There’s a little bit of everything on the May primary ballot for the more than 41,000 registered voters in Lincoln County – choices for political office and a handful of pocketbook issues. During a presidential year primary that includes races for low-profile statewide offices, there’s a bit more to chew on for Lincoln County voters. […]
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Who will become Lincoln County’s next district attorney? Wallace, Benfield have similar goals but different backgrounds
Lincoln County chief deputy district attorney Jenna Wallace, left, and Newport defense attorney Kathryn Benfield are seeking election as district attorney in the May primary. By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews Jenna Wallace hadn’t anticipated seeking election to become a district attorney. Not yet, anyway. Wallace has been a prosecutor in the Lincoln County district attorney’s office […]
Hall faces four challengers as she seeks sixth term as Lincoln County commissioner in May primary
By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews Lincoln County voters have a wide array of choices – five to be exact — in the May primary to decide who occupies one of three seats on the board of commissioners — or if two candidates go to a runoff in November. Claire Hall is seeking her sixth, four-year term […]
New $30,000 reader board at Yachats Commons designed to improve safety, communication for everyone
By GARRET JAROS/YachatsNews YACHATS – Beginning Friday passersby the Yachats’ Commons will see a high-resolution nod to modernity with the debut of an electronic reader board. Safety concerns triggered the upgrade from the old board with its manually-maneuvered individual block letters. “We will be able to change the wording on the new one from […]
After rousing first community dance, Yachats group stages another Saturday in series of free musical gatherings
By CHERYL ROMANO/YachatsNews YACHATS — You don’t have to be in recovery to enjoy an alcohol-free dance party. That point was made emphatically last winter when almost 100 people turned out for what was billed at the time as a “sober dance party” at the Yachats Commons. “That was a real eye-opener,” said local […]
Federal energy agency announces next steps for offshore wind sites off southern Oregon coast
By MONICA SAMAYOA/Oregon Public Broadcasting The Southern Oregon coast is closer to hosting floating offshore wind energy, after the Biden administration announced it’s preparing to accept proposals for the area. This is the first step in a multiyear process before any wind developer could begin construction. On Tuesday, the U.S. Department of Interior’s Bureau […]
Bicyclists, blues, barbecue descend on Waldport (then Yachats) this weekend for first big party of the season
By CHERYL ROMANO/YachatsNews What has 1,400 tires, a smoky blues beat and the power to pedal big bucks to the central Oregon coast? That would be the Beach, Bike & Blues Festival back for its third year Saturday in Waldport. Anchored by two bicycle races — first in Waldport and then in Yachats — […]
News Briefs
Lincoln County Historical Society hires Syrop as executive director
NEWPORT — The board of the Lincoln County Historical Society has hired Jeffrey Syrop as its new executive director to replace Susan Tissot, who retired Tuesday. Tissot had led the organization the past two years. The nonprofit organization oversees and operates the Pacific Maritime Heritage Center and the Burrows House Museum in Newport. Syrop worked […]
Crash into Alsea River on Wednesday leads to two driving citations
WALDPORT – A 60-year-old Waldport man who drove his truck into the Alsea River on Wednesday and needed a specialized rescue team to get him to safety has been cited by police for drunk and reckless driving. Oregon State Police cited Ricky A. Woosley on the two charges after he was taken to Samaritan Pacific […]
April rainfall was slightly below normal, but 2024 amounts still very high
Even though rainfall for the year is running quite a bit above average, central Oregon coast weather in April was pretty unremarkable. Even YachatsNews’ weather watchers described it as “ho hum.” Maybe that’s a good thing for spring. “We did have a stretch of very nice weather in the middle of the month,” said weather […]
Coastal choir wrapping up season with weekend concerts
Four choir concerts over two weekends in May will mark the end of the performance season for Coastal Voices, formerly the Central Coast Chorale. The concerts by the 50-voice community choir, themed “Spring Homage”, will take place in Newport, Yachats and Lincoln City: Saturday, May 4: Newport Performing Arts Center, $25; Sunday, May 5: Yachats […]
Man wearing “Rip City” sweatshirt does just that with county bus Sunday
NEWPORT – Oops, no wonder your bus was late Sunday. Newport police said Monday that a man wearing a “Rip City” sweatshirt made off with a Lincoln County Transit bus shortly before noon as the driver was refueling it at the fuel station at Northeast Harney Street and Yaquina Heights Drive. Police said the driver […]
Siletz man killed in Friday head-on collision just east of Newport
NEWPORT – A 62-year-old Siletz man was killed and his passenger seriously injured Friday evening when their small pickup was struck head-on by a car that crossed into their lane of U.S. Highway 20 a little more than a mile east of Newport. Oregon State Police said in a news release Monday that Christopher M. […]
Newport-area community celebrates 67th Loyalty Days and Sea Fair Festival with three days of events
By Oregon Coast TODAY NEWPORT — Started in response to a proclamation signed by President Eisenhower in 1958, Loyalty Days events began popping up around the country. Now in its 67th year, the Newport event continues to salute veterans while also honoring and remembering members of the local fishing industry. This year’s Loyalty Days […]
Cascade Head collective offering guided tours of Oregon’s only UNESCO biosphere
By Oregon Coast TODAY While coastal outcroppings like Cascade Head will continue to attract locals and visitors to its sweeping views, there is so much more to be found than ocean views at Oregon’s only UNESCO Biosphere Region. The Cascade Head Biosphere Explorience outings, a series of interactive, 90-minute walking tours, will guide people […]
5 Questions and a Secret: Sherri Seaman and Joyce Adams lead Waldport church’s Saturday food program
By KATHLEEN O’CONNOR/YachatsNews Many residents of the central Oregon coast are committed to helping their neighbors and their communities in many arenas -- food, lodging, clothing, … [Read More...] about 5 Questions and a Secret: Sherri Seaman and Joyce Adams lead Waldport church’s Saturday food program
Historical display shows how coastal Native Americans used shaped rocks, wood and bones to fish
These three objects, two sinker stones and a wood and bone hook, are part of the Lincoln County Historical Society's collection and are on display at the Burrows House Museum in … [Read More...] about Historical display shows how coastal Native Americans used shaped rocks, wood and bones to fish
Letters from Readers
College’s bond request just renews rate, doesn’t mean an increase
To the editor: I am writing in support of Measure 21-224 on your May primary ballot, which would renew the bond for Oregon Coast Community College. If passed, this measure would renew the college’s bond at its current rate, meaning no increase in the tax rate for Lincoln County property owners. But the benefits for […]
Law school colleague supports Wallace in DA’s race
To the editor: I’ve known Lincoln County deputy district attorney Jenna Wallace for over a decade since we first met in law school. During those years I watched Wallace begin to develop her affinity for justice and integrity. Since that time I have litigated cases against Wallace, and while I don’t always agree with her […]
Benfield can end chaos, dissension in district attorney’s office
To the editor: Newport native Kathryn Benfield should be the voters’ overwhelming choice for Lincoln County District Attorney in the May election. With more than 35 years experience in practice, Benfield has handled both civil and criminal matters and regularly appears before juries. She has compassion and common sense. She has discernment and discretion. She […]
Former colleague supports Benfield for Lincoln County DA
To the editor: I had the distinct pleasure of working for Kathryn Benfield at her law office in Newport, and it was one of the most impactful experiences of my professional career. I first met Benfield in the courtroom, while working for the Lincoln County Circuit Court Judge Paulette Sanders. There I witnessed first-hand Benfield’s […]
Oregon News
Democrats vie for Oregon state treasurer nomination to face Republican state senator in November
By CONRAD WILSON/Oregon Public Broadcasting Oregon’s next state treasurer will take the reins on an office with big tasks already at hand. They will manage the state’s $98 billion Public Employees Retirement System and its $28 billion unfunded liability. They will inherit outgoing state Treasurer Tobias Read’s plans to divest in fossil fuels and […]
Four candidates square off in May primary race for Oregon attorney general to replace Rosenblum
Left to right top: Republican Will Lathrop and Democrat Dan Rayfield, and left to right bottom: Democrat Shaina Maxey Pomerantz and Republican Michael Cross are running for Oregon attorney general in the primary election May 21. By BEN BOTKIN/Oregon Capital Chronicle Four candidates are running for Oregon attorney general and hope to get their party’s […]
Two Republicans competing for 4th Congressional District nomination hope to unseat Hoyle
Amy Ryan Courser, left, and Monique DeSpain are vying for the Republican nomination in Oregon’s 4th Congressional District. BY ALEX BAUMHARDT/Oregon Capital Chronicle A lawyer and Air Force veteran and a marketing consultant and former Keizer City councilor are vying for the Republican nomination to represent Oregon’s 4th Congressional District in the May 21 primary. […]
Demand for electricity in Northwest projected to grow 30% in decade, triple previous estimates
By ALEX BAUMHARDT/Oregon Capital Chronicle Electricity demand in the Northwest is expected to grow more than 30% in the next decade, or about 5% more than estimated last year and triple the prediction three years ago, industry experts said in a new report. Large data centers, an increase in high-tech manufacturing and growing electrification in […]
Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek apologizes Wednesday and ends plans to expand first lady’s role after pushback
By JULIA SHUWAY/Oregon Capital Chronicle SALEM — After weeks of criticism from within and outside her office and the departure of key staff, Gov. Tina Kotek is abandoning plans to expand first lady Aimee Kotek Wilson’s role in the office. Kotek announced her change of heart in a statement Wednesday and answered questions from […]
UO president rejects demands of students wanting school to cut ties with Israel
Organizers began setting up Monday morning on the University of Oregon campus in Eugene. They say the encampment isn’t intended to interfere with campus activities or classes. By NATHAN WILK/KLCC News EUGENE — University of Oregon President John Karl Scholz has responded to the demands of the student encampment on the school’s Eugene campus. […]
1,000 survivors of 2020 Oregon wildfires file $30 billion “mass complaint” lawsuit against PacifiCorp
By ZACH URNESS/Salem Statesman Journal One-thousand Oregon wildfire survivors are suing PacifiCorp for $30 billion in the latest lawsuit filed as part of the massive class action lawsuit over the 2020 Labor Day wildfires. The complaint, filed Monday in Multnomah County court, lists 1,000 names of people impacted by four wildfires that a jury last year […]
Man charged after allegedly using bleach to kill 18,000 juvenile salmon at Reedsport hatchery
Staff at the state fish hatchery in Reedsport pours dead pre-molt Chinook salmon into a container. Roughly 18,000 of the fish were recently killed after a 20-year-old man allegedly poured bleach into a holding tank at the facility. By BRIAN BULL/KLCC News A Gardiner man has been arrested and charged in the deliberate killing of […]