Thursday, January 30, 2025
Home Blog Page 3

Candidate for city council ward 3 Tammy Sanford

5
Tammy Sanford candidate for city council Ward 3

Lincoln City Homepage had a moment to talk with Ward Three City Council candidate Tammy Sanford about why she had chosen to get involved in local politics.

“I caught myself complaining about local government awhile ago and decide that I didn’t like the idea of being a complainer so I decided that running for city council would be a great way to get involved and see if I can help.”

Though thin on working political experience Tammy points out that she has always kept an eye on local and state politics as she worked the hospitality industry after graduating from Western Culinary Institute. “I’ve always privately followed politics but never made the leap to run for an elected office.”

What finally pushed her on to throw her name in the proverbial ring was a spur of the moment decision on Flag Day 2024.  “I took my flag for a walk on the beach,” she said.

To her surprise she was repeatedly approached by locals and visitors alike to question her about her walking companion and to ask for pictures with her and her flag. “I had two little kids approach me and ask what I was doing.  I explained that today was Flag Day and what that meant to me.  I asked them if they knew the Pledge of Allegiance and if they would like to say it with me.  They both excitedly said ‘yes’ so I sent them over to ask their dad if it was ok.  He said it was so the three of us stood on the beach in Nelscott and recited the Pledge.”

“After that as I started talking with folks in town. I noticed many were afraid to voice their opinions about local politics out loud. I was shocked.  I would reply to them by saying ‘There’s no need to be afraid! We have to be bold and get involved.”

So, with that, Tammy Sanford filed the appropriate paperwork and is now asking for your vote.

“I want to be your voice,” she would say.  “Help me help you.  It’s your community and together we can do this.”

3 plus 3 equals lots of Number 2

Don’t let their cuteness fool you.

Life as I have known it has come to a grinding halt.

With the arrival of 6 puppies into our family has come a monster that devours all free time (and work time). That monster is politely called #2. It consumes my days! If I’m not cleaning it from their bedding I’m cleaning it from the deck. If not from the deck, from their paws and fur because puppies have no sense of decorum or pride.
But what puppies do have is speed. Lots of speed. I’ve watched videos of young cowboys and cowgirls chasing greased piglets for fun at rodeos and county fairs but they have nothing on a batch of six feisty, poo stained 6 week old terriers. I honestly have no idea why their mother is so protective of them. No creature on earth can capture them (that is except for my five year old granddaughter who is as ruthless a hunter as a hawk snatching trout out of Devils Lake).
I’m fully aware that I am whining and I have only myself to blame for this situation (which my brilliant seven year old grandson calls a “Poop-suation”), but whine I must and whine I will. I wanted a litter of puppies but in the joy of the moment I forgot how old I am and that puppy rearing (as is raising children) is a young man’s game.
Unfortunately there isn’t a small enough poop scoop to grab the multiplying piles of mini-excrement and my wife won’t allow me to use the salad tongs. So that means I’m doing more bending over and kneeling down in tight quarters than Shaquille O’Neal in a submarine.
And just when I’ve had enough-when I’m figuring out how I can get away with handing out the puppies at Halloween; I hold one close and smell that one of a kind puppy breath smell and get a quick lick on my beard from a tiny, tiny tongue and I feel their fur so soft in my hands that all I can do is thank God for these moments.
So, after they have been wrangled and washed, back in the pen they go with clean soft bedding, a bowl of food and each other to tussle with until they pile atop each other in a mass that would make a rugby coach proud and they fall asleep.
It’s good to be alive.

A Sign Of The Times

4

Nothing lasts forever. But the iconic Ester Lee Motel in Lincoln City, Oregon comes pretty close. The motel received a new sign this week.

New Ester Lee sign
New Ester Lee Sign, 2020’s (J.Love)

That got me to thinking about how many Ester Lee signs have stood in its place of prominence along Highway 101 in Lincoln City. I can recall at least six, but can only find photos of five of them.

If you have photographs and/or memories of the Ester Lee signs through the years and wouldn’t mind sharing them please comment below.

Hydroplane time trials return to Devils Lake

photo from Facebook post without attribution

Inboard and Outboard Hydroplane Boats will return to Devils Lake in Lincoln City, Oregon, with hopes of setting new World Straightaway speed records. The record runs will begin at 8:00 a.m. and end at sunset on Saturday, October 12th and Sunday October 13th, 2024. East Devils Lake State Park boat ramp will be used as the staging area for set up and launch and will be closed for public use as well as the Regatta Grounds Boat Ramp.



The annual Devils Lake Kilo is sanctioned and insured by the American Power Boat Association, and is officiated and conducted by the Columbia Outboard Racing Association based in the Portland, Oregon area. The Oregon State Marine Board and local and county authorities for the safety of the racers and other boat users have issued a permit for a partial lake closure. Devils Lake will be closed from Sand Point to south of the East Devils Lake State Park launch ramp.



This event is a true test of entrants driving skill plus the integrity of the combined set-up of the boat, motor and propeller. Calm water conditions are a necessity, as each driver will be running quality equipment with sensitive set-ups to maximize optimum speed.



Time Trial rules call for a driver, competing against a time clock, to pilot his boat through a 5/8th of a mile surveyed straightaway course. Each entry will receive six runs, three in each direction. The test shall consist of two consecutive runs, one of which shall be made in one direction and one in the opposite direction. The overall speed is calculated by averaging the best two consecutive runs out of the six runs that each entrant is entitled to run. The driver may take all his runs at one time or may after taking one run decide to wait for better conditions for his or her remaining runs.



The annual Speed Boat Time Trials were renamed the “Rockey Stone Memorial Kilo’s” in 1995 in honor of the person instrumental in setting up and organizing the event for many years and the ¼ Mile in honor of Buzz Thorsen who took leadership after Rockey retired. The event has been held since its inception in the mid 1950’s, minus a few years during which Devils Lake underwent a massive weed cleanup. The event has placed Devils Lake and Lincoln City, Oregon in the American Powerboat Associations record book many times and has historically held the esteemed respect of having the “Worlds Fastest Water.”





You can also follow our official Facebook account and www.dlwid.org for meeting agendas, updates on district projects, events, and other matters.

Vote Red, don’t be misled

The election of Donald J. Trump and J.D. Vance will bring back glory and greatness to our Nation
through their patriotic America First agenda. Some of the Trump/Vance policies are summarized below:
✓ Protect our border and increase Border Patrol agents to stop the dangerous illegal migrant
invasion; end human trafficking; demolish foreign drug cartels, and crush gang violence.
Promote legal immigration reform.
✓ Strengthen and modernize all branches of our military. Support Israel, financially and
politically and deport pro-Hamas radicals and seek peace in the Middle East. Negotiate an end
to the Russian-Ukraine war.
✓ Dramatically increase police funding to hire well-trained officers and restore respect for all
law enforcement, putting an end to chaos and lawlessness.
✓ Increase energy production to create more jobs for American workers to help combat
inflation and bring manufacturing back to the US, while cutting wasteful government spending
and limiting bureaucracy and overregulation.
✓ Provide tax cuts for all citizens; eliminate taxes on tips, overtime and social security, and
expand the Child Tax Credit, while protecting Medicare and Social Security benefits.
✓ Promote education reforms to increase student learning and graduation rates, and support
the rights of parents to intercede in the education of their children.
✓ Ban Chinese nationals from buying US land and industries and secure strategic independence
from China.
What kind of government do you want for the future of America? That’s what this election is all about. A
vote for Harris/Walz is a vote for the Globalist agenda: the exact opposite of “saving the soul of America”
promised by the powerful Trump/Vance ticket.
We are a Nation of, by and for “We the People” based on Truth, Justice and Freedom. If you love America
like I do, please join me in fighting for our Republic to protect our Constitutional rights by voting for the
Trump/Vance solutions.
Vote Red, don’t be Misled, on November 5, 2024! Thank you.
A. T. Ronan, Newport

Rule advisory committee to discuss proposed changes to E-assisted bike rules

0

oregon state parksSalem, Oregon—Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) is creating a rule advisory committee to meet and discuss possible changes to electric-assisted bicycle use on state park properties and the ocean shore.

The current electric-assisted bike rules allow the devices to operate on state park trails that are over 8 feet in width and anywhere motor vehicles are allowed on the ocean shore. The proposed changes would update definitions for electric-assisted bicycles and determine new locations where they are allowed and restricted.

The committee will meet online 11 a.m. Thursday, October 17 and will hold three additional meetings through 2024 to review and discuss the proposed rule changes. The meeting dates will be announced after the first meeting. The meetings are open to the public and can be viewed at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkqL6iVPBrfCTO27cNmCTwg.

The meeting agenda will include discussions on the impacts the proposed rules would have on visitor safety, recreational uses and conflicts, operational best practices and accessibility. The committee will also discuss the potential economic and fiscal impact of proposed changes.

Committee members, appointed by OPRD, include individuals from around the state who enjoy electric assisted bicycles for recreation and others who enjoy other forms of recreation in state parks and the ocean shore. The committee also includes individuals from other agencies, natural resource specialists, law enforcement, transportation specialists, non-profit organizations, and business owners.

After the committee reviews the proposed changes and staff make updates based on feedback and recommendations, the proposed rule will be open for public comment in early 2025. More information about this rulemaking is available on the OPRD website: https://www.oregon.gov/oprd/PRP/Pages/PRP-Rule-2024-EBikes.aspx.

Individuals who require special accommodations to view the meetings should contact Jo Niehaus, at least three days in advance of a meeting, at [email protected].

Twenty years and five terms should have been enough time for Commissioner Claire Hall

Letter to the Editor,
Twenty years and five terms should have been enough time for Commissioner Claire Hall to find viable solutions to Lincoln County’s escalating crime, addiction and homelessness problems but instead they have only worsened. Hall claims “all is well” but it clearly is not!
Our county deserves a challenge to the old attitude “it’s always been done this way”.
Rick Beasley is the right candidate to change this downward slope and scrutinize our counties overall $200 million ($50 million general fund) budget. Rick will work hard to ensure that our tax dollars are spent wisely, not frivolously on one commissioner’s favored projects. (Did you know that Lincoln County ranks 5th in the state for property taxes?)
When asked what the number one factor effecting our county was, Hall quickly replied, “climate change”. Really? I guess that’s why Lincoln County ranks 9th out of 36th in the state for the number of electric charging stations.
As our Commissioner, Rick will give us common sense solutions. He said, “What I advocate for is a balanced approach—one that integrates mental health, addiction treatment, housing and job training, while ensuring that law enforcement upholds public safety.”
Still undecided about which candidate is more committed to Lincoln County’s future? Please read what Lincoln County Sheriff Curtis Landers has to say about Rick:
“I have known County Commissioner candidate Rick Beasley for over 30 years, and I am wholeheartedly endorsing him for Lincoln County Commissioner,” Landers said in a statement. “Rick’s proven commitment to our county and the issues surrounding county government, including public safety, make him an ideal candidate. Lincoln County needs a fresh perspective and an effective leader who can address key issues and provide guidance and prioritization for the county’s budget. I am confident that Rick will represent all citizens fairly and ensure our county thrives for.

 

Bill Klein

Life Chain across Lincoln County

8
Life Chain volunteers gathered along Hwy 101 in Lincoln City

Sunday October 6 saw the return of the annual Oregon Right to Life “Life Chain.”

Held in both Newport and Lincoln City in front of their respective city halls groups of volunteers gathered to voice their support for the unborn.

Approximately 2 dozen prolife supporters silently held signs ranging from “Jesus Forgives and Heals” to “Life, the first inalienable right.”

For the most part passers by showed support for the gathering with many honks and thumbs up of approval. Those that held a differing viewpoint were, as usual, vulgar- bravely screaming obscenities from their moving vehicles.

Phil Magnan, retired Pastor of Calvary Chapel in Lincoln City had this to say about why he and the others gathered; “(We are) Being a visible presence of all those who want children to be treated with dignity, respect and love.”

Life Chain is a national event held every year on the first Sunday of October.

For more information go to their website here

Another Homecoming Success

1

Friday night was Homecoming for Taft 7-12 Football and the students and town celebrated everything tiger with the annual Noise parade on Highway 101.

Students decorated cars for the Noise Parade

At approximately 4p.m. students, parents, police and fire personnel gathered at Lighthouse Square to festoon their vehicles in pink ribbons and window markers in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness.

Pink was the color of the day

At 4:30p.m. the procession started heading south.  Along the way cars pulled over, businesses stopped and people came out to celebrate their kids.

First responders led the way

The parade was led by an officer from the Lincoln City Police Department followed closely by an engine from North Lincoln Fire and Rescue.  Their respective lights flashed and twirled and their sirens bellowed out a greeting to everyone along the parade route.

Visit our YouTube channel for more video and photos

State Parks Department to raise fees for 2025

0

oregon state parksOregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) is increasing its camping, parking and reservation fees to keep pace with the rising cost of utilities, operations and maintenance.

Most of the increases range from $2 to $5 depending on the fee.

“The park system has experienced record visitation as well as the impacts of rising costs and inflation. Utility costs for example have increased by 28% over the last 4 years, but most fees have remained the same. Depending on the fee, the last increase was anywhere from seven to 15 years ago for base fees.

“We know that raising fees by any amount can be challenging for visitors, and we don’t make this decision lightly. We try to keep costs and fees as low as possible to minimize the impact while still fulfilling our commitment to stewardship and recreation,” said OPRD Director Lisa Sumption.


OPRD will increase its base camping fees for the first time since 2017. The increase applies to all camping reservations for 2025. Starting on October 15, 2024, all reservations made for 2025 stays will include the fee increase.

Increases in base rate by site type:

$2 increase for misc. sites (includes teepees, meeting halls and other facilities)
$3 increase for tent sites (includes horse tent sites, horse group sites, group tent) and primitive sites (includes overflow, fly-in and walk-to-sites)
$4 increase for RV sites (includes full hookup, electrical, horse RV and group RV sites)
$5 increase for cabins and yurts (includes rustic, mini, totem, and deluxe sites)
(Seasonal rate increases were adopted in 2020. The seasonal adjustments will be added to the new base rates. As in previous years, summer rates are $2 more for tent sites, $3 more for RV sites and $5 more for cabins/yurts.)

Jan. 1, 2025:

OPRD will increase its reservation fee from $8 to $10 per site starting Jan. 1, 2025. This fee has not been increased since 2010.
Daily parking permit fees will increase from $5 to $10 at the 25 parks that charge a fee for day-use parking. Parking permit fees were last increased in 2009. The annual parking permit and the two-year permit fees remain the same at $30 for the annual permit and $50 for the two-year permit.
July 1, 2025:

OPRD will expand the 25% out-of-state surcharge for RV campsites (required by state law) to all site types for out-of-state campers.
New camping rate ranges replace the existing ones. These ranges set the lowest and highest fees that OPRD can charge over time. It gives OPRD’s director the ability to change fees in the future as needed. The last rate range update was adopted in 2018.
OPRD has three main sources of funding: a little less than half comes from constitutionally dedicated lottery funds, about 15% comes from recreational vehicle license plate fees and roughly 35% comes from park fees from visitors. OPRD is not funded by taxes.

OPRD does offer a few resources and programs to help increase access to Oregon State Parks.

Most Oregon State Parks offer free day-use parking. Current exceptions include this list of 25 parks online.
We also have special access passes for free camping and day-use parking permits for:
Oregon foster parents, guardians and parents who have adopted Oregon foster children.
U.S. veterans with a service-connected disability.
Active duty U.S. military on official leave.
Next month, OPRD will open public comment on a proposal designed to give OPRD’s director more flexibility to decide which parks charge for day-use parking. The proposal would require day-use parking permits at all parks unless otherwise noted. The director would have the authority to waive the permit requirement as needed. There are no plans to charge at all parks, and OPRD would consider any changes carefully.

OPRD will continue to explore options in the future that reduce cost as a barrier while earning needed revenue to maintain our parks and manage congestion.