By ZACH URNESS/Salem Statesman Journal Oregon’s top fire official said he advised utilities to shut down power lines to reduce the threat of wildfire ignitions during a historic windstorm Labor Day night of 2020, just hours before the Santiam Canyon and much of western Oregon burst into flames. In a deposition recorded earlier this month […]
Archives for April 2023
OSU study: Native bees thrive after clearcuts in Oregon Coast Range, then decline as trees grow
By STEVE LUNDEBERG/OSU News Service CORVALLIS – Native bees in the Oregon Coast Range are diverse and abundant in clearcut areas within a few years of timber harvest but their numbers drop sharply as planted trees grow and the forest canopy closes, research by Oregon State University shows. The findings are important for understanding […]
Should rural property owners be allowed to build ADUs to help housing crunch? Proposal in Oregon Legislature says yes
By ZACH DEMARS/Oregon Capital Chronicle BEND — The open space on Cathy and Kurt Springman’s 10 acres of land could offer a win-win — for their horses and a needy renter. In a perfect world, they’d fill some of that space with a tiny home just big enough to house one or two people. A […]
OSU scientists try to find answers to “so many questions” about small group of whales off central Oregon Coast
By DANA TIMS/YachatsNews It’s no secret that watching migrating gray whales during the spring and summer is one of the biggest draws on Oregon’s coast. Far less known, however, is that if a pod is spotted during that time period, it more than likely belongs to a tiny subset of maybe 250 gray whales […]
Yachats city manager resigns effective May 31, citing personnel issues, misinformation and council interference
By KENNETH LIPP and QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews YACHATS — The Yachats city council Wednesday announced the resignation of city manager Heide Lambert effective May 31, its plan to hire a contractor to assist during the transition and a professional consultant to find her replacement. Following a 90-minute closed, executive session to discuss the matter, mayor Craig […]
Oregon governor Tina Kotek reiterates state’s stance on tribal casinos — just one, not two
By NIGEL JAQUISS/Willamette Week Gov. Tina Kotek gave unambiguous guidance Thursday to Oregon’s nine recognized Native American tribes and the Oregon Lottery about where she stands on gambling. In response to questions her office has received and to pending proposals that would add two tribal casinos, Kotek simply said no. “Throughout my legislative career, […]
Waldport will likely re-think Crestline Drive sidewalk project after bids come in twice as high as expected
By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews WALDPORT — A long anticipated project to install sidewalks and crossings along Crestline Drive between neighborhoods to the north and two schools to the south has hit a big stumbling block – money. The sole bid for the project along the east side of Crestline between Salmon Street and Crestview Heights […]
Kotek calls for narrow research tax credits after signing $210 million Oregon semiconductor tax-break bill
Gov. Tina Kotek signs a $210 million bill for the semiconductor industry on April 13, 2023, at the state library in Salem. By JULIA SHUMWAY/Oregon Capital Chronicle SALEM — Tax breaks for semiconductor manufacturers should be targeted and not cost the state money, Gov. Tina Kotek said Thursday as legislators focused on expanding the state’s […]
Melvin L. Johnson, Celebration of Life, May 6
Melvin L. Johnson Celebration of Life A celebration of life will be held for Melvin L. Johnson at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 6, 2023, at Yachats Community Presbyterian Church, 360 W. Seventh St. Yachats. Melvin “Mel” LeRoy Johnson passed away June 27, 2020, in Selah, Wash. following a four-year battle with mesothelioma. He was 87 […]
Guess what’s on the menu as Depoe Bay Crab Feed — and chowder contest — returns Saturday
Depoe Bay will be cooking up locally sourced and caught crab when the annual Depoe Bay Crab Feed returns Saturday, April 15. New this year will be the inaugural Chowder Contest, while the colorful classic wooden boat show will also return to the “world’s smallest harbor.” Hundreds of pounds of delicious whole Dungeness crab, caught […]