News Briefs - Page 49

YACHATS — Yachats’ annual Winter Solstice celebration fires up at the Pavilion behind the Commons from 4-7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 21 “or until the bonfire goes out.” The public is invited to enjoy free chili, cookies donated by the Yachats Ladies Club, popcorn, beverages, music and dancing. Attendees are urged to dress warmly for the outdoor event, which centers around a

YACHATS — A popular monthly gathering returns this week when the Yachats Lions Club resumes its “Lunch Bunch” meal Thursday at the clubhouse on West Forth Street. Doors open at 11:30 a.m. for the noon seating, which offers diners alcohol-free Kalua Pork (a Merriman’s Hawaii restaurant recipe), steamed rice, green salad and holiday pies. Suggested donation is $6. Lions Club

The U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation this week to provide the legal ability for the Siletz Tribe and the state of Oregon to change a legal clause that has severely limited the hunting, fishing, trapping and gathering abilities of tribal members. The bill sponsored by Rep. Val Hoyle, D-Ore. allows the Siletz Tribe to return to federal court to

Higher-than-normal tides are hitting the coast this week as the second round of the winter’s king tides occur Wednesday through Friday. Following this week’s tides, subsequent king tides will take place Jan. 11-13; and, Feb. 8-10. The first king tides of the season occurred just after Thanksgiving. On Wednesday, a high tide of 8.73 feet occurs about noon, followed

An Olive ridley sea turtle found “cold shocked” and stranded north of Yachats last month is now in its second stage of rehabilitation at SeaWorld San Diego. The Oregon Coast Aquarium rescued the turtle Nov. 19 after receiving calls about a stranded turtle at Beachside State Park between Yachats and Waldport. Cold-stunning is when sea turtles become weak and inactive and

WALDPORT – The Samaritan Health Services clinic in Waldport has added a new physician assistant to its staff. Joseph Handley most recently worked at the Atlanta Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Decatur, Ga. In Waldport he will provide primary care to people of all ages, Samaritan said in a news release. He completed postgraduate degree at Joseph Maxwell Cleland Atlanta

NEWPORT — Oregon State University’s marine researchers want an octopus – and asking commercial crabbers to let them know if they happen to find one. The Hatfield Marine Science Center keeps an octopus for six to nine months before returning it to the wild. Jaimie Hart, the visitors center aquarist, said it’s not easy to go out in the ocean

NEWPORT – Oregon Coast Bank was the only bidder Tuesday when the Lincoln County Sheriff auctioned off the headquarters and two tower properties of financially troubled Yaquina Bay Communications. The bank – which had been battling radio station owner David Miller for loan repayments for several years – bid $570,005. The auction, held in the courthouse hallway outside the

Oregon State Police are asking the public to help it identify hunters who shot and wasted elk in two cases late last month in Lincoln County. In a news release Wednesday, state police said a wildlife sergeant from the Newport responded to a Nov. 20 report of two spike bull elk that had been shot and killed in the Salmon

SEAL ROCK — Handcrafted holiday decorations are an annual tradition for the Seal Rock Garden Club, which is holding its popular holiday greens sale from 9 a.m to 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 9. Shoppers can choose from locally-sourced green wreaths and swags, small live trees and tabletop arrangements, all handmade and decorated by members. The event will take place at