This Week in History

25 years ago (1999)

Bridge at Beverly Beach to be replaced

Oregon Department of Transportation officials plan to seek an emergency declaration from the governor to allow immediate construction of a temporary bridge for U.S. Highway 101 near Beverly Beach State Park.

The bridge, just north of Newport, is expected to be under construction within weeks. Construction will take about three months.

The current bridge is crumbling, and in the meantime, bridge load restrictions are in place.

Debate continues over Cutler City wetlands park

Lincoln City’s urban renewal agency and members of the public continued their debate over the controversial Cutler City wetlands park this week

Proposed for a large tract of land behind Lumbermen’s in Lincoln City, the park is planned to be an education and preservation exhibit of native coastal wetlands for visitors.

Council fines bank for false alarms

Alarm fees were levied by the Lincoln City Council against West Coast Bank for eight false alarms since Jan. 1.

There is no penalty for the first four alarms, but the Lincoln City ordinance requires a charge of $20 each for the fifth and sixth alarms, and $40 each for the seventh through 10th false alarms. After 10, the charge is $80 each; after 12, the fee jumps to $150 each.

‘Made In Oregon’ plans move

The Made in Oregon store located in the former state park building in Depoe Bay will be closing May 23 after losing its lease with the city of Depoe Bay. The company is currently looking to relocate the store to another nearby coastal location.

The Oregon Coast Aquarium in Newport plans to open a gift shop in this Depoe Bay building on July 1.

50 years ago (1974)

Port moves to turn over northern property

The Port of Newport will hand over property at Depoe Bay and Lincoln City on July 1. The decision follows a vote last week in which the turnover was approved two to one.

No restrictions, except that the property now in public use must so remain, will be written into the deed.

All transfer costs will be borne by the two north end cities, which voted out of the district in August 1972.

New grandstands rusting, board told

The new Newport football grandstand is rusting and must be repainted, school board members were advised this week.

Dr. Gene Park, superintendent, said it will cost as much as $8,000 to repaint the three-year-old structure, which replaced the grandstand that was destroyed by fire.

Board member Harrell Looper, Eddyville, was critical of the firm that supplied the metal stands. “It appears someone put something over on us, looking at it,” he said.

DEQ seeking help from citizens

Citizen help was requested last week on a pollution problem that surfaced recently along the Oregon coast.

The problem is highly weathered oil from unknown sources that has washed ashore at several coastal points, including the beaches on the 20 Miracle Miles.

Globs of tar-like substance collect on the beaches and wind up on the shoes of local residents and tourists. “This means cleanup bills — or new carpets — at coastal motels,” Director Kessler Cannon of the Department of Environmental Quality said Thursday.

State seeks property for larger bay park

A proposal to acquire more than 41 acres of land adjacent to the south jetty of Yaquina Bay for an addition to South Beach State Park will be reviewed by the Lincoln County Council of Governments on May 20.

The state parks and recreation division is seeking approval to purchase the land, much of which is in private ownership. Lincoln County owns about one-fifth of the land involved.

Total estimated cost of the purchase is $219,500.

75 years ago (1949)

Free crabs probably no more

Free crabs at the Newport Crab Festival are probably a thing of the past, and the three-day celebration will most likely be reduced to a two-day affair

These changes were generally accepted as imperative for a continuation of the festival, it became clear after a long discussion by chamber of commerce members at a meeting Monday at city hall.

Man falls off 50-foot cliff

A Newberg man suffered serious injuries early Sunday morning when he wandered, dazed, from an automobile wreck and fell about 50 feet off a cliff to the rocky seashore below.

The car in which he was riding with three others overturned on the Coast Highway curve at Boiler Bay. None of the others were hurt. The state police theorized the man sustained his injuries when he fell off the cliff.

TB x-ray unit scheduled here

The annual tubercular x-ray survey for Lincoln County will begin May 19 when the state mobile x-ray unit will start the tour at the north end of the county.

Last year, 63 adults in this county were marked as suspicious, while 10 were certified. The death rate from tuberculosis has been cut some 80 percent from the level of 1924, and this x-ray service has done its share toward this reduction, it is pointed out.

Buick dealer named for Lincoln County

Announcement has been made of the appointment of Winde Buick Company of Newport as a Lincoln County dealer for Buick automobiles.

Jim Winde, manager of the firm, reports that pending acquisition of new quarters, their new models are being displayed in the showrooms of the Unger Electric and Appliance company in Newport.

100 years ago (1924)

People urged to conserve water

All people using water from the city water system are urged to refrain from washing cars, sprinkling lawns, and to conserve water in every other way possible for the next few days.

This request has been made by city officials because of the fact that the city pump, which pumps the water into the reservoirs, is in the repair shop.

It is pointed out that unless the people cooperate, there’s apt to be a shortage before the pump can be put into running condition.

Toledo men visit Newport meeting

About 20 members of the Toledo Chamber of Commerce visited the meeting of the Newport Chamber Wednesday evening. The meeting is said to have been one of the most enthusiastic ever held in the beach resort.

Many excellent talks were made on the subject of cooperation of all sections of the county to work for bettering conditions in this section.

Jury makes quick work in liquor law violation case

T. M. Parchon, of Newport, whom the state and county probation officers have attempted to “catch with the goods” before, fell victim to a lady officer last Saturday and sold her a full pint bottle of moonshine.

The trial was held Tuesday afternoon, and the jury, after about 20 minutes of deliberation, brought in a verdict of guilty. Parchon was sentenced to pay a fine of $250, costs of court, and to serve a sentence of 30 days in the county jail.

Newport plans golf course

The Newport Chamber is working on a plan to build a golf course.

It seems that a certain property owner has an ideal site for such a course, which he is willing to donate to the cause, providing the Newport people will finance the undertaking.

The installing of such a course would induce hundreds of wealthy men of the state to come to Newport to spend their summer vacations, thus bringing considerable money into the county that now goes elsewhere.