What a successful run. Homepage-Mini’s are being gobbled up by the Lincoln City community. We have delivered 1k Homepage-Mini’s to a variety of local businesses, the Community Center, Taft Elementary and Taft High School. You may have noticed our newspaper at Subway, Gerber Tire, Lil Sambos, Starfish Manor, or any number of local places.
I am endorsing Russ Baldwin, attorney for
Lincoln County Judge this May 15th! In the 35
years that I have known Russ Baldwin personally,
he has always been polite and respectful towards me.
Those are great attributes for a judge to have.
As my family’s lawyer he maintains a very
professional demeanor, has strong work ethics
as he honors the rule of Law and will go the
distance to resolve legal matters. We need a
judge capable of resolving complex civil
disputes and has the mind that can effectively
bring forth fair and just rulings. Russ Baldwin is a good
listener as he cares about people’s concerns.
I also respect him very much as he is a quality person,
demonstrated by his admission to practice Law in the
United States Supreme Court. Only a handful of
attorneys in Oregon have this professional distinction
as he strives for excellence in his work product and for the
rule of Law being applied fairly for all the people of
Lincoln County.
Lastly, I want the judge I vote for to be able to finish
out their term of office. I want voters to choose someone
who will be accountable to them as well. In 3 yrs. when
Judge Branford is forced to retire by Law the governor will
appoint another political appointee versus someone chosen
by the people of Lincoln County. That matters to me.
I think people should finish what they start as that was
how I was raised. Please VOTE for a positive change!
Taft High senior Maya Hatton placed second and the Lady Tigers third Monday in the North Marion Invitational girls golf tournament.
Four players represented the Tigers in the tournament with the team’s annual home event scheduled Thursday, April 19,at Chinook Winds Golf Resort.
“Missing two full days of school is tough on academics,”said Taft coach Heather Hatton, whose team also added a State preview event to its schedule Wednesday, April 25.
“Today was not the best scoring day, but I didn’t expect low scores,” Hatton said. “The athletes are working on their game trying to fine-tune in time for the District tournament in a few weeks.’
Hatton said Noa Stoll and Jocelyn Arguello gained valuable experience Monday for a possible varsity position at Districts. No. 2 and No. 3 players Olivia Baker and Violet Palermini did not compete, she said.
Northwest Coastal Housing and My Sister’s Place partnered Saturday to bring indoor kites back to Lincoln City. Connor Doran, from Dare to Dream and America’s Got Talent, flew a stacked indoor kite at the “Soaring for Solutions” event at Taft High 7-12.
Sheila Stiley
For various reasons, Lincoln City indoor kiting events have not been held recently, disappointing the kite-flying community. But that all changed when the Lincoln City Community Days Committee reached out in an effort to increase engagement by attracting additional nonprofits to build awareness of their services.
The effort caught the attention of Northwest Coastal Housing Executive Director Sheila Stiley, whose company is one of nine community development corporations in the state. She had the idea to have people and kids come to Taft with kites.
2018 Soar on Solutions
Stiley contacted several professional fliers with the help of her daughter, who knew Doran personally, and 14 immediately jumped on board. The event was put together on short notice, but that didn’t deter four Grand National champions of the American Kitefliers Association (AKA) from recognizing Lincoln City’s long-standing reputation as a kite-flying mecca.
2018 Soar on Solutions
“The Kite Pit Party was a great opportunity to have the pubic meet professional kite fliers and get autographs,” Stiley said.
Tables were set up where kids of all ages built and decorated their own Tyvek kites. A raffle was held to raise funds for Northwest Coastal Housing and My Sister’s Place.
“Face painting, wild hair coloring, styling, magnetic crafts and a coloring table were a hit with kids,” she said. “A photo backdrop of kites that were colored by the kids was amazing.”
Photo by Brandy Rose Banner
The “Fly with the Masters” portion of the event allowed everybody to learn to fly kites with the pros, she said.
“Kids ran around with kites and professionals mingled with them to bring out the love of kite flying,” she said. “Professional Scott Weider was there and put on a beautiful show. His big black kite with the long tail soared with the effortless precision of a true master kite flier.”
Connor Doran began his indoor career in 2007 when his mother, Amy, a five-time AKA Grand National titleholder, taught him how to fly. Connor picked up the art of flying kites with no wind quickly, and, after practicing all summer, competed in his first indoor event with the Northwest Sport Kite League, where he won the Intermediate championship.
Desiring to be on America’s Got Talent, Connor and his mother drove to Portland, where he successfully auditioned and was told he had advanced to Las Vegas.
Connor was eliminated from the Las Vegas competition and sent home. But three months later, a producer from the show said judge and comic Howie Mandel wanted to bring him back.
Connor became a wildcard, and suddenly in the top 48 for the popular television talent show. He performed with two kites this time, called “stacked” kites, and stole the show. He moved on to the top 24 semifinals, and finished just one vote shy of making the top 10 in Los Angeles.
The Doran duo travels around the country spreading awareness for epilepsy and bullying with the Dare to Dream program, which inspires people of all ages to try the impossible and never listen to the word “no.” Connor has epilepsy, but he doesn’t allow it to get in the way of his passion for kite flying. Dare to Dream will be headed to Italy for a first-time trip “over the pond” next year.
Mandel came to Lincoln City in 2012 for a standup comedy performance that Amy and Connor attended, sitting in the front row. At the end of the performance, Mandel looked down at Connor and said, “You were on America’s Got Talent! Did you see this kid? Do you have your kites here?” Amy told the comedian “the ceiling’s too low for a big kite, but I have this one.” She reached under her seat and pulled out a small kite that Mandel, a known germophobe, reached out and grabbed and flew on stage. Mandel took the kite home with him.
Plans are already being made for an indoor kite-flying event next year in Lincoln City.
Sponsors and donors who made the Soaring for Solutions event possible:
The Kite Shoppe, Phantom Star Kite, Ultrasonic Events for lighting, Dare to Dream with Amy and Connor Doran. Captain Cook Inn and Motel 6 for lodging, Taft High 7-12, Annette Garcia-Garcia, who volunteered to do hair coloring, and the Lincoln City Visitors Convention Bureau for providing sandwich boards.
Northwest Coastal Housing provides affordable housing and resident services coordination like free after-school programs, mental health services, first-time home buyers programs, and connections to rental assistance. Its motto is: “Everyone needs a place to call home.”
My Sisters’ Place is a domestic, sexual and dating violence prevention and intervention program. It has provided critical services, including safety planning, court advocacy and emergency shelter, to individuals who have experienced interpersonal violence in Lincoln County for 36 years.
Do you love garage sales? Lincoln City is home to a plethora of garage sales in the annual Great Oregon Coast Garage Sale. Sales start Friday, Saturday & Sunday April 20-22, 2018. Check out this interactive map:
Over a hundred garage sales will be open for business and you might find the deal of a lifetime. Lincoln City is home to many antique collectors, and the median age in Lincoln City is 21% higher than the rest of Oregon.
The Taft High boys golf team overcame wet playing conditions that included casual water on some fairways, greens and bunkers to place second Monday in an 18-hole West Valley League match near Lebanon.
Blanchet Catholic claimed its fourth straight league win without a defeat at 362, followed by Taft at 382 and La Pine at 386. Santiam Christian, Salem Academy, La Pine and host by East Linn Christian Academy also participated in the Class 3A tournament at Mallard Creek Golf Club.
Taft’s DeVon Lindquist, competing in his second straight varsity match as a pre-tournament qualifier, capitalized on playing knowledge attained through his growing relationship with fellow juniors Logan Merry and William Brooks to go out in 50, then matched it on the back to finish at 100.
Merry, playing from the No. 1 position for the Tigers under mostly cloudy skies and chilly, windy weather, shot 43-44—87 in the 18-hole event.
“Logan knows what he needs to work on to get back to a more competitive score,” Taft coach Andy Morgan said.
Senior Bonny Patel scrambled for a 51 on the front nine after carding a 10 on his scorecard for the second week in a row, but posted 39 on the back despite a closing double bogey to finish at 90.
Brooks, playing with a cut on his finger from an accident last week that required minor medical attention, fought off putting woes to shoot 53 on the front and 52 on the back for a 105.
Senior Dawson Wood continued to show improvement on the fairways and around the greens, Morgan said.
“Dawson hasn’t missed a chance to improve, playing in every varsity match this season,” he said.
Wood shot 53 on the front side, but stumbled home over three tough finishing holes for a 52-61—114.
Twin brother Ean Wood played a reserve role for the Tigers and competed as a substitute in case Brooks was unable to tee off with his injury.
The Tigers will compete next on Monday, April 23, beginning at 10:30 a.m. at Emerald Valley Golf Club near Eugene in a tournament hosted by Regis High. Taft will finish the regular season Monday, April 30, with a match at Quail Run Golf Course, hosted by La Pine.
Taft will host the Special District 2 Championships May 7-8 at Salishan Spa & Golf Resort in Gleneden Beach.
Science, technology, engineering, art and math will collide in Lincoln City this Wednesday in the Taft High Commons in the first-ever STEAM Expo.
The Taft Science Department made it a goal this year to create a venue for exhibiting student innovation and communicating with the community, so from 4-6 p.m. Wednesday April 18, it will do just that.
There will be an array of projects in the fields of science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM). A.P. Physics will have a huge Foucault pendulum hanging from the rafters with display boards. The Robotic Operated Vehicle (ROV) team will show off its new design.
There will also be a “Pi Wall,” which is a wall of TVs connected by Rasberry Pi computer chips.
As if that wasn’t enough, visitors will see compressed air rockets, art, CSI, genetics projects and a Van de Graff generator.
Coffee, tea, water and cookies will be served.
Dr. Bruce Menge, a marine ecologist from Oregon State University, will speak as a special guest.
Dr. Bruce Menge
The Science Department chair, Noah Lambie, who teaches Physics, Commercial Graphic Design, Digital Design, and Robotics, had this to say about the STEAM Expo:
“I think this Expo format is the perfect one for the students to share their impressive work with the public. They are driving our programs forward, and this is the sort of thing that can sustain and power that.”
Taft’s STEAM programs have been upgraded over the last decade with the help from the Siletz Tribal Charitable Fund. The upgrades include 3-D printers, 3-D carvers, new computers, complex modeling programs, vinyl cutters and T-shirt production.
Representatives of the Taft Science Department said they hope to continue to excite and engage students with many new ideas on the horizon.
Considering his status as leadoff hitter and team captain, who better to set the stage for the Taft High baseball team’s undeniable success than senior shortstop Josh Salsbery?
Josh Salsbery
“Everyone is swinging the bat well, guys are playing their positions to their full potential, and it’s showing,” Salsbery said Monday after the No. 1-ranked Tigers overcame a hailstorm and blustery weather to roll to a 13-1 West Valley League home victory over Willamina in five innings.
Tyee Fisher
Left fielder Tyee Fisher drove home two runs on three extra-base hits, and fellow juniors Kam Kessler and Bleiz Kimbrough combined on a one-hitter as first-place Taft won its seventh straight game to improve to 13-2 overall and 5-0 in league play.
Bleiz KimbroughKam Kessler
The Tigers, who have outscored their opponents 43-2 in the last four games, scored like the cloudburst that interrupted play with four runs in the first, five in the second, three in the third and one in the fourth behind nine hits, including two each from senior first baseman Jack Stempel and sophomore catcher Eli DeMello.
“Sometimes it can be challenging to get in the right mindset going into the day unsure if the game will be played,” Taft coach Matt Hilgers said. “We jumped on them early again in the first inning. We made some mental mistakes that we were fortunate didn’t cost us. Pitching and defense has continued to carry us.”
Jack Stempel with a diving grab in foul territory
Stempel and DeMello joined Fisher with two RBIs, while Stempel and Salsbery — team tri-captains with senior centerfielder Caleb King — scored three runs each for Taft.
Caleb King
“A couple of walks and guys behind me swinging the bat well set that up,” Salsbery said of his team-leading run production.
Salsbery joined Fisher, who doubled twice, with a triple for the Tigers.
“I just took advantage of the pitcher leaving one out over the plate and went the other way with it,” he said.
DeMello scored two runs in a game moved to Taft due to wet playing conditions in Willamina, while King, Kessler, junior second baseman Cody Knott and sophomore infielders Trenton Fisher and Lucas Hindman also scored for the Tigers.
Eli DeMello
Kessler had the other hit and joined Knott and Salsbery with an RBI each the Tigers.
Kaleb Ried had the only hit for the Bulldogs, who fell to 2-11, 0-5 with their seventh straight defeat.
Taft is at Clastskanie (4-5, 2-1 Class 3A Lewis & Clark) at 4:40 p.m. Tuesday, April 17, and host league foe Dayton (5-8, 2-1 West Valley) at 4:30 p.m. Friday, April 20. Dayton plays Tuesday afternoon at Amity.
Taft 13, Willamina 1
WILLAMINA AB R H BI TAFT
Austin Wadkins 2 0 0 0
Kaleb Ried 2 0 1 0
Tanner Onstot 2 0 0 0
Keegan Cook 2 0 0 0
Ian Bruckner 1 1 0 0
Brad Milton 1 0 0 0
David Elwood 2 0 0 1
CJ Toney 2 0 0 0
Josh Royce 1 0 0 0
Ashi Austin 1 0 0 0
TOTALS 16 1 1 1
TAFT AB R H BI
Josh Salsbery 2 3 1 1
Eli DeMello 4 2 2 2
Caleb King 2 1 0 0
Jack Stempel 2 3 2 2
Cody Knott 3 1 0 1
Kam Kessler 3 1 1 1
Tyee Fisher 3 0 3 2
Caleb Jones 2 0 0 0
Trenton Fisher 2 1 0 0
*Lucas Hindman 0 1 0 0 TOTALS 23 13 9 9
Whether kicking, shooting or hitting a ball, it doesn’t require a search-and-rescue team to hunt down Taft High’s Naomi Rini on any given weekday.
If not confined to a classroom or her mentoring and governing duties, you’ll find her on the field, court or diamond excelling on the Tigers’ athletic teams.
Look no further than soccer coach Joey Arce-Torres for the skinny on the industrious senior sports star.
“Naomi is a tough one for me, probably the most polarizing athlete I have ever coached,” he said.
Taft softball coach Sandy Stuart agrees.
“I have seen her at her best and her worst, and I can say that she is a very hard-working athlete,” said Stuart, who has coached the assiduous 17-year-old multisport performer for three seasons.
With desires of becoming a small-town high school history teacher, Rini has signed a letter of intent to play soccer at Blue Mountain Community College in Pendleton, where she also hopes to make the Timberwolves’ softball team. She currently plans to attend Eastern Oregon University in La Grande upon earning her two-year degree.
“Her strong personality and lightheartedness will be a great gift to her new friends as she moves into college next year,” Rini’s best friend and senior class co-president Maya Hatton said. “Naomi is a strong leader, and people follow her in her opinion, which is a strong trait of hers.”
“On the field, she is a leader,” said Stuart of her starting third baseman, who has helped the Tigers to the state’s No. 1 Class 3A ranking. “When we asked the players to nominate a team captain, they almost all nominated her because they felt like she was a great listener. She is a loud voice on the team.”
A first-team all-league soccer player last fall, Rini was a second-team all-conference choice her freshman and junior years, and honorable mention as a sophomore. She was honorable mention in basketball her junior and senior seasons, and second-team last year in softball.
“I have enjoyed making varsity every year for every sport and having to work for a spot every single year, always fighting with another talented athlete for a starting spot, even though I didn’t always win,” she said. “I’ve seen myself improve throughout my high school years.”
Credit Rini’s conscientiousness and desire for her ascension to a college scholarship.
“She is in the cages voluntarily all through the school year,” Stuart said. “Even though she is a three-sport athlete, she was committed to making herself become a better softball player. She dedicated a lot of time in the offseason to work on that.”
Stuart said the industrious Rini wears her emotions on her sleeve.
“I have witnessed her play an emotional game with twists and turns and ups and downs, but she works hard until the final run is scored,” she said.
Rini’s mom, Theresa Smith, is a bookkeeper at Kulla-Ronna Scwab and Chambers, while her dad, Marc Rini, is a bellman at the Inn at Spanish Head. Adopted in Portland at age 1 1/2, she has twin brothers, Tristan and Tyler, who are 16-year-old freshmen at Career Tech, and a sister, Sarah, a 21-year-old Taft High grad.
Naomi Rini and father Marc
A powerful shooter up close and from long range, Rini helped lead the Tigers to the verge of the State soccer tournament. Taft fell 2-1 to Western Mennonite/Perrydale in a Special District 3 play-in game.
“The kid can dominate a match with her physical play,” Arce-Torres said. “She isn’t blessed with rocket speed, but can hold the ball and thwart off defenders long enough to create a window of opportunity. Naomi can rally teammates when she sees the moment to exploit an opposing defense. At those moments, she looks like an adult playing with children.”
Arce-Torres said field awareness helped Rini succeed in soccer and is likely to shadow her on the field in her community college career.
“She has good knowledge of anticipating empty space and positioning herself for weak-side strikes,” he said. “She has the ability to play multiple positions and could shut down an offense when we had the lead.
“Because of that, she has the ability to contribute at a higher rate than most, mainly because soccer is a game of angles, momentum and patience. She wastes little energy because she sees plays develop beforehand and can anticipate where she needs to be.”
While Rini has separated herself on the pitch for the Tigers, her favorite sport appears to be the one in season.
“I’ve never really had a favorite sport, but on the softball team I definitely receive and give the most support from and to my teammates, and that makes the game so much more fun.” she said.
Partial to playing second base, Rini is starting at third this season, putting team over self after shaking off a minor knee injury and manning the middle of the diamond as an underclassman.
“I wasn’t a super-strong athlete, but I had the technical abilities to be an infielder,” she said. “I did well at my position, and I just loved the grounders, the middle-infield vibe, and not having to make a long throw. Third base is fun, being the hot corner, but nothing will ever take away from my passion for second.“
While Rini prefers turning two, she likes the long ball even better. Hitting a home run this season helped her see “all the hard work pay off.” Competition fuels her drive to succeed.
“My favorite soccer memory was beating everyone in our league once this season,” she said. “It wasn’t enough to make it to State, but it felt good to beat teams that we never thought we would beat in my four years at Taft.”
An avid reader who loves the beach, Rini hopes to be a history teacher. She said she developed her love for the subject through Taft High teacher Ken Martin.
“He taught me that learning history will help you to remember the mistakes of the past and not make them again,” she said. “Ever since I walked into his class my junior year, I’ve known that I want to teach high school history and, hopefully, help the next generation of kids to not make the same mistakes.”
Rini has worked the past two years at the Justice Factory Store in Lincoln City. She enjoys helping coach youth sports and instructing younger students in addition to selling them clothes.
“She has worked very well with the middle-school students,” said social studies teacher Matt Hilgers, who has had Rini as an AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) tutor for the past two years. “Many of them look up to her as a mentor. She is very good at holding the students accountable. She is very confident in her abilities and strives for success.”
Rini also credits former Taft girls basketball coach Karl McShane for being a motivator in her life.
“When I was younger, he pushed me past what I thought was possible on the basketball court,” she said. “Not only did he shape me as a player, but also helped to shape me as a person. Through him, I grew so much and learned how to manage my emotions in a positive way rather than letting my anger get the best of me.”
Faith Baptist Youth Pastor Luke Hall also has been a major influence on her life, she said. Hall has helped her become a better Christian through athletics “rather than letting my faith and my competitiveness be contrasting things.”
“As much as I love sports, Jesus is, and always will be, my priority,” she said.
On the field, she said she hopes to close out her career with her greatest measure of success.
“Our team wants to stay together and play together,” she said. “This is by far the most talented and motivated softball team I have ever played on. Personally, I just hoped to have some fun this season. And, what’s more fun than winning?”
