Port of Alsea and watersheds group begin to plan how to — or if — rid Eckman Lake of toxic algae

November 24, 2022

By JORDAN ESSOE/YachatsNews.com WALDPORT – Eckman Lake’s best days may be behind it. The stagnant manmade reservoir off the lower Alsea River gets shallower every year and is plagued by toxic algae. Is it time to take out the dam under Oregon Highway 34 that cuts the lake off from the bay? Next week, the Port of Alsea and

Lincoln County judge denies request by vacation rental owner to require a transfer of license to new owners

November 24, 2022

By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews.com A Lincoln County circuit judge has denied a request by the owner of three vacation rentals in the Bayshore area of Waldport to require the sheriff’s office to issue a rental license to potential new buyers of one of his properties. Judge Amanda Benjamin issued her ruling Wednesday, a week after hearing oral arguments on the

Local gray whale feeding group focus of researcher’s talk Wednesday

November 24, 2022

NEWPORT — A group of about 230 gray whales that lives and feeds in the waters between northern California and British Columbia – called the Pacific Coast Feeding Group — are the focus of the November Science on Tap lecture at 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Hatfield Marine Science Center’s Gladys Valley Marine Studies Building Auditorium. The presentation is by marine

Yachats conservation group supports wild river act in Congress

November 24, 2022

To the editor: View the Future, a community conservation organization in Yachats, fully supports Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden’s River Democracy Act of 2021. The River Democracy Act (S.192; co-sponsored by Sen. Jeff Merkley) would amend the National Wild and Scenic Rivers Act and add approximately 4,700 additional river and stream miles in Oregon to the National Wild and Scenic Rivers

Will there be crab for Christmas? Oregon’s commercial Dungeness season delayed until at least Dec. 16

November 23, 2022

By DANA TIMS/YachatsNews.com A year ago, Taunette Dixon, along with the rest of Oregon’s $60 million commercial Dungeness crabbing industry, was dining on a diet of decidedly good news. Negotiated prices between boat owners and processors opened about $2 per pound higher than most years, all but guaranteeing profits in the lucrative first two months of a normal year.

Lincoln County unemployment rate continues to increase slowly

November 23, 2022

Lincoln County’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate continues to rise slow, hitting 5.2 percent in October – up from 5 percent in September, according to the Oregon Employment Department. The county has one of the highest unemployment rates in Oregon and the rate is rising again after dipping to 4.7 percent in July and then 4.9 percent in August. The statewide

Firearms group, sheriff and gun store owner file suit to stop implementation of Oregon’s new gun-control measure

November 21, 2022

By JULIA SHUMWAY/Oregon Capital Chronicle Oregon’s new voter-approved gun law is facing its first legal challenge as a number of county sheriffs have pledged not to enforce it. Voters earlier this month narrowly approved Measure 114, which will limit sales of some ammunition magazines and require safety training before purchasing a gun when it takes effect Dec. 8. A federal

Oregon governor issues pardons for 45,000 people convicted of possessing small amounts of marijuana before 2016

November 21, 2022

By LYNNE TERRY/Oregon Capital Chronicle SALEM — With just over a month left in her term, Gov. Kate Brown has issued a sweeping pardon for Oregonians convicted of possessing a small amount of marijuana. The pardons, announced Monday, will benefit an estimated 45,000 people, according to a statement from her office. The pardons include the forgiveness of about $14 million

Friends and family throw a birthday party for Don Dougherty, the houseless man who made Yachats his home

November 21, 2022

By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews.com YACHATS – Don Dougherty’s friends – at least 150 of them — and family came out to his 65th birthday party Sunday evening, although several said he would have balked at the attention. They shared a meal, a drink or two, listened to “Birthday” by the Beatles and “Aqualung” by Jethro Tull – and told stories

Siletz tribe’s charitable fund awards $192,000 in third-quarter grants

November 21, 2022

The Siletz Tribal Charitable Contribution Fund has awarded $192,000 to 31 nonprofit and other organizations for the third quarter of 2022. Since its inception in 2001, the seven-member charitable fund advisory board has distributed more than $16.3 million, using proceeds from the Chinook Winds casino in Lincoln City. Chinook Winds has also donated more than $6.5 million in cash and