National Weather Service (NWS) Portland has issued a sneaker wave warning for Sunday along Oregon and Washington coasts.
According to NWS, a building powerful swell will provide the potential for dangerous sneaker waves. Water might rise farther up beaches than observed and easily sweep unsuspecting beach-goers into the frigid Pacific Ocean.
Sunny skies in the forecast could see a rise in tourists visiting Lincoln City and bring an increased risk for incident.
The cities of Astoria, Cannon Beach, Tillamook, Netarts, Pacific City, Lincoln City, Newport, Cape Foulweather, Yachats, Florence, Raymond, Long Beach, Ocean Park, Naselle, Cathlamet and Cape Disappointment are mentioned in the warning.
Numerous sneaker wave events and fatalities have occurred under similar scenarios and NWS urges caution and to stay off jetties if planning to head to the beach.
A pickup truck struck a woman and baby girl in a stroller in a crosswalk in Lincoln City on Saturday, prompting an ambulance trip to the hospital.
“I just didn’t see her.” said Shawn A. Miller, 40, of Otis, who was making a right turn from NW 14th Street onto Highway 101 in his dark gray Dodge Ram. “It was an accident. I feel terrible for the mom. She was so scared.”
The 18-month-old child sustained some injuries to her face and was transported with her mother, Anayely Barbonio-Gutierrez, 21, of Lincoln City, by Pacific West Ambulance to Samaritan North Lincoln Hospital for treatment, Lincoln City Police said.
Police determined Miller was not impaired. He was issued a citation for failing to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk.
North Lincoln Fire and Rescue also assisted in the handling of the accident, which occurred at approximately 1 p.m.
The U.S. Coast Guard remained busy in perilous waters up and down the Oregon Coast on Saturday, rescuing two surfers in distress north of Cannon Beach, just three days after responding to the capsizing of a boat that killed three fishermen near Newport.
An aircrew aboard an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter from Sector Columbia River safely completed two hoists at Indian Beach and transported the surfers to Warrenton, where they declined medical care and were released.
Watchstanders at the Sector Columbia River Command Center received the distress notification from Seaside 911 dispatch at 11:47 a.m., and immediately directed the launch of the aircrew and a boat crew from Station Cape Disappointment.
Both surfers were pushed by the surf into a nearby cliff-side cove. The aircrew arrived on scene at around 12:15 p.m. and conducted 150-foot hoists to get the surfers to safety. The hoists were completed at 12:35 p.m. and dropped the surfers off at about 12:45.
A Station Cape Disappointment boat crew returned to base before arriving on scene.
U.S. Coast Guard Public Affairs Specialist Petty Officer First Class Levi Read said the Coast Guard has been affected by the federal government shutdown, but continues to focus on port security and search-and-rescue operations such as the one Wednesday at Yaquina Bay.
“We will continue to assist mariners and carry out our essential missions,” he said.
Calling it a landmark night for Taft High wrestling, second-year Taft Coach Robb Ellis’ upstart squad defeated defending Class 3A State champion Willamina in its own gym 39-37 in a dual match Thursday.
While saying it doesn’t mean the Tigers have a shot at the State title because dual matches play out differently than individually bracketed tournaments such as State, “it is still a pretty cool milestone for Taft wrestling.”
Taft also defeated Clatskanie 24-6 Thursday, but lost 34-24 to Dayton, another 3A power that should finish near the top at State this season.
Senior Jacob Mayoral (Photo by Lon French)
The highlight of the night, Ellis said, was senior Jacob Mayoral’s 145-pound win over the defending District champion from Willamina. Down by a point with a second remaining, Mayoral managed to get behind his opponent and score two points for the victory.
“Jacob doesn’t get some of the press that some other wrestlers do, but over the last two years he has one of the highest winning percentages on the team,” Ellis said, “Jacob was looking in good shape to go to State last year and then ran into a very tough 145-pound bracket at the District tournament.”
Mayoral was unable to make it in to the top three to qualify for State, joining another wrestler from Rainier who also did not qualify after reaching State the previous year.
“Some people do get easier draws at Districts, and that can help them get into State,” Ellis said. “With the way Jacob is wrestling, he has a very good shot to go to State, but he may have to cut down to the 138-bracket at Districts. While he will be a little hungry and have less energy, the 138 bracket may be shaping up nicely for him to get third place or even higher this year. Jacob has worked hard and deserves the spotlight.”
Meanwhile, senior Cody Knott continued to dominate by going 3-0 and improving to 18-1 this season.
“He put on a display by stacking a State qualifier from Willamina,” Ellis said. “We were able to see some of how we will fare at the District tournament and secure some seeding in the brackets with some key wins.
“I am feeling very positive that our goal of breaking the Taft record by taking six wrestlers to State this year is well within reach.”
Taft is competing today at the Alsea Bay Classic in Waldport.
City staff will recommend approval of beer and wine sales at the Bijou Theatre in Lincoln City at Monday’s first City Council meeting of 2019.
Owners Keith and Elizabeth “Betsy” Altomare have requested the Council to recommend to the Oregon Liquor Control Commission approval for a limited on-premises liquor sales license at their movie theater at 1624 NE Highway 101.
In addition, staff will recommend Momiji Express, a Japanese and Chinese restaurant at 1500 SE E. Devils Lake Road #305, be approved for a full on-premises commercial liquor sales license.
The requests follow a review by Lincoln City Police Chief Jerry Palmer.
In other action, staff will recommend that Council direct Parks & Recreation to list Lincoln City in the Oregon Heritage Tree Program and recognize trees of significance such as the giant Sitka spruce at Regatta Park; conduct a public hearing on proposed ordinances to create standards for four-plex dwellings and tiny house (400 square feet or less) developments; and consider amending a zoning code to reduce or eliminate existing requirements for off-street parking in Taft and Oceanlake.
An Oath of Office ceremony will also be conducted for incoming Mayor Dick Anderson and new City Councilors Mitch Parsons (Ward I), Diane Kusz (Ward II) and Rick Mark (Ward III).
A reception will be held for outgoing Mayor Don Williams and Councilor Susan Wahlke following Monday’s meeting.
Judith Larrett, 81, of Lincoln City, was pronounced dead at the scene Thursday morning following a head-on traffic collision near Seal Rock.
Oregon State Police said Larrett was a passenger in a gold 2008 Toyota van driven by Richard Larrett, 85, of Lincoln City, when a blue 2001 Lexus SUV, operated by Patricia Norenberg, 55, of Waldport, drifted into the northbound lane and struck the Larrett’s vehicle.
At approximately 8:45 pm, OSP troopers and emergency personnel responded to the report of the two-vehicle crash on U.S. Highway 101 near Milepost 152, just south of Seal Rock.
Norenberg and Richard Larrett were transported by ambulance to Newport’s Samaritan Pacific Communities Hospital. Their conditions have not been released.
The Waldport Fire Department, Seal Rock Fire Department, Newport Fire Department, ODOT Incident Response/Maintenance, Lincoln County District Attorney’s Office, Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department and Newport Police Department assisted OSP.
The Lincoln City Cultural Center is accepting items for its ninth annual Winter Rummage Sale.
The sale will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, Jan. 18, and Saturday, Jan. 19, at the Cultural Center, 540 NE Highway 101.
“We’ll take your used items –- clean and in good repair -– and turn them into concerts, art shows, workshops and children’s programs,” LCCC Executive Director Niki Price said.
All proceeds will fund the Cultural Center’s operations, including exhibits, classes, children’s programs and more.
The LCCC was site for nearly 400 programs in 2018, its busiest year on record. Bringing in an annual windfall of approximately $5,000, the rummage sale is among the Center’s biggest fundraisers.
The effort is led by volunteer Clarissa Gillis, who will price donations of housewares, small appliances, light furniture, electronics, bed and bath items, books, DVDs, CDs, children’s toys, boxed games and puzzles, knickknacks and clean clothing in good repair. The sales committee also needs clean plastic bags for use in the sale, and volunteers to sort, lift, cashier, bag and clean.
Donations will be accepted from noon to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday, Jan. 14-17, at the Center’s east entrance. Cash, checks and credit cards will be accepted.
Limited pickups may be available in the North County area. To schedule, call the Center at 541-994-9994 or Gillis at 541-764-2260.
The Lincoln City Police Dispatch Daily Desk Log is a public record of police calls. Homepage will run the log every Friday. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Friday, Jan. 4
Theft – 11:35 a.m. – 1521 SE Highway 101 – Theft of a bass guitar and equipment from Autobahn 101.
Theft – 1:49 p.m. – Chinook Winds Seafood Grill – Theft of a cell phone and wallet from employee area of restaurant. iPhone 8+ with a red case and tan and gray Burberry wallet containing debit cards, social security card and Oregon drivers license were stolen.
Assisting Other Agency – 3:35 p.m. – 6040 SW Jetty Ave. – Nickolas Arguello (4/21/94) taken into custody on felony warrant out of La Grande for resisting arrest, fourth degree assault, assault of a police officer, possession of a controlled substance and possession of paraphernalia.
Saturday, Jan. 5
Disturbance – 12:49 a.m. – 3468 NW Highway 101 – Report of brothers fighting in driveway. One male transported to SNLH on peace officer hold.
Assisting Other Agency – 11:44 a.m. – McKay’s Market – Jared Smith (12/23/67) taken into custody on felony probation violation out of Lincoln County. SMith was transported to Lincoln County Jail.
Car Clout – 2:59 p.m. – 5559 NE Voyage Ave. – Two vehicles broken into. iPod and GPS unit stolen.
Warrant Arrest – 3:44 p.m. – 1266 SW 50th St. – A caller requested a welfare check for a transient male sleeping on a table. Nathan Opperud (1/12/79) taken into custody for Washington Department of Corrections warrant for escaping community custody. Opperud was transported to Lincoln County Jail.
Trespass – 7:47 p.m. – Safeway – Caller reported a male and female had been previously trespassed from the store. Murae Van Ras (8/11/93) was taken into custody for a misdemeanor warrant out of Linn County for failure to appear on drug charges. Van Ras was transported to Lincoln County Jail. Ruben Mosqueda (3/18/94) was cited and released for theft and trespassing.
Sunday, Jan. 6
Burglary – 10:03 a.m. – 606 NW Inlet Ave. – Attempted burglary. Damage done to front door and lockbox.
EDP – Chinook Winds Casino – Male attempted to strangle himself with seatbelt in vehicle. Transported to SNLH on peace officer hold.
Monday, Jan. 7
Minor in Possession – 1:05 a.m. – NW Inlet Ave. & NW 2nd Dr. – Driver cited and released for MIP for marijuana after routine traffic stop.
Theft – 1:04 p.m. – 5515 El Sol Ave. – Caller reporting missing money/items from bank lockbox.
Assault – 7:34 p.m. – 4290 NE West Devils Lake Rd. – Report of a female with bloody hands and face. Female transported to SNLH. Investigation ongoing.
EDP – 10:33 p.m. – 4009 SW Highway 101 – Report of suicidal male on beach with Inn at Spanish Head security. Transported via Pacific West Ambulance to SNLH on peace officer hold.
Tuesday, Jan. 8
Trespass – 11:11 a.m. – Samaritan North Lincoln Hospital – Alex Kelley (8/13/86) taken into custody after refusing to leave hospital after being released. Kelly was transported to Lincoln County Jail.
Counterfeit – 11:28 a.m. – Chinook Winds Casino – Security reports that a fake $10 was used.
Theft – 12:31 p.m. – 1131 SW 17th St. Theft of a chainsaw out of bed of truck. Stihl chainsaw serial number: 512953048 entered into LEDS.
Citizen Contact – 1:57 p.m. – LCPD – Owner requested that LCPD take a firearm and ammunition that he wanted to surrender. Property received and report taken.
Wednesday, Jan. 9
Extra Patrol Request – 4422 NE Devils Lake BLVD., Suite 2 – Transients have been sleeping under awning of entrance on north side of building. Requesting an extra patrol at night to keep people off the property.
Hit and Run – 5:06 p.m. – SE 23rd Dr. & Highway 101 – Newport PD hit and run suspect vehicle stopped at location. Steven Ray Easton (3/12/57) taken into custody for driving while revoked, felony DUII, interfering with police, resisting arrest and reckless driving. Easton was transported to Lincoln County Jail.
Thursday, Jan. 10
Domestic Disturbance – 5:18 a.m. – 4675 NE Johns Ave., Apartment 2 – Caller reports male pushing her around and she thinks he will leave with their children. No weapons or injuries reported. Kieran G. Hill (3/25/84) fled before police arrival. Report taken.
Crash – 9:14 a.m. – SE East Devils Lake Rd. & SE Port Ave. – Caller reports a vehicle drove off the roadway and down a ravine. Driver and juvenile passenger transported to SNLH.
Assisting Other Agency – 2:52 p.m. – 1111 SW 13th St. – Officer assisted DHS. Brittany Lynn Hull (6/22/94) taken into custody on warrant out of Lincoln County for failure to appear on reckless driving. Trevor Petricevic (8/12/90) taken into custody for failure to comply as a registered sex offender. Both were transported to Lincoln County Jail.
The Lincoln City Resource Center and Warming Shelter will host the first in a series of outreach events on Thursday, Jan. 24, marking the start of a new partnership with Lincoln County.
The partnership, dubbed “Project Homeless Connect: Outreach,” will see the center host 12 outreach events throughout the year, with sessions scheduled for the third Thursday of each month.
The outreach events are intended to complement the annual Project Homeless Connect gathering held in Newport each January, organized by Samaritan House under contract with the county.
Warming Shelter Board President Patrick Alexander said the idea for the outreach program came about through discussions with County Commissioner Claire Hall and Samaritan House Executive Director Lola Jones.
“Together, we agreed that the presence of a year-round homeless resource center in Lincoln City changed the game as far as service provision goes,” Alexander said. “For much of our homeless population in North Lincoln County, a series of smaller events makes more sense than traveling to Newport for one big gathering.”
Each month’s event will have services arranged around a theme, with the Jan. 24 theme being healthcare.
From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., guests will have access to the Samaritan Health Services dental van featuring SmileKeepers dental staff, HIV testing, mental health services, Oregon Health Plan enrollment and bus tickets for medical travel. Guests can also enjoy a free lunch along with access to showers, laundry service and fresh clothing.
The outreach events are made possible in part thanks to funding from Samaritan Health Services and Lincoln County.
“Lincoln County has provided financial support for the Homeless Connect event in Newport for many years” Commissioner Hall said. “I’m pleased we are able to offer similar support to this Lincoln City effort.”
Freshman Kadence James, left, and senior Autum Barela flex their muscles on the Taft wrestling team
School days for Taft High students Kadence James and Autumn Barela don’t end with a bus ride home or a gathering with friends. Rather, find them confined to a tightly quartered cushioned room filled with grunting boys who reek of sweat.
“It’s great to have girls on the team,” Taft wrestling Coach Robb Ellis said of having James, a 14-year-old freshman, and Barela, a 17-year-old senior, trade moves and maneuvers with the boys on weekdays in T-shirts and sweats before donning compression suits for organized competition on weekends.
“For years, it was always a touchy subject — guys wrestling girls,” Ellis said. “There were times, even, when a guy would refuse to wrestle a girl and purposely forfeit the match. Now that more girls wrestle, and it has become an Olympic sport for girls, many more girls wrestle.”
James, a lifelong Lincoln City resident, and Barela, who moved here from Arizona as a high school junior, have helped turn the Taft wrestling program into a place where diversity and teamwork take a back seat to winning matches.
“My goal is to just build us up and make us competitive so we are known as an above-average team,” Ellis said, “but also a place where kids who haven’t succeeded in other sports can come and find a team that cares about them and wants to work hard together.”
Wrestling boys in practice — and often in organized matches – has made the sisters-in-arms better wrestlers, Ellis said.
“Having to wrestle boys in practice has helped them wrestle better when they wrestle girls, mostly because guys are often stronger physically,” he said. “So, when they wrestle girls at tournaments, they are wrestling against opponents in competition who are usually not as strong as the opponents they wrestle in practice. While technique is still probably the most important part of wrestling, strength is also a big factor.”
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Kadence James
1 of 12
James is well-known as an athlete in and around Lincoln City, having competed in softball, soccer, track and wrestling. Her father, Justin, is supervisor of the Newport and Lincoln City division of Franz Bakery. Her mother, Nicole, works at Groth Gates Heating & Air Conditioning. She has an 11-year-old brother, Ezra, who attends Taft Elementary.
“My parents have coached me all the way up to high school, so they help a lot,” she said. “They always cheer me on and make sure they can make it to both my brother’s and my sports events no matter how busy they are.”
James placed first in the high jump at middle-school districts and her recreation league soccer team went undefeated. A two-time Lincoln City Youth League Home Run Derby winner, her team placed first in the Farm Division in 2012, then won every tournament and lost just one game on the All-Star team her dad coached. Lest we forget she cooks off the field, too – literally. She won the Sodexo Future Chefs Competition in 2015.
“I have done soccer my whole life and I’ve always enjoyed it,” said James, whose mom and dad are former varsity coaches for Taft High boys soccer. “I’ve only done wrestling for two years, but I’ve loved every second on the mat.”
James caught the wrestling bug last year in middle school, where she enjoyed it so much she decided to make it part of her athletic repertoire in high school. She has wrestled in some USA tournaments with former Taft star wrestler Joe Salsbery as her coach.
“She has showed she is an up-and-comer,” Ellis said.
“I think more girls from our school should come out and try wrestling,” James said. “This year, going to some meets, I realized that there are lots of girl wrestlers and the girls wrestling platform is definitely growing. I think wrestling against boys is no different than wrestling against girls. As my coach says, ‘Treat every match the same.’”
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Autumn Barela
1 of 9
Barela moved to Lincoln City about a year and a half ago from Bullhead City, Ariz., on the Colorado River across from the Nevada gambling mecca of Laughlin, about 90 miles south of Las Vegas.
“Autumn decided to try wrestling as a senior and is a brave and tough gal at 138 pounds,” Ellis said. “She is aggressive and has a good athletic sense.”
“I just had a lot of friends convince me to do it my senior year. As time progressed, I really started to enjoy wrestling,” said Barela who also plays volleyball. “Wrestling is now my favorite sport because I have a lot of fun with it and you get to learn a lot of new stuff. To me, it’s just a very unique sport.”
Autumn’s dad, Roger Sneed, and mom, Melissa, work at the Ester Lee Motel in Lincoln City. She has two younger brothers — Roger, 14, who attends Taft High, and Mason, 11, who goes to Taft Elementary.
“My parents would have to be the most influential people in my life because they push me to keep going and always encourage me to do my best,” Barela said. “They even support me when they might not agree with me doing something because wrestling was really iffy with them at first. But they still were there and they encouraged me and said that I can do it.
“I’m grateful for everyone who convinced me to wrestle because it’s become something I love. With our amazing coaches, I hope to improve and continue to have a good season. A lot of us are just aiming to do well at Districts, and for some of us to go to State. A goal for the team is just to see us all improve and do better.”
Barela, who enjoys math and reading and plans to go to college to become a veterinarian, said she doesn’t mind sharing mat time with boys.
“Wrestling with guys isn’t much different, at least to me,” she said. “It is a bit of a challenge with most of them being a little, or a lot, stronger than me, but in the long run, when I get girl matches, I feel I’m more prepared because I have gone against guys.
“Wrestling with guys is a lot of fun because they’re so helpful and willing to teach you and help you along the way that you know you’re improving. Personally, I love that women are willing to wrestle — to do something different from what other people would think, to get out there and show that women can wrestle.”
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Ellis, who learned the sport in the wrestling community of Tillamook, is using his interactions with James and Barela to help build a more diverse and opportunistic program. He cited the state of Washington as a venue where the sport has grown for women.
Barela and James get tutoring from assistant coach Josh Liner, left, and head coach Robb Ellis
“It’s common to find separate girls teams with rosters of 15 or 20 girls per team,” he said. “With women’s wrestling being an Olympic and college sport, we are moving closer to a time in wrestling when girls and guys will have mostly separate competitions like basketball or any other sport.”
Some of the bigger schools and certain programs such as Hood River, Elmira and Warrenton have helped pioneer girls wrestling in Oregon, he said. Colleges such as Warner Pacific and Eastern Oregon have also helped expand interest.
Taft, meanwhile, hopes to send James and Barela to the girls District tournament Feb. 1-2 at Liberty High School in Hillsboro in an attempt to qualify for the State meet in Portland in mid-February.
“More than winning, I care about my program being known as a place where students can come and find a family and feel connected,” Ellis said. “When you focus on making that kind of environment, the wins will come as well. We are slowly building that type of vibe in our program. I think our program can be known as a place for students who need to find a place to fit in.”
Taft’s girl wrestlers are evidence of that.
“It has been nice to go to tournaments now and both girls are able to have all girl opponents,” Ellis said. “It would be cool to see girls wrestling get more numbers at Taft and we can move toward having a separate girls and guys team.
“I would have a hard choice knowing which group I would want to coach because it has been really fun coaching Autumn and Kadence. These girls stick through the grind with the guys every day in practice without complaining. We are proud to call them Taft wrestlers.”
A pickup truck struck a woman and baby girl in a stroller in a crosswalk in Lincoln City on Saturday, prompting an ambulance trip to the hospital.
