Betty Sue Mcgregor, 84, died early Wednesday in a house fire in Toledo.
According to a Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department news release, the Toledo Fire Department was dispatched at 4:12 a.m. to reports of a fire at 26 Tom Jack Road.
The Lincoln County Fire Investigation Team is working to determine the cause of the blaze. No foul play is suspected.
The Newport, Depoe Bay and Siletz Fire departments assisted the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office and the Toledo Fire Department in the handling of the incident.
Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Maleri Cates at 541-265-0670.
Taft competes in a road game earlier this season (File photo by Eric DeMello)
The Taft High boys basketball team built a 26-18 halftime lead Tuesday, but foul trouble proved the Tigers’ undoing down the stretch in a 46-41 non-conference road defeat to Jefferson.
Senior and high scorer Ray Darrington and junior Eli DeMello fouled out late in the game as Taft fell to 1-2 despite overall solid play from junior guard Jordan Hall.
The Taft girls, trailing 16-4 after the opening quarter, outscored Jefferson 21-8 in the final eight minutes to improve to 2-1 with a 49-48 victory in an earlier game.
The Taft boys jumped to an early lead, led by dominant interior defense and smart passing inside, first-year coach Andy Morgan said.
“It was the type of offense we have been trying to develop, paired with a much-improved man-to-man offense,” he said. “We struggled with some ball handling, panicking at times, and then taking too much time after making some mental corrections.”
After taking an eight-point halftime lead, Taft gave up a couple of baskets off of mental mistakes, Morgan said.
Still holding the lead, the Tigers spread the floor to isolate defenders on the offensive side, while failing to exercise the same defensive discipline as in the first half, he said.
Starters Darrington and DeMello got into foul trouble by the end of the third quarter.
“We practiced some defensive changes, using some 2-3 zone, and struggled on the rotation a couple of times before regaining our earlier intensity,” Morgan said.
Hall continued to lead the team as the Tigers struggled to score and continued to leave their feet on defense. While Jefferson went to the line twice as often as Taft, poor shooting kept the Tigers within striking distance.
With Darrington out due to fouls, the Tigers were beat on some crucial rebounds before Trenton Fisher closed the game on a coast-to-coast layup and Hall nailed a 3-pointer off an inbounds pass.
A fifth foul on DeMello put the Lions back on the line with 12 seconds to go and closed the door on any Taft hopes.
Senior post player Tyee Fisher played an aggressive game offensively at the rim and provided defensive leadership, Morgan said.
“It was his best complete game this season, and the kind of toughness we will need from him,” he said.
“Nearly everyone contributed something, including scrappy defense by Lucas Hindman and solid play by Clay Nelson,” he said. “As consistency and teamwork continue to be the focal points of this team, rebuilding an identity, the Tigers are taking home a good vision of what success will look like.”
The Taft boys junior varsity, led by first-year coach Kyle Hamlin, started their season with a win behind the hustle of sophomores Fco Ramos and Graden Kerr.
Meanwhile, junior Emma Coulter scored 14 points, senior Savannah Russo 11, sophomore Claira Tolan 10 and senior Autumn Ellis six to lead the varsity girls back from a 12-point first-quarter deficit for the win.
“We came out in the first quarter and made a lot of mistakes — turning the ball over against Jefferson’s full-court press,” Taft coach Jake Tolan said. “This has been something we have been working a lot on in practice, so to come out last night and not perform well against the pressure was frustrating.”
Tolan said the Tigers, who won their season opener over the host Eagles but lost to Riverside in the Western Christian Tournament, must get quality play from the opening tip with the team’s Coastal Range League debut and home opener just two weeks away, Dec. 17, against unbeaten Warrenton.
“We have to start games better and avoid digging ourselves holes at the beginning of games,” he said. “The second quarter was where we began playing much better, took care of the ball and made better decisions offensively. We were also more composed and executed our press-breaker more effectively.”
Taft was still outscored 12-8 in the quarter to trail 28-12 at halftime, but stormed back.
“We made some defensive adjustments during half, changing up our half-court zone and deciding to start applying our own pressure with a full-court press after made shots,” Tolan said, “Both adjustments worked well for us in the third quarter by creating some turnovers off of the press and getting more defensive stops.
Tolan said the Tigers’ goal in the quarter was to trim the lead to under 10 points entering the final stanza.
Taft narrowed the gap to 40-28 entering the final eight minutes thanks to big scoring contributions by team leaders Coulter and Russo, then blitzed the Lions 21-8 to the buzzer.
“I was so proud of the girls’ effort and their mindset to not give up and continue to work themselves back into the game,” Tolan said. “This will definitely be a game I use as a reminder that we can always battle back into games.”
The JV girls’ team suffered a one-point defeat to Jefferson.
The Taft boys varsity returns to action Friday at Tillamook. The girls play the Cheesemakers, Wednesday, Dec. 12, at Tillamook in their next action.
The witness who called 911 to alert first responders to a distressed surfer near Devils Punchbowl says he regrets not calling sooner to prevent the drowning of the young Corvallis doctor.
“I just wish I would have called earlier instead of waiting for him to call out for help,” Jefferson resident Milo Becktold said of the passing of 31-year-old Toren Stearns, who was pronounced dead Saturday evening at Samaritan Pacific Communities Hospital in Newport.
Milo Becktold is shown visiting Devils Punchbowl on Saturday
Becktold, who was celebrating his 37th birthday, said he and his girlfriend arrived at the popular natural viewing area about 18 miles south of Lincoln City at approximately 3 p.m. Saturday and saw Stearns, who had left his dog on the beach, struggling in the water.
“We started walking the loop, I guess you could say, and we saw the surfer down there,” he said. “He was having trouble staying on his board. We watched him for a few minutes, took some pictures of the scenery, and I told her, [there’s] going to be a rescue, not knowing what was going to happen. I did not even think it could have got that bad because he could touch and stand in some areas.
“So, we watched him try to get on his board and ride a wave in for about 10 minutes, but he just kept falling off his board. But then he started calling for help. That’s when I told my girlfriend to dial 911.”
Depoe Bay Fire District safety and rescue personnel arrived first on the scene at approximately 3:30 p.m. in response to Becktold’s report of a man trying to swim to shore but being battered by waves.
“He was still attached to his board at that time, but could not get back to it,” Becktold said. “The waves just kept hitting him and pushing his board toward shore while he was being pulled out.
“The waves kept crashing on him, which eventually detached his board. About 10 minutes after I made the call, we heard sirens, so I had my girlfriend go up to the road and wait for the rescue people. But by the time they got there, he had stopped moving and was just floating in the surf lifeless.
“About 25 minutes after the 911 call was made, a surfer from a local shop went down and tried to find him but couldn’t. Then, 10 minutes later, the Coast Guard boat arrived, but couldn’t get close. Then a [helicopter] came 10 minutes after that, but took a little while to locate the surfer. A diver was lowered in when they located him, but struggled in the surf — actually lost him a couple times — but always made it back to the unconscious surfer.
“The surfer then went in to help with the rescue, came out of the water, then went back in. He and the Coast Guard put the lifeless surfer on his board and made it to shore, where emergency crews were waiting. They tried CPR on him for about 10 [minutes], then loaded him in the [helicopter] to the hospital.”
Becktold, a land developer for new housing communities, said being an eyewitness to the tragic death weighs heavily on him and his partner, adding that people who see something should say something — immediately.
“Me and my girlfriend were on our way to Newport to eat dinner, but it was still early so we decided to go see the Punchbowl, then just stopped to watch the surfer when the worst happened,” he said.
Local authorities remind tourists and residents to beware of surfing and weather conditions before entering rough water on the Oregon Coast.
“I feel sad for his family’s loss at this time of the year, for it’s supposed to be a happy time with Christmas right around the corner,” Becktold said. “I’m sorry for their loss.”
Lindsey Sehmel of Gig Harbor, Wash., will replace retiring longtime Lincoln City Planning and Community Development Director Richard Townsend, effective Jan. 1.
Sehmel brings 11 years of planning and community development experience to Lincoln City, including several as Senior Planner at Gig Harbor, a city with a population of 7,126 (2010 census) on the shore of Puget Sound in Pierce County.
Sehmel was selected over Kirby Snideman and John Lavey following a recent meet-and-greet with the three finalists at City Hall. She previously worked in similar capacities for the City of Puyallup, Wash., and the City of Bremerton, Wash.
Sehmel holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Urban Studies, and will complete an Executive Master’s degree program in Public Administration from the University of Washington Evans School of Public Policy and Governance in the spring.
Sehmel and her husband, Nathan Loynes, who is a professional residential framer, have two children – a son Niall, 4, and daughter, Rylee, 18, who is attending Western Washington University in Bellingham, Wash.
The Oregon State Police Fish and Wildlife Division is asking for the public’s help locating those responsible for the unlawful killing and waste of a cow elk in Lincoln County.
On Thursday, Nov. 29, a Fish and Wildlife Trooper discovered a deceased cow elk. The elk was located approximately 2.5 miles from Updike Road on Bear Creek Road in the Alsea Wildlife Management Unit on property managed by Hancock Timber. The area is also accessible from the Baber Mountain ATV trail system.
The elk, which appeared to have been shot within a week, was left to waste with no meat removed from the carcass. Troopers observed another cow elk in the area that appeared to be injured.
OSP is asking anyone who may have information on those responsible to call the TIP line at 1-800-452-7888 or dial *OSP and refer information to Trooper Andrew Butler or by email [email protected].
** Report Wildlife and Habitat Law Violators**
The TIP program offers preference point rewards for information leading to an arrest or issuance of a citation for the unlawful take/possession or waste of big game mammals.
Preference Point Rewards:
* 5 Points-Bighorn Sheep
* 5 Points-Rocky Mountain Goat
* 5 Points-Moose
* 5 Points-Wolf
* 4 Points-Elk
* 4 Points-Deer
* 4 Points-Antelope
* 4 Points-Bear
* 4 Points-Cougar
Or the TIP program also offers cash rewards for information leading to an arrest or issuance of a citation for the unlawful take/possession or waste of Bighorn Sheep, Rocky Mountain Goat, Moose, Elk, Deer, Antelope, Bear, Cougar, Wolf, Upland Birds, Waterfowl, and Furbearers. Cash rewards can also be awarded for the unlawful take of Game Fish and Shellfish and for Habitat Destruction.
CASH REWARDS:
* $1,000 Bighorn Sheep, Rocky Mountain Goat and Moose
* $500 Elk, Deer and Antelope
* $300 Bear, Cougar and Wolf
* $300 Habitat Destruction
* $100 Upland Birds and Waterfowl
* $100 Furbearers
* $100 Game Fish and Shellfish
How to Report a Wildlife and/or Habitat Law Violation or Suspicious Activity:
Freshman Sam Cortes, juniors Naph Meyer and Sammy Halferty, and senior Joram Hoff posted runner-up finishes Saturday to lead the Tigers in their season debut at the Tillamook Invitational.
Cortes and Meyer were second in the boys and girls 500-yard freestyle, respectively; Halferty second in the 100-yard breaststroke; and Hoff second in the 200-yard free at the Tillamook YMCA pool.
Twenty-one of Taft’s 28 swimmers competed Saturday, with one absent to take SATs, a couple of girls out of town and three boys sick or working, longtime Taft and Lincoln City Swim Club coach Lissa Parker said.
“Overall, with reduced numbers, we did really well,” she said. “This season, we’re going to have a big boost from several freshmen who have swam for the age-group team off and on for years.”
Because of their involvement with the Lincoln City Swim Club, virtually all of the incoming freshmen have extensive competitive experience, she said.
Cortes, Cristofer Ochoa, Angel Moreno and Dylan Barrera among the boys, and Charlotte Lundsedt, Audrey Sciarrotta and Cassandra Galvan among the girls, possess vast meet backgrounds, an undeniable advantage in organized swimming.
“The new swimmers joining us have a fair amount of swimming experience and acumen so that also helps us quite a bit,” said Parker, who included Kealy Boyd, Isabell Mackie, Degen Sawyer, Ayden Woodard and Alex Wigginton-Tibbets in that group.
Parker said returning seniors such as Hoff, Jonee Wright, Micah McLeish and Lydia Prins are very good athletes, and that Sam Anderson, who took last year off, and senior Tanner Landry are also back.
Sophomores and juniors such as Halferty, Hannah Weaver, Ethan Price, Hunter Lundsedt, Brie LeBoeuf and Jose Luis Segura have benefited from the conditioning of competing in fall sports, she said.
Meyer, Isabelle Serrato, Michael Young and Bryanna Berlin-Paget have also been swimming year-round and can be depended on in endurance events, she said.
Taft will return to the pool Saturday for the Nygaard Invitational featuring host Astoria, Rainier, Seaside, Tillamook and Valley Catholic.
Taft swim coach Lissa Parker and her swimmers take on Tillamook
A silent auction organized by the Lincoln City Parent Group will be held at the Lincoln City Cultural Center from 6-8 p.m. today to raise money in support of Taft and Oceanlake elementary students and teachers.
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Baskets with different themes have been put together by elementary classes and wrapped by the parent group to present at the silent auction, where the public is welcome to bid on them. Baskets vary from cooking, beach and family game night themes. The class with the highest bid on a basket will get to choose what kind of party they want to have.
“Businesses turned out to donate items for this auction in droves,” Parent Group Representative Beth Towers said. “We have Blazer tickets with a team-signed pennant and Heather Hatton from Chinook Winds Casino gave us a bunch of gift certificates. It should be a great auction.”
For $2, participants can buy a raffle ticket to guess how many agates are in a glass jar and drop their ticket in the Chinooks Winds raffle or Trailblazers raffle or both.
Raffle prizes
Proceeds from the event will go toward teachers stipends, end-of-the-year carnival, field trips, classroom supplies, sixth-grade outdoor school, help with second-grade swimming lessons, supplies for Valentines Day cookies, gift certificates for teachers, pot lucks for teacher appreciation, musicals and T-shirts for the students.
Live music and food will be available at the Cultural Center, while bidders look over the baskets.
Toren Stearns, a 30-year-old Corvallis doctor, was declared deceased at a Newport hospital Saturday after a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter responded to reports of an unconscious man in the water at Devils Punchbowl.
Depoe Bay Fire District arrived first on the scene at approximately 3:30 p.m. in response to reports of a surfer in distress at the popular surfing spot near Otter Rock about 18 miles south of Lincoln City.
The caller said it appeared the surfer had lost his board and was trying to swim to shore but was continually battered by waves.
“The sea was rougher than normal, and that may have played a part in this,” a Depoe Bay fireman said. “If he became separated from his board, then he was probably trying to swim and could have been caught in the nasty riptide at that spot until he got exhausted.”
A U.S. Coast Guard MH-65 helicopter was dispatched from Newport, located the man at 4:14 p.m., and deployed a rescue swimmer. With assistance from a local surfer, they brought the unconscious man back to the beach on a surfboard.
The USCG helicopter flew the man to Samaritan Pacific Communities Hospital in Newport, where he was pronounced dead. His cause of death was later announced to be by drowning.
According to Oregon State Police, Stearns had left his dog on the beach while he surfed. The animal was cared for by the Lincoln County Animal Shelter while his family was notified.
Oregon State Police, Depoe Bay Fire and Rescue, the U.S. Coast Guard, the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office and Lincoln County Animal Shelter all participated in the handling of the incident.
Senior returning State qualifiers Jace Fostveit and Devon Lindquist placed second in the 195-pound division and third in the 152-pound bracket, respectively, while senior Jacob Mayoral placed fourth at 152 Friday in Taft High’s season-opening wrestling meet in Tillamook.
Coach Robb Ellis’ team excelled against stiff competition despite the absence of 2017-18 State placer Cody Knott, who was on vacation, and returning State qualifier Jose Flores, who was out with an injury.
“It was a great start to the season last night at a competitive Tillamook tournament that included schools from higher classifications and competitive teams like Willamina, which was first in the State in 3A last year, and Tillamook, which was fifth at the 4A level,” Ellis said.
The meet also included Dayton, Molalla, St. Helens, Forest Grove, Roosevelt, Newport and Neah-Kah-Nie.
Sixteen Taft wrestlers, many new to wrestling this year, won about half of their junior varsity matches, Ellis said.
“The team as a whole fought hard and it was a very positive start to the season,” he said.
Taft High’s Savannah Russo, shown in a jamboree Wednesday at Toledo, led Taft with 10 points Friday night (Photo by Heather Hatton)
The Taft High basketball teams split their season-opening games on the first night of the Westside Christian Tournament in Tigard on Friday night, with the girls defeating the Eagles 39-18 and the boys falling, 48-46.
“Even though we didn’t play as well as I had hoped tonight in the first half, our girls were able to play a much better second half,” Taft girls coach Jake Tolan said. “We missed a lot of easy shots, but played really tough defense and received quality contributions from everyone on the team.”
Senior Savannah Russo led the Tigers in scoring with 13 points, followed by junior Emma Coulter and sophomore Kayla Lininger with six each, and sophomore Claira Tolan with five.
Meanwhile, the Taft boys of the Class 3A Coastal Range League fell by two points to the Eagles of the 3A Lewis & Clark League after leading most of the way.
The Tigers got stellar play from junior guard Jordan Hall and senior post player Ray Darrington, first-year head coach Andy Morgan said.
Taft High’s Ray Darrington shown Wednesday in a Jamboree in Toledo. (Photo by Eric DeMello)
“Ten players saw minutes, including first-time varsity players [sophomores] Graden Kerr, Fco Ramos and [freshman] Kaden Hindman,” he said.
The Taft boys meet Riverside of the 3A Eastern Oregon League at 1:30 p.m. Saturday. The Pirates lost 58-41 to Faith Bible in the Western Christian tourney on Friday after opening their season Wednesday with a 57-40 home defeat to Heppner.
The Taft girls will play Riverside at noon Saturday at Western Christian. The Pirates (0-2) lost 39-32 to Faith Bible on Friday after dropping their season opener to Heppner 32-29 on Wednesday.
“We will need to play a more complete game tomorrow against Riverside, which is a better team than we faced tonight,” Tolan said. “I’m confident we will, as I attribute a lot of our mistakes tonight as first-game jitters.”
Taft is at Jefferson (2A Central Valley Conference) on Tuesday and Tillamook (4A Cowapa League) on Wednesday next week. The Tigers open their home and league seasons Monday, Dec. 17, against Warrenton.
According to a Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department news release, the Toledo Fire Department was dispatched at 4:12 a.m. to reports of a fire at 26 Tom Jack Road.
Cortes and Meyer were second in the boys and girls 500-yard freestyle, respectively; Halferty second in the 100-yard breaststroke; and Hoff second in the 200-yard free at the Tillamook YMCA pool.
Coach Robb Ellis’ team excelled against stiff competition despite the absence of 2017-18 State placer Cody Knott, who was on vacation, and returning State qualifier Jose Flores, who was out with an injury.
