$1 million grant will help 10 Lincoln County programs deal with surprising number of homeless children

December 12, 2024

By DANA TIMS/YachatsNews After extensive behind-the-scenes planning, money is now ready to roll out to help Lincoln County homeless youth and their families find suitable shelter. Nearly $1 million in state and federal funds will ultimately flow to 10 so-called “sub-grantees” under a program overseen by the Housing Authority of Lincoln County. A portion of that money will enable

ODOT may be open to allowing lighted warning sign near Yachats fire station — but who pays for it?

December 12, 2024

By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews YACHATS – The board of the Yachats Rural Fire Protection District wants to make another run at getting permission from the Oregon Department of Transportation to put up warning signs near the entrance to its station on U.S. Highway 101 and possibly lower the speed limit. This time around they may have better luck. Maybe.

After more than two years, Lincoln County commissioners struggling to evaluate their first administrator

December 12, 2024

By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews NEWPORT — An attempt by Lincoln County commissioners to conduct their first evaluation of administrator Tim Johnson in 2½ years went awry Wednesday when Johnson didn’t show up to participate. Johnson was hired as the county’s first administrator in April 2022 after the retirement of county counsel Wayne Belmont, who served for years as the defacto

Port of Alsea hopes third time is the charm with newest port manager hire

December 10, 2024

By GARRET JAROS/YachatsNews WALDPORT — The Port of Alsea board selected Dean O’byrne as the probationary candidate for port manager during a special meeting Dec. 3. O’byrne is currently working three days a week as he trains to take over as port manager at the end of January for Roxie Cuellar, who is retiring after nine years on the

Congress names U.S. Highway 20 from Newport to Boston as “National Medal of Honor Highway”

December 10, 2024

From wire and YachatsNews reports U.S. Highway 20, the nation’s longest road whose western end is in Newport, will be designated the “National Medal of Honor Highway” under legislation approved this week by the U.S. House of Representatives. The western terminus of the 3,365 mile road is in Newport at its junction with U.S. Highway 101 and its eastern end

OPB study: Oregon’s shrinking news industry making it harder to find reliable information

December 9, 2024

By TONY SCHICK and RYAN HAAS/Oregon Public Broadcasting The amount of reporting produced in Oregon has been declining for decades — a fact that is likely unsurprising to Oregonians who have seen their newspapers thin and local coverage shrink. It’s a trend that has been playing out across the country as the business of producing journalism has faltered alongside the

Newport’s big crab fleet gets another Dec. 16 Dungeness opener after near-record 2023-24 season

December 5, 2024

By GARRET JAROS/YachatsNews NEWPORT – Fishermen with callused hands and vise-like grips worked steadily along Newport’s docks this week to prepare boats and gear in a final push before the opening of Oregon’s 2024-25 commercial Dungeness crab season. It is all-hands-on-deck as crews finish engine repairs, prepare bait jars and make ready the last of the crab pots –

Attorney defending Yachats fire district in fatal crash says woman who died was high on meth, driving carelessly

December 5, 2024

By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews Attorneys for the Yachats Rural Fire Protection District’s insurance carrier have responded to allegations in a $6 million negligence lawsuit against it, contending a firefighter/paramedic driving the ambulance involved in a January fatality was not at fault. Instead, the attorneys say the Waldport woman who died in the collision with a South Lincoln Ambulance caused the

Earthquake 45 miles off California coast triggers Oregon tsunami warnings for a few hours Thursday

December 5, 2024

By Oregon Capital Chronicle staff A strong earthquake struck off the northern California coast Thursday morning, triggering an unusual tsunami warning for northern California and southern Oregon and an evacuation of some residents and visitors there. The National Tsunami Warning Center, which is based in Alaska, issued the warning shortly after the 7 magnitude quake hit off the northern

Waldport community organizations kick off two weeks of holiday celebrations on Saturday

December 5, 2024

By CHERYL ROMANO/YachatsNews WALDPORT — Jingle bells start ringing in Waldport this weekend, as the season dashes in with a sleigh full of special events. From a major holiday bazaar to the city tree lighting, the schedule invites revelers to shop local, visit with Santa, listen to carolers and more, with additional festivities scheduled throughout the month. Underway now