National Weather Service Portland (NWS) has issued a warning for sneaker waves Christmas Day as a powerful westerly swell moves in on Oregon and Washington coasts.
Sneaker waves are possible Christmas morning until late in the afternoon for the central and north Oregon Coast and could cause waves to run up significantly farther on beaches than normal.
NWS advises beachgoers should avoid logs, rocks and jetties where sneaker waves can knock people off their feet and pull them into the frigid ocean, which can lead to serious injury or death.
Please keep children and pets close and away from the surf zone and if you see someone swept into the sea, do not swim in after them. Call 911 and keep an eye on them until help arrives.
Members of the Lincoln City church community and local government have come together to support a warming shelter at First Baptist Church just ahead of a week of predicted cold weather over the Christmas holiday.
Local attorney Joshua Zantello of Andrews, Ersoff & Zantello, drafted a memorandum of understanding, detailing how homeless resource center C.H.A.N.C.E. will utilize First Baptist Church’s facilities in times of inclement weather to operate a warming shelter. With the fire marshall and City signing off on the proposal, a shelter is allowed, giving up to 22 homeless persons a place to stay when temperatures reach 40 degrees or winds exceed 50 mph.
As of Saturday, Dec. 21, the homeless population of Lincoln City has a place to seek shelter from frigid and windy conditions — predicted for the next five days — at First Baptist Church, 1333 NW 17th Street.
Donations are welcome and volunteers needed. Call 541-272-6265 Ex: 453 for more information.
National Weather Service Portland (NWS) has issued a coastal flood advisory for low lying areas of the Central Oregon Coast, in effect until 1 p.m. Saturday.
The coastal flood advisory comes on the heels of an earlier flood watch issued by NWS that continues into Sunday. The two flood warnings are different but the message to drivers is the same: Watch out for water on roadways.
Officials at NWS warn of minor flooding up to one foot above ground level during high tides as high river levels combined with high tides can flood lower areas such as, sloughs, bays and lower reaches of coastal rivers. Residents should be alert for rising water and take appropriate action to protect life and property.
Tidal overflow flooding is expected with a total tide around 9.7 feet, with the highest chance for flooding occuring Saturday morning around 9 a.m.
Lincoln City Mayor Dick Anderson announced Thursday, Dec. 19 that he has filed for the State Senate, District #5 seat for the 2020 election.
District #5 reaches from Tillamook to Coos Bay on the Oregon Coast and extends into the valley to both Sheridan and Fall City.
Senator Chuck Tomsen, and Senator Herman Baertschiger, attended an announcement event held at Hilltop Inn Family Dining restaurant in Lincoln City to offer their support.
“In spite of the strong economic forecast recently released to the Legislature, not all of Oregon is enjoying the gains,” Anderson said. “The Oregon Coast remains challenged by and lagging in economic growth. The Coast needs an advocate that recognizes the differences in Oregon and is willing to fight in the Legislature on the Coast citizens’ behalf”.
Anderson’s long list of supporting Coastal citizens is varied. He is currently mayor of the City of Lincoln City and has previously been mayor and a city councilor. He’s been elected twice to the North Lincoln County Health District, serves on the Executive Committee of the Oregon Coastal Zone Management Association, sits on two separate ODOT/Area Commissions on Transportation groups and participates with the Confederated Tribes of the Siletz on several advisory boards.
Anderson hopes to bring balance to the Senate Chamber that would bring better legislation for the citizens of the Oregon Coast as well as for the entire State of Oregon.
Anderson can be reached at 541-996-8482 and has a Facebook page at Dick Anderson for Oregon.
National Weather Service Portland has issued a high wind watch for the North and Central Oregon Coast from 4 p.m. Thursday to 4 p.m. Friday.
35-45 mph winds are expected to hit beaches and headlands Thursday night into Friday morning with gusts up to 65 mph possible.
Damaging winds can blow down trees and power lines, making travel difficult, especially for high-profile vehicles.
Additionally, NWS has issued a hydrologic outlook predicting an increase in rain for northwest Oregon with an increased risk of flooding, possibly including the Siletz and Alsea rivers in Lincoln County.
Current forecasts indicate that rain rates could be particularly high Thursday night through Friday night. According to NWS, slower moving rivers won’t see a flood threat until Saturday or Sunday.
Landslides and debris flows are possible during this flood event. People, structures and roads located below steep slopes, in canyons, and near the mouths of canyons may be at serious risk from rapidly moving landslides.
For areas receiving prolonged rainfall, expect rapid rises on creeks and rivers. The greatest concern for flooding will be along creeks and rivers without flood control reservoirs. NWS will monitor rivers closely and issue watches and warnings if needed.
The Oregon State Police Fish and Wildlife Division is asking for the public’s help locating the person or persons responsible for the unlawful killing and waste of a black bear and a cow elk in Lincoln County.
On Saturday, Dec. 14, 2019, a Newport OSP Fish and Wildlife Trooper discovered a deceased black bear sow. The black bear was located off of Forest Service Road 5360 south of Eckman Lake in Waldport.
On Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019, a wildlife trooper discovered a deceased cow elk. The deceased cow elk was located off of Gopher Creek road near the junction of Forest Service road 31. The area is also accessible from 1000 Line Road.
The black bear was killed within the past two weeks and left to waste with no meat removed from the carcass.
The cow elk was killed within the past two weeks and left to waste with no meat removed from the carcass.
OSP is asking anyone who was in the area or anyone who may have information on the suspect(s) to call the TIP line at 1-800-452-7888 or dial OSP and refer information to Trooper Andrew Butler or by email [email protected].
Report Wildlife and Habitat Law Violators
The TIP program offers preference point rewards for information leading to an arrest or issuance of a citation for the unlawful take/possession or waste of big game mammals.
Preference Point Rewards:
5 Points-Bighorn Sheep
5 Points-Rocky Mountain Goat
5 Points-Moose
5 Points-Wolf
4 Points-Elk
4 Points-Deer
4 Points-Antelope
4 Points-Bear
4 Points-Cougar
Or the Oregon Hunters Association TIP reward fund also offers cash rewards for information leading to an arrest or issuance of a citation for the unlawful take/possession or waste of Bighorn Sheep, Rocky Mountain Goat, Moose, Elk, Deer, Antelope, Bear, Cougar, Wolf, Upland Birds, Waterfowl, Furbearers, Game Fish and Shellfish. Cash rewards can also be awarded for turning in people who destroy habitat, illegally obtain licenses/tags and for the unlawful lending/borrowing of big game tags.
CASH REWARDS:
$1,000 Bighorn Sheep, Rocky Mountain Goat and Moose
$500 Elk, Deer and Antelope
$300 Bear, Cougar and Wolf
$300 Habitat Destruction
$200 Illegally Obtaining License/Tag(s)
$200 Unlawful Lend/Borrow Big Game Tags(s)
$100 Upland Birds and Waterfowl
$100 Furbearers
$100 Game Fish and Shellfish
How to Report a Wildlife and/or Habitat Law Violation or Suspicious Activity:
People who do not qualify for the Oregon Health Plan or get insurance through their employer now have until Tuesday at 11:59 p.m. to apply for a subsidized health plan at HealthCare.gov.
The Marketplace is a part of state government that helps connect Oregonians to coverage. It partners with HealthCare.gov, the website where people apply for federal subsidies.
After Tuesday night’s deadline, people will be able to buy subsidized health insurance only when they lose access to other coverage or have a major life change, like adding a child to their family.
Economic Ups and Downs
The state is enjoying one of the longest stretches of economic growth in its history – and Oregonians expect things will get even better before they eventually cool off. That’s the finding of a new poll conducted on behalf of Oregon Business & Industry, the state’s largest business association.
Conversely, recent data shows Oregon job growth is slowing and manufacturing may be in a recession, two of many signals that the economy has cooled off. Still, most respondents don’t see any decline in their own situation and don’t expect one soon. Half of Oregonians say they’re better off now than they were a year earlier, and a slightly larger number expect to be better off a year from now than they are today.
Looked at another way, Oregon is generating much more tax revenue than our state economist expected. About $1.5 billion more. More people are working and more people are earning. So while no one pays a higher tax rate, additional tax revenue is received. Under Oregon’s unique “kicker” tax law, when more revenue is received than expected, taxpayers get a refund. Watch for that reduction when you file taxes in early 2020.
In previous newsletters, I reported that Oregon has more than made up for job losses in the natural resource sector with new jobs in tech fields. But 80% of those new jobs are in the Portland area. In southern and coastal Oregon, 72% of respondents think kids will have to move out of their region to find good jobs.
Oregonians still have plenty of concerns – especially around housing. Poll respondents named homelessness and affordable housing as the state’s biggest problems. For more details, click here.
Here’s another aspect of our curious economy. The number of older workers has quadrupled and one-fifth of Oregonians over 65 are working or seeking work. We are living longer and staying healthy. Many people enjoy their jobs and are happy to keep working and keep earning. But at the same time, Social Security only covers 40% to 50% of what workers earned before retirement. Only 4% of private-sector workers have pensions and half of American households have no retirement savings. The sad truth is that many Oregonians can’t afford to retire.
In our district, 30% of the population is over 65. Older workers are more common in rural counties where they sometimes constitute more than 10% of the total workforce.
Timber Lawsuit with Huge Consequences
When a jury in Linn County determined in November that the state had breached its contract with 13 rural counties by failing to maximize logging revenues on state land, the damage award was breathtaking. $1,065,919,400.
The state plans to appeal. But the clock is ticking on the largest-ever legal award against the state of Oregon. The judgement, when filed, will accrue interest at 9% annually, adding an additional $96 million a year to the tab while its out on appeal.
Oregon’s state forests are mostly made up of lands that were originally logged over or burned by wildfire. Without the resources to rehabilitate the lands, 15 so-called “forest trust land counties” subsequently deeded the forests to the state. In exchange, the state agreed to replant the forests, protect them from fire, and share a portion of the timber harvest proceeds when they returned to productivity.
The state was supposed to manage the forests for the “greatest permanent value of such lands to the state.” The jury found that the greatest permanent value was synonymous with maximizing timber production. Three-quarters of the money would flow to three counties and be disbursed among local taxing districts, which include schools, ports, libraries and fire districts. Those three counties are Tillamook, Clatsop, and Washington.
If the verdict is upheld, the obligation falls to Oregon taxpayers. Effectively, that makes it a transfer from Oregon’s populous urban counties to its timber-dependent rural communities. But if you consider the portion of the award that would be borne by taxpayers in each county, paying the bill would effectively create a net loss for more than half of the counties who signed on to sue the state, according to an analysis by The Oregonian. Read more of this consequential story here.
What’s the Deal on Real ID?
The countdown is on for the Real ID Act to take effect and most Oregonians aren’t ready for the change. Starting October 1, 2020, TSA agents will stop accepting standard driver’s licenses as a form of identification to board flights. You will either need a new license or a US Passport.
The Real ID Act was passed by Congress in 2005, based on recommendations from the 9/11 Commission. The proposed standards require you show a US Birth Certificate, a US Passport, or a Certificate of Citizenship or Naturalization.
Oregon will start issuing Real ID compliant licenses in July. Oregonians who request the cards will receive a license similar to what they may already have, but the Real ID-compliant card will include a star in the upper right-hand corner.
An estimated 3.25 million Oregonians have current driver’s licenses. DMV officials say the agency issues roughly 600,000 to 700,000 renewals, replacement cards and motorcycle endorsements every year which are good for an eight-year period.
But now, transportation officials estimate that 960,000 of us may want Real ID. New requirements could add 8 minutes to every transaction, not including the waiting time in the lobby or the 10-plus minutes usually needed to go through the license application process.
Translation: Our local DMV offices are going to be swamped!
A final cost for the Real ID card will likely be around $20. That is in addition to the $40 fee for a general license renewal. And if you are like me or Susan who got our renewals in 2019, yes, you will have to pay for another renewal to get the Real ID license in 2020. The good news is you will also get a new photo!
If you do not have all the necessary documents, you can still get a driver’s license with proof of residency. But it will not be Real ID compliant. And without a Passport, you’d have a hard time getting on a plane.
If you are not confused enough already, let me add this: Oregon will now have two forms of driver’s licenses – one with the star and one without. Some have asked me if this means non-citizens can get licenses. Yes. But they will not get Real ID and will not be registered to vote through our motor-voter procedures.
The state is in the midst of installing new computer systems at all DMVs and offices will begin training in April on the new Real ID software. The legislature approved funding for new DMV employees to help with the expected demand. But if you need something from DMV other than the new Real ID, I urge you to plan ahead. Go see them before July if you can. Planning to travel? Consider getting a Passport too.
Federal changes to the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) mean at least 19,000 Oregonians could lose government food assistance, according to the Oregon Department of Human Services.
The rule, set to take effect April 1, means adults would not receive benefits for more than three months in a three-year period if they aren’t working or training for at least 20 hours a week. Those restrictions will apply to “able-bodied adults without dependents.” In rolling out the SNAP benefit changes, federal officials said they’re intended to move people toward “self-sufficiency.”
Most Oregon counties can now issue waivers to extend SNAP benefits for longer than the three-month time restriction. That is changing too. Under the new rule, Lincoln, Tillamook, Yamhill and Polk Counties would no longer be able offer waivers.
If you have comments on these benefit changes, I encourage you to share them with Congressman Schrader along with Senators Wyden and Merkley.
Food for distribution in Tillamook County
Planning for Online Accounts
What will happen to your automatic online payments, your email, your photos, social media, or your PayPal account if you unexpectedly pass away?
At any given time, the average American maintains between 30 and 50 online accounts. These may be with banks, financial institutions, utility companies, email providers, social media outlets, commercial shopping or travel sites and music accounts or smartphone apps.
Digital estate planning is a new and rapidly changing field. By incorporating an ePlan into your estate plan, you can ensure that your executor will take the right steps to preserve and protect these accounts and that valuable and sentimental data can be passed on to family and loved ones.
Compile a List of Accounts and How to Access Them: Gather information and to compile a list of your accounts together with information about the accounts. Because passwords frequently change, you should be sure to keep this list up to date.
Store and Protect Your Information: Develop a plan for storing information. Because an ePlan account list contains sensitive information such as usernames and passwords, it is essential to maintain the security and confidentiality of this list.
Select Your Digital Executor: After compiling a list and selecting a storage method, choose a digital executor.
Provide Your Executor with “Digital Directions”: Prepare a letter of instruction to the digital executor. Provide recommendations for the distribution of various accounts, assets, files and information to family. A letter can also tell the executor how to manage social media accounts.
December is particularly busy. In the past week, I danced at the Angels Ball in Lincoln City and dined at the Pacific/Nestucca Chamber Gala, attended the Surfrider Holiday Party, served as MC for the Pacific Communities Health District Foundation Gala, joined the state Farm Bureau meeting at Salishan, chaired the Coastal Resilience Workgroup in Coos Bay, participated in a meeting of the Governor’s Commission on Senior Services, and drove to the Oregon Business Plan Summit in Portland.
Bill Lilley and Haley Dean, collecting metallic samples in Taft with the aid of a powerful magnet.
Oregon Coast Community College student Haley Dean recently received some very big, very small news.
Haley’s big idea was to apply for a NASA grant to help fund her search for tiny extraterrestrials – micrometeorites.
In November, she submitted a project for consideration by the Oregon NASA Space Grant Consortium’s SCORE Program. The SCORE (STEM Community-College Opportunity for Research Experience) Program offers $800 grant awards to community college students conducting research that aligns with NASA’s varied interests.
More than 4,000 tons of micrometeorites fall towards the earth each year. A fraction of them make it to the surface.
The OCCC student’s attempt is not the first in Oregon. Her project overview cites a Portland study searching for micrometeorites on rooftops – a search that was unsuccessful. Instead, Haley intends to look to the churning sands of the beaches of the Oregon Coast in winter to find micrometeorites. In addition to sifting sand with sieves or by hand, she will use powerful magnets to seek her quarry. Meteorites are mostly metallic and magnets will help collect them – along with other small particles that may be volcanic or industrial (man-made) in origin. Those will be sorted by size to help identify potential micrometeorites, which will then be examined using Oregon State University’s high-powered electron microscope.
Assisting Haley in the study will be her mentor, Bill Lilley, who teaches in the sciences at OCCC. Matthew Fisher, science faculty at OCCC and the College’s Oregon NASA Space Grant Consortium Represented, signed off on the proposal, which Haley has dubbed “Project Stardust: The Search for Micrometeorites in the Oregon Coastal Environments.”
Haley says she’s inspired by the project – and that the project, in turn, was inspired by a chance enrollment in Lilley’s course, “Environmental Science: A Geologic Perspective.” She was having a meeting with her academic advisor at OCCC when they both noticed her schedule had room for a course in the science sequence. On their recommendation, she enrolled in Environmental Science.
“That class changed my life. I’ve changed my entire career path – now that I know you can run and play and dig and do important work. How many people,” she asked, “get to go deal with intense and grand concepts like climate change, and really make an impact?”
The name “Project Stardust” is borrowed from Jon Larsen, a genuine citizen scientist. As reported in the June 2017 edition of Wired magazine, the idea for the project and the book Larsen wrote on the topic literally fell into his lap.
“The Norwegian jazz musician was dining on his porch one day eight years ago,” the article begins, “when a rock tumbled out of the sky onto the table. It was shiny, rough, and metallic. Baffled, he did what anyone would do: He googled shiny rocks that fall from the sky.” He went on to collect more than 40,000 samples of possible micro-meteorites, winding up with a collection of more than 500 confirmed specimens. Larsen’s book, “In Search of Stardust: Amazing Micro-Meteorites and Their Terrestrial Imposters” is one of the references cited in Haley’s project summary.
She says that any micrometeorites discovered during her research will be “retained by Oregon Coast Community College. After the research, these will be offered to NASA, Oregon State University, Oregon State Geology Department, and the Smithsonian Institute.”
Her project summary also notes that this research is “crucial to establishing evidence of micrometeorites in Oregon coastal environments and providing the opportunity for a woman on a STEM career path invaluable research experience.”
The Oregon NASA Space Grant Consortium requires that Haley submit a report on her findings no later than May 22, 2020.
Follow OCCC on Facebook and Instagram (@occcsharks) for updates as Haley’s research continues. Learn more about OCCC’s science courses and how you can launch your STEM career through a challenging, rewarding, and affordable two-year transfer degree at Oregon Coast Community College – a degree you can take to Oregon State University or elsewhere in pursuit of your four-year science degree. Find more and schedule an appointment with an academic advisor at oregoncoastcc.org/start-here.
Lincoln County Public Health issued a news release Friday concerning a possible norovirus outbreak in Lincoln County schools.
Lincoln County Public Health Department has become aware that multiple Lincoln County School District students have been ill with vomiting and/or diarrhea. The Health Department is working with the school district to investigate the situation. From the information we have at this point, it appears that the illness might be caused by Norovirus.
Norovirus is a very contagious virus that causes vomiting and diarrhea. People of all ages can get infected and sick with norovirus. People with norovirus illness can shed billions of norovirus particles and only a few virus particles can make other people sick.
The most common symptoms of norovirus are:
diarrhea
vomiting
nausea
stomach pain
fever
headache
body aches
Norovirus causes inflammation of the stomach or intestines. This is called acute gastroenteritis.
A person usually develops symptoms 12-48 hours after being exposed to norovirus. Most people with norovirus illness get better within 1 to 3 days.
If you have norovirus illness, you can feel extremely ill, and vomit or have diarrhea many times a day. This can lead to dehydration, especially in young children, older adults, and people with other illnesses.
Symptoms of dehydration include:
decrease in urination
dry mouth and throat
feeling dizzy when standing up
How serious is norovirus?
People with norovirus disease may feel very sick and vomit many times a day. Most do not feel sick enough to seek medical attention, and most get better within 1 or 2 days. Few people with norovirus disease are hospitalized; but the vomiting and diarrhea can lead to dehydration requiring medical attention.
If you think you have this infection:
• Stay home to rest for at least 48 hours after the vomiting and diarrhea have stopped and you are feeling better.
• Sip fluids frequently as tolerated. Half-strength apple juice, sports fluids, flat lemon-lime soda, or popsicles can help to prevent dehydration.
• WASH HANDS FREQUENTLY: Rub all surfaces of hands with soap, rub lathered hands together vigorously for at least 20 seconds, and then thoroughly rinse the hands under a stream of water.
• Wash hands after using the bathroom, cleaning, changing diapers, or before eating or preparing food. Avoid sharing towels, and if possible ask ill persons to use only one bathroom.
• Disinfect household surfaces with a bleach solution (1 cup of household bleach to a gallon of water).
• Call your health provider if symptoms last longer than three days; if you have bloody diarrhea or a fever greater than 100.5°F; or if you think you are becoming dehydrated.
If you have any questions, concerns or need assistance, please contact the Lincoln County Public Health Department Communicable Disease Public Health Nurses at 541-265-0587.
Waves were big at Nelscott Beach Thursday, Dec. 12, in line with a National Weather Service advisory predicting dangerous surf conditions from 8 a.m.-6 p.m.
Lincoln City locals and tourists watched from a safe distance as waves ran up the beach at SW 35th Street public access, crashing into the rocks where Joe the Sea Lion stands guard.
A couple enjoying their anniversary — who said they come to Lincoln City every year — were delighted by the high surf and considered it a gift. They took a selfie with the waves crashing behind them.
Two local men stood and watched the breakers, their dog not wanting to have any part of it as he sat 20 feet away from the stairs leading down to the beach. The men commented how Thursday’s surf “wasn’t like last year or even two years ago, when the surf lifted a giant log onto a nearby neighbor’s yard.”
National Weather Service Portland reminds us to please keep off logs and stay off the beach as an increased chance for sneaker waves is present.
