Lincoln City is no longer warning citizens to avoid water contact at Schooner Creek and Siletz bay as fecal coliform levels have dropped to acceptable levels.
According to a news release from the City of Lincoln City, testing has been ongoing daily since Sept. 21, and Sept. 28-Oct. 4 tests have dropped below the requirements. The City is removing signs put in place warning about contaminated water.
The testing was the result of a 2.1 million gallon sewage spill from a 24-foot pipe that ran under Schooner Creek. The leak was discovered on Friday, Sept. 21, at which time the pipe was taken offline and new 14-inch bypass lines were used. Wastewater flow to the Wastewater Treatment Plant has been running through the new lines since Sept. 21.
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, Sept. 28
Disturbance – 7:15 a.m. – 3510 NE Highway 101 Room 14. Caller reported Robert Arnold (12/09/66) tried to break into hotel room. Arnold was located and cited for criminal mischief II.
Theft – 9:40 a.m. – 1014 NE Highway 101. Caller reported his backpack with a Samsung Galaxy Note 5 was stolen on 9/27. Phone was pinged to NE 11th ST & NE Keel AVE.
Theft – 10:08 a.m. – Samaritan North Lincoln Hospital, 3043 NE 28th ST. Report of theft.
Assault – 10:19 a.m. – 2306 NE 34th ST. Report of a cold assault.
Hit and Run – 3:36 p.m. – Taft High School, 3780 SE Spyglass Ridge DR. Caller reported a tall white vehicle struck vehicle while parked.
Hit and Run – 7:35 p.m. – 1700 Block NW Highway 101. White van struck side mirror of parked pickup and fled.
Saturday, Sept. 29
Assault – 3:21 a.m. – Samaritan North Lincoln Hospital, 3043 NE 28th ST. Emergency room staff reported a patient that came in injured from an assault.
DOA – 3:55 a.m. – 426 Jetty AVE. Responded to CPR in progress. Deceased taken by Pacific View Memorial.
AOA – 1:11 p.m. – 95 SW Highway 101. Caller reported a male approached her children and asked them to go with him when they were coming up from the beach. Joseph B. Landry (01/01/94) was contacted and had two felony warrants for UUMV and FTA-UUMV out of Multnomah and Clackamas counties. Landry was taken into custody and transported to Lincoln County Jail.
Theft – 3:50 p.m. – 3327 NW Highway 101. Caller reported a theft of wallet from US Market sometime last night.
False Information – 7:17 p.m. – Fabian Elizondo cited to appear for false information and items seized for return.
Warrant Arrest – 8:16 p.m. – Oceanlake Laundry, 2164 NE Highway 101. Austin J. Wiley (05/07/90) was taken into custody for felony warrant out of Lincoln County Jail for parole violation. Wiley also cited for driving while suspended violation. Transported to Lincoln County Jail.
Found Dog – 11:24 p.m. – D River Wayside. Dog found running loose. Dog transported to LCPD.
Sunday, Sept. 30
Intoxicated – 12:19 a.m. – OLD Oregon, 1604 NE Highway 101. Report of an intoxicated female throwing things in bar. Deborah Filipetti (05/11/85) contacted outside Cruise Inn. Cited and released for disorderly conduct II.
DUII – 3:00 a.m. – Taco Bell, 3910 NE Highway 101. Adrian Ochoa (2/23/81) was cited and released for DUII after being observed drinking in the drive-thru.
Found Property – 11:14 a.m. – 95 SW Highway 101. Caller brought a found debit card to PD lobby. Card seized for safekeeping.
Monday, Oct. 1
Trespass – 1:41 p.m. – Chinook Winds Casino, 1777 NW 44th ST. Casino security reported Leonard Francis Salet (09/12/59) on gaming floor after previously trespassed. Salet taken into custody for trespass and transported to Lincoln County Jail.
Domestic – 9:29 p.m. – 1750 NW 25th ST. Caller reported her juvenile son assaulted her.
Tuesday, Oct. 2
Extra Patrol – 3:49 p.m. – Mid Columbia Bus Company is requesting extra patrol at NE Surf ST & NE Devils Point DR where it loops behind Oceanlake between 1530 & 1600. Clear out cars that are parked in the no parking because bus can’t get through.
Hit and Run – 9:42 p.m. – Safeway, 4101 NW Logan Road. Vehicle struck while in the store.
Wednesday, Oct. 3
Warrant Arrest – 11:57 a.m. – NE 11th ST & NE Keel AVE. Bailey Lauren Bates (07/12/94) was contacted in a van. Misdemeanor warrant confirmed out of Lincoln County for failure to appear for fraud x 2 and a DUII. Bates taken into custody and transported to Lincoln County Jail.
AOA – 11:08 p.m. – 1000 Block S Highway 101. Officer assisted Tillamook County Sheriff with a pursuit. 2009 Chevy pickup was spike stripped. Tillamook County Sheriff took Steven Ryan Przybylowski (01/02/84) into custody.
Thursday, Oct. 4
Found Property – 1:59 p.m. – Caller brought fireworks to PD for destruction.
Warrant Arrest – 1:55 p.m. – 1100 SW 51 ST. Subject ran from officer in area of SW 51 ST. Felony warrant confirmed out of Lincoln County for failure to appear for forgery, possession of a forged instrument I and Theft III. Gary Duane Hutchinson Jr. taken into custody and transported to Lincoln County Jail.
Warrant Arrest – 5:31 p.m. – NW 39th ST & NW Jetty AVE. Felony stop initiated on vehicle after Clackamas and Tillamook counties reported subject was in the area. Felony warrant confirmed for Marcus Harley Moore (04/09/88) out of Tillamook County for commercial sex/child in a sex display. Moore was taken into custody and transported to Lincoln County Jail.
Theft – 6:09 p.m. – Shell, 4031 NW Highway 101. Victim reported her Samsung Galaxy S& phone was taken out of her vehicle.
9-1-1 Hang Up – 2830 NE 36th DR. Officers responded to a 9-1-1 hang up. Female accidentally cut herself.
As victories go, some are more memorable than most. Others can last a lifetime.
The Taft High volleyball team experienced a win for the memory banks Thursday, defeating Clatskanie 3-1 at home in a Class 3A Coastal Range League match that marked the Tigers’ first conference volleyball victory in almost three years to the day.
The 25-21, 25-11, 19-25, 25-20 win was Taft’s first of the season and its first league victory following 37 straight defeats since a 3-1 home win over Horizon Christian-Tualatin on Oct. 5, 2015.
“It was a huge team effort, and I don’t think we could have done it without the contributions of everyone on our team,” Taft Coach Kelsey Hart said. “I am so proud of our team, and so thankful for everyone that came out to support us tonight. The energy in the gym tonight was just what we needed.”
The Tigers went 1-17 overall and 0-14 in league play last season, and 0-17, 0-14 in 2016. Taft had lost 29 straight matches overall.
“I honestly can’t speak to any one or two players that excelled,” Hart said. “Every player tonight helped propel our team to victory. Everyone played their hearts out.”
Taft improved to 1-12, 1-5 with Thursday’s victory, while Clatskanie fell to 1-10, 1-5.
“Setters Lilly Salsbery and Lily Hatton were flying around the court, getting balls to our hitters,” Hart said. “Savannah Russo, Charlotte Huppert, Keeara Harmon and Shelline Nerup did a great job as our offense. They moved balls around the court and kept the other team on their toes. Corey Van Damme, Jordyn Ramsey, Addie Gates and Logan Jack had great contributions from the back row.”
Clatskanie defeated Taft 3-1 at home on Sept 18.
Hart’s media press quotes:
“This was our first win in years and it felt so good! Our students, staff, families and fans did a tremendous job coming out to support us. The gym was loud and energetic, which helped keep our players pumped throughout the match.
“I’m so proud of all of my players, everyone of which contributed to our win. While I wish we’d had more wins earlier in the season, it was great for our first win to be at home with all the support we had. The girls felt like rock stars.”
Sophomore Antonio Saurez will start at QB Friday night for Taft
Photos by Lon French
Some noticeable changes will be apparent in the starting lineup Friday when the Taft Tigers travel to Clatskanie for a Class 3A Special District 1 West Division high school football game.
“Clatskanie has very good skill players that will be difficult for us to match up with, but we feel confident we can do so,” Taft coach Jake Tolan said. “We will be down a few players this week, which will require some younger players to step up and fill the voids.”
Antonio Suarez will replace injured senior David Jin (ankle) at quarterback, and fellow sophomore JJ French will step in for junior Logan Gilleo at running back, with Gilleo moving to the line to help provide Suarez with better protection up front in his first varsity start.
Taft should benefit from the return of injured defensive stalwarts Darius Smith, a sophomore defensive back, and Tyrese Hellman, a junior lineman, who sat out last week’s 48-7 home loss to No. 1-ranked Amity under concussion protocol rules.
Clatskanie enters the game 3-2 overall and 0-1 in league play following a 36-20 defeat at Rainier. Clatskanie, which is returning home after four straight road games, has lost two straight following three wins to open the season.
Taft is looking to reverse a three-game losing skid.
“We expect to travel to Clatakanie and compete for a win,” Tolan said.
Funding is being sought for an indoor practice/batting cage facility that will be constructed off the third-base-dugout
The Taft High softball program has reached second base in its plans to build an expansive $110,000 indoor practice/batting cage facility on its playing field on the school campus.
“It is a much-needed project that we have talked about for years and are now working to make a reality,” said longtime Taft softball Coach Sandy Stuart, who said the goal is to complete construction by the start of next season in March.
Groundbreaking for the 34-foot-by-100-foot building that connects to the existing third-base dugout is likely in the very near future, Stuart said.
“This building will have a positive impact on generations of softball players to come,” Stuart said. “It will give our program an edge and give us the tools needed to develop some amazing athletes.”
Stuart said the facility will provide an open layout with batting cage nets, “so that we can use the entire indoor space for all practice needs when the weather is poor. Currently, we use the school’s small gym for batting cages and the school’s large gym for defensive work when the rain prevents us from being outside.”
Stuart said construction of the facility will free up gym room for other spring sports that also require indoor practice space.
“We will utilize the cages and storage capacity on a daily basis during the season, but also plan to use it year-round for clinics and individual workouts,” she said. “This means it will be available in the offseason for softball players of all ages, which will only make our softball program stronger in Lincoln City as a whole.”
Cost of the building is estimated at $110,000, with materials and labor, she said.
“In addition, we would like to try to raise $20,000 for properly outfitting the inside of the building — installing indoor turf to provide realistic practice conditions, protect our equipment, and keep noise levels down; and for upgrading our very outdated equipment,” Stuart said. “Our pitching machine is over a decade old and can’t be counted on to work consistently. We also need to replace nets, tees, protective gear and balls.”
Clinton Gates of Groth Gates Heating and Sheet Metal in Lincoln City and Newport is the project manager and has obtained the necessary plans and permits, arranged donor and parent meetings, and secured donations from several local construction companies.
“This project wouldn’t have gotten off the ground without his hard work,” Stuart said. “Last week, we met with the City for the Site Plan review and all went well. They seem just as excited about this as we are.”
Stuart said Taft High Principal Nick Lupo and Athletic Director Aaron Longo have been supportive, as well.
“We have plans on the way and are eager to begin the next steps as soon as we can secure the required funds,” she said. “That’s why every donation is so important.”
In order to break ground on the project, we need to have all the pledged donations of goods, services and funds in hand,” she said. “That is what we are working on now.
“We are asking the community to come alongside us and support us – to donate funds no matter what the size because we believe those donations can add up to be a huge contribution in the end. We will be creating signs and plaques to hang at our beautiful new facility to thank each of you who helps out.
Taft High, the Lincoln County School District, Huddleston Excavation and Knottworks Construction (labor) have already donated to the facility’s construction, Stuart said. Mailers are being sent to the community seeking additional help, she said.
Any person or business interested in contributing can contact Stuart at 541-992-4616 or Ryan Gates at 541-992-6868 for more information.
The scoreboard declared Blanchet Catholic a 2-0 boys soccer winner Thursday over Taft, but Tigers Coach Ryan Ulicni would beg to differ.
He preferred to shoulder the blame for the loss.
“We didn’t lose this game, we were beaten by a better prepared team,” the first-year Taft coach said. “It’s now up to me to get these boys ready for what’s coming.”
Despite solid goalkeeping from senior tri-captain William Brooks, the Tigers fell to 6-3-2 overall and 5-3-1 in Class 3A/2A/1A Special District 2 play. The Taft girls were also shut out by Blanchet Catholic on Wednesday, 5-0.
“Blanchet was a very well prepared team that outhustled us to the ball,” Ulicni said. “The first part of the game was firmly in our control, only allowing them a few shots, along with our strikers hitting the ball a lot. It seemed after a bit, we dropped off and Blanchet picked up the game and took it to a goal right before the end of the half. We never did regain control of the game, but we never quit.”
Taft returns to play Tuesday at home in league play against Dayton.
The Nestucca Bobcats defeated the Taft Tigers 20-6 Tuesday in the middle-school football season opener at Nestucca.
Taft quarterback Gavin Koceja threw a touchdown pass to wide receiver Armando Fajardo in the first quarter to give Coach Brian Grove’s Tigers a 6-0 lead. The Bobcats answered with three touchdowns and converted a two-point conversion.
“Football is a game that provides opportunities to unlock players potential to become better people,” Grove said.
“Players are only limited by how hard they work and push themselves to be great. We have a great group of young men that have the drive and desire to help each other.”
Koceja suffered an arm injury in the fourth quarter and will return to the lineup for the next game.
A homeless person sleeps on the sidewalk in Taft (Photo by Justin Werner)
Another zoning issue has eliminated First Baptist Church as a potential replacement site for Taft Hall to serve the homeless in Lincoln City.
In a letter to Councilors, Lincoln City Warming Shelter Board President Patrick Alexander said: “I’m sorry to say the planning department review has concluded that we cannot offer overnight shelter at our alternate site at First Baptist Church [1333 NW 17th St.]. The church lies within the Oceanlake Plan District zone, which I am told does not allow for Accessory Use. At present, we have no viable option for overnight shelter this winter.”
Alexander suggested that the special Monday, Oct. 15, Council meeting “focus solely on finding solutions to this emergency situation.”
“I encourage councilors and staff to explore all available options, including emergency declarations, in order to help preserve life and health this winter,” he said.
Citing the Warming Shelter’s legal ability to host clients overnight at Taft Hall (1207 SE 48th Place), Councilors approved the Shelter for a $4,600 grant on Sept. 10 — a 90 percent reduction from the $45,000 the City awarded in 2017, and a 62 percent cut from the $12,000 the Shelter had requested.
Based on a motion from Councilor Judy Casper, Council plans to meet in an Oct. 15 workshop to research and evaluate the homelessness situation in Lincoln City and discuss “funding, zoning and intergovernmental cooperation” on homelessness services and “provide stable facilities that meet the needs of this everlasting, changing, growing population.”
Taft High 7-12 will join Toledo, Waldport, Siletz and Eddyville high schools in the Lincoln County School District’s 2018 GEAR UP College Fair Wednesday, Oct. 24, at the County Fairgrounds in Newport.
The college fair, held for the past seven years, allows more than 1,500 students an opportunity to meet with college recruiters and officials. In addition, every high school will participate in College Application Week following the fair.
“We will provide a table for each attendee for displays,” event coordinator Vicky Roller said. “Additional accommodations can be made by request. We also ask that you bring some of your ‘school/business swag’ to donate for our giveaways. Students love pens, pencils, t-shirts, pennants, etc.
Please confirm your attendance to this event ASAP. For further information, contact Roller at [email protected]
EDITOR’S NOTE: The following is from Lincoln County School District Superintendent Dr. Karen Gray.
Greetings, Lincoln County students and supporters:
Every now and then, I would like to have the opportunity to share a little about what is going on in our schools on a broad level. To share a bit about my philosophy of how we are shaping the school experience to be one that is supportive of learning both socially and academically.
The first core belief we will highlight is the implementation of restorative practices in our school culture. I have long been a proponent of restorative justice and collaborated with Resolutions Northwest, an organization that specializes in restorative justice training and mediation, in my former school district back in 2008.
So, what is restorative justice? According to Resolutions Northwest and in my shared opinion, “Restorative justice is about building, maintaining, and repairing relationships to form healthy, supportive and inclusive communities. When we do things that affect others and create harm in the community, it is our individual and collective responsibility to make things right. Restorative practices help create spaces that hold us accountable in supportive and inclusive ways.
In the public school setting, the restorative justice philosophy seeks to reduce high suspension and expulsion rates that disproportionately affect students of color, and to improve, school climate. This can be achieved by creating time and space to build community, teaching students and staff the importance of accountability, and empowering students and staff to repair harm when needed. Restorative justice is used to interrupt the school-to-prison pipeline, which begins when students are suspended and/or expelled, and as a result, fall behind academically.”
In Lincoln County School District, we are making a concerted effort to teach social and emotional skills to our students.
I am hosting a new community education series in the county and will be offering events to discuss Restorative Practices. The first 45 minutes will be time to share a core value and the second 45 minutes will be for participants to share how they feel it is going at their schools. Dates are below:
South County: Thursday, Oct. 11 from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Waldport High School.
East County: Wednesday, Nov. 7 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Toledo Elementary School.
West County: Tuesday, Dec. 4 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Sam Case Elementary School.
North County: Thursday, January 10 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Taft Elementary School.
Refreshments provided and all are welcome to listen, share, and join the conversation.
Every now and then, I would like to have the opportunity to share a little about what is going on in our schools on a broad level. To share a bit about my philosophy of how we are shaping the school experience to be one that is supportive of learning both socially and academically.
