Killer of former Yachats man sentenced Thursday to at least 23 years in prison

March 16, 2023

The man found guilty last month of killing former Yachats resident Martin “Marty” Baker was sentenced Thursday to 23 years, eight months to life in California prison. A judge in San Diego County Superior Court imposed the punishment on Eugene “Gene” Focarelli, 39, following a jury’s guilty verdict Feb. 1 on charges that included second degree murder. Baker, 49, a

Yachats council authorizes city manager to try to acquire 8-acre property near water treatment plant

March 16, 2023

YACHATS — The Yachats city council has authorized the city manager to pursue acquisition of land next to the water treatment plant. Purchase of the 8-acre parcel on Yachats River Road has been discussed for years. During the council’s March 3 meeting, water treatment plant operator Rick McClung delivered a report on water security that included developing the site as

California crabber sues Pacific Seafood for what he alleges is price fixing on Dungeness crab harvests

March 16, 2023

By ERIC BURKETT/Courthouse News SAN FRANCISCO — An Oregon seafood processor, the country’s largest, faces an antitrust class action over what the lead plaintiff says is an egregious case of price fixing in the West Coast’s increasingly unstable Dungeness crab market. Fisherman Brand Little of Auburn, Calif., filed a putative class action Monday accusing the $945 million company with fixing the

Road show to commemorate Women’s History Month takes the stage Saturday night in Lincoln City

March 16, 2023

By GRETCHEN AMMERMAN/Oregon Coast TODAY All are welcome to celebrate women in music at “She’s Speaking – LIVE,” hitting the road in March to commemorate Women’s History Month. Eight singer-songwriters, backed by a great band, will present this dynamic and joyful new show at the Lincoln City Cultural Center on Saturday, March 18. ” ‘She’s Speaking – LIVE’ celebrates

Artist behind “Portraits in Red” exhibit will discuss the project twice next week

March 16, 2023

NEWPORT — Both beautiful and impactful, the ongoing exhibit “Portraits in Red: Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples Painting Project” features images of 40 victims and activists created by Nayana LaFond, a full time multidisciplinary indigenous artist and activist from Massachusetts. On display at the Pacific Maritime Heritage Center through May 7, the exhibit will come to life Thursday, March

DEQ pausing electric vehicle purchase rebates because program is running out of money

March 15, 2023

By OREGON CAPITAL CHRONICLE A cash rebate program rewarding purchasers of electric vehicles is running out of money and will temporarily be suspended after April 30, the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality announced Wednesday. The department advised residents to apply for a rebate by then. If the program runs out of money before April 30, people who apply for a

Oregon House passes $200 million for housing and homelessness Wednesday, calls it a start

March 15, 2023

Jean Hendron has set up a makeshift tent across the street from the Oregon Capitol, trying to catch the attention of lawmakers to talk about the human toll of homelessness. (Julia Shumway/Oregon Capital Chronicle) By JULIA SHUMWAY/Oregon Capital Chronicle SALEM — Oregon is on track to spend $200 million to help homeless residents move into houses, give people who

NOAA recommends Wednesday that sunflower sea stars be protected under Endangered Species Act

March 15, 2023

By CATRIN EINHORN/The New York Times Sunflower sea stars, huge starfish that until recently thrived in waters up and down the west coast of North America, are threatened with extinction and should be protected under the Endangered Species Act, federal officials said Wednesday. The starfish have been devastated by a wasting syndrome that has been linked to the effects

Alarmed about impacts to fisheries, West Coast council asks feds to start over on Oregon wind energy studies

March 15, 2023

BY DANA TIMS/YachatsNews An influential group charged with helping manage West Coast fisheries is asking the federal government to completely start over with plans for floating offshore wind energy development. The Pacific Fishery Management Council, meeting recently in Seattle, cited fishing sustainability concerns in approving a resolution asking that two “call areas” already approved off the southern Oregon coast be

Yachats Fire board agrees to pay — but uncertain how much — two administrators for also volunteering

March 15, 2023

By KENNETH LIPP/YachatsNews YACHATS — The Yachats Rural Fire Protection District board voted Monday to potentially pay tens of thousands of dollars into retirement accounts for two employees in recognition of their years of dual volunteer service, payments they missed since 2016. Another volunteer could receive their first, smaller contribution. The fire board voted in 2015 to participate in