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Lincoln County Leader -- The News Guard
Democrats, homeless advocates disappointed in U.S. Supreme Court ruling on homelessness
Democratic lawmakers, homeless advocates and legal experts in Oregon expressed disappointment Friday with the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in the Grants Pass homeless case, while conservatives welcomed the decision. In a 6-3 decision split along partisan lines, the court sided with the southern Oregon city in its prohibitions against homeless people using blankets, pillows or cardboard to protect themselves in severe weather while sleeping in public places. The court said that the city’s ordinances against homeless camping did not violate the Constitution’s Eighth Amendment prohibition...
Newport police arrest burglary suspect
On June 26, at around 7:15 p.m., officers with the Newport Police Department, assisted by Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office deputies and Oregon State Police troopers, responded to the area of Northeast 60th Street in Newport on a report that Brandon Allen Lyons, 49, of Newport, had been seen in the area. Lyons was wanted for his involvement in multiple burglaries and thefts in Newport and the Lincoln County area. A thorough search of the area failed to locate Lyons, as he had fled prior to...
Housing in the works for people with mental illness
As Lincoln City sees additional affordable housing projects developed, efforts are underway to include dwellings for people with severe and persistent mental illness. Lincoln County Health and Human Services and the Housing Authority of Lincoln County are joining forces to create 28 units of housing dedicated to HHS clients with mental illness, according to Housing Authority of Lincoln County Director Karen Rockwell. The Lighthouse Village project is planned to include...
Pedestrian safety operation in Lincoln City July 9
The Lincoln City Police Department (LCPD) plans to conduct a pedestrian safety operation on Tuesday, July 9, on Highway 101 in the area between North 10th Street and North 14th Street. The operation will be conducted between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Warning signs will be posted prior to entering the pedestrian safety operation zone. “The primary focus of this operation is to raise awareness of pedestrian safety in drivers,”...
Partnership opens free summer camps at Lincoln City
Lincoln City Parks & Recreation (LCP&R) announces a public partnership with the Lincoln County School District (LCSD) to offer free youth camps for the 2024 summer. Oregon State House Bill 4082 is funding summer enrichment programs through the Oregon Department of Education’s State Summer Learning Grants. In receiving this state funding, LCSD partnered with community partners including LCP&R, to support summer enrichment programs and camps. allowing LCP&R to offer free summer camps. ...
Tribal leaders on the coast call for action to return sea otters to Oregon
Leaders of two federally recognized Oregon coastal Indian tribes have called upon U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland to “take all appropriate actions” to direct the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to return sea otters — known to tribal ancestors as Xulh-t’ush, Giye’we, or Ela-ke’ — to the Oregon coast within the next five years. The Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians (CTCLUSI) and the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians (CTSI) have sent letters to Haaland. In the letters, Bradley...
Big Creek Road to be closed
Big Creek Road in Newport, beginning east of Iler Street, will be closed to the public Monday, July 8, through Friday, July 12, and again Monday, July 15, through Tuesday, July 16, to allow engineering crews to survey the area in relation to the Big Creek Dam Project. The area will be open to the public July 13-14. All recreational activities at Big Creek Reservoir will be prohibited during the dates the road is closed. For more information on the Big Creek Dam Project, visit SaveOurSupplyNewport.com. (Photo by Steve Card)
Bay clamming reopens statewide, mussels reopen on south coast
Bay clamming is now open statewide and mussel harvest reopens from Coos Bay north jetty to the California border the Oregon Department of Agriculture and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife announced today. Two consecutive tests showed biotoxin levels below the closure limit in these areas. People should always call the Shellfish Safety Hotline (1-800-448-2474) before heading out to harvest shellfish or visit the ODA Recreational Shellfish Biotoxin Closures Webpage. ...
Despite mild fire season forecast, agencies tell Oregon leaders they need to invest in workforce
Oregon is likely to face fewer big wildfires this summer than in previous years, but a lack of rural housing, coupled with unstable and often low pay, continues to create firefighter workforce challenges across the state and region. That was a big part of the message from state and federal fire and emergency response officials, who discussed this year’s fire outlook and what they need at a meeting Monday at the Northwest Interagency Coordination Center. The Portland-based center is part of a larger wildfire prevention...
Newport Swim Team gearing up for state
With the arrival of July, the Newport Swim Team attended their final meet before the course State Championships. Seven NST members participated in the TEAM Eugene Invitational June 28-30 at the 50-meter outdoor Amazon pool in Eugene. A total of 12 swim teams from Oregon and Idaho competed. Team Eugene dominated the combined team score, while NST took 8th place. For athletes ages 11 and older, this meet followed a prelim (AM) and finals (PM) format, testing their training and racing abilities. Here are the individual performances: ...
Surf Clinic in Newport
A Surf Clinic will be held July 7 in Newport. This comprehensive, six-hour workshop is designed for beginners seeking to turn their surf sessions from getting tossed around into effortlessly gliding onto waves. From reading the surf forecast and pop-up techniques, to ocean safety and mindfulness, this clinic covers it all. The intimate 1 to 4 instructor to student ratio ensures personalized attention, making the learning experience safe and enjoyable. Visit kayinwaves.com for more information.
Sheriff discusses south county services
Sheriff Curtis Landers appeared before the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners last week to discuss proposed contracts for enhanced law enforcement services in Waldport and Yachats. Waldport already has an agreement with the county through which the sheriff’s office provides personnel dedicated to law enforcement in the city. The proposed contract with Yachats for similar services would be a new agreement. “There’s two contracts that would occur here,” County Administrator...
Celebrating with a bang
Coastal residents and visitors alike are gearing up for an explosive celebration over the Fourth of July holiday. Tom Coates and his son, Evan, of Seal Rock, purchase fireworks Saturday at a stand next to the Oregon National Guard Armory in Newport. But not all parts of the county allow the personal use of fireworks — Lincoln City prohibits them everywhere within the city — so people should check for local restrictions before setting them off. Everyone will be able to enjoy public fireworks displays around the county, however. Tonight (Wednesday), a display will be shot off over Alsea Bay in Waldport. On Thursday, July 4, there will be displays over Yaquina Bay in Newport, the Yachats River in Yachats, and Siletz Bay in Lincoln City. On Friday, July 5, there will be a display over Devils Lake in Lincoln City. All fireworks shows begin at dusk. (Photo by Steve Card)
Fatal crash on Highway 20 in Lincoln County
On Monday, July 1, 2024, at 6:35 p.m., Oregon State Police responded to a three-vehicle crash on Hwy-20, near milepost 30, in Lincoln County. The preliminary investigation indicated a westbound Toyota Rav4, operated by Jose Manuel Zapata (29) of Portland, attempted to pass a Dodge Ram 2500 with a trailer, operated by Raphael Francis Spielman (78) of Gaston, and struck and eastbound Acura TL, operated by Scott Thomas Novotny (34) of Newport. The collision caused all three vehicles to come to an uncontrolled rest along...
Letter: Depoe Bay attempts to ban some political signs
All around Depoe Bay, residents are expressing their political beliefs with yard signs that proclaim: Black Lives Matter; Free Palestine; Claire Cares; Biden-Harris; Trump 2024. In an era of polarization and social media rants, campaign signs are a relatively benign reminder we still live in a vigorous democracy where people are free to openly express their opinions without fear of government retribution. So it came as a surprise to me,...
Operation Dry Water launched
The Oregon Marine Board, sheriff’s offices across the state and the Oregon State Police will be participating in Operation Dry Water July 4-6. The enforcement effort is part of a nationally coordinated effort to reduce the number of accidents and fatalities related to boating under the influence of intoxicants (BUII). Leading factor The U.S. Coast...
Court upholds homeless camping ban
The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled in favor of a homeless camping ordinance in Grants Pass, a ruling that could impact homelessness efforts by cities in Lincoln County as well as across Oregon and the nation. The court states in its ruling, “The enforcement of generally applicable laws regulating camping on public property does not constitute ‘cruel and unusual punishment’ prohibited by the Eighth Amendment.” The plaintiffs filed a punitive...
Celebrate safely this Fourth of July: Rethink the Drink, drive sober
As Oregonians gear up to celebrate the busy months of summer – from Fourth of July and barbecues to weddings and river outings – the Oregon Health Authority's (OHA) Excessive Alcohol Use Prevention Program and the Oregon Department of Transportation’s (ODOT) Impaired Driving Program are partnering to remind everyone about the importance of driving sober and drinking less. Excessive drinking impairs a person’s judgment, slows reaction times and increases the likelihood of making fatal decisions. This Fourth of July, OHA and ODOT are encouraging people...
Recommendations address teaching of reading and writing in elementary schools
Following a one-year review of Oregon’s early literacy education, a state council has released its final recommendations to strengthen educator preparation programs for teaching reading and writing in Oregon elementary schools. In January, the Early Literacy Educator Preparation Council released initial recommendations to revise educator and school administrator preparation program standards for literacy instruction. Members of educator prep programs and the general public were able to submit feedback to the recommendations. ...
Lincoln County Leader -- The News Guard
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