Science, technology, engineering, art, and math. A little bit of everything was on display at the first-ever STEAM Expo held at Taft High School in Lincoln City, Oregon.
STEAM Expo 2018 Lincoln City
The Foucault pendulum was where Noah Lambie, head of the Science Department at Taft High School, had the idea to strap our GoPro on it as it proved the rotation of the Earth. Great video with Taft High Golf star Maya Hatton making guest appearances in it.
Students and visitors mingled in this mashup of science, technology, engineering, art, math, and the public.
A highly successful and educational event, we hope we are invited back next year.
Sophomore pitcher Emma Coulter threw a five-inning no-hitter, and the top three hitters in the order collected seven hits, drove in seven runs and scored six times Wednesday to lead the Lady Tigers to a 12-2 West Valley League home softball victory over Willamina.
Sophomore catcher Hailee Dannecker went 3-for-3 with a run scored and four RBIs; senior third baseman Naomi Rini 2-for-2 with three runs and two RBIs; and freshman outfielder Kyla Knott 2-for-3 with a run and two RBIs as first-place Taft (9-5, 3-0) won for the third straight time.
Naomi Rini
“We had one goal for the game and that was to come out loose on offense and collect a lot of hits,” Taft Coach Sandy Stuart said of the game moved to Taft due to wet playing conditions in Willamina. “We definitely swung the bat better today than our last few games. We were more relaxed at the plate and were able to have some solid base hits.”
Claira Tolan
Coulter and freshman shortstop Caira Tiolan also drove home runs for third-ranked Taft. Senior centerfielder Alyssa Tanksley scored twice, while Tolan, freshman outfielder Makena Cole , freshman second baseman Kayla Lininger and junior outfielder Caitlyn Rundstrom also tallied runs for the Tigers.
Caitlyn Rundstrom
“Some of our work is coming together,” Stuart said. “Freshman Kyla Knott is new to left-handed slapping, and she had some amazing hard line drives today. I was very proud of her. I was also proud of some of the other players, like Hailee Danneker, who came out of their slumps and hit the ball hard.”
Willamina fell to 2-13 overall and 0-4 in league play with the loss against Coulter, who struck out six and walked two.
“We are still working on our defense,” Stuart said. “The runs scored against us were caused by errors and were unearned. We have lots of girls playing new positions this season, and we are still trying to get all the kinks worked out.”
Taft returns to action at 4:30 p.m. Friday at home against Dayton.
“We were really excited for sunshine and to get to play ball for the first time in over a week,” Stuart said. “Now, we move forward to Dayton. We have the same goals for Friday’s game — lots and lots of offense.”
Taft 12, Willamina 2
WILLAMINA AB R H BI
Katrina Graham 3 1 0 0
Taryn Hunt 1 0 0 1
McCayla Tuck 3 0 0 0
Andrea Otter 2 0 0 0
Amarisa Mooney 1 0 0 0
Amelia Mooney 2 0 0 0
Jami Grandy 2 0 0 0
Emma Shrabel 2 0 0 0
Lizzy Rust 1 0 0 0
Lexi Molina 1 1 0 0 TOTALS 18 2 0 1
Outfielder Caleb Jones drove in four runs on two hits and scored twice, and fellow sophomore Trenton Fisher and junior Cody Knott added two RBIS each Wednesday to lead the Taft High baseball team to a 14-3 road win at Clatskanie.
Cody Knott
“We didn’t play our best baseball, but we found a way to win,” Taft coach Matt Hilgers said. “We came out flat, and it took us awhile to get going. We showed composure today after a long bus ride.”
Jack Stempel stretches to complete the double play
The No. 1-ranked Tigers used a seven-run third inning after scoring four times in the second to improve to 14-2 and win their eighth straight.
Eli DeMello turning two as shortstop
Juniors Kam Kessler and Bleiz Kimbrough yielded just three hits to Class 3A Lewis & Clark League member Clatskanie, also nicknamed the Tigers, who fell to 4-6.
Kam KesslerBleiz Kimbrough
Jones and sophomore catcher Eli DeMello, hitting in the leadoff spot, led Taft with two hits each. Kessler tallied three runs, while Jones, junior left fielder Tyee Fisher and senior first baseman Jack Stempel scored twice each.
Tyee Fisher
Jones and Tyee Fisher, who joined DeMello, Kessler and Kimbrough with an RBI each, doubled for Taft’s only extra-base hits. Jones’ shot landed at the base of the wall, 348 feet away.
DeMello gets waved home
Sophomore catcher Cade Warren had two of Clatskanie’s three hits against the Tigers, who stole five bases, turned three double plays and scored more than 10 runs in their fifth straight game.
First-place Taft, 5-0 in Class 3A West Valley League play, hosts Dayton (6-8, 3-1) at 4:30 p.m. Friday.
Taft 14, Clatskanie 3
TAFT AB R H BI
Eli DeMello 4 1 2 1
Cody Knott 4 1 0 2
Caleb King 4 0 0 0
Jack Stempel 2 2 0 0
Tyee Fisher 3 2 1 1
Kam Kessler 2 3 1 1
Caleb Jones 4 2 2 4
Bleiz Kimbrough 4 1 1 1
Trenton Fisher 3 1 0 2
*Darius Smith 0 1 0 0
TOTALS 30 14 7 12
CLATSKANIE AB R H BI
James Helmen 3 0 1 1
Cade Warren 3 0 2 1
Dawson Evenson 3 0 0 0
Michael Sterba 2 0 0 0
Noah Patterson 3 0 0 0
Foster Evenson 2 1 0 0
Chase Baker 0 1 0 0
Jack Boothe 1 1 0 0
Sam Shockley 1 0 0 1 TOTALS 18 3 3 3
TAFT 047 012 0 — 14 CLATSKANIE 030 000 0 — 3 LOB–TAFT 2018 3, CLATSKANIE 3. ERR–Cody Knott, Jack Boothe (2), James Helmen (4). 2B–Tyee Fisher, Caleb Jones. HBP–Kam Kessler, Michael Sterba, Foster Evenson, Sam Shockley. SB–Tyee Fisher, Eli DeMello, Cody Knott, Jack Stempel, Caleb Jones.
TAFT IP H R ER BB SO HR
Kam Kessler (W) 2.00 2 3 3 2 2 0
Bleiz Kimbrough 4.00 1 0 0 1 2 0 CLATSKANIE
Cade Warren (L) 2.00 1 4 2 3 1 0
Foster Evenson 2.67 5 8 0 0 1 0
Jack Boothe 1.33 1 2 2 1 0 0 PB–Cade Warren, Dawson Evenson (4). BB–Tyee Fisher, Kam Kessler, Jack Stempel (2), Chase Baker (2), Jack Boothe.
Sprinter Brayan Mateo won the 100-meter and 200-meter dashes, and Joshua Ruiz won the shot put Tuesday to pace the Taft boys in the Mid-Valley Central Coast middle school track and field meet at Newport High School.
Brayan Mateo winning his 200m heat
Kaden HIndman was second in the javelin for the boys, who placed fourth behind winner Lebanon in the competition between sixth and eighth graders. Sammy Vasquez was third in the 200.
Gavin Koceja winning his 200m heat
Kadence James led the Taft girls, who placed fourth behind champion Newberg, with a second-place showing in the high jump.
Taft competes again Wednesday, April 25, in a Coast Valley Junior High League meet against Dayton, Delphian and Nestucca Valley at Nestucca High School.
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.
