With the help of Yachats and other coastal cities, PSU-led study will look at tourism’s effect on microplastics

September 3, 2024

By DANA TIMS/YachatsNews Scientific studies have confirmed the ubiquitous presence of tiny particles of plastic up and down the ocean’s food chain in everything from tiny burrowing bay shrimp to massive gray whales. Now, with the help of Yachats and three other coastal communities, researchers are continuing their quest not only to document the scope of the microplastics in

As economy rebounds, many Lincoln County residents still struggle to find adequate housing

September 2, 2024

By REBECCA HANSEN-WHITE/KLCC News Over the last 20 years, Marti Johnson has lived in a few small Oregon Coast towns, but she’s always considered Newport home. “Coming up here, especially the sign that Newport has that (says) ‘the friendliest?’” she said. “I’ve never met more friendly people in my life.” Johnson said her teenage son has been in the

More traffic, higher speeds and distracted drivers likely cause for “alarming” increase in Highway 20 fatalities

August 29, 2024

By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews The Benton County Sheriff’s Office plans weeks of stepped up patrols and at least one warning sign on parts of Highway 20 between Newport and Philomath following a horrific double fatality last week and expectations of very busy Labor Day holiday traffic. The enhanced patrols in Benton County come after a steep spike in fatalities this

Despite opposition, federal agency will auction two wind energy sites off southern Oregon coast in October

August 29, 2024

By ALEX BAUMHARDT/Oregon Capital Chronicle The Biden administration will seek bids on developing two wind energy sites off Oregon’s southern coast in October. The announcement Thursday followed an environmental assessment of the sites off Coos Bay and Brookings by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management. The analysis found the sites would pose “no significant” impact on people or the

Generous donations allow Waldport elementary families to avoid sticker shock of buying school supplies

August 29, 2024

By CHERYL ROMANO/YachatsNews WALDPORT — A young mother visited Crestview Heights School recently to see what supplies her child would need to start kindergarten. What she learned made her cry. She had been saving money all summer from her work cleaning houses, anticipating a big budget hit for notebooks, pencils, markers and whatever else the school would require. When

When will rubber meet the road for Yachats’ tourist trolley — or are the costs just too much?

August 27, 2024

By GARRET JAROS/YachatsNews YACHATS – The idea of bringing a tourist-style trolley to Yachats rolled into town a year ago. Behind the wheel was the Yachats Area Chamber of Commerce which pitched it as an eco-friendly way of easing congestion and parking in town by shuttling people to and from motels and campgrounds to shops, restaurants and attractions like

Yachats brings summer to a close with a Labor Day weekend packed with events

August 27, 2024

By CHERYL ROMANO/YachatsNews That whooshing sound is summer speeding by, but it won’t depart without a big weekend of Labor Day activities in Yachats. From Saturday through Labor Day Monday the city offers a packed schedule of crafts, food, art, books and music. Saturday and Sunday Yachats Ladies Club Labor Day Bazaar: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., 286 W.

Waldport’s visitor center gives volunteers a chance to experience the world without leaving home

August 25, 2024

By CHERYL ROMANO/YachatsNews WALDPORT — Want to meet people from all over the world without leaving the central Oregon coast? If so, you might consider spending some time at Waldport’s Alsea Bay Bridge Visitor Center, which is actively seeking new volunteers. “In the last fiscal year we had about 9,000 people come through from every state in the

Change in law allows YachatsNews to expand its “public notice” offerings for local governments, readers

August 24, 2024

By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews Aided by a tweak in state law by the 2023 Oregon Legislature, YachatsNews has expanded its services to local governments and the thousands of readers who use the news site each week. This is a brief update to explain it – and encourage local governments to use our service and explain to readers what they are

Family and friends of Yachats man who perished trying to help swimmers not surprised at his compassion, courage

August 22, 2024

By GARRET JAROS/YachatsNews YACHATS – Sean Johnson acted without hesitation Sunday when he scrambled down the rocky shoreline and jumped into the ocean to help a woman and her two young sons struggling against the current. The selfless act of courage cost him his life. But his actions were no surprise to those who knew him best – and