Waldport man sentenced to prison after sex abuse conviction

December 4, 2024

A 32-year-old year-old Waldport man arrested last January on sex abuse charges involving a 14-year-old girl has been sentenced to more than six years in prison after being found guilty in a jury trial. A jury convicted Gunner M. Cravens of four counts of sex abuse in a trial that ended Nov. 8. He was sentenced Nov. 27 by Lincoln

Damage from water leak closes OCCC’s center in Waldport

December 4, 2024

WALDPORT — Oregon Coast Community College has closed its building in Waldport until Feb. 1 as it makes repairs to walls and floors following a water leak Nov. 24. The leak occurred in the water intake to the building’s hot water heater, damaging some drywall and carpeted areas, the college said in a news release. A college employee stopped by

Yes, there was a lot — a record amount — of rain in November

December 3, 2024

They say records are made to be broken. That certainly applies to rain on the central Oregon coast in November. All of the YachatsNews weather watchers recorded prodigious amount of rain in November – just in time for a long dry spell this month. Don Tucker, who lives two miles north of Yachats and has been recording weather data for

Waldport man, Newport father and son cited for illegally killing bear

December 3, 2024

WALDPORT – Oregon State Police have cited a Waldport man and a Newport restaurant owner and his son for illegally killing and tagging a bear and storing the meat in the restaurant’s freezer. Police cited property owner Roy Sanford of Waldport, Shinong Lee and Jack Lee, both of Newport, for a variety of hunting violations. Shinong Lee is the owner

Two Lincoln County child luring stings land Dallas man in jail

December 3, 2024

A registered sex offender from Dallas, Ore. already in the Lincoln County jail on child luring charges from a Lincoln City police sting last month has been hit with four additional charges from a separate sheriff’s office investigation. Danny S. Hicks, 58, is being held on $1 million bail with his next court date scheduled Dec. 9. Lincoln City police

68-year-old Newport man arrested for murder after fight Wednesday

November 30, 2024

NEWPORT – A 68-year-old Newport man is in the Lincoln County jail on murder and manslaughter charges after a man he is accused of repeatedly hitting Wednesday died as police were investigating the disturbance. Mark W. Rogers, who has a criminal history in Multnomah and Lincoln counties dating back to 1992, is being held on second-degree murder, first-degree manslaughter and

School board looking for new member after Cawley resignation

November 27, 2024

NEWPORT – The Lincoln County School District board is looking for a new member from north end of the county. Megan Cawley of Otis, who was first elected to the board in 2019 from Zone 1 and re-elected in 2023, resigned Tuesday. She did not state a reason to the board for her resignation. The remaining four board members must

Yachats seeks applications for council seat and four commissions

November 27, 2024

YACHATS – The city of Yachats is looking for residents interested in filling a vacant city council seat as well as several open seats on four city committees. Civic-minded individuals looking to make a difference in the community are encouraged to apply. The vacant council seat had been appointed to Anthony Muirhead, who elected not to run during the Nov.

Florence man killed Saturday night attempting to cross Highway 101

November 24, 2024

FLORENCE – A 40-year-old Florence man was killed Saturday night when he tried to cross U.S. Highway 101 a mile south of the city and was struck by an SUV, Oregon State Police said Sunday. Police said Garrick Wall was wearing dark-colored clothes and walking south in the northbound shoulder of the highway when he attempted to cross an unlighted

State parks buys 32 acres in Beaver Creek natural area

November 24, 2024

The Oregon Parks & Recreation Commission voted last week to buy a 32-acre property to add to its Beaver Creek natural area in Brian Booth State Park north of Seal Rock. The purchase price is $357,000. The property, owned by Barbara Wichman, consists of a section of South Beaver Creek, about 13 acres of wetlands and upland forests. There