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Oregon State Parks to close Monday, beaches possible

Justin Werner
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Oregon State Parks to close Monday, beaches possible

D River Lincoln City Oregon

The Oregon State Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) issued a news release Sunday, stating they will close state parks “end of day” Monday and will close beaches if social distancing is not followed.

From the release:

At the direction of Governor Kate Brown, and in keeping with the guidance that all Oregonians should stay home and stay healthy, the Oregon State Park system will close at the end of the day Monday, March 23. Day-use areas will be closed starting March 23 at 5 p.m. Campers need to check out no later than 1 p.m.

State Park officials said there were “clear signs that travellers are not following advice to avoid full parks and a statewide park closure is necessary.”

On Saturday, the City of Lincoln City announced plans to close all city parks and trails starting Monday.

Many Lincoln City residents took to social media decrying the large influx of visitors and were demanding action be taken.

This will affect state parks in Lincoln City, including D River Wayside and Roads End where bathrooms and parking areas will be closed.

Beaches can be closed by OPRD at their discretion and will be closed if social distancing practices are not followed.

All travellers are advised  to follow the guidance to stay home and stay healthy, park officials said.

“We would have preferred an orderly shutdown of the system and to remain open for daytime visits, but our concern for the effects on rural health care systems requires us to move up and expand our plans,” says Lisa Sumption, director of the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department. “We know this will cause a disruption, since we’re suspending service to everyone, even people who live near a park. Reducing contact between people is more important than recreation at the moment.”

 

Lincoln County Commissioner Jacobson gives COVID-19 update

News Release
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Lincoln County Commissioner Jacobson gives COVID-19 update

Lincoln County Commissioner Kaety Jacobson spoke to the public Sunday on behalf of Lincoln County and her fellow commissioners with a COVID-19 update.

I am Kaety Jacobson, the chair of the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners and am speaking on behalf of the County and my fellow Commissioners.  I am here in the Board of Commissioners’ meeting room which is currently set up as our Joint Information Center, as we coordinate our community response to the COVID 19 pandemic. Lincoln County, the State of Oregon, and the Nation have all enacted Declarations of Emergency. We are in the midst of a crisis unprecedented in our living generations.  Actions that we take now will have consequences for months and years to come.  We understand from our local, state and national public health officials, that the trajectory of this virus can only be limited, and the curve flattened, if we act collectively and decisively.

Many of our businesses have already sacrificed greatly to help flatten the curve of the spread of the disease to keep Oregonians safe. Our local community has also, to a large degree, acted upon Governor Brown’s Stay Home to Stay Healthy directive. Unfortunately, we have had many visitors show up on the Oregon Coast and in Lincoln County contrary to this directive and to the advice from public health authorities. This puts our communities, our citizens, and our limited resources at great risk. We are asking those who have plans to visit the coast, to please postpone those plans until after this crisis is over, we will welcome your business then. To those visitors that are already here, please return home!

Towards that end, many coastal communities and counties have already begun taking action to limit or close tourism services at this time. Lincoln County is convening a joint meeting scheduled tomorrow with Lincoln County and its Cities to discuss and take coordinated action across Lincoln county to address this risk.

This is an extremely difficult time that has forced all of us to make changes in our way of life and to sacrifice greatly to reduce the spread of this virus. As Commissioner Hunt said in our last Board of Commissioners meeting, “there are no good choices, only good decisions.”

Please know that the county continues to work hard to address the needs of our citizens during these challenging times. Please stay safe. 

Information – COVID – Lincoln County
https://www.co.lincoln.or.us/hhs/page/2019-novel-coronavirus

Oregon reports 24 new COVID-19 cases; announces funding for Local Public Health and Tribes

News Release
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Oregon reports 24 new COVID-19 cases; announces funding for Local Public Health and Tribes

COVID-19

Oregon Health Authority (OHA) announced COVID-19 has claimed another life in Oregon, raising the state’s death toll from four to five. OHA reported 24 new cases Sunday, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 161.

The COVID-19 cases reported today are in the following counties: Benton (2), Clackamas (1), Deschutes (1), Lane (1), Marion (3), Multnomah (1), Washington (13) and Yamhill (2). Oregon Health Authority reports new cases once a day on its website: www.healthoregon.org/coronavirus.

Oregon’s one COVID-19 death in Linn County is a veteran in his 90’s, who tested positive on March 11, and died this morning at the Oregon Veterans Home. He had underlying medical conditions.

“Our hearts are heavy,” said ODVA Director Kelly Fitzpatrick. “This resident was a veteran who served our nation with honor and dignity in its hour of need. He was also a beloved member of our Lebanon community, and he will be deeply and truly missed. On behalf of everyone at the Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs and the Oregon Veterans’ Home, we offer our sincere condolences to his family and loved ones. We grieve with them.”

OHA Announces Local Public Health and Tribal Funding for COVID-19 Response

OHA and other officials also announced details about $4 million in state funding that is going out to Local Public Health Authorities (LPHA), Tribes and Native American Rehabilitation Association (NARA – the Urban Indian Health Program in Oregon) to support their COVID-19 response. See this table for the allocation amounts per LPHA, Tribe and NARA, which combined total $4 million.

Basic facts about the funding:

  • All LPHAs, the nine-federally recognized Tribes in Oregon, and NARA receiving the funds.
  • Total amount to these recipients is $4 million, representing a substantial portion of the funds approved by the Oregon Legislature’s Emergency Board on March 9.
  • Funding amounts are based on a funding formula as well as COVID-19 cases and investigative work as of March 10, 2020.
  • Funds can be used to support local and tribal COVID-19 response, including:
    • Reporting, monitoring and controlling of COVID-19 in communities
    • Identification and screening of contacts of COVID-19 positive individuals
    • Education, prevention and related communications activities to share information with the public and community partners

“We believe that those funds will have a significant positive impact on our state’s capacity to perform COVID-19 response functions at the local level,” OHA Director Patrick Allen said. “Their staff are truly on the front lines of the essential epidemiological work that can help slow the spread of COVID-19 and other communicable diseases in communities. But we know that more resources will be needed across all aspects of the response.”

“Honoring our government to government relationship is important in our coordinated response to COVID-19,” said Julie Johnson, OHA Director of Tribal Affairs. “We are appreciative of this funding to provide support at the local level. We know everyone is working extremely hard to protect all of our communities across the state.”

“Local health authorities are on the frontlines of this epidemic and leading the response,” said Jocelyn Warren, PhD, MPH, Public Health Division Manager Lane County and current Conference of Local Health Officials chair. This vitally important funding will ensure that their ability to respond increases in line with the severity of the crisis.”

Stay informed about COVID-19:

Oregon response: The Oregon Health Authority and Oregon Office of Emergency Management lead the state response.

United States response: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention leads the U.S. response.

Global response: The World Health Organization guides the global response.

Rep. Gomberg responds to questions concerning hospitality industry

Justin Werner
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Rep. Gomberg responds to questions concerning hospitality industry

Publisher’s note: Due to a high-volume of emails received, multiple stories and investigations underway and minimal staff, we missed this email from a member of the Oregon House of Representatives. Sorry about that David Gomberg.

Lincoln City Homepage sent an email to Oregon Rep. David Gomberg Friday asking what could be done about hotels and vacation rentals remaining open in Lincoln City.

The email was sent Friday at 6:13 p.m.

David,
I have received so many emails concerning Lincoln City’s hotels and VRDs remaining open in contradiction to social distancing.

Where do you stand on this issue? Can you do anything about it?

Lincoln City hospitality industry remains open amid wave of closures

Gomberg responded an hour later with the following:

Thanks for your note, Justin. 

We are facing a serious situation and the state is taking serious steps to address it. Closing schools, closing restaurants and bars, prohibiting gatherings over 25 people are all measures that will affect our local economy and the people who live and work here. We have gone from zero to 20% unemployment overnight.

Fortunately, we have no confirmed positive cases here in Lincoln County. Yet. I believe we will. And when we do, our medical facilities and staff will be sorely strained.

There is no vaccination and no cure. We can only try to manage the problem and help people with the most serious infections if we slow the spread of this virus. That’s why “social distancing”, hand washing, and other precautions are so important.

I know businesses are hurting. I know people are hurting and worried about paying bills. But having more people here only increases the potential for even more harm very soon. I just don’t understand during this evolving crisis, why anyone would encourage and advertise for more visitors.

I am grateful to those who are taking constructive steps to protect their families, neighbors, or employers at significant personal cost. I will do all I can to help them recover through policies and payments. We will get through this. But we do so by helping each other.

Phone your neighbors who may need help getting groceries. Give blood. Buy a gift card to celebrate with later. Purchase only what you need. Because the next person in line needs toilet paper too!

I’ve spoken with the Governor’s office. All coastal representatives have. I believe that if people do not behave responsibly, that the State may be forced to take broad action. That could be worse for us here at the Coast.

Tom McCall once famously said, “Please visit Oregon but for heaven’s sake please don’t move here”. I’m saying, please visit Oregon but for heaven’s sake not right now. Stay home. Stay safe. Come and see us when this is over and we can celebrate together!

Park and slide

Ross Smith II
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Park and slide

Oregon State Police patrol carTrue Stories of the Oregon State Police!

On March 21 at approximately 9:37 a.m., the Oregon State Police received a report of a white Jeep partially submerged in the Siletz River near milepost 6 on SR 229. The vehicle was reported by passersby and it was unknown if the vehicle was occupied. OSP responded along with North Lincoln Fire and Rescue’s water rescue team. The vehicle was resting on its driver side along the eastern riverbank and initial searches appeared that the vehicle was unoccupied. Tracks at the scene indicated at least one person had climbed up the riverbank near the vehicle. Members of North Lincoln Fire and the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office Marine Deputies assisted with a search of the river but no one was found. The vehicle was towed from the river by Car Care Tow Pro of Lincoln City and was confirmed to be unoccupied. The two occupants of the vehicle were later located and were safe. Investigation showed that the vehicle had parked along the western shoulder of SR229 around 11 p.m. on March 20. The operator parked on the earthen shoulder too close to the edge of the embankment. The front passenger side tire area began to give way a short time after parking and when the operator attempted to pull out, the passenger side of the vehicle slid down the embankment and the vehicle rolled approximately 60 feet down the embankment into the water.

City Hall, parks and open spaces closing to the public Monday

Justin Werner
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City Hall, parks and open spaces closing to the public Monday

Lincoln City City Hall Shut Down

Lincoln City City Hall will not be open to the public Monday, March 23 and neither will city parks, open spaces or bathrooms.

In a news release issued Saturday:

“The City of Lincoln City is taking steps in its continuing effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and to provide relief to individuals and families affected by the closures of businesses.”

Driftwood Public Library and the Lincoln City Community Center were closed last week and will remain closed. The City will be open for business remotely, where employees will answer phones and email.

All city parks and open spaces, including bathrooms, will be closed to the public starting Monday. According to a city councilor, open spaces are parks and trails, not playgrounds or other amenities.

Utility bills can be paid online but the City has suspended billing shut-offs until further notice. This includes bills in arrears and no late fees will be charged.

The glass float Finders Keepers program is suspended until further notice.

The City urges households and businesses to follow good hygiene practices, social distancing and other directives issued by the State of Oregon and medical professionals.

Gov. Brown orders Oregonians to ‘stay home, stay healthy’

Justin Werner
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Gov. Brown orders Oregonians to ‘stay home, stay healthy’

Oregon stay home

In a live stream video Friday night, Governor Kate Brown ordered all Oregonians to remain at home with a new slogan: “stay home, stay healthy.”

“I am directing Oregonians tonight to stay home to stay healthy,” Brown said. “Social distancing, done well, and done early can save lives.”

Calling the move an “order” and a “public-awareness campaign,” Brown said she knew it was hard for people to abide by recent government orders such as the ban on gatherings of 25 people or more, the closing of schools and closures of restaurants and bars.

Brown said social distancing was the most effective way to flatten the curve and slow the spread of the virus. She also said the measures would not work unless all Oregonians followed them every single day.

“We are truly all in this together,” she said. “Your actions right now mean the difference between life and death for yourself and others.”

Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler said Oregon’s grocery stores, pharmacies, gas stations and other “essential” businesses would remain open. Oregonians will be free to walk their dogs, take care of an aging parent or take a hike, he said.

“This is not a lockdown,” Wheeler said. “This will be a stay at home unless it’s absolutely necessary order.”

Wheeler said there would be “much more to share on Monday,” and said he and the Governor would be working on the specific details over the weekend.

“The sooner we act and the more aggressively we act, the sooner we will be on the road to recovery,” he said.

 

Lincoln City urges citizens to flush toilet paper only

Justin Werner
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Lincoln City urges citizens to flush toilet paper only
Toilet Paper Lincoln City
Don’t use paper towels, even if you cut them down to smaller size

The City of Lincoln City has issued guidance for those sheltering in place due to coronavirus concerns: “Do not flush anything but toilet paper down your toilet.”

In a news release issued Friday, the City said workers are seeing large amounts of “non-toilet paper products” and it’s causing problems.

This situation is not unique to Lincoln City as many cities across the United States are also warning their populations of the dangers of using alternatives to toilet paper.

Plumbers we spoke with said paper towels are not a safe option as they are not meant to be flushed and do not break down the same way toilet paper does.

“In city sewer lines paper towels get caught up on imperfections in the piping — and the wipes are the worst — they should not be flushed at all because the system can’t handle it,” George Morlan Plumbing’s Jared McDougal said. “Also, with all the low-flow toilets in town there’s not enough water to move things along. With standard toilet paper there’s no issue, but when you start throwing paper towels and wipes into the mix you start getting problems.”

Membrane air rack at Lincoln City’s main treatment tank. It delivers oxygen into the tank. Pictured is the air rack covered with wipes hindering it from functioning properly

The City said sewer systems are not designed to accept wipes, paper towels or other substitutes as they are not biodegradable and can clog pipes.

From the City of Lincoln City release:

We ask you to only flush toilet paper and if you must use something besides toilet paper, dispose of it in the trash. We appreciate your cooperation and understanding as we all work through this together.

From the quarterly newsletter sent out by the City:

These wipes; baby wipes, disinfectant wipes, makeup wipes, mop refills and many more clog the pipes that extend between your home and the sewer in the street, which can lead to expensive homeowner repairs.

Some Lincoln City residents have resorted to using paper towels and insist that cutting them into thirds is a viable option. This advice seems contradictory to what the City and plumbing professionals are saying.

A bit of good news, the City of Lincoln City says there have been no service disruptions due to the flushing of improper items since the coronavirus containment effort began.

If you find yourself in a toilet-paperless-emergency you could try this method of cleaning up after number two:

 

Oregon reports 26 new COVID-19 cases

News Release
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Oregon reports 26 new COVID-19 cases

COVID-19

Oregon Health Authority reported 26 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the state total to 114, as of 8:30 a.m. March 20.

COVID-19 cases reported today are in the following counties: Clackamas (4), Deschutes (2), Grant (1), Linn (1), Marion (4), Multnomah (5), Union (1), Washington (6) and Yamhill (2).

Oregon Health Authority reports new cases once a day on its website: www.healthoregon.org/coronavirus.

Publisher’s note: Lincoln County still has no confirmed cases of Covid-19 but people who are sick are being tested for the disease. 

Stay informed about COVID-19:

Oregon response: The Oregon Health Authority and Oregon Office of Emergency Management lead the state response.

United States response: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention leads the U.S. response.

Global response: The World Health Organization guides the global response.

Lincoln City hospitality industry remains open amid wave of closures

Justin Werner
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Lincoln City hospitality industry remains open amid wave of closures
Hospitality
The Coho Oceanfront Lodge in Lincoln City

Lincoln City citizens have isolated themselves at home, schools are closed and local restaurants have closed or converted operations to comply with government orders designed to slow the spread of COVID-19, yet the hospitality industry remains open for business.

Hotels, motels and vacation rentals are in full operation and visitors are free to book a room or rent a house and travel to Lincoln City. Housekeepers and staff are still doing their jobs attending to out-of-town guests.

Captain Cook Inn

According to some hotels, cancellations have been pouring in and refunds are being issued. Some non-refundable bookings made on deal sites like Booking.com are being moved to later dates in an effort to bridge the gap and satisfy the customer.

In a letter sent to Homepage, a concerned housekeeper had this to say:

“We are putting our lives at risk because the hospitality industry is still open. I have kids home from school and a husband that is home from work and yet I am required to go to work and clean after people who would rather travel instead of staying home. I feel the only way to insure the virus does not keep traveling is to also close down the hospitality industry.”

The housekeeper said she was contacting state representatives in the hopes Governor Kate Brown will notice and “shut it all down.”

Lincoln City City Manager Ron Chandler had a response:

“The Governor issued new directives further limiting gatherings. Specifically, all gatherings of 25 or more are prohibited, all restaurants will be closed and restricted to serving take out and urged Oregonians to avoid gatherings of 10 or more. Many business are closing or reducing their hours. When making travel plans, please review the directives and information given by the Governor, the Oregon Health Authority, Lincoln County Health & Human Services and the Centers for Disease Control. In addition, please consider the businesses that have closed when making travel plans.”

As a tourist town, Lincoln City relies heavily on revenue from the transient room tax generated from hotels, motels and vacation rentals. Lincoln City has a large amount of lodging compared to other coastal towns making it the major industry for the city. A shut down of the hospitality industry could severely impact Lincoln City’s economy.

Chinook Winds Casino, one of the biggest resort hotels in Lincoln City, closed down its resort and casino operations March 17 as a result of COVID-19.

Hotel managers say they are taking extra precautions, such as wiping down counters and doorknobs and maintaining social distancing during check-in and check-out. They said housekeepers have been directed to wear gloves and use bleach solution everywhere possible.

Oregon Health & Sciences University leaders have asked the public to avoid spring break travel in Oregon and beyond. 

Time will tell whether or not government steps in and forces the hospitality industry to close and local government is likely to follow direction from the state and federal level.

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