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Publisher’s Note: Feeling the love this Valentine’s Day

Local News

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February 14, 2019

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Publisher’s Note: Feeling the love this Valentine’s Day

Thank you Lincoln City. We feel the love.

What more can we say as we witness the full force of thousands of people assaulting our website each and every day?

And we love you for it. The future of Lincoln City news is brighter than it ever has been and keeping you informed about what matters to you and your family continues to be our top priority.

It really has been a full-time job holding this website together through some of our breaking stories. When articles draw thousands of visitors in minutes the website gets bogged down and we have to rush to keep it running smooth.

I have literally stood there and held open the flood gates as thousands of people in Lincoln City and abroad clamor for our content, and that is the ultimate compliment.

As the rushing waterfall of website visitors washes over our website, Executive Editor Jim Fossum says: “There’s smoke coming out the back of my computer!” We love him for his awesome feature stories and wonderful sense of humor.

We love covering the City of Lincoln City.

We love you for all the website hits.

We love each one of your Facebook Likes.

We love you for sharing our stories.

We love you for letting others know about us.

We love it when you advertise to keep the fires at Homepage burning.

You’re amazing.

You’re beautiful.

You had us at, “Thanks for covering the news.”

Love,

Justin Werner and the Homepage Team

LCSD issues letter regarding nearby measles outbreak

Local News

News Release

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February 13, 2019

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A microscopic image of the Rubella virus

From the Lincoln County School District:

Dear Parent or Guardian,

With the current measles outbreak investigation in Clark County, Wash., we understand that parents in our area have questions about what can be done to keep children safe, and what their child’s school/child care will do if a case of measles is confirmed at their site.

Here are some important points to keep in mind:

Measles is highly contagious. If a case is confirmed in a school or child care center, Washington County Public Health will review all staff and student vaccination records to determine the risk of further spread.
Keeping children in school/child care is a priority, but measles is a serious disease. If an unvaccinated person is exposed to measles, they will not be allowed to go to school or child care during the time period when they could become sick, usually for 21 days after exposure.

This may be extended if there are more measles cases.

People excluded from school or child care after a measles exposure are asked to stay home to avoid exposing others in the community.
Now is a great time for all families, teachers and school administrators to review their vaccine records and get their vaccines up to date.

Your child can receive vaccination against measles from:

Primary Care Providers
Pharmacies, for ages 7 and older
Public Health Department, call for an appointment 541-265-4112
Community Health Centers, located in Lincoln City & Newport. Call for an appointment 541-265-4947

We advise that you call your primary care provider or the pharmacy of choice ahead of time to ensure they have the measles vaccine in stock.

About measles:

Measles is a very contagious viral disease that can spread through the air when someone sick with measles, coughs or sneezes. It can also be spread by direct contact with nose discharge and spit of someone sick with measles.
The symptoms of measles start with a fever, cough, runny nose and red eyes followed by a red rash that usually begins on the head or face and spreads to the rest of the body.
People are contagious with measles for four days before the rash appears and up to four days after the rash appears.
After a person who is not immune is exposed to measles, symptoms usually develop in one to two weeks, but it can take up to three weeks.
Complications of measles include ear infection, lung infection and, in rare cases, inflammation of the brain.

About one in 1,000 children dies of measles.

Anyone who is not immune to measles and believes they have measles symptoms should contact their health care provider or urgent care by telephone before going in to the clinic to make arrangements to avoid exposing others to the virus.
People are considered immune to measles if any of the following are true:
You are a pre-school age child with one measles vaccine (MMR – measles, mumps, rubella)
You are a school-age child (K-12) or adult who has had one measles vaccine (MMR – measles, mumps, rubella).
You were born before 1957.
You have had measles (diagnosed by a health care provider and confirmed with a lab test).
You have had a blood test that shows you are immune to measles.

Anyone with questions about measles infection or the measles vaccine should call their primary care provider or their local county health department.

Up to date information on the investigation and public exposures can be found on the Clark County, Wash., website: https://www.clark.wa.gov/public-health/measles-investigation

Coast Guard saves two people after Mayday call near Tillamook

Local News

Homepage Staff

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February 13, 2019

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Coast Guard rescue Netarts — A U.S. Coast Guard crew responds to a Mayday call from two people in distress at Netarts Bay

An emergency distress call and life-preservation equipment are to credit for saving the lives of two recreational boaters this morning near Netarts Bay, five miles southwest of Tillamook.

Mayday call:

“There wasn’t anybody else out there today,” said Petty Officer 3rd Class Bradley Larson, who assisted in the rescue of a man and woman in distress while fishing off a jet-propulsion personal watercraft. “If not for the life jackets, wet suits, and especially the radio, our chances of finding them, before they succumbed to hypothermia, would have been very slim.”

According to a news release, a man and woman were pushed into the surf and flipped off their jet ski by a wave, causing them to fall overboard. The man had a small marine radio, which he used to make a Mayday call and help direct rescue crewmembers to their location.

Watch-standers at the Sector Columbia River Command Center received a Mayday call — the international distress signal used by boaters, ships and aircraft — from a handheld maritime radio at 8:45 a.m.

Two 47-foot Motor Life Boat crews from Station Tillamook Bay were immediately launched and a MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter aircrew lifted from Air Station Astoria in response to the incident.

A crew from Station Tillamook Bay found the couple shivering but responsive at 9:27 a.m. and transported them to Station Tillamook Bay in Garibaldi to await Emergency Medical Service technicians for further medical attention at 10:06 a.m.

New bus system to track students’ whereabouts to and from school

Local News

Jim Fossum

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February 13, 2019

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Parents of students in the Lincoln County School District will soon be able to track the whereabouts of their children to and from school with a bus GPS tracking system under a contract awarded Tuesday to First Student transportation company.

“The decision to go with First Student was based upon their experience with routing software and GPS tracking integration with student transportation,” LCSD Facilities Director Rich Belloni said. “Parents will have an online portal that will allow them to track their student’s bus to and from school.”

The new arrangement will also parents to follow their kids’ location on buses utilized on field trips and sporting events and school officials to monitor students’ behavior, if necessary, for safety and disciplinary purposes through the use of video technology.

“New buses will each be outfitted with four onboard digital video cameras,” Belloni said. “In addition, the Evaluation Committee was impressed with the training for all staff, not just the drivers.”

First Student is the largest provider of school bus services in the United States, operating out of 650 locations in 39 states and eight Canadian provinces. Its service with LCSD will begin July 1 under the contract awarded Tuesday night.

Current drivers employed by Mid Columbia Bus Co. are expected to be rehired if they meet First School’s qualifications and are in good standing with the District.

Drivers will be paid at or above their current wage in addition to a signing bonus. New drivers will receive a starting wage higher than the current starting wage and a signing bonus paid over the first year of employment.

Mid Columbia Bus Co. was under contract with LCSD for the past 12 years.

First Student will host its initial pre-hiring event for drivers and other transportation staff between 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 16, at Toledo Elementary School, 600 SE Sturdevant Road, with other dates to be announced as they are scheduled.

With a workforce of 57,000 employees and a fleet of 48,000 vehicles, First Student transports approximately six million students daily in the United States. The company’s bus fleet drives over 600 million miles every year and is the first school bus operator to integrate Zonar, an electronic fleet-management software program.

SNAP food benefits to be issued to all recipients March 1

Local News

News Release

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February 13, 2019

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The U.S Department of Agriculture has asked states to provide early issuance of March benefits for those who rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) for food security. The request is due to the partial federal government shutdown in January.

Oregonians who normally receives their SNAP benefits between the 1st or 9th of each month will get their March allocation on March 1.

This is the second month SNAP benefits will be issued differently than the regular issuance schedule. The early March issuance date will help to ease the burden on affected households who have had a longer than usual gap between their usual SNAP issuance.

“We understand that this disruption in the schedule of how benefits are distributed can be difficult for SNAP participants,” Self-Sufficiency Programs Director Kim Fredlund said. “Our goal, during this unprecedented time, is to ensure we provide vulnerable Oregonians with access to food benefits and help them find additional resources if needed.”

People concerned about running out of SNAP benefits can contact 211 Info, the Oregon Food Bank or the Aging and Disability Resource Connection to find resources in their local communities.

To find a local DHS office, go to www.oregon.gov/dhs and click on Office Locations.

Flood safety tips from Oregon Emergency Management

Local News

News Release

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February 13, 2019

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Lincoln City Oregon Flood — High water on Highway 101 near Salishan (Photo by Justin Werner)

With recent wet weather and more rain on its way, now is a good time to prepare for floods, check your emergency supplies and adhere to basic flood safety.

Some simple tips include clearing out leaves or remaining ice/snow from storm drains and culverts to prevent localized flooding, and having an emergency kit with necessary supplies.

Oregon Office of Emergency Management recommends being “2 Weeks Ready.”

Many flood-related fatalities are caused by vehicles driven into hazardous waters. Six inches of moving water can knock over an adult and 12 inches can carry away a small vehicle. Remember, “Turn Around, Don’t Drown.”

Heavy rains reduce drivers’ visibility. When driving, turn on your lights, increase following distance, slow down, and watch for bicyclists and pedestrians. Follow the Oregon Department of Transportation tips for driving in the rain: https://www.oregon.gov/odot/pages/winter-driving.aspx
Give yourself more time for heavy traffic. Keep a safe distance between you and the driver in front of you, make sure your windshield wipers in are good working condition, obey the speed limit, drive slower in the rain and turn on headlights.
If you are in your vehicle and floodwater is blocking your evacuation route, go to a building on high ground. If your vehicle is trapped in rapidly moving water, stay in the vehicle. If water is rising inside the vehicle, seek refuge on the roof.

A flood does not have to be a catastrophic event, and you do not have to live in a high-risk flood area to suffer flood damage. Around twenty percent of flood insurance claims occur in moderate-to-low risk areas. Property owners should remember to:

Buy Flood Insurance. Most standard homeowner’s policies do not cover flood damage. Flood insurance is affordable, and important to protecting your investment. An average flood policy costs around $890 a year, and rates start at less than $516 a year for homes in moderate- to low-risk areas.
Prepare Now. Review your insurance coverage. No flood insurance? Remember, It typically takes 30 days for a new flood insurance policy to go into effect so get your policy now.
Plan Ahead. Plan evacuation routes. Keep important papers in a safe waterproof place. Conduct a home inventory; itemize and take pictures of possessions and the inside and outside of your home. For more information about flood insurance, please call your insurance agent or contact the National Flood Insurance Program Call Center (NFIP) at 1-800-621-3362.
Visit the National Flood Insurance Program at www.fema.gov/national-flood-insurance-program to learn more about flood risk and flood insurance.

D River Bridge work mishap warrants temporary traffic radar system

Local News

Justin Werner

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February 13, 2019

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ODOT D River — Part of the Wavetronics Advanced Detector System

Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) officials are installing two new temporary radar detectors at the D River Wayside and Highway 101 intersection to fix a problem caused by an underground traffic wire that was damaged during the ongoing D River Bridge improvements.

Broken Wire — A pulled traffic wire pokes out of the D River Bridge on Highway 101

“We’re just out here saving the world one traffic signal at a time,” ODOT electrician Dion Low said. “The bridge work crew pulled a line from our traffic loop and we’re installing these temporary detectors that will be here for about a year.”

D River Traffic Control Cabinet — Traffic signal controller cabinet

The detectors measure and relay range, speed and arrival time of vehicles to the traffic signal control cabinet, which tells the lights when to change. Low said the D River Wayside cabinet was unique because it is a two-in-one that controls the lights and records traffic data.

“It’s the only one in Lincoln City,” he said.

Advanced Traffic Products Territory Manager Tim Janes

Tim Janes, territory manager for Washington-based Advanced Traffic Products, went into detail about the new sensors.

“This sensor has 16 beams that sweep through the radar detection zone. It measures range, speed and ETA. It’s called the radar footprint,” he said.

Janes said the Wavetronics Advanced Sensor could see 900 feet to the D River Bridge and would be able to detect backed-up traffic and potentially relieve congestion.

“These sensors help make intersections safer,” he said. “There are 30 percent fewer crashes with this technology.”

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D River Bridge work will continue from 7 p.m.-5 a.m. Monday through Thursday for three months with necessary nighttime lane restrictions.

Local fire districts to reignite discussion of consolidation of services

Local News

Justin Werner & Jim Fossum

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February 12, 2019

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Local fire districts to reignite discussion of consolidation of services

Exploratory action into the possibility of consolidating services between Lincoln City and Depoe Bay fire and rescue operations will be reignited at 5 o’clock tonight at Station 2200 at 6445 Gleneden Beach Loop.

“The two boards are looking at ideas in how they can work together,” North Lincoln Fire Rescue (NLFR) Chief Doug Kerr said. “Sharing resources can be beneficial.”

The long-proposed possibility of merging services, renewed by the 63-year-old Kerr’s retirement this month, will be heard by Depoe Bay Fire Chief Bill Johnson and relayed at a subsequent NLFR meeting at 4 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 13, at St. Clair Station, 4520 SE Highway 101.

“It’s a dynamic situation with some people wanting to push it through and others who don’t feel it’s the right move,” Patrick Ganz, president of Depoe Bay Firefighters Local 5154, said. “Everyone believes a merger needs to happen, but it needs to be done with the right people in leadership positions.”

Kerr said working together could help both agencies financially by combining services such as payroll, training and administrative duties.

“This is the direction the industry is taking,” he said. “Other agencies are looking into or doing this.”

The meetings to discuss the possibility of partnering to avoid duplication of services are open to the public.

“I’d say it could go either way,” Ganz said. “We will know more after tonight, but North Lincoln is losing Chief Kerr this month, to my understanding, so there has been some urgency to this.”

Taft High’s ‘Murder at the Oscars’ is a drama to die for

Local News

Justin Werner & Jim Fossum

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February 12, 2019

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Envelope please — and the winner is . . .

. . . the Taft High Drama Club!

“Murder at the Oscars,” a self-scripted original production of Taft High student-actors to help pay for costumes, scripts and set design for the group’s April production of “Shrek The Musical,” will be held at the Lincoln City Cultural Center on Saturday, Feb. 23 — the eve of the prestigious Academy Awards ceremony at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.

Taft High drama students will roll out the red carpet for two shows — the first at 3 p.m. during the pre-Oscars party, and the second at 7 p.m. the night before the 91st annual event’s live ABC telecast that rewards Hollywood’s finest achievements in film-making and acting.

Among the students taking center stage posing as Hollywood luminaries in a script written by the students will be Kayla Brown as Anne Hathaway, Anna Gabler as Jennifer Lawrence, Sydney Riddle as Lady Gaga, Gavin Suckow as Jack Black, McKenzie Delugach as Millie Bobby Brown, Dez Swisher as Neil Patrick Harris, Krysta Delugach as Melissa McCarthy, Jesse Rose as the detective and many more real-life Oscar attendees.

“Fun, mystery and mayhem . . . can you guess the culprit?” assistant director Lee Ann Gabler asks.

Tickets for the event are $20 per person and $35 per couple and available at lincolncityculturalcenter.org. Call 541-921 3242 for further information.