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Wednesday, April 2, 2025
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VIDEO: Pacific Ocean shows why it’s ‘King’

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The Pacific Ocean snuck its way from Nelscott Beach onto SW 35th Street Saturday, as a crowd of storm watchers witnessed concrete benches and logs displaced by the raw fury of the sea during King Tide.

Joe the Sea Lion seemed unimpressed that his benches were moved or that he was hit in the head by a log. Joe did not appear to be harmed by the incident.

A storm watcher who felt the full force of the Pacific sent us this video:

The power of the ocean was also felt at Lincoln City’s D River Wayside, where wave after wave ran up the “world’s shortest river,” rushing underneath Kyllos Restaurant and making its way under Highway 101.

The Pacific Ocean surging under Highway 101 on the D River

Many turned out to D River State Recreation Area to view high surf from behind yellow tape put up by park officials.

Most heeded the warnings but a few younger people went into the surf behind the Sea Gypsy. The group of five were hit by a big surge, sending some tumbling in the surf. That didn’t deter one of the individuals, who proceeded to do a handstand as another wave washed in.

Logs and debris were scattered all over beaches and access points, including the one caught on this video. It’s a somber reminder of just how fast logs can move and that people have been injured by them in the past.

Some storm watchers commented that it “looks like Christmas” because of all the sea foam, and “Here’s our snow,” could be heard as well.

National Weather Service Portland predicted the large breakers and said beach erosion and damage to buildings was possible. A “high surf warning” remains in effect until 8 p.m. Saturday.

Sadly, it has been reported the Coast Guard is searching for a child swept out to sea near Falcon Cove Saturday.

Stay tuned to National Weather Service for alerts, never turn your back on the ocean and stay safe.

Surf’s up: NWS issues high surf warning, 40 foot breakers

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UPDATE: National Weather Service Portland issued a “coastal flood warning” early Saturday morning calling for major flooding through 4 p.m. Saturday afternoon and increased the expected wave height to 40 feet.

Low-lying areas near bays, sloughs and the lower reaches of coastal rivers could see major flooding up to one foot above ground level during high tides.

Large debris and logs will likely be moved far onshore. Structures near the surf zone will likely be inundated by waves.

Previous coverage:

National Weather Service Portland (NWS) issued a “high surf warning” Friday for central and north Oregon coasts, predicting waves up to 35 feet, from 1 a.m. -4 p.m. Saturday.

Large waves and dangerous surf conditions are expected to hit the coast Saturday, causing higher than normal run-up on beaches and low-lying shoreline.

According to the NWS warning, severe beach erosion may destroy coastal properties and buildings. Homepage reported on the Sea Gypsy and Kyllo’s damage in January, 2018, where six sliding glass doors were destroyed and an evacuation of the first floor was necessary. Adjacent restaurant Kyllo’s had a gas line rupture from the same waves.

NWS said very high tides late Saturday morning to early afternoon will result in even higher wave run-up.

Sneaker waves are expected to accompany the high surf and beachgoers are advised to stay off beaches, rocks, logs and jetties as they can be caught unsuspecting and swept into the frigid ocean.

People should follow all instructions from local authorities, including, police, fire, Coast Guard and department of transportation.

Cold weather is still expected for the beginning of next week.

County grant will support locals seeking contractor licenses

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ccb license

Thanks to a grant from the Economic Development Alliance of Lincoln County and the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners, the Oregon Coast Community College Small Business Development Center will soon be improving its services to Lincoln County residents seeking their CCB licenses.

Many builders, electricians, plumbers and other tradespeople find themselves needing a license from the Oregon Construction Contractors Board. Frequently, these folks have to register for online courses and do weeks of independent study, only to then be forced to drive to a city in the Valley to take the CCB test.

Thanks to an innovative program created by the Clackamas Community College SBDC and delivered via live video to the OCCC SBDC, Coast residents can participate live in a two-day session that includes all the studying and prep, along with the actual testing itself, all collapsed into one two-day period.  The next such class is scheduled for Friday and Saturday, March 5 and 6, at OCCC in Lincoln City.

“It would be great if we could offer this class on different days and at different times,” said SBDC Director Dave Price. “This grant, for more than $6,000, will make it possible for us to create an in-house program using expert presenters and top-notch content, so that the program can be offered more frequently at the North and Central OCCC campus locations. We thank the county commissioners and the EDALC board for this support, and salute them for their support of Lincoln County’s future contractors and builders.

Price said the SBDC plans to record and produce the CCB test this spring or fall. The precise dates will depend not only on the Oregon Coast SBDC’s schedule but also that of its partners at Clackamas Community College.

“We know Lincoln County wants more supports for the trades,” Price said, adding that the improved CCB license program and OCCC’s new welding program are just two pieces of that larger effort, which has been identified as a priority for the College by President Birgitte Ryslinge.

Watch the SBDC’s website, oregoncoastcc.org/sbdc, for more details, and to learn more about the March 2020 CCB license test, which still had space available as of the time of this release. Call 541-994-4166 for additional information.

The Small Business Development Center at OCCC provides no-cost business advising to any business in Lincoln County, as well as to anyone even considering one day launching their own business. The SBDC also offers free and low-cost workshops and classes – find the complete class schedule, along with easy online registration, at oregoncoastcc.org/sbdc.

Tiger colored water at Taft High 7-12

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UPDATE: Water has been restored to normal.

A release from the City of Lincoln City said crews performed maintenance on the high school’s water meter, causing sediment to be stirred up in a bypass line used to divert the water so repairs could be made. The meter has been repaired and water has been routed back to the main line.

According to the City of Lincoln City, the repair did not affect Taft Elementary.

Previous coverage:

Reports on Facebook and tips sent to Homepage Friday concern orange colored water coming out of school faucets at Taft High 7-12 with students being warned not to drink or wash their hands with the water.

A release from the Lincoln County School District (LCSD) posted on Taft’s website mentioned an issue with water pipes.

Students are free to use the restroom as normal and LCSD worked with the City of Lincoln City to rectify the issue.

Hand sanitizer and bottled water were provided to students until the water returned to normal.

NWS issues flood advisory; Sheriff issues tips for storm damage

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National Weather Service Portland issued a “coastal flood advisory” Thursday for the northern and central Oregon coast calling for minor tidal overflow 7 a.m. – 2 p.m. Friday.

Flooding up to one foot above ground level during high tides is expected in low lying areas such as, bays, sloughs and lower reaches of coastal rivers.

Residents in the warned areas should be alert for rising water and take appropriate action to protect life and property.

Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office offers these tips on how to prepare your home to minimize risk of severe weather damage:

1. Remove Dead Wood.  Trimming your trees regularly will help fewer branches fall in heavy wind or other severe weather. For particularly tall trees, experts can do the trimming for you and can also tell you when trees are at risk of being blown over in a storm so they can be removed.

2. Secure Outdoor Items.  Loose items like grills, picnic tables, and lawn furniture should be brought inside to avoid becoming projectiles in storms with high winds. Decorations, even when they are securely attached to the home, could also cause damage or be destroyed in the storm.

3. Deal with Drainage Problems.  Having the gutters cleaned once leaves have fallen should be a given, but there can be other drainage problems around your home, including areas where water can drain onto the foundation and cause damage. Landscaping professionals can help you identify the problems and find solutions so that you don’t have issues when the storms come.

4. Inspect the Roof Periodically.  A brand-new roof should withstand most severe weather, but if your roof is 5-10 years old or older, it should be checked for loose shingles, nails and sheathing. Not only can shingles blow off in a storm, but loose nails and sheathing can cause chunks of roofing to be dislodged or create openings for rain and ice to penetrate.

If an inspection does turn up any possible leaks, getting them fixed right away will protect your home from damage in severe weather. Roofs that are over 15 years old risk sudden deterioration or failure in storm situations even if no problems are apparent.

5. Consider Impact-Rated Windows. You may be able to protect your windows from damage by installing hurricane shutters, or just boarding up the windows if a severe storm is imminent. The fact is, though, that any new windows are likely to be more airtight and impervious to leaks and damage than older windows.  In areas where severe weather is frequent, such as our coastal areas, it’s worth considering windows that are specially made to withstand storm-level air pressure and impact.

For more information and tips, visit www.lincolncountysheriff.net and Facebook.

It’s a group effort: The fight against Human Trafficking

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Human Trafficking Lincoln County

Human trafficking occurs in Lincoln County and it’s not like the movie Taken, where actor Liam Neeson goes on a mission to rescue his daughter from the clutches of Albanian sex-traffickers in France.

According to people who assist with human trafficking cases in Lincoln County, rural areas see parents and guardians exchanging access to their children for money, drugs or rent. Individuals use social media to make contact with juveniles — with runaways being especially at risk of becoming victims.

Oregon Department of Justice and Department of Human Services officials released statistics Thursday for a year-long period between October 2018 and October 2019, identifying 746 victims of human trafficking in Oregon.

human trafficking data

Although Lincoln County is not listed in these statistics, human trafficking does happen here and a Lincoln County task force was created in 2019 to combat the crime of recruiting, harboring, transporting, providing or obtaining a person for a commercial sex act or child pornography.

Through special training and interagency collaboration, human trafficking is being fought by teams of cooperating agencies.

Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) has a detective assigned to the Lincoln County task force who receives specialized training and continuing education for human trafficking.

“It’s a group effort,” LCSO Detective Maleri Cates said. “Every agency we work with is key. No one agency or organization could do this alone.”

Interagency collaboration has been key to identifying victims of human trafficking — some not even aware they were victims — by building trust, opening lines of communication and being aware.

ODOJ and DHS officials will hand out awards Friday, Jan. 10 at the ODOJ office, 100 SW Market Street in Portland, honoring the efforts of those who work to prevent human trafficking, including a team which stopped a trafficking ring in Lane County recently.

“Human trafficking and the exploitation of minors, sadly, affects every corner of Oregon,” Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum said. “The individuals and community members we are honoring on Human Trafficking Awareness Day represent the courage, trust, and strong inter-agency partnerships necessary to help keep our most vulnerable Oregonians, especially children, safe from traffickers.”

“A large portion of human trafficking contact originates on social media,” Cates said. She advises parents and guardians to check their children’s phones for any strange apps and be on the lookout for new jewelry or even a new phone — a prime avenue for an individual seeking to lure a juvenile into a dangerous situation.

If you suspect human trafficking, or are a victim of human trafficking, call the National Human Trafficking Hotline, 1-888-3737-888, or text BEFREE (233733) or contact your local law enforcement agency. Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office maintains a tip line at 541-265-0669.

In 2010, Barack Obama issued a Presidential Proclamation designating January National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention month. Human Trafficking Awareness Day takes place this year Saturday, Jan. 11.

Contact reporter Justin Werner at 541-992-0321 or email staff@lincolncityhomepage.com

Snow possible for coast next week, high surf for weekend

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National Weather Service Portland (NWS) issued a “special weather statement” Wednesday concerning a pair of cold fronts bringing frigid temperatures this weekend through early next week, but confidence is low for snow on the coast.

“Cold air is coming,” NWS Meteorologist Rebecca Muessle said Thursday. “Westerly winds will keep the coast temperatures moderate so we don’t have a lot of confidence for snow in coastal areas. We are expecting snow levels for the coast to be around 1,000 feet.”

Cold fronts will likely bring snow to the Cascades this weekend and snow levels are expected to remain well above the valley floor through Sunday, NWS officials said.

Colder air is expected to arrive early next week, and with it, a chance for snow for most of the Pacific Northwest and southwest Washington. An increasing number of NWS forecast models suggest moisture from the Gulf of Alaska will raise the chance for snow down to the lowest elevations.

Muessle said the pair of cold fronts could cause high surf conditions and NWS is looking into issuing alerts for Friday and Saturday for the coast.

“Right now it looks like 20-25 foot waves are possible,” she said. “Stay tuned to National Weather Service for alerts.”

City seeks public input for Villages at Cascade Head property

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Villages at cascade head
Proposed Urban Renewal boundary

The City of Lincoln City is holding two public forums to discuss the proposed urban renewal boundary and a list of potential capital projects to be completed at the Villages at Cascade Head, a 360+ acre parcel of land in north Lincoln City purchased by the City in 2013.

The first of two public forums is set for 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 7, at Ace’s Bar and Grill, 3309 NE Clubhouse Dr. The second will be held 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 18, at the Lincoln City Cultural Center, 540 NE Highway 101.

“The upcoming public forum is one step in creating the draft plan which we hope will be ready for Council consideration in July or August this year,” Urban Renewal Economic Development Coordinator Jodi Mescher said. “If City Council votes to adopt the Urban Renewal Plan for Roads End/Villages at Cascade Head area, it could be an important economic development tool to increase financing for priority projects in the new urban renewal area.”

If the Urban Renewal Plan is adopted by the Lincoln City Council, the Urban Renewal Agency can go ahead with capital projects, such as:

  • Construction or improvement of public facilities including streets, sidewalks, utilities, parks
  • Streetscape improvements
  • Storefront improvements
  • Participation with developers for property improvement
  • Rehabilitation of existing buildings

City staff has identified a list of potential projects to be completed and the first public forum is to discuss the draft plan and collect feedback on priority projects and projects yet to be identified.

The Villages at Cascade Head, previously a bankrupt vacant development, was purchased in 2013 by Lincoln City for $2.5 million.

For over 20 years the vision for 1,800+ homes at the Villages at Cascade Head has been troubled by foreclosure, developer concerns and expiring city planning approvals.

City officials have long-held to the idea that the Villages at Cascade Head will be an economic boon to Lincoln City but have struggled to advance the multi-million dollar investment despite spending an additional $2 million into the site for planning, utilities and other costs typically paid for by developers.

According to sources, developers have put in over $10 million to develop the Villages.

Developers are skeptical on a city-controlled situation where the City can drop hundreds of lots at any given time with a vote from the council. Builders believe they could not compete and the unknowns are too much to risk large amounts of money.

“If the City can sell lots at will or rezone adjacent properties it reduces the value and makes it unattractive,” a prominent Lincoln City developer who requested anonymity said.

Former Lincoln City Mayor Don Williams, who won in a 2014 landslide election, called for a sale of the Villages as part of his campaign.

“I don’t believe the City should be in the land development business,” Williams said. “We were assured repeatedly that we weren’t going to do this, but here we are in the land development business.”

Whatever the City decides to do, it will impact property values for improved and unimproved property throughout Lincoln City and North Lincoln County.

 

Contact reporter Justin Werner at 541-992-0321 or staff@lincolncityhomepage.com

City of Lincoln City seeks public relations agency

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Public Relations Lincoln City

The City of Lincoln City — through Explore Lincoln City — is looking for a public relations firm to help it project a positive image to the public in order to achieve its goals.

From the City of Lincoln City’s website:

Explore Lincoln City proposes to retain a highly qualified, capable firm to act as the
full-service PR agency of record. Special consideration will be given to those agencies with proven destination marketing experience. The successful agency will work with Explore Lincoln City to leverage earned media in target markets to promote Lincoln City as the preferred beach vacation destination on the Oregon Coast. Priorities include activities that will inspire consumers to visit, experience, stay, and return to Lincoln City.

The notice posted on the City website requests qualifications from prospective public relations firms and lays out the scope of work to be performed. Funds for the position will come from Lincoln City’s transient room tax and must be authorized by the Lincoln City Council.

Explore Lincoln City intends to evaluate submitted proposals and will possibly interview firms before making a final selection. The selected PR firm will negotiate with Explore Lincoln City on fee and contract conditions.

The resulting contract will have an initial term of five months through June 30, with three additional one-year extensions thereafter subject to mutual agreement of all parties.

Public relations professionals write press releases, connect key officials with interviews, arrange press conferences and create newsletters.

Excerpt from Explore Lincoln City’s public relations services plan. The term “earned media” means publicity that is not paid for with advertising.

Public relations is not a licensed field and can draw professionals from a wide variety of backgrounds.

Explore Lincoln City will receive proposals until 5 p.m. Jan. 24. Proposals submitted after the deadline will not be considered.

LEARN MORE

 

Samaritan North Lincoln Hospital celebrates first baby of the new year

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BABY 2020
New year baby Hudson Kai Canchola with his parents before leaving the hospital

Every newborn is special, but tradition gives more emphasis on the first baby of the new year. At Samaritan North Lincoln Hospital, the first baby born in 2020 was Hudson Kai Canchola, who arrived at 10:41 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 1. He weighed 6 pounds, 7 ounces at birth and was 19.5 inches long.

Parents Tori Clark and Ashton Canchola said their new son’s middle name means “ocean” in the Hawaiian language. He will be welcomed to his Neotsu home by older brother Gabriel, who turns 4 years old in March.

Dr. Meredith Mann assisted in the delivery, which came very quickly, Clark said. She labored for just a few hours and the delivery took a matter of minutes. Her first child also was in a hurry to see the world, but baby boy number two was even quicker, Canchola said, laughing.

Clark has been an emergency department technician at Samaritan North Lincoln Hospital for the past two years while Canchola works at Kenny’s IGA, his family’s business in Lincoln City.

Keeping with tradition, a large gift basket was presented by Leslie James, development specialist for the North Lincoln Hospital Foundation to the family. It included such things as stuffed animals, baby blankets, baby comb and brush, Binky Buddy, burp cloths, and more.

Another present, given by Sherri Nordyke on behalf of her non-profit organization, Clara’s Closet, was a “baby shower in a box” – diapers, wipes, infant development toy, book, pacifiers, Lovey animal blanket, baby hygiene kit, hand-knit sweater and hat, hand-knit blanket, blanket, receiving blankets, bibs, burp cloths, Halo SleepSack, newborn clothing, thermometer and infant safety kit.

In addition, this year’s new year baby received a plush commemorative baby blanket embroidered and donated by Oregon Corrections Enterprises (OCE), which is now doing laundry service for the hospital. Included with the gift were heartfelt notes from the women who helped make the blanket. The following are just a few of the thoughtful sentiments:

“My heart was filled with joy and hope for the newborns and their families. Wishing them a life full of love and happiness!” – Suzanne

“Even though I don’t have children, I know what a blessing a baby can be. I loved that I played a part in making memorable keepsake blankets for someone’s precious new arrival.” – Rebecca

“It brings me joy to make these baby blankets, to give the newborns a little bit of love. It reminds me of my own children and grandchildren, and I love making new families happy.”- Rosa