Yachats code enforcement discontent flares up again; city manager offers plan to deal with it

August 22, 2019

By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews.com Yachats City Manager Shannon Beaucaire plans to use a temporary employment agency to hire a part-time person to take care of a backlog of pressing issues – including stepping up code enforcement. Beaucaire outlined her plan after Wednesday night’s City Council meeting where Planning Commission member Mary Ellen O’Shaughnessey expressed her frustration – and indicated it

Commercial permits for matsutake mushroom harvesting go on sale Sept. 4

August 22, 2019

Permits for commercial harvesting of matsutake mushrooms will be on sale from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 4, at the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area Visitor Center, 855 U.S. Highway 101, Reedsport. One hundred permits will be available for sale at $250 a permit with a limit of one permit per person. Permits will be sold on a

OSU erects new building in Newport tsunami zone

Legislature’s repeal of building ban in coastal tsunami zones brings out critics — and local support

August 22, 2019

By ANDREW SELSKY/The Associated Press NEWPORT — With sunlight sparkling off surrounding Yaquina Bay, workers are putting up an ocean-studies building, smack in the middle of an area expected to one day be hit by a tsunami. Experts say it’s only a matter of time before a shift in a major fault line off the Oregon Coast causes a

Coastal Caucus economic summit shows growing influence of legislative group

Two-day conference by ‘Coastal Caucus’ legislators is testament to group’s growing influence

August 22, 2019

By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews.com FLORENCE — When 600 people from across the state filed into a casino convention center here Wednesday, they were greeted with a colorful 64-page program, a steaming breakfast buffet and Congressman Kurt Schrader milling about shaking hands. Over a complimentary lunch they heard from Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Ore. On Thursday, Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore. showed up

Driff Inn parking problems stymie Yachats PLanning Commission

Planning Commission and Drift Inn owner continue back-and-forth over parking issues

August 22, 2019

By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews.com The Yachats Planning Commission is giving the owner of a popular downtown restaurant and hotel complex two months to come up with detailed drawings to determine if there is enough off-street parking to comply with city regulations. The parking issue dates back almost two years when Drift Inn owner Linda Hetzler applied for a modification of

Veterinarians examine young humpback whale after it was euthanized

Despite trauma of young whale’s death last week, live strandings are very unusual

August 22, 2019

A young humpback whale euthanized last week near Waldport after stranding itself on the beach for more than a day was a healthy male with no apparent injuries or wounds, according to preliminary necropsy results. The whale’s layer of blubber was good condition, said Michael Milstein, the Portland-based spokesman for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Live whale strandings

Improving economy has put more Lincoln County youth back to work

August 21, 2019

As the economy improved the past six years, more teenagers in Lincoln County and northwest Oregon are working. In 1996 the U.S. Census Bureau estimated there were 3,731 youth ages 14-18 working in Lincoln, Clatsop, Tillamook, Columbia and Benton counties. By 2012 that number had fallen to less than half – 1,524. By the end of 2018 that number had

Volunteers welcome for annual 804 Trail “ivy pull” Saturday, Aug. 24

August 20, 2019

Volunteers will gather at 8:45 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 24 at the Overleaf Lodge to participate in the annual work party to eradicate ivy along the 804 Trail. The event is organized by the Yachats Trails Committee and sponsored by the Overleaf Lodge and Fireside Motel. Event organizer Wally Orchard said most of the effort will focus on areas north of

Yachats Big Band holds fundraiser Saturday, Aug. 24 for Little Log Church

August 20, 2019

The Yachats Big Band is holding its second summer performance and benefit dance for the Little Log Church and Museum from 7-9 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 24 at the Yachats Commons. Friends of the Little Log Church and Museum are raising funds for a replacement and restoration of the building. The popular Yachats Big Band plays regularly at the Yachats Commons

Feds award $12.5 million to continue building earthquake warning system, including Oregon coast

August 20, 2019

The U.S. Geological Survey announced Monday it had awarded $12.5 million to the University of Oregon and six other universities to continue setting up an earthquake early-warning system along the West Coast. The UO’s share of $1.6 million will primarily be used to finish placing seismometers along the central and southern Oregon coasts, said Leland O’Driscoll, project manager of