County commission chair wants to discuss limiting public comment at meetings, drawing questions, pushback

May 15, 2025

By SHAYLA ESCUDERO/Lincoln Chronicle Lincoln County Commissioners are considering restricting public comment after a recent clash with county employees who aired their grievances at public meetings. Commissioners will discuss changing the public comment format to relate only to agenda topics at their Wednesday, May 21 meeting. “I’d like us to seriously consider doing what a lot of cities and

Yachats Fire District’s 2025-26 budget includes money for 7th firefighter, funds for new equipment

May 15, 2025

By GARRET JAROS/Lincoln Chronicle YACHATS — The Yachats Rural Fire Protection District’s budget committee approved a 2025-26 budget Tuesday that includes more money for staffing and equipment. The general fund budget of just over $3 million, which includes a cash carryover of $573,515, exceeds last year’s $2.3 million budget. “We increased a couple of items,” said district administrator

That ballot still on the kitchen table? Get it filled out and mailed or dropped off by Tuesday night

May 15, 2025

By QUINTON SMITH/Lincoln Chronicle Lincoln County voters are not showing much interest in returning their ballots. Yet. As of Thursday, just 18 percent of the 40,475 ballots sent to voters in late April have been returned, according to county clerk Amy Southwell. The so-called “special elections” in May of odd-numbered years never have a tremendous turnout. In Lincoln County,

After decades of planning and four years after Legislature’s allocation, East Lincoln breaks ground on fire/emergency center

May 15, 2025

By GARRET JAROS/Lincoln Chronicle EDDYVILLE – Persistence paid off in spades for the East Lincoln County Fire District this month as it broke ground on a long-awaited fire station. Firefighters and board members stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the legislator who helped make it all possible as they dug into the dirt with gold-tipped shovels on the site of the new

Impending closure of Rite Aid in Newport, Lincoln City has Samaritan considering adding another pharmacy

May 13, 2025

By QUINTON SMITH/Lincoln Chronicle The imminent departure of two Rite Aid pharmacies in Newport and Lincoln City has added some urgency to potential plans by Samaritan Health Services to open its second pharmacy in Lincoln County. The bankruptcy and store closure announcement by Rite Aid last week will leave Lincoln County with two less pharmacies in an area already

Loss of beloved boat captain at sea has Newport Fishermen’s Wives helping family of one of their own

May 12, 2025

By SHAYLA ESCUDERO/Lincoln Chronicle NEWPORT — Inside the gazebo, dozens of framed photographs of fishermen stand shoulder to shoulder — faces smiling, catch in hand or holding loved ones in their arms. As Taunette Dixon stood in front of mourners inside the Fisherman’s Memorial Sanctuary she was aware of a painful irony. Her friend and past president of Newport

Habitat for Humanity breaks ground for two homes in Waldport, helping fill demand for affordable family housing

May 10, 2025

By GARRET JAROS/Lincoln Chronicle WALDPORT — Rayna Knowlton is up early so she can catch the bus to physical therapy. She can only afford one cup of coffee, but she figures the therapy on the shoulder she injured while catching her husband, Chris, before he fell face-first into a vanity will wake her up. Chris Knowlton has seizures and

Judge rules Thursday that Waldport council must reinstate Lambert as mayor; city may appeal or try to move case to federal court

May 8, 2025

By GARRET JAROS and QUINTON SMITH/Lincoln Chronicle WALDPORT — Lincoln County’s presiding judge ruled Thursday that the Waldport city council had to reinstate Heide Lambert as mayor until there is time to decide whether her removal last month was legal. The order by circuit judge Sheryl Bachart came one day after Lambert’s attorney asked the court to review the

Voters in east Lincoln County are being asked for the first time to raise fire district’s property taxes

May 8, 2025

By GARRET JAROS/Lincoln Chronicle EDDYVILLE – When voters in a 55-square-mile patch of rural east Lincoln County that straddles U.S. Highway 20 open their ballots they are going to see a first — a request by their fire district for a tax increase. The East Lincoln County Fire District is asking 1,888 registered voters to consider adding 39 cents

Greenhouses, skate gear, landscaping, vendor space and cake mix — student entrepreneurs make “Shark Tank” pitches

May 8, 2025

By SHAYLA ESCUDERO/Lincoln Chronicle When Evan Hernandez built a greenhouse for his neighbors, the 16-year-old Newport High School sophomore didn’t know it would win him $3,000 and ignite a passion to create his own business. Students in Oregon Coast Community College’s youth entrepreneurship program received instruction on entrepreneurship, learning about business development and marketing. They spent weeks crafting their

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Community - Page 18

County commission chair wants to discuss limiting public comment at meetings, drawing questions, pushback

Yachats Fire District’s 2025-26 budget includes money for 7th firefighter, funds for new equipment

That ballot still on the kitchen table? Get it filled out and mailed or dropped off by Tuesday night

After decades of planning and four years after Legislature’s allocation, East Lincoln breaks ground on fire/emergency center

Impending closure of Rite Aid in Newport, Lincoln City has Samaritan considering adding another pharmacy

Loss of beloved boat captain at sea has Newport Fishermen’s Wives helping family of one of their own

Habitat for Humanity breaks ground for two homes in Waldport, helping fill demand for affordable family housing

Judge rules Thursday that Waldport council must reinstate Lambert as mayor; city may appeal or try to move case to federal court

Voters in east Lincoln County are being asked for the first time to raise fire district’s property taxes

Greenhouses, skate gear, landscaping, vendor space and cake mix — student entrepreneurs make “Shark Tank” pitches

Letters from readers

Lincoln County ballot measure is a commitment to our veterans

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

Look at Medicare Advantage plans carefully before making a decision

Obituaries

Ruth R. Mock of Yachats — “Fiddlin Ruth”

Marie Jones of Newport

Rebecca L. Bloch of Yachats

Civic Calendar

Port of Alsea commission special meeting

Newport Planning Commission work session and regular meeting

Port of Newport Commission monthly meeting

Port of Alsea commission special 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

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