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Longtime Taft coach Parker to dunk five swimmers into State waters

Jim Fossum
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Longtime Taft coach Parker to dunk five swimmers into State waters
From left, Tanner Landry, Hunter Lunstedt and Sam Cortes evaluate their times with Coach Lissa Parker

With more than two decades of high school coaching experience, Lissa Parker has done a deep dive into the waters that will determine the best of the best high school swimmers in the state.

An institution in local swimming annals with a pool-full of experience coaching Taft High and the Lincoln City Swim Club, Parker will dunk five swimmers into the depths of Tualatin Hills Aquatic Center in Beaverton.

While none are likely to join 2011 graduate Aly Viles — Taft’s lone State champion — on the tallest podium, four boys and one girl will command a starting block Friday at the Class 4A/3A/2A/1A OSAA State Swimming Championships.

Taft’s entourage, which includes 17-year-old senior alternate Micah McLeish, is a formidable group.

Joram Hoff will swim for the final time

Senior Joram Hoff and freshman Sam Cortes will compete in two events and a relay and be joined by senior Tanner Landry and juniors Hunter Lunstedt and Sammy Halferty.

Cortes, 14, is seeded eighth in the 200-yard freestyle and 10th in the 100 backstroke, while Hoff, 18, is seeded ninth in the 200 free and 100 back.

Sammy Halferty

Lunstedt, 16, will start 10th in the 100-yard breaststroke; Halferty, 17, 11th in the same event for the girls; and Landry, 17, 12th in the 200 individual medley.

“One never knows how this meet will shake out, but I think they all stand a good chance at taking some time off their personal-best times and moving up in the standings,” Parker said.

From left, Gabe Arce-Torres, Hunter Lundstedt, Tanner Landry and Joram Hoff are pictured from last year’s team

Taft’s 400-yard freestyle relay team of Landry, Lundstedt, Cortes and Hoff is seeded fourth.

“I think they’re very excited about the fourth place in the relay,” she said.

Parker, who sent a school-record nine swimmers to State in 2005 (five boys and four girls) and 2007 (four girls and five boys), said the team has worked on refining its skills this week following Saturday’s Special District 1 championships in Newport.

“We are primarily focused on tapering [reducing hardcore preparation], working on starts and turns, trying to relax and not do too many meters,” Parker said.

Competition in the Class 4A/3A/2A/1A classification is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. Friday and 8:15 a.m. Saturday.

“I would like them to stay positive and focused and get enough rest,” Parker said. “It’s a little hard getting used to racing so early in the morning.”

Tualatin Hills Aquatic Center

Taft High wrestlers seek date with State at District tournament

Jim Fossum
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Taft High wrestlers seek date with State at District tournament

Robb Ellis spent last year learning the ropes as a first-time head wrestling coach. This season, he’s trying to satisfy some lofty expectations by leading his team to a school record for success.

“Meeting our goals is looking good,” Taft High’s coach said Thursday on the eve of the Class 3A Special District 1 Championships in Warrenton.

The second-year coach’s Tigers will attempt to place third or better as a team and advance a school-record six or more wrestlers to the OSAA Class 3A State Championships, Feb. 22-23, at Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Portland.

Ellis said defending State champion Willamina remains a prohibitive favorite to win the District championship, but that the Tigers will flex their muscles against formidable foes Dayton and Rainier with hopes of placing third.

“The way the District brackets are laid out, we should have a good chance of that, and also making it close with Dayton for second place,” he said. “Of course, we have to show up and wrestle well to do that.”

Seventeen of Taft’s 19 wrestlers will suit up Friday with senior Jace Fostveit a major loss at 195 pounds due to a dislocated shoulder in practice that awaits Friday morning assessment.

”Jace had a great chance to do well at the State tournament, so he would be a huge loss,” Ellis said.

In addition, junior Alec Bosworth has been sidelined with a nagging shoulder injury and will not wrestle at Districts in the 220-pound division.

“He had been wrestling well, so that is also a loss,” Ellis said. “We are not alone, though. At the District seeding meeting, all of the other teams had their own losses, and some key wrestlers whose absence could make it easier for our wrestlers to qualify for State, just like Jace’s absence will help other teams.”

“As a wrestling coach, you have to prepare yourself mentally to finish with about 75 to 80 percent of what you started with,” he said. “Poor grades, injuries and wrestlers that have the wrong work ethic and attitude will cause every team’s numbers to dwindle. Going from about 24 or 25 at the start of the season to 19 currently is a success in my eyes.”

Individually, wrestlers must place third or better to advance to State.

“I think we should achieve at least six State qualifiers to break the school record and eight or more is possible,” Ellis said.

He said 160-pound team leader Cody Knott, who is ranked third by one website, should claim the District title with relative ease and earn a high seeding at State.

Fellow senior David Jin, Taft’s starting quarterback last fall, earned the District’s second seed at 170 and also has a good chance to wind up in the finals, Ellis said.

Senior Gio Salazar also earned the No. 2 seed and appears to have an open road to the finals. Freshman Riley Ellis and sophomore William Calderon “got fortunate at 138 pounds with the second and third seeds and could have a great chance to qualify for State because about six talented older wrestlers got stuck at 145 pounds,” Ellis said.

“Their bodies would just not allow them to go down to 138 pounds,” he said. “That helped Riley and William out in their bracket. So, at 145 pounds, only three will qualify for State and several talented wrestlers will not get to go.”

Occupying the 145-pound division from Taft are seniors DeVon Lindquist, a State qualifier last year, and Jacob Mayoral.

“They both have a great chance to qualify for State, but they will have to wrestle very well to make that happen,” Ellis said.

Another State qualifier from last year for Taft with a tough bracket is Jose Flores at 106 pounds.

“He has two-time State champion from Willamina and two other talented wrestlers from Amity and Rainier,” Ellis said. “He will have to wrestle well to go to State. In another district, Jose most likely would have gotten a much easier path.

“Each of the four districts in 3A look different,” Ellis said. One district may have a really tough 160-pound bracket and ours is not as competitive, but our 106-pound and 145-pound brackets may be more competitive than in other districts.”

Given its one-on-one nature, logistics and luck of the draw affect wrestling more than most sports, Ellis said.

“Sometimes going to State can have some luck involved,” he said. “Maybe a top wrestler was suddenly injured before Districts, and that helps one of our guys go to State. So, we could have some wrestlers with less talent qualify for State, and some that deserved to go not qualify because they faced much tougher competition.”

A season of perseverance and hard work will be defined in the next 48 hours, Ellis said.

“At the end of the day, we just have to go wrestle hard and see what happens,” he said. “Our team vibe has been great and I am proud of the attitude our guys are finishing with. ‘Hard Work!’ is our motto, and they have lived up to it. Now, all we can do is go wrestle this weekend and see what happens.”

Photos by Lon French

Taft High senior Jacob Mayoral will wrestle in the tough 145-pound bracket

My Squad – By Jim Mcfarlane

LCH Reader
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My Squad – By Jim Mcfarlane

My Squad:

We had a small abundance of Christmas goodies, so I wrapped a couple and put them in the mailbox before the mail lady came. As time went on, I did this occasionally. A simple thing because I appreciated her doing her daily route and consistently delivering mail to my door. Once later, I received a package addressed to the right City, but the wrong street. Somehow, it was re-routed to my street. Was that her? I don’t really know. But she is part of My Squad that assists me every day. Part of a group that has agreed to give up parts of their life for the well-being of others.

And I do have a big squad. I have police that patrol the streets night and day. It is not because they are near my house or come in contact with me. Their presence is the force that keeps problems away from me. It is because they are out there daily, willing to work nights, to train, to be alert for dangers, to sit boring hours in a patrol car, and to maintain an organized peace. I also have firemen on My Squad that maintain themselves, train, and keep equipment ready for the next emergency – or the need for EMT services.

I have Utility Lineman and service people in My Squad. If the lines go down, or gas lines break, or the weather churns up the skies, I don’t go out in it to survive. I hunker down and stay warm while My Squad climbs poles, digs trenches, shiver out in the storm to restore the needed services to me.

It isn’t about ‘running into the burning building’ to save lives. All of these people may see it as ‘Just a job’, but it is more than that. It is much more than an instant of effort or the actual emergency. It is the hours of training, the waiting, and the constant readiness.

Generally, My Squad is quiet and not often seen, but life would be difficult without their efforts. By their efforts, My Squad allows me to live in security and peace. With their help, I can focus on living a purposeful and comfortable life rather than concerns for daily events. I am grateful to those in My Squad and all they do. Thank you all.

— Jim Mcfarlane

Itty Bitty S***** Wave Contest to award prizes by committee

Justin Werner
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Itty Bitty S***** Wave Contest to award prizes by committee

Surfing up D River

Nelscott Reef Big Wave Classic Founder John Forse announced the D River Itty Bitty S***** Wave Contest (DRIBSWC) Thursday, where anyone with a drone or camera can win a combined purse of $200 as they film contestants surfing up the D River.

You read that right. There will be surfing up the D-River at the first DRIBSWC.

The unusual conditions of a large ocean swell combined with King tides will allow waves to go up the D river. Forse is alerting the surfing community to these conditions and wants to see anyone with a drone or camera submit their footage of surfers riding up the ‘World’s Shortest River’ for a prize.

Forse said the best times to surf D River will be Friday through Sunday 7-10 a.m.

Prize categories:

  • Longest wave
  • Best gag wave
  • Best debris survival

“It’s just a way to keep everyone engaged while the big wave contest is not running,” Forse said. “It’s also a way to make a quick couple hundred bucks!”

Contestants can go any time they want but Forse advises the best opportunities are from 7-10 a.m.

“Its such a unique opportunity because there’s only a couple times a year when we can do something like this.” said Forse.

Forse issued a disclaimer:

*This is voluntary and there are hazards; we assume no responsibility for injuries or damages while attempting your submission. Please maintain your awareness while attempting your video entry. BE SAFE!*

All genders and ages are welcome.

To be entered in the contest surfers must submit their video entries to the Nelscott Reef Big Wave Classic Facebook Page by Feb. 23. They can also message John Forse on Facebook.

Nelscott Reef Big Wave Classic

Winners will be announced after review by panel.

Scammers posing as IRS on the rise

News Release
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Scammers posing as IRS on the rise

IRS Scams

As we get into tax season, the IRS is reminding taxpayers to be on the lookout for scam e-mails aimed at tricking you into disclosing personal and financial information that could be used to steal your identity and financial assets.

IRS does not send out unsolicited e-mails asking for personal information.

The IRS has seen a recent increase in these scams, many of which originate outside the United States. To date, investigations have identified sites hosting hundreds of IRS-related phishing scams. These scam websites have been found to originate in at least 20 different countries.

Scammers claiming to be from the IRS, tell you that you are due a federal tax refund, and direct you to a website that appears to be a genuine IRS site. The bogus sites contain forms or interactive web pages similar to IRS forms and web pages.

Don’t be fooled! These sites and forms have been modified to request detailed personal and financial information from the e-mail recipients. E-mail addresses involving users in professional and educational communities seem to be heavily targeted.

The information obtained is then used to steal the taxpayer identity and financial assets.  Typically, identity thieves use someone’s personal data to empty the victim’s financial accounts, run up charges on the victim’s existing credit cards, apply for new loans, credit cards, services or benefits in the victim’s name and even file fraudulent tax returns.

The IRS does not send out unsolicited e-mails or ask for detailed personal information.  Additionally, the IRS never asks people for their PIN numbers, passwords or similar secret access information for their credit card, bank or other financial accounts. The IRS primarily uses the mail when they need to notify you regarding any tax-related matter. They do not phone you late at night, or text you.

 For more information on phishing (suspicious e-mails) and identity theft, visit the IRS Web site at www.irs.gov .

For information on preventing or handling the aftermath of identity theft, visit the Federal Trade Commission Web sites at www.consumer.gov/idtheft and www.OnGuardOnline.gov (Click on Topics).

Please report the fraudulent misuse of the IRS name, logo, forms or other IRS property by calling the Treasury inspector General for Tax Administration toll-free hotline at 1-800-366-4484.

For more information and tips, visit our web site at www.lincolncountysheriff.net and Like us on Facebook at Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office – Oregon.

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

Justin Werner
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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

News Release
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LCSD issues letter regarding nearby measles outbreak
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

Homepage Staff
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Coast Guard saves two people after Mayday call near Tillamook
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

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

First Student

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

News Release
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SNAP food benefits to be issued to all recipients March 1

SNAP MArch

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.

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