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Federal spending bill ends emergency SNAP benefits

Justin Werner
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Federal spending bill ends emergency SNAP benefits

SNAP Early

The 2023 Omnibus Spending bill ended funding for COVID-19 emergency SNAP benefits, decreasing the amount low-income families receive for food.

February will be the last month households receive an additional allotment that has been given out since April 2020 totaling $1.9 billion.

“Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic we have had the opportunity to provide these emergency food benefits to most SNAP households in Oregon,” said ODHS Director Fariborz Pakseresht. “We know that many rely on these additional emergency food benefits to get enough healthy food for themselves and their families. As Oregon continues to be impacted by COVID-19, we know that without these emergency food benefits some in Oregon may experience hardship and hunger. We encourage them to contact our partners at 211, Oregon Food Bank and their local Community Action Agency for support during this difficult time.”

State of Oregon officials permanently increased the regular amount given out to SNAP recipients back in October 2021 by an average of $36 per person, per month.

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) serves about 1 million families who meet eligibility criteria and provides them with a food card that can be used at most grocery locations.

In January 2022, Oregon increased the income eligibility limit for SNAP up to 200% of the federal poverty level. This means that an individual with up to $2,265 in income per month, or a family of three with up to $3,838 in income per month, are eligible to receive SNAP food benefits.

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Mayor, councilors take oath of office

Don Williams
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Mayor, councilors take oath of office

In a brief ceremony held prior to the business portion of Monday’s city council meeting, recently re-elected Mayor Susan Wahlke and councilors Mitch Parsons – ward 1, Sydney Kasner – ward 2 and Rick Mark – ward 3, took their respective oaths of office.

City Recorder Jamie Young administered the oath before a group of well wishers in the audience.

All four officials were elected to four year terms in November of 2022.

New lumber yard to set up shop in Lincoln City

Justin Werner
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New lumber yard to set up shop in Lincoln City

Copeland Lumber Lincoln City
Copeland Lumber will build its fourth store in Lincoln City with construction slated to complete by the end of the year (Photo by Justin Werner)

Copeland Lumber will build its fourth store in Lincoln City next to Cinema 6 on High School Drive with construction scheduled for completion by late summer of this year.

Copeland Lumber owners, a group of former Copeland Lumber Yards, Inc. employees who live in Lincoln County, bought the land from Knottworks Construction and will build a lumber yard across the street from George Morlan Plumbing Supply, a complimentary business.

According to Grant Forrest, co-owner of Copeland Lumber, the Knotts are planning to turn the Lincoln City Cinema 6 building into residential units, but the Knotts have not confirmed this as of press time.

With the coming departure of lumber provider Builders First Source in South Lincoln City, Copeland Lumber will be the only dedicated lumber yard in the city. Builders First Source plans to merge it’s Lincoln City and Newport locations into one in South Beach at a later date.

“That’s what prompted us to build in Lincoln City,” Forrest said, referring to the merger news. “Lincoln City is too big of a community to not have a lumber yard.” Forrest said he hopes to have the project completed by the end of summer, but has a failsafe of “by the end of the year.”

Forrest said his lumber yard already delivers to Lincoln City but it can be difficult to drive up from Newport and having a yard in Lincoln City will cut costs.

Contractors Homepage spoke with about the new lumber yard reacted favorably, with one saying it was “good news” for Lincoln City.

When asked about getting involved with the community, given the close proximity of the business to Taft’s schools, Forrest said Copeland Lumber has been very active in supporting the school district and students of Newport. He said there is already plans to give back to Lincoln City’s community.

Some Lincoln City citizens mentioned on Facebook that Copeland has been here before, but Forrest was quick to point out his lumber yard is not affiliated with the “old yards.”

Copeland Lincoln City “We license the name and are not a part of the old yards,” he said. “The original Copeland company sold off in 1999.” There was no single buyer for all of Copeland’s 68 retail outlets, so the company was broken apart and groups of stores were sold off. Forrest and the other former employees bought the Newport and Waldport stores.

With the new Lincoln City yard, Copeland Lumber will have four stores along the coast, including Waldport, Newport and Florence.

Oregon Senators to make town hall appearances

Justin Werner
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Oregon Senators to make town hall appearances

Oregon Senators Town Halls

Democrat Oregon Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden have organized town halls in January at Taft High and Oregon Coast Community College’s Newport campus.

Wyden has been a United States senator since 1996 and served at the United States House of Representatives from 1981-1996. Wyden is the dean of Oregon’s congressional delegation and chairs the Senate Finance Committee.

Merkley has served as Oregon’s junior United States senator since 2009. Before becoming a senator, Merkley was a five-time Oregon House of representatives member who represented Multnomah County. He was the 64th Oregon Speaker of the House.

Wyden will be in Newport at 11 a.m., Monday, Jan. 9 at the Oregon Coast Community College, 400 SE College Way.

Merkley will be in Lincoln City at 10 a.m., Saturday, Jan. 14, at Taft High 7-12, 3780 SE Spyglass Ridge Dr.

The public is invited to attend and Oregon’s federal politicians will meet with constituents to hear topics of interest and to discuss upcoming legislation.

19-year-old arrested for trying to steal vehicle, pointing gun at owner

Justin Werner
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19-year-old arrested for trying to steal vehicle, pointing gun at owner

Lincoln City Police arrested a man Tuesday for attempting to steal a vehicle and threatening to shoot the owner who confronted him.

According to police, they received a 911 call at 7:31 a.m. from a woman in the 1600 block of NE 13th Street, reporting a man was trying to steal her husband’s vehicle in the driveway. The husband went out and confronted the man and tried to detain him, but the suspect got away on foot and the husband began chasing him. As they ran west on NE 13th Street, the suspect reached into his jacket and pulled out a gun and pointed it at the husband. The husband told police he retreated back to his home when that happened.

Lincoln City Police converged on the area and found the suspect, but he ran from officers and a chase ensued. The chase was short lived and LCPD arrested the man in Coastal Inn Motel’s parking lot.

Police conducted an extensive search of the area looking for the weapon the husband saw, but were unable to locate it. The following day a citizen found the gun in his backyard and called police. Police took the .22 handgun into custody. Bullets found on the suspect matched the type of bullets in the recovered loaded firearm.

Xavier Dewayne Swan, 19, of LaPine Oregon is charged with unlawful entry into a motor vehicle, unlawful use of a weapon, menacing, escape in the third degree, criminal mischief, and assault in the third degree. Additional charges may be forthcoming.

Swan was taken to the Lincoln County Jail and awaits a Jan. 11 court appearance on $100,000 bail and is represented by Jonathan Cable.

“This case is another great example of how vigilant citizens working in partnership with police enable us to quickly respond to, and solve and reduce criminal activity in our community.”

–  LCPD Lieutenant Jeffrey Winn

 

Rash of vehicle break-ins prompts police response

Justin Werner
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Rash of vehicle break-ins prompts police response

Broken into vehicles Lincoln City

A string of broken into vehicles has Lincoln City Police on the hunt for suspects who broke windows, took items and ruined an ignition system.

“We’ve had a little rash of vehicles being broken into and we’re working on that,” LCPD Lieutenant Jeffrey Winn said. “With those cases we are putting together something to locate, identify and arrest the suspects.”

On Tuesday, Jan. 3, three vehicles were broken into in south Lincoln City at the following locations:

SE Mast Avenue – Caller reported his vehicle was broken into and the ignition was torn apart and something was stuck inside of it.

4009 SW Highway 101 (Inn at Spanish head) – Caller reported vehicle broken into while parked at this location. Rear passenger window was broken out.

SW 51st Street – Caller reported subjects broke truck window and left the scene, then returned to take items.

The car clout crimes were reported Tuesday at 9:19 a.m., 11:31 a.m. and 11:48 a.m.

If you have any information or video of the crimes please contact the non-emergency Lincoln City Police line at 541-994-3636.

Samaritan’s first babies of 2023

Mary Jo Kerlin
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Samaritan’s first babies of 2023

SNLH first baby family

The first baby born in 2023 at a Samaritan Health Services hospital arrived in Lincoln City at 12:58 a.m. on Sunday, Jan. 1, followed a few hours later by the first baby of the year in Newport.

With three different possible due dates, Nicole and Ricky Nava weren’t sure what side of New Year’s Day their little girl would choose to arrive – 2022 or 2023. In fact, when Athena Jade-Louise was born at Samaritan North Lincoln Hospital just 58 minutes into the new year, she became the official “New Year Baby” for all of Samaritan’s five hospitals in Benton, Lincoln and Linn counties.

At birth, Athena weighed 7 pounds, 3 ounces and was 20 inches long. She is welcomed home by big brother Damian, age 4. OB/GYN Meredith Mann, DO, was the presiding physician at the birth.

Although Nicole and Ricky are both from California originally, they didn’t meet until they each moved to Lincoln City several years ago. They currently live in Lincoln City where they are very busy tending to their preschooler while working and going to school. Nicole is employed at Tidal Raves in Depoe Bay and Ricky works at Salishan Coastal Lodge while studying to be a licensed massage therapist.

All new parents at the hospital receive a special celebration meal of their choice. Also, the first baby of the new year and family received many other gifts from the hospital compliments of the North Lincoln Hospital Foundation, SNLH Auxiliary and SHS Marketing.

The second Samaritan baby of the new year was Elias Rafael Hernandez Hernandez. Born at Samaritan Pacific Communities Hospital, he arrived at 8:34 a.m. on Sunday, Jan. 1. He weighed 9 pounds, 10.8 ounces and was 20.5 inches long. OB/GYN Jennifer Brewer, MD, was the presiding physician at the birth.

Elias was welcomed by parents Monica Hernandez Morfinez and Ramiro Hernandez Lezama, along with an 8-year-old sister and 5-year-old brother. All three of the couple’s children were born at Samaritan Pacific Communities Hospital and Monica and Ramiro both work at Pacific Seafood in Newport. Speaking through a language interpreter, Monica said she would stay at home to care for their newborn. Ramiro also added that their daughter had the chance to meet baby Elias and “she was very happy” with a second baby brother.

While all new parents at the hospital receive a special celebration meal – with their baby’s footprints inked onto the paper menu – the first baby of the new year and family received many other gifts including a car seat, pack-n-play, a case of diapers and other fun and useful items.

Investigation and tips lead to drug bust

Justin Werner
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Investigation and tips lead to drug bust

Gregory Brooks
Photo courtesy Lincoln City Police Department

Lincoln City Police working in concert with McMinnville Police and working off tips from the public, executed a search warrant at Siletz Bay Lodge in Lincoln City Monday, arresting two and seizing criminal amounts of fentanyl and meth.

According to LCPD, after a lengthy investigation of narcotics coming from suspects staying at various hotels in Lincoln City, officers located dangerous drugs at Siletz Bay Lodge on 51st Street.

Arrested at the hotel was Gregory brooks, 59, of Portland. Brooks was charged with delivery, and manufacture of methamphetamine, possession, delivery, and manufacture of fentanyl, felon in possession of a restricted weapon, and frequenting a place where drugs are kept and sold. Brooks was taken to the Lincoln County Jail.

Also arrested was 26-year-old Clorissa Wood, of Portland. Wood was charged with possession, delivery, and manufacture of methamphetamine, possession, delivery, and manufacture of fentanyl, and frequenting a place where drugs are kept and sold. Wood was taken to the Lincoln County Jail.

Law enforcement found fentanyl pills, powder and methamphetamine along with other drug paraphernalia including digital scales and packaging materials.

Lincoln City Police gave special thanks to the McMinnville Police and McMinnville Police Narcotics K9 Tucker for their assistance with the case. Additionally, LCPD wants to thank citizens and businesses for their tips that assisted the investigation.

Christmas Flood Advisory

Justin Werner
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Christmas Flood Advisory

 

NWS FloodingA Coastal Flood Advisory has been issued by National Weather Service Portland (NWS) for Christmas Day until 10 p.m. for the Central Oregon Coast.

NWS says tidal overflow flooding is expected up to one foot above ground level during high tides in low lying areas near bays, sloughs and lower reaches of coastal rivers.

Due to elevated river levels combined with high astronomical tides, property damage can occur but is usually localized. Low-lying roads may be closed due to high water.

An icy night brings thawing for some

Don Williams
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An icy night brings thawing for some

 

Ice accumulation near Otis, OR

Around 4pm Thurday night many people were reporting that they were noticing ice forming on their porch decks and tree limbs.

By 8p.m. the freezing rain that was predicted for Lincoln City arrived.

Stranded driver outside Puerto Vallarta Mexican Restaurant
An icy parking lot at Safeway

Lincoln City Homepage Community facebook page was awash in reports of strandings and accidents.

The Lincoln City Police Department reported on their Facebook post, “MIDNIGHT UPDATE – the roads on the north side of the city are still icy in spots, but have mostly turned to slush.”

Driving this morning at 8a.m. from D river toward Otis, I noted how the driving conditions deteriorated rapidly east milepost 3.

As of 9a.m. Oregon State Police had closed Hwy 18 west from mileposts 15 through 21 (six miles west of Grand Rhonde).

Hwy 101 through Lincon City is wet and predominantly ice free but watch for sheltered areas, bridges and road shoulders that have not yet thawed.

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