Oregon Republican senators walk out of Legislature on Monday in cap-and-trade dispute

February 24, 2020

By the Oregon Capital Bureau SALEM — The Oregon Senate came to an abrupt stop Monday when 11 of its 12 Republicans disappeared. For the second time in less than a year, they left the Capitol to protest a bill to cut the state’s greenhouse gas emissions. Their departure prevents the Senate from taking votes. The senators’ departure —

City commission wants to look at 2011 parks plan before going much further with dog park idea

February 24, 2020

By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews.com A city of Yachats committee that oversees use and changes to city property has again given its cautious approval for a group to keep gathering information on building a dog park somewhere in town. Mary Aebi and Carita Edson sketched out their initial plans to the Yachats Parks and Commons Commission on Thursday, Feb. 20. They had

Yachats’ technology contractor advising changes after short but successful e-mail hack

February 23, 2020

An outside agency that oversees the city of Yachats’ internet technology system is recommending that all city email accounts go to a two-factor sign-on authentication following a short-lived but successful hack into a city email account. Facilities manager Heather Hoen email account was compromised about noon Feb. 4 and then used to begin a “lateral phishing attack” of contacts in

Oregon ‘Cap and Trade’ Legislation: Here’s an explanation of basic questions

February 22, 2020

By CLAIRE WITHYCOMBE and JAKE THOMAS/Oregon Capital Bureau SALEM — The arguments and critiques are flying across the state about Senate Bill 1530, Oregon’s plan to set limits on — and shrink — the state’s greenhouse gas emissions. Proponents of the program say it’s needed in the face of federal inaction on climate change, which is already affecting the

Key to forestry-environment settlement is an agreement on timber aerial spraying

February 22, 2020

By SAM STITES/Oregon Capital Bureau SALEM — The fate of the landmark deal signed between a coalition of timber companies and environmental groups depends on lawmakers acting on legislation that would reform certain Oregon logging practices. The deal brokered by Gov. Kate Brown and announced earlier this month outlines a process for the two warring sides to set aside

Oregon State Police/Newport: Activity report Feb. 18-20

February 22, 2020

OREGON STATE POLICE DAILY MEDIA/DESK LOG SP20051695 02/18/2020 16:00 Officer #37961 PLUMMER, GREGORY FW – Marine Board Location LINCOLN OR Narrative Summary On 2/18/2020 at approximately 7:30 PM, I was dispatched to contact an anonymous complainant regarding a boating complaint on the Alsea River near Alsea Riviera (approximately milepost 8 on SR Hwy 34). I contacted the complainant and was advised that at approximately

Old Yachats fire station property should be used for affordable housing

February 22, 2020

To the editor: As a full-time Yachats’ resident and property owner, I would like the Yachats Rural Fire Protection District’s sale of the four commercially zoned tax lots containing its former downtown station to include development of attainable/affordable employee housing. The need is there and land availability at good locations scarce. Too many towns delay affordability actions until options and

New bus system starts between Florence and Eugene — but connection to Yachats is poor

February 21, 2020

It’s now possible to take a bus – well, two actually – from Yachats all the way to Eugene. But because of a poor connection in Florence, it could take 12 hours to get to Eugene using the new bus system. On Monday, Feb. 19, the Lane Council of Governments started a 2-year, $1.37 million pilot program to offer

Owners of Yachats’ only bookstore hand off business to new, but familiar owners

February 20, 2020

BY CHERYL ROMANO/YachatsNews.com The sad news is that a beloved Yachats institution closed Monday. The glad news is that in just days it will re-appear under a new name, with new management, at the same location and with much the same purpose. “Mari’s Books and…” in the C&K Market plaza in downtown Yachats has been a fixture in town for

Amidst issues and complaints, Yachats contractors defend work on conversion to new financial system

February 20, 2020

By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews.com An Oregon Cascades West Council of Governments official on Wednesday defended the agency’s handling of the city of Yachats’ financial system but asked for more time to complete a transition started last July and to fix lingering problems. “It feels like I’m in front of a firing squad,” Sue Forty told a hastily called and little