City commission endorses outside study of Yachats’ water rates after more errors discovered

May 15, 2019

By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews.com Tom Lauritzen wants to know if the city of Yachats is going to return his $54.72. Lauritzen, a retired accountant and former finance consultant for the city, discovered an error in his water bill two months ago. Since 2016, when the city revamped water rates, it had been charging him – and maybe 850 other accounts –

Yachats man sent to state hospital for evaulation

May 14, 2019

A 61-year-old Yachats man has been sent to the Oregon State Hospital for treatment and to determine if he is fit to stand trial on charges stemming from firing a handgun into a neighbor’s house in late February. Terry L. Davidson was sent to the state’s psychiatric treatment in Salam last month for at least 60 days for treatment and

Public art group bringing example, participation pitch Thursday to Yachats

May 9, 2019

By ELAINE WATKINS/YachatsNews.com Does Yachats want to become a home for a big, bright plastic sea creature? John Tannous of the Bandon-based Washed Ashore non-profit group wants to find out. He’s bringing “Bella the Angelfish” to display from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 16 at the Yachats Commons and to discuss if the community wants to get involved in his public

Yachats council to revisit controversial regulations governing vacation rentals

May 9, 2019

By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews.com When the Yachats City Council opens a hearing Tuesday night on its 2-year-old vacation rental ordinance most of the drama from the past will likely be gone. Some vacation rental managers and owners are expected to attend to argue against the limit of 125 licenses in the city. A few homeowners will likely be there to say

Yachats Farmers Market moves past turmoil for season opening

May 9, 2019

When the Yachats Farmers Market opens its season at 9 a.m. Sunday, the market should be full of vendors, the sun will be shining and hopefully any drama from the past two months over who will run it will be left behind. Market manager George Mazeika said there will be 36 vendors occupying 37 of the 40 available spaces Sunday.

Yachats Fire Department headquarters and main station

Yachats fire district asking voters to approve 5-year operating levy

May 9, 2019

By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews.com Voters in the Yachats Rural Fire Protection District are being asked this month to approve one of two levies the district uses for day-to-day operations. Ballots were mailed Wednesday to voters in Lincoln County on a variety of local issues and boards. Voters have until 8 p.m. May 21 to return their ballots. Turnout in non-presidential election

OSU names new fisheries extension agent for central Oregon coast

May 9, 2019

A marine scientist has joined Oregon Sea Grant and the Oregon State University Extension Service to work with the fishing industry on the central Oregon coast. Angee Doerr, who is based in Newport, succeeds Kaety Jacobson, who served in the role for 14 years before being elected as a Lincoln County commissioner last year. Doerr will work with commercial fishing

State replaces steps to popular Yachats River beach

May 7, 2019

The steps to one of Yachats’ most popular beaches reopened Tuesday afternoon. A crew from Oregon State Parks and Recreation Department finished two days of work to replace the wooden steps leading to the wide, sandy beach that makes up the Yachats River bay. The steps were knocked out during a storm in February. The wood steps lead from a

Yachats council decides on one-way directions for Ocean View Drive

May 7, 2019

Yachats may not yet have a stoplight, but it could be getting a couple more one-way streets this summer. The City Council voted last week to make two sections of Ocean View Drive one-way after Lincoln County finishes improvements this summer and turns the street over to the city. The county wants to relinquish control of the street that runs

Man found dead Thursday near Yachats State Park was longtime local restaurant worker

May 3, 2019

By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews.com The man found dead on the beach near Yachats State Park on Thursday, May 2, was a longtime Yachats-area resident and restaurant employee who had moved to Newport about two years ago to work there, his friends said Friday. Michael S. Clift, 43, — known as Scott to his friends — was found Thursday morning on the