a launch for motorized boats, but current park users who have taken advantage of its open spaces and unique public access to the Alsea River want to retain its rustic state. No one in the standing-room-only audience in Central

County commissioners drop regular weekly meeting dates

March 21, 2023

NEWPORT — Lincoln County commissioners will now hold two regular meetings a month with workshops on Wednesdays in between. The change from weekly regular meetings has been in place since the beginning of March when commissioners participated in a workshop on the county’s new budget software then held a special meeting to declare a homelessness emergency. Commissioners now have regular

Attempt to get Port of Alsea board recall on May ballot fails

March 21, 2023

WALDPORT — An attempt to get a recall election of four of five Port of Alsea commissioners on the May ballot has failed to gather enough signatures. A recall of port commissioners was first threatened during a meeting last July. Kurt Saindon asked the board to fire port manager Roxie Cuellar because she would not change locations for crabbers using

Kotek targets behavioral health system crisis – and plans ahead

March 20, 2023

Gov. Tina Kotek is asking the Legislature for more behavioral health funding. The money would fund programs for people who need care in other settings besides the Oregon State Hospital in Salem. (Oregon Health Authority) By BEN BOTKIN/Oregon Capital Chronicle SALEM — Gov. Tina Kotek is asking lawmakers to put $74.2 million into behavioral health programs in one bill as

At $475,000, city of Waldport wins bid for former school property for addition to Southworth Park and community center

March 20, 2023

By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews WALDPORT – After a five-month on-off-on negotiation process, the city of Waldport will become the new owner of the 2.81-acre Lincoln County School District property in downtown. The city announced Monday that the district and it had agreed on the sale of the property – subject to approval of the city council at its meeting in