Newport city council approves moving ahead with U.S. Highway 101 couplet project through downtown

September 8, 2025

A major project to overhaul a portion of U.S. Highway 101 and restructuring Newport’s City Center got the green light from the city council. The plan will convert a 4-6 block section of Highway 101 into two one-way routes.

Survivor of 2020 Echo Mountain fire rebuilds life five years after the Lincoln County inferno changed everything

September 8, 2025

Rachelle McMaster and her children were burned out of their manufactured home when the Echo Mountain fire swept through Otis on Sept. 7, 2020. After five years of bouncing from friends homes, motels and an apartment, McMaster will soon be living in a new home under a Habitat for Humanity program in Lincoln City.

A Covid diagnosis derails Wyden’s town hall Saturday in Newport, but not cell phone talk with community leaders

September 6, 2025

Sen. Ron Wyden's Covid-19 illness forced him to cancel a town hall meeting scheduled Saturday afternoon in Newport, but he was able to connect via cell phone with a room full of community leaders for an hour to hear their concerns about federal funding issues.

Cost to replace Newport’s Big Creek dams jumps to $185 million so city spending $476,000 to suggest alternatives

September 4, 2025

Years ago, engineers advising the city of Newport said it needed to replace two earthen dams that hold back the city's entire water supply. But the cost to replace them has ballooned to $185 million. With the decreasing likelihood of getting state or federal help, the city council has agreed to spend $476,000 to see if there is an alternative

Samaritan Health dropping Medicare Advantage plans at end of year; nearly 5,000 affected in Lincoln County

September 3, 2025

Samaritan Health Plans has notified thousands of its Medicare customers in Lincoln, Benton and Linn counties that it will end its popular Advantage insurance plans at the end of the year.

More restraining orders in Waldport: Beachcomber officer on receiving end after Moose Lodge dustup

September 2, 2025

One week after a Waldport Beachcomber Days board member won a temporary restraining order against the Waldport city manager, she was hit by a similar order claiming she attacked another woman at the Moose Lodge and harassed her online.

Schools across Oregon — and in Lincoln County — adjust to new restrictions on student cell phone use

September 2, 2025

The start of a new school year marks another step in the crackdown of cell phones in public schools – and a slight change for most Lincoln County School District students. Now, there will be no cell phones, smart watches or personal electronic devices the entire school day, including between classes and at lunch.

With jobs harder to fill, Oregon’s forestry sector needs new workers with new skills, industry leaders say

September 1, 2025

Oregon’s forestry sector has scaled back dramatically, the result of modernization and reduced harvests. Yet the industry is still adding workers and looking to replace retirees — now with a growing demand for technical expertise. But forestry companies say they’re struggling to fill the jobs they have.

Tourist-based coastal businesses and officials say end of summer season should find visits, spending down only slightly

August 28, 2025

As the 2025 summer tourist season winds down there are hints that price consciousness could take a bite out of the earnings that so many businesses rely on to get through the rest of the year. With at least two weeks of the summer tourism season left to go, the answer appears to be – a little, but not a

Samaritan Health announces it will keep birthing center open at its Lincoln City hospital for at least another year

August 28, 2025

Samaritan Health Services has announced it will continue delivering babies and providing maternity care at its hospitals in Lincoln City and Lebanon, four months after considering closing them. Samaritan will make changes to keep them open and review that decision in a year.

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Community - Page 6

Newport city council approves moving ahead with U.S. Highway 101 couplet project through downtown

Survivor of 2020 Echo Mountain fire rebuilds life five years after the Lincoln County inferno changed everything

A Covid diagnosis derails Wyden’s town hall Saturday in Newport, but not cell phone talk with community leaders

Cost to replace Newport’s Big Creek dams jumps to $185 million so city spending $476,000 to suggest alternatives

Samaritan Health dropping Medicare Advantage plans at end of year; nearly 5,000 affected in Lincoln County

More restraining orders in Waldport: Beachcomber officer on receiving end after Moose Lodge dustup

Schools across Oregon — and in Lincoln County — adjust to new restrictions on student cell phone use

With jobs harder to fill, Oregon’s forestry sector needs new workers with new skills, industry leaders say

Tourist-based coastal businesses and officials say end of summer season should find visits, spending down only slightly

Samaritan Health announces it will keep birthing center open at its Lincoln City hospital for at least another year

Letters from readers

Look at Medicare Advantage plans carefully before making a decision

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

Jacobi urges voters to not sign Hall recall petition

Obituaries

Marie Jones of Newport

Rebecca L. Bloch of Yachats

Sandra Lee Dunn of Yachats

Civic Calendar

Newport City Council work session and regular meeting

Southwest Lincoln Water People’s Utility District board

Yachats Planning Commission monthly workshop and 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