By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews.com Yachats City Hall will trim back its public office hours starting in April as the city tries to find two key employees and City Manager Shannon Beaucaire completes an organizational review and staffing proposal. The City Hall office is currently open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The new hours starting April […]
Yachats council changes direction on charter revisions
By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews.com The Yachats City Council tossed out hours of work fine-tuning changes to the city charter Wednesday when it took the advice of its attorney to instead simply use a “model” language from the League of Oregon Cities. The council will use model charter language on how to operate with a city manager-council […]
New Newport hospital helps Samaritan continue medical improvements
By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews.com Samaritan Health Services took a major step in the transformation of medical care in Lincoln County on Thursday when it opened its $63 million main hospital building in Newport. Moving patients and staff from the 31-year-old Samaritan Pacific Communities Hospital into a modern three-story building signaled the stretch run in the medical […]
Yachats Fire District asks voters to renew levy in May
By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews.com Voters in the Yachats Rural Fire Protection District will be asked in May to approve a five-year operating levy for the district. The board voted 3-0 Thursday to ask district residents to renew the levy, which expires June 30. It is one of two levies and a tax base the district uses […]
Central Lincoln stays in house for new manager
Randy Grove, the director of engineering and operations for the Central Lincoln People’s Utility District, has been picked as its general manager. Grove replaces Debra Smith who left last year to become head of Seattle City Light. The PUD’s board selected Grove in a special meeting Jan. 23 after a national search. Central Lincoln PUD […]
Valentine Day vow renewal offered twice this year
Valentine’s Day is always special at the Little Log Church in Yachats. This year doubly so. For the 24th year, independent minister Mary Crook will perform an annual ceremony of renewal and commitment Thursday, Feb. 14. But this year the group ceremony will be offered twice — at noon and 5:30 p.m. Hundreds of people […]
Whale-watching license plates go on sale Friday
Just in time for whale watching season, a new Oregon license plate with the image of a gray whale mother and her calf will be available at Department of Motor Vehicles offices beginning Friday, Feb. 1. DMV has ordered 10,000 of the specialized plates, the state has announced. The plate will cost $40 to order […]
Samaritan will end home health services
Samaritan Health Services announced Monday, Jan. 28 that it will discontinue its home health services in Lincoln County in March, transitioning patients to Signature Healthcare at Home of Wilsonville. Samaritan will continue to provide hospice services in Lincoln County. Currently the same Samaritan staff handle hospice and home health care. This will change March 1, […]
Friends, families gather at Yachats Lions Club annual crab feed
The first of three seatings at the annual Yachats Lions Club crab feed had a line out the door before its 12:30 p.m. Saturday start. But once inside the Yachats Commons, friends and families started making quick work of hundreds of pounds of crab. Among those eating — and some drinking their own wine […]
Yachats looks to raise its lodging tax to 10 percent
By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews.com The Yachats City Council is proposing to tack a percentage point onto the city’s lodging tax to capture more money from increased tourism to help pay for at least three projects and bolster the city’s general fund. The city’s lodging tax would rise to 10 percent from 9 percent. Together with another […]