Former Taft High School employee sentenced to 18 months in prison for raping 15-year-old student she groomed

June 25, 2025

By SHAYLA ESCUDERO/Lincoln Chronicle NEWPORT – A former Taft High School employee will spend 18 months in prison for raping a 15-year-old male student. A handful of Angela R. Schafer’s supporters watched Tuesday as she pled guilty in Lincoln County circuit court to third-degree rape and furnishing alcohol to a minor. Schafer’s plea came after mounting evidence from forensic

Lincoln County fires district attorney’s husband from job in her office; $3.3 million lawsuit filed in May

June 24, 2025

Editor’s note: this story was updated Thursday, June 26, to include details of a new lawsuit filed against the county. By SHAYLA ESCUDERO/Lincoln Chronicle The Lincoln County district attorney’s husband who has been at the center of a months-long personnel dispute with county officials was dismissed from his job last week as a legal assistant in the district attorney’s

150-year-old Sitka spruce in Yaquina Bay State Park keeps its “muscle” but has rotten limbs removed Monday

June 23, 2025

By SHAYLA ESCUDERO/Lincoln Chronicle NEWPORT – With arms that once flexed and reached to the sky, the limbs of the beloved Sitka spruce “muscle tree” at the entrance of Yaquina Bay State Park, now stop short. After a five-hour takedown Monday, the Sitka spruce where many have made memories – from commemorating graduations to taking wedding photos – now

Former partner in Newport treatment center files complaint against owners alleging retaliation, discrimination

June 23, 2025

By SHAYLA ESCUDERO/Lincoln Chronicle A partner in a prominent Newport-based addiction treatment center is leveling accusations of disability discrimination and retaliation and seeking $879,000 from the other three founders of the company. Phoenix Wellness Center opened in 2020 when four members of the Confederated Tribes of the Siletz Indians – Ashleigh Ramirez, Wylie Stokes, Zebuli Payne and Danielle Payne

Waldport retiree finds new passion in creating animated short film telling tale of finding, retrieving rescue dog

June 22, 2025

By CHERYL ROMANO/Lincoln Chronicle If current affairs have you feeling down, you might try a quick, cheery antidote — “Retrieving Roadie,” an animated film by a Waldport retiree. The award-winning short officially debuted on National Rescue Dog Day last month with the telling of the uplifting story of Roadie, a young mixed-breed dog in a Texas shelter. “Roadie” is

Lincoln Chronicle is one local attempt to reverse Oregon’s growing “news deserts” cited in UO study

June 19, 2025

Here’s a link to our donation “button” through PayPal By QUINTON SMITH/Lincoln Chronicle Three years ago two University of Oregon journalism professors set out to draw a picture of the condition of local news in Oregon. Their report documented the declining number of news outlets in Oregon and highlighted some newly emerging local news providers like YachatsNews,

Yachats Fire board gets report on relationship with ambulance service and debates its connections, future

June 19, 2025

By GARRET JAROS/Lincoln Chronicle YACHATS – Should the Yachats Rural Fire Protection District have a dedicated ambulance stationed in Yachats or not? That is the question – and it is going to remain the question for now. After commissioning and then receiving a 22-page outside analysis to help decide the future of the long-running South Lincoln Ambulance and its

County commissioners adopt 2025-26 budget but using hiring freeze to make up $4 million deficit

June 19, 2025

By SHAYLA ESCUDERO/Lincoln Chronicle Lincoln County is balancing a $4 million shortfall in its $207 million 2025-26 budget with a hiring freeze. Lincoln County commissioners unanimously adopted the budget Wednesday, which covers a variety of services from the sheriff’s department to the elections office. With growing expenses and some uncertain revenue sources, budget officer Lennon Pierce likened balancing the

Newport council OKs 2025-26 budget with 6 percent increase in water, sewer and stormwater rates

June 19, 2025

By SHAYLA ESCUDERO/Lincoln Chronicle NEWPORT – The Newport city council this week unanimously approved a utility increase as part of the city’s $140 million budget for 2025-26, aiming to help it complete “urgent” capital projects. Although the average residential customer will see a 6 percent hike, which translates to about a $9 increase to their monthly utility bill, the

Oregon cities clash with travel industry whether tourism taxes should pay for wear and tear on destinations

June 18, 2025

By JAMES NEFF/Oregon Journalism Project Every summer, more than two million tourists stream into Seaside, as relentless and predictable as the tides. They spend mountains of money, for sure, but they also wear out the streets, stress emergency medical services and water rescue, and leave behind several thousand tons of trash. Seaside mayor Steve Wright doesn’t have the money

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Former Taft High School employee sentenced to 18 months in prison for raping 15-year-old student she groomed

Lincoln County fires district attorney’s husband from job in her office; $3.3 million lawsuit filed in May

150-year-old Sitka spruce in Yaquina Bay State Park keeps its “muscle” but has rotten limbs removed Monday

Former partner in Newport treatment center files complaint against owners alleging retaliation, discrimination

Waldport retiree finds new passion in creating animated short film telling tale of finding, retrieving rescue dog

Lincoln Chronicle is one local attempt to reverse Oregon’s growing “news deserts” cited in UO study

Yachats Fire board gets report on relationship with ambulance service and debates its connections, future

County commissioners adopt 2025-26 budget but using hiring freeze to make up $4 million deficit

Newport council OKs 2025-26 budget with 6 percent increase in water, sewer and stormwater rates

Oregon cities clash with travel industry whether tourism taxes should pay for wear and tear on destinations

Letters from readers

$25,000 grant will help View the Future’s community conversations

Look at Medicare Advantage plans carefully before making a decision

Lincoln County has benefitted from Hall’s service for 20 years

Obituaries

Marie Jones of Newport

Rebecca L. Bloch of Yachats

Sandra Lee Dunn of Yachats

Civic Calendar

Port of Newport Commission executive session and special meeting

Newport Planning Commission work session and regular meeting

City of Yachats Parks & Commons Commission

Yachats Big Band monthly concert

Yachats Rural Fire Protection District board

Yachats Planning Commission monthly workshop meeting

Yachats Public Works & Streets Commission

Lincoln County School District board of directors

Waldport City Council

Lincoln Soil and Water Conservation District monthly board meeting

Public & Legal Notices

NOTICE TO INTERESTED PERSONS

A regular meeting of the Board of Directors of Central Lincoln PUD

Otter Rock Water District NOTICE OF SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET HEARING