Faced with abandoned RVs and travel trailers littering rural roads and forests, Lincoln County launches $500,000 removal program

February 2, 2023

By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews The massive fifth-wheel camper has been parked on Dick’s Fork Road between Yachats and Waldport since July, when the U.S. Forest Service posted it for removal. It’s still there. On Oct. 12, a Lincoln County Sheriff’s deputy posted a removal notice on an abandoned travel trailer parked along U.S. Highway 101 overlooking Alsea Bay in Waldport.

Yachats city council OKs final $265,000 allocation for $1 million expansion and remodeling of library

February 2, 2023

By KENNETH LIPP/YachatsNews YACHATS — City councilors Thursday approved the final funding and a show of support needed to begin the $1 million, large-scale and long-awaited expansion of the library. “The difference this time is, it’s going to happen,” said Library Commission chair David Rivinus during the city council’s regular meeting in the Yachats Commons civic room, referring to

Eight coastal chambers — including Yachats, Waldport and Newport — get $201,000 in grants for tourism accessibility studies

February 2, 2023

By CHERYL ROMANO/YachatsNews If you use a wheelchair or a cane, or a hearing aid or special eyeglasses, how easy — or tough — is it to fully enjoy a visit to the Oregon coast? And to visit more often, stay longer and pump more money into the economies of Yachats, Waldport and surrounding towns? Those are the questions

Lincoln County commissioners finish work on vacation rental limits, drastically — but gradually — cutting back licenses

February 2, 2023

By KENNETH LIPP/YachatsNews NEWPORT — With little discussion, Lincoln County commissioners Wednesday approved an order limiting the number of vacation rental licenses it set last week, bookending seven years of deliberation. Chair Kaety Jacobson noted prior to the unanimous vote that although commissioners used a percentage of tax lots to derive the license limits for seven geographical zones, they are

AARP volunteers offering tax preparation help again in Waldport

February 2, 2023

WALDPORT — Filing taxes can be costly, but it doesn’t need to be because of some free options. AARP volunteers are offering free tax preparation again this year from 1-4 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays at the Waldport Community Center. People using the service need to show their photo identification and a Social Security card. In addition to AARP’ service,

Waldport man jailed for domestic violence, weapons charges

February 2, 2023

WALDPORT— A Waldport man is jailed on $250,000 bond after he was arrested on his bicycle along the Alsea Highway last weekend in possession of a Taser following an alleged domestic assault. Jonathan Vineyard, 25, was arraigned Monday on two felony charges — strangulation constituting domestic violence and first-degree criminal mischief — as well as three misdemeanor counts of fourth-degree

Two Idaho legislators push for longshot discussions about moving the state’s border with Oregon

February 2, 2023

One of the proposed “Greater Idaho” maps, which calls for several Eastern Oregon counties to secede and join Idaho. By CLARK CORBIN/Idaho Capital Sun BOISE — Two Idaho legislators are pushing a longshot proposal to have certain rural eastern Oregon counties secede from the state and join Idaho. Reps. Judy Boyle, R-Midvale, and Barbara Ehardt, R-Idaho Falls, are sponsoring House Joint

City of Yachats will hold community meeting Thursday evening to talk about future uses of now-busy Commons

February 2, 2023

YACHATS – Is the Yachats Commons a community center? Is it an events center? Is it a school? Or is it all three? And, if so, just how will that work? Yachats city manager Heide Lambert hopes to begin the first of several community conversations Thursday, Feb. 9 on what users of the Commons have in mind for it.

340-privately managed Yakona Nature Preserve growing with improvements, programs and in the public’s awareness

February 2, 2023

By GRETCHEN AMMERMAN/Oregon Coast TODAY It began quietly, with a private property purchase of 77 mostly wooded acres on a peninsula across from Newport on Yaquina Bay. Over time, more property was added, currently standing at 340 acres, and the resulting area was named the Yakona Nature Preserve. The name honors the Yaqo’n, who thrived in the area for

YachatsNews begins collaboration with Oregon Coast TODAY for more arts and entertainment coverage

February 2, 2023

Starting this week, YachatsNews is collaborating with Oregon Coast TODAY to provide more arts and entertainment coverage on its website. Each week, YachatsNews will feature 1-2 stories from Oregon Coast TODAY on the homepage of its website and then provide links to the rest of that weekly newspaper’s online content. “We are thrilled to be partnering with YachatsNews to bring