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Then there were six: city council to choose new park name

Justin Werner
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Then there were six: city council to choose new park name

New park in Lincoln City

Lincoln City City Councilors will decide what to name a newly created park located at SE 3rd and Keel during Monday night’s regular city council meeting.

Parks and Recreation Ambassador LoRee LaFon organized the “Name Our New Park” contest and 83 entries were received and narrowed down to six names by City Manager Ron Chandler and Parks and Recreation Director Jeanne Sprague. The winner of the contest will receive a year-long pass to the Lincoln City Community Center.

Councilors will take the following principles into account while choosing a name:

Does the name engender a strong positive image?

Is the name appropriate with regard to the park’s location and history?

Does the name have historical, cultural or social significance for future generations?

Does the name commemorate places, people or events of continued importance?

Does the name have symbolic value?

Does the name have broad public support?

The park name finalists are:

Birdsong Canyon Park

This name would bring awareness to the number of bird species we have in Lincoln City and could encourage park visitors to learn about the birds they might hear or see while visiting the park.

LakeWood Park

LakeWood Park gives nod to the heritage of area. Adventure your own imagination in story and exercise your soul in Nature within the Parks beautiful wilderness.

Moss Ridge Park

Along the SE corner of this area there is a beautiful area of mossy hillside. Due to the wetlands to the south, there is a break in the canopy that allows the sun through to the forest floor. On summer days and (the rare) clear winter mornings, this offers a sunny, protected, and welcoming area for walking and mushroom foraging.

Nesika Park

This is from the Chinook language meaning “Our Place” I think it is a PERFECT name for our new community park, celebrating the past and future.

Osprey Park

Lincoln City hosts at least 3 nesting pairs of Osprey who return each year to rear their young. In the spring of 2019, the pair that has nested at the mall every year returned to find new light fixtures that would not hold their annual nest. After scouting the neighborhood, they built a new nest directly adjacent to the new park, across SE 3rd in the wetland on top of a tall tree. This pair, that mates for life, is now part of the park’s neighborhood, and the young are heard calling for their food for many blocks around as the parent’s fish from the lake. I would like to suggest naming the new park in honor of the natural setting and its other inhabitants who call this neighborhood “home.”

Raptors’ Roost Nature Park

I believe there are several birds of prey that nest in that area: osprey, hawks, owls, etc. Hopefully the park will be built in a manner that protects their homes.

The naming of the park will bring an end to a six-month-long process but the city council does have the option to reject all the names, however, this scenario is unlikely.

Lincoln City was the first city in Oregon to be funded for this park project via a grant from the National Recreation and Parks Association and the Disney Corporation.

Baldwin to run for Lincoln County Judge

Justin Werner
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Baldwin to run for Lincoln County Judge
Russ Baldwin
Russ Baldwin

Lincoln City lawyer Russ Baldwin filed to run for Lincoln County Circuit Court judge Wednesday, opposing the incumbent, Sheryl Bachart.

Baldwin said he is running to bring more justice to Lincoln County’s citizens and brings 30 years of court experience as a civil litigation attorney, both at trial and on appeal.

“It is rare that voters get the opportunity to vote for their local judge, as they are typically appointed by the governor and usually no one challenges the incumbent,” Baldwin said.

Baldwin ran against longtime Circuit Court Judge Thomas Branford in the 2018 primary election, garnering 4661 votes to Branford’s 8206.

“Judges seldom explain their decisions or rulings to litigants in most cases,” Baldwin said. “As judge, I would listen carefully to the concerns of both parties, and give findings of facts and conclusions of law so that all parties are fully informed as to the ruling by the court. Being transparent is one of the ways to increase trust in the judiciary. Currently, this is not typically done in Lincoln County.”

Baldwin’s campaign will focus on clearing the civil docket and providing timely hearings and decisions.

The District 17, Position 1 seat will be on the ballot in May.

Join the Force at ‘Story Time at the Museum’

Homepage Staff
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Join the Force at ‘Story Time at the Museum’
Doug Force telling stories at a previous Story Time at the Museum
Doug Force telling stories at a previous Story Time at the Museum

Kids of all ages are invited to “Story Time at the Museum” with storyteller Doug Force from 2-3 p.m. Saturday, March 14, at the North Lincoln County Historical Museum.

This month’s Story Time at the Museum’s theme will be “Spring.” Join Force on a journey through spring with special stories related to the season.

Force, who has decades of teaching, educational and storytelling experience, will share his tales in the Mildred and Marie Children’s Room of the museum at 4907 SW Highway 101 in Lincoln City.

Call 541-996-6614 for further information.

Don’t Let Coronavirus Infect Your Investment Strategy

Wendy Wilson
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Don’t Let Coronavirus Infect Your Investment Strategy

coronavirus investment

As you know, the coronavirus has become a major health concern, not just in China, but in other parts of the world, too – and it’s also shaken up the financial markets. As an individual investor, how concerned should you be?

The impact of the coronavirus on the markets isn’t surprising. China is the world’s second-largest economy, and when it experiences factory closures, supply chain disruptions and city lockdowns, the ripple effect on the world’s other economies is considerable. Plus, the financial markets simply don’t like uncertainty – and there’s a lot of that associated with this outbreak and the efforts to contain it.

Nonetheless, instead of worrying over events you can’t control, try to focus on what you can do in this investment climate. Here are a few suggestions:

  • Don’t panic. The coronavirus may well cause continued market volatility over the next several weeks, or even months. But it’s important for investors to take a long-term view. Market corrections – typically defined as a drop in investment prices of 10% or more – are a fairly common occurrence, and we may have been overdue for one even before the coronavirus scare. In any case, it’s generally a good idea not to radically revamp your investment strategy unless you experience a major change in your personal life – a significant career move, medical condition, change in family situation, etc.
  • Be aware of history. The coronavirus is certainly serious, but it’s not the only viral outbreak we’ve seen in recent decades. During these earlier pandemics, the financial markets also took a hit, but they bounced back. For example, from late April 2003, in the midst of SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) until late April 2004, the S&P 500 rose about 21 percent.* And other large gains were recorded following the outbreak and decline of the Ebola and Zika viruses. Of course, the past performance of the markets in pandemic situations can’t necessarily predict future market developments; every situation is different, and over the next year, returns might be modest, as prices have already soared in the 11 years since they bottomed out during the financial crisis of 2008-09.
  • Don’t try to time the market. We may well see coronavirus-based volatility in the near future – but volatility implies “ups” as well as “downs.” If you try to time the market by guessing at highs and lows, and then “buying high and selling low,” you might get lucky once in a while, but you could just as easily miss the mark.
  • Keep a diversified portfolio. In addition to avoiding efforts to time the market, you should also stay away from trying to pick “winners” and “losers” among individual investments in the marketplace of viruses. Instead, try to build and maintain a diversified portfolio, consisting of an array of different asset classes, with the allocation of these assets based on your risk tolerance and time horizon. Diversification doesn’t prevent losses or guarantee profits in a declining market, but it may help reduce the impact of volatility on your portfolio.

You may not be able to totally quarantine your portfolio from this serious virus in the short term, but by following a consistent, long-term investment strategy that’s appropriate for your individual needs, you’ll be doing what you can to help yourself move toward your financial goals.

*The S&P 500 is unmanaged, not available for direct investment and is not meant to depict an actual investment.

This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor Wendy Wilson.

Edward Jones, Member SIPC

Oregon identifies third presumptive positive case of COVID-19

News Release
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Oregon identifies third presumptive positive case of COVID-19

COVID-19

PORTLAND, Ore.— Oregon health officials have identified a third presumptive positive case of COVID-19 among state residents. The third case is an adult Oregon resident from Umatilla County who is hospitalized in Walla Walla, Wash.

State and local health officials are moving quickly to contact people who may have been in close contact with the individual who tested as a presumptive positive case. The third case is not linked to travel to a part of the world with known cases of COVID-19. It is considered a case of community transmission.

Preliminary reports indicate the Oregon resident attended a youth basketball game at a gymnasium at Weston Middle School, 205 E. Wallace St. in Weston, Ore., on Saturday, Feb. 29.

Under federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Prevention (CDC) guidelines, other spectators who may have been in a closed environment with the individual would be considered “low-risk” exposures.

Athena-Weston School District officials have closed the gym and will conduct a deep cleaning out of an abundance of caution. The gym is physically detached from the rest of the school. Health officials do not consider the separate school building to pose any risk of exposure.

The test on the sample was performed by Washington’s public health laboratory. The case was one of Oregon’s pending cases. Oregon health officials have updated their case and testing reports on OHA’s COVID-19 web page.

Oregon and Washington health experts are working together to determine if there are other locations where the individual may have interacted with other people in recent days, after symptoms of COVID-19 first appeared.

Health officials will announce if there are any additional locations where people may been exposed, if they are determined.

People who may have attended Saturday’s basketball game can call the following numbers if they have questions.

  • Oregon residents can call 211.
  • Washington residents:

OHA continues to recommend all people in Oregon take everyday precautions to prevent the spread of many respiratory illnesses, including COVID-19 and influenza:

  • Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue and then throw the tissue in the trash.
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds. If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
  • Clean and disinfect surfaces that are often touched.
  • Take care of your health overall. Staying current on your vaccinations, including flu vaccine, eating well and exercising all help your body stay resilient.
  • Consult CDC’s travel website for any travel advisories and steps to protect yourself if you plan to travel outside of the US.

Most people with COVID-19 have mild symptoms. If you are feeling sick with mild symptoms and do not need to see medical care, stay home while you recover. If you are sick and plan to seek care, please call before going in for care so arrangements can be made to prevent exposing others. For urgent medical needs, call 911.

For more information:

Retired Kusz enters next chapter

Justin Werner
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Retired Kusz enters next chapter

Longtime North Lincoln Fire & Rescue District Captain, safety expert and video producer Jim Kusz retired from fire service Friday, and took the time to give an exclusive interview about tsunamis, the Covid-19 coronavirus, his four-decade-spanning safety career and working with Chicago Bears Coach Mike Ditka.

His future plans include travelling with his wife of 20+ years, Diane, and going back to his roots producing commercials and other media while still finding time to keep citizens prepared for disaster.

Jim and Diane Kusz
Jim and Diane Kusz

Kusz, pronounced koosh, is the 71,886th most common surname in the world. “It’s Polish,” says Kusz. “People have been pronouncing it “Coos” forever — so we kinda go by that.” People from the West Coast all the way to Chicago know the name and know it to stand for “someone who knows what the hell they’re talking about.”

Kusz is an authority on safety preparedness, having pioneered many safety training videos and programs over his 40-year career.

The 26-year Lincoln City resident teaches an award-winning class at Oregon Coast Community College that deals with preparing for natural disasters, such as zombie outbreaks, asteroid impacts and tsunamis. It’s the most attended class at Oregon Coast Community College. Kusz said he will continue teaching the class and plans to offer more of them with an expanded curriculum.

Kusz is well respected throughout fire service and disaster preparedness circles and his work has permeated into other non-emergency professions such as the Department of Human Services. Those this reporter spoke with said Kusz is a “straight-shooter” and “really knows his stuff.”

A brief history of Jim Kusz

After receiving a degree in communications from Northeastern Illinois University in 1980, Kusz went to work at WTTW-TV where he worked on Soundstage and Sneak Previews with Siskel and Ebert.

In the mid-80s he moved to Costa Mesa, Calif., and worked for the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) where he wrote safety curriculum and produced videos for the MSF, Specialty Vehicle Institute of America and the ATV Safety Institute.

Kusz headed back to Chicago a short time later to work with the Hayes Group, LTD., producing award-winning training films and motivational series including the highly-successful Coach Talk and Ditka on Motivation.

jim kusz coach talk

Kusz moved to Oregon in 1989 and went on a producing rampage, pumping out dozens of safety training videos while working for Safety Training Systems in Portland. He won three Telly Awards for his work.

In 1993, Kusz started his own production company producing for Landmark Ford and Oregon Coast Bank. That same year, he became a volunteer firefighter for West Linn after seeing a poster that piqued his curiosity. Kusz went on to make an 18-episode travel program named Explore Northwest and later named Oregon Coast Explorer.

After the 9/11 attacks Kusz went to New York with a group of Lincoln County residents. He stayed at sister fire station FDNY Engine Co. 55 where he recorded and sent video updates of the group’s outreach from Rockefeller Center to NBC affiliate KGW-TV in Portland. Upon returning to Oregon, Kusz made the documentary 9/11-A Coast to Coast Story.

Kusz began working for North Lincoln Fire & Rescue (NLFR) in 2003 and produced the first Severe Event Training workbook and programs in cooperation with the American Red Cross, TVF&R and NLFR. Kusz is also responsible for the J.A.W.S. (Just Add Water Safety) brochure that can be found all over Lincoln City.

Jim’s production company, Rescue 8 Productions, produces and shoots documentaries, training DVDs and commercials. In 2009, Rescue 8 Productions, Oregon State Parks, and KATU-TV produced Washed Away, a film about beach and water safety that aired on the Portland ABC affiliate and later was made available on DVD and used for free in classrooms throughout Lincoln County with a grant from State Farm Insurance.

Kusz was selected as Tsunami Outreach Organizer in 2010 and worked with Seal Rock, Yachats and Waldport communities, creating programs and establishing a culture of awareness for earthquake and tsunami risks with funding from the Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries.

In 2015, Kusz was awarded the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s “Golden Sparky” award for his efforts in fire prevention and life safety.

He received the 2018 Oregon Association of Community and Continuing Education Community Educator of the Year award for his course, “Disaster Preparedness in the Pacific Northwest.”

Oregon announces first, presumptive case of Covid-19

News Release
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1
Oregon announces first, presumptive case of Covid-19

PORTLAND, Ore.—Oregon Health Authority has confirmed Oregon’s first, presumptive case of novel coronavirus, COVID-19, public health officials announced today.

The case, an adult resident of Washington County, experienced symptoms of COVID-19 beginning Feb. 19, and a sample was collected from the individual today. The sample was sent to the Oregon State Public Health Laboratory in Hillsboro, which used the new COVID-19 test kit it received Wednesday from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The lab tested the sample today—only hours after it validated the new CDC test kit.

“Our first concern is for this individual, to make sure they’re being cared for and is able to recover,” said OHA Director Patrick Allen. “Our next priority is finding out who this individual had contact with and make sure they know about their risks, and to let them know how they can get care if they need it. We said this was a fast-moving situation, and that has proved to be true.”

The case was not a person under monitoring or a person under investigation. The individual had neither a history of travel to a country where the virus was circulating, nor is believed to have had a close contact with another confirmed case—the two most common sources of exposure. As such, public health officials are considering it a likely community-transmitted case, meaning that the origin of the infection is unknown.

“We are awaiting confirmation of the test results from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, but at this time we are considering this a presumptive case,” said Dean Sidelinger, MD, MSed. “The person in now appropriate isolation and appropriate care.”

The individual spent time in a school in the Lake Oswego school district and may have exposed students and staff there. Public health officials will investigate potential exposures there and contact employees and families of children to let them know next steps.

The individual has been isolated and is being cared for at Kaiser Permanente Westside Medical Center in Hillsboro.

OHA epidemiologists are working closely with public health investigators at Washington County Department of Health and Human Services to identify close contacts of the case.

OHA officials continue to recommend people in Oregon take everyday precautions to prevent the spread of many respiratory illnesses, including COVID-19 and influenza:

  • Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue and then throw the tissue in the trash.
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds. If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
  • Clean and disinfect surfaces that are often touched.
  • Take care of your health overall. Staying current on your vaccinations, including flu vaccine, eating well and exercising all help your body stay resilient.
  • Consult CDC’s travel website for any travel advisories and steps to protect yourself if you plan to travel outside of the US.

For more information:

Special Olympics fundraiser basketball game nets over $4,000

Justin Werner
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Special Olympics fundraiser basketball game nets over $4,000
Lincoln County Special Olympics
Two teams, the Cubs and Tiger Cubs, pose for a photograph at Taft 7-12’s main gym in Lincoln City Thursday

Two teams comprised of Newport and Taft 7-12 players blazed up and down the hardwood Thursday night in Lincoln City to raise money for Special Olympics Oregon Lincoln County, with all athletes scoring at least once.

Hailed as a “great game,” every player on the floor scored at least one basket in the Tigers home gym.

The Special Olympics athletes recently played Saturday, Feb. 22 at Oregon State University in a tournament where both teams earned silver medals.

With the Unified Basketball season coming to a close, the Traditional season begins and both teams will combine to form one Youth Traditional team.

Completely staffed by volunteers, Special Olympics never makes athletes pay and depends on donations to fund training venues, uniforms, equipment, food, lodging and transportation costs.

Knights of Columbus’ attended the fundraiser game and presented a check to Special Olympics for $3,650. The money was raised from a candy sale held on Special Olympics behalf.

Donations received at the door totalled $480.

Special Olympics officials want to thank the sponsors and the community for coming out and cheering on the athletes.

The mission of Special Olympics is to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.

Joint venture with warming shelter goes awry

Justin Werner
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Joint venture with warming shelter goes awry

A rift between nonprofits tasked with helping Lincoln City’s homeless population has led to the firing of recently merged staff and the termination of an agreement with a church for a warming shelter.

Communities Helping Addicts Negotiate Change Effectively (CHANCE) and the Lincoln City Resource Center & Warming Shelter (LCWS) entered into an agreement Sept. 1, 2019, to merge with the purpose of helping the homeless more effectively. The resource center and warming shelter were relocated from Taft to 4488 NE Devils Lake Blvd. in northern Lincoln City.

LCWS Program Director Amanda Cherryholmes said she was fired by CHANCE Director Jeff Blackford Wednesday and threatened with criminal action if she tried to use the LCWS logo or name in any future endeavours. She said she was also threatened with theft charges if she did not return cots, blankets, clothes and other supplies for the homeless back to CHANCE.

Cherryholmes said Blackford said she was “not a good manager” and told her she refused to follow CHANCE protocol. Cherryholmes said she was never properly trained in CHANCE protocol and believes the firing was going to happen no matter what she did.

According to the agreement, CHANCE will:

“I was following the agreement,” Cherryholmes said. “This was supposed to be a merger, not a takeover.”

SEE THE AGREEMENT

Also fired by CHANCE on Feb. 8 was longtime LCWS volunteer-coordinator Sharon Padilla. Details surrounding her firing appear medically related.

First Baptist Church recently stepped up and filled the gap of providing space for a homeless warming shelter after draconian restrictions enforced by the City of Lincoln City made it “impossible” for CHANCE to operate a warming shelter. Pastor John Kendall said he terminated a memorandum of understanding with CHANCE when he learned of Cherryholmes firing.

“We’re not interested in politics,” Kendall said. “We just want to make sure the homeless are taken care of.”

“We’re trying to keep our homeless from freezing in the street,” Cherryholmes said. “We’ll do whatever it takes.”

With temperatures predicted to drop into the 40s this week in Lincoln City, First Baptist will be open as a church with volunteers ready to assist homeless in need of a warm place to stay. First Baptist Church is located at 1333 NW 17th Street.

CHANCE’S Director could not be reached for comment.


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Newly created Lincoln County Medical Reserve Corps Team recruiting

Justin Werner
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Newly created Lincoln County Medical Reserve Corps Team recruiting

Lincoln County Medical Reserve Corps Team

A newly created group by the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office and Lincoln County Public Health Department is looking for volunteers with medical experience to better prepare communities in times of natural disaster.

The Lincoln County Medical Reserve Corps Team (MRC) joins a national network of volunteers, organized locally to improve the health and safety of their communities.

Interested volunteers can learn more by attending one of the following planned informational sessions:

  • 6-7 p.m. Tuesday, March 10 at Waldport Community Center, 265 NW Hemlock, Waldport.
  • 6-7 p.m. Wednesday, March 11 at Lincoln County Courthouse, BOC Room, 225 W. Olive Street, Newport.
  • 6-7 p.m. Thursday, March 12 at St. Claire Fire Station, 4520 SW Highway 101, Lincoln City.

From the Medical Reserve Corps website:

MRC volunteers include medical and public health professionals, as well as other community members without healthcare backgrounds. MRC units engage these volunteers as well as local and state-level partners to strengthen public health, improve emergency response capabilities, and build community resiliency. We prepare for and respond to natural disasters, such as wildfires, hurricanes, tornados, blizzards, and floods, as well as other emergencies affecting public health, such as disease outbreaks.

Check out these stories of the MRC in action:

To learn more about the MRC and the ways that it supports community resilience and public health, visit the Medical Reserve Corps website.

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