Yachats council takes first tentative steps to revise water rates, but wants more numbers

January 21, 2020

By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews.com The city of Yachats is getting the first wave of information to possibly revise its water rates to raise enough money to keep up with maintenance but to also correct billing issues with eight large water users. Tim Tice, projects manager for the Oregon Association of Water Utilities, on Wednesday walked the City Council through his

Annual Yachats Lions Club crab feed rolls out for 28th year on Saturday

January 21, 2020

The always popular and always busy Yachats Lions Club crab feed – with three seatings at two venues — is Saturday, Jan. 25. Reserved seating for the 4 p.m. session at the Yachats Commons for groups of six or more is already sold out. But there are plenty of tickets for the 12:30 p.m. session at the Commons

Failing heating systems at Yachats Commons could soon result in a big bill

January 16, 2020

By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews.com The city of Yachats will likely soon be facing a bill of about $45,000 to replace and upgrade failing heating systems in its popular Commons building. The Commons is a former elementary school and city’s largest and most-used building. It houses everything from city offices, to a preschool and children’s program, to a large multipurpose room for

Yachats council accepts Kerti’s resignation, outlines timeline for filling vacancy

January 16, 2020

Want to spend at least six to eight hours a month in daytime meetings under the scrutiny of 25 people? Looking to be harangued with complaints about vacation rentals, code enforcement, signs, lights, traffic, budgets and other issues that consume a small, coastal community? Then the Yachats City Council has a position for you. But a sudden opening on

Korgan puts Ona Restaurant up for sale, but says she’s not closing before new owner takes over

January 16, 2020

By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews.com Michelle Korgan, who has operated her upscale Ona Restaurant along U.S. Highway 101 in downtown Yachats for nine years, has put the business up for sale. But Korgan insists she is not closing the restaurant before it’s sold and she’s not leaving town. “I am definitely not closing,” Korgan said Wednesday as she rushed around to

Expect lots of campaigning for two open legislative seats covering Yachats area

January 9, 2020

By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews.com Yachats-area residents should expect to see a lot of campaigning for the Oregon Legislature this spring and fall. The state senator and representative for the Yachats area – Sen. Arnie Roblan and Rep. Caddy McKeown, both Democrats from Coos Bay — announced with little fanfare in late 2019 that they would not run for office again this

Police close Cape Perpertua center Thursday to take Army deserter into custody

January 9, 2020

Police took a 32-year-old military deserter, described by the U.S. Army as armed and dangerous, into custody Thursday morning after a call from the Cape Perpetua Visitors Center about a suspicious person. Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office said deputies were dispatched at 8:24 a.m. Thursday to make a welfare check on a suspicious person at the center. The caller said the

James Kerti abruptly resigns from Yachats City Council after his first year in position

January 9, 2020

By Quinton Smith/YachatsNews.com Yachats City Councilor James Kerti abruptly resigned from his position Tuesday afternoon, just one year into his four-year term. Kerti’s said his resignation was effective immediately. The City Council is scheduled to accept his resignation Wednesday, Jan. 15 and decide how to seek applications to replace him. In his four-sentence resignation letter and a brief interview with

Yachats fire chief settles three state ethics claims, returns $1,750 to ambulance company

January 2, 2020

By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews.com Yachats fire chief Frankie Petrick has agreed to settle claims by the Oregon Ethics Commission that in three instances she used her position for financial gain. But the commission was not able to substantiate an allegation that Petrick received a tractor from her ex-husband after he sold land to the Yachats Rural Fire Protection District in

Divisions between Yachats City Council members go public during first meeting of 2020

January 2, 2020

By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews.com Divisions on the Yachats City Council moved into public view Thursday during its first meeting of 2020, starting with a split vote for council president and ending with a disagreement whether it had approved hiring a facilitator to help craft goals for the year. Electing a council president during the first meeting of the year is usually