Lincoln County district attorney leaving job to take state position; governor seeks candidates

September 5, 2019

By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews.com Fresh out of law school and eager to get legal experience, Michelle Branam took a three-month position in the Wasco County district attorney’s office in 2004. She got little pay that spring, but the district attorney offered free housing in migrant quarters in his parents’ cherry orchard. One case stuck with Branam. A child had been

Yachats institutes first phase of water restrictions because of low river flows

September 4, 2019

The city of Yachats on Wednesday, Sept. 4, instituted an immediate restriction on water use because of low flow in two creeks that supply the city’s water system. The “Phase 1” rules restricts the watering of lawns, gardens and landscaping to alternate days depending on odd-even house addresses, allows the sale of water only to current customers, prohibits fire

Ocean View Drive paving scheduled Thursday and Friday, Sept. 5-6

August 29, 2019

Major sections of Ocean View Drive in Yachats are scheduled for paving Thursday and Friday, Sept. 5-6. The paving is the next step in a years-long process of Lincoln County turning over ownership of the road and Marine Drive to the city of Yachats. On Thursday, crews from Road & Driveway of Newport will put down a 2-inch layer

Yachats council to resume vacation rental discussion on Wednesday

August 29, 2019

The Yachats City Council will resume its discussion – nearly it’s last – on how or if to revise portions of its vacation rental ordinance when it meets Wednesday, Sept. 4. The workshop session – for council discussion and not public comment – is at 9:30 a.m. in the council chambers of the Yachats Commons. A public comment period

Yachats code enforcement discontent flares up again; city manager offers plan to deal with it

August 22, 2019

By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews.com Yachats City Manager Shannon Beaucaire plans to use a temporary employment agency to hire a part-time person to take care of a backlog of pressing issues – including stepping up code enforcement. Beaucaire outlined her plan after Wednesday night’s City Council meeting where Planning Commission member Mary Ellen O’Shaughnessey expressed her frustration – and indicated it

Coastal Caucus economic summit shows growing influence of legislative group

Two-day conference by ‘Coastal Caucus’ legislators is testament to group’s growing influence

August 22, 2019

By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews.com FLORENCE — When 600 people from across the state filed into a casino convention center here Wednesday, they were greeted with a colorful 64-page program, a steaming breakfast buffet and Congressman Kurt Schrader milling about shaking hands. Over a complimentary lunch they heard from Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Ore. On Thursday, Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore. showed up

Driff Inn parking problems stymie Yachats PLanning Commission

Planning Commission and Drift Inn owner continue back-and-forth over parking issues

August 22, 2019

By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews.com The Yachats Planning Commission is giving the owner of a popular downtown restaurant and hotel complex two months to come up with detailed drawings to determine if there is enough off-street parking to comply with city regulations. The parking issue dates back almost two years when Drift Inn owner Linda Hetzler applied for a modification of

Veterinarians examine young humpback whale after it was euthanized

Despite trauma of young whale’s death last week, live strandings are very unusual

August 22, 2019

A young humpback whale euthanized last week near Waldport after stranding itself on the beach for more than a day was a healthy male with no apparent injuries or wounds, according to preliminary necropsy results. The whale’s layer of blubber was good condition, said Michael Milstein, the Portland-based spokesman for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Live whale strandings

Feds award $12.5 million to continue building earthquake warning system, including Oregon coast

August 20, 2019

The U.S. Geological Survey announced Monday it had awarded $12.5 million to the University of Oregon and six other universities to continue setting up an earthquake early-warning system along the West Coast. The UO’s share of $1.6 million will primarily be used to finish placing seismometers along the central and southern Oregon coasts, said Leland O’Driscoll, project manager of

Expect another year of poor Chinook fishing, low limits due to continued poor ocean conditions

August 17, 2019

By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews.com There will be more fishing than catching of salmon this season on coastal streams in Lincoln County. Salmon returns – both Chinook and coho – should be better than last year. But runs are still depressed because of years of poor ocean conditions that are now only starting to improve. Low salmon returns last fall and the