Contact usContact us
Tuesday, November 18, 2025
type here...
Home Blog Page 62

Siletz Tribal Council members elected

News Release
-
0
Siletz Tribal Council members elected

From left. Reggie Butler Sr., Lillie Butler, Loraine Y. Butler, Robert Kentta, Angela Ramirez, Selene Rilatos, Sharon Edenfield, Bud Lane and Delores PigsleyLoraine Y. Butler, Robert Kentta and Selene Rilatos were elected to the Tribal Council of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians Saturday, Feb 1.

Butler, of Siletz, and Kentta, of Logsden, were re-elected, while newcomer Rilatos, of Toledo, was elected with 268 votes.

The three will serve three year terms on the nine-member council with Reggie Butler Sr., Sharon Edenfield, Angela Ramirez — whose terms expire in 2021 — Lillie Butler, Alfred (Bud) Lane III,  and Delores Pigsley — whose terms expire in 2022.

Eight hundred twenty-two ballots were cast by Siletz Tribe members 18 and older. The Tribe has over 5,400 enrolled members.

The swearing-in ceremony for the newly elected council members took place Feb. 2. Officers are elected on an annual basis and those selected for 2020 include:

  • Delores Pigsley, chairman
  • Bud Lane, vice chairman
  • Sharon Edenfield, secretary
  • Robert Kentta, treasurer

Pigsley currently has served 34.5 years as Tribal chairman out of 41 years on the council, while Lillie Butler has served 28; Reggie Butler, 23; Bud Lane, 22; Robert Kentta and Loraine Butler, 15 each; Sharon Edenfield, nearly 10 years; Gloria Ingle, 6 years; and Angela Ramirez, 2 years.

The Siletz Tribe has spent the last 42 years rebuilding its government and economic structure. The signing of Public Law 95-195 in 1977, which restored government-to-government relations between the Siletz Tribe and the federal government, started this process. The Siletz Tribe was the second in the nation – and the first in Oregon – to achieve restoration.

The Siletz Tribe was among the first to become a self-governance Tribe, giving Tribal government more control over services provided to Tribal members. Under self-governance, the U.S. government provides general funding to the Tribe (rather than to specific programs), then Tribal employees and the Tribal Council decide how funds will be spent.

Significant Tribal accomplishments since Restoration include opening the original health clinic in 1991 and a new much larger clinic in 2010; building more than 150 homes and multiple dwellings for Tribal members, including 28 units at Neachesna Village in Lincoln City that have opened since 2009, 19 apartments in Siletz that opened in 2010 and 20 homes in the Tillamook subdivision in Siletz that have opened since 2013; completing the Siletz Dance House in 1996; opening the Tenas Illahee Childcare Center in 2003; opening the Tillicum Fitness Center and a new USDA food distribution warehouse in Siletz in 2008; and opening the Siletz Recreation Center in 2009.

Through its economic development division, the Siletz Tribal Business Corporation, the Tribe purchased the  Lincoln Shores office complex in Lincoln City in 2001 and opened the Siletz Gas & Mini-Mart in Siletz in 2004, the Logan Road RV Park in Lincoln City in 2004 and the Hee Hee Illahee RV Resort in Salem in 2006.

Tribal offices in Portland, Salem and Eugene are housed in Tribally owned buildings. The Eugene office moved to its current location in 2005, the Salem office did the same in 2006 and the Portland office moved to its current location in 2008.

The Tribe also played a lead role in opening the Siletz Valley School in 2003 and the Siletz Valley Early College Academy in 2006.

The Siletz Tribal Arts & Heritage Society (STAHS) was formed in 2013 as a nonprofit to enhance the Tribe’s ability to develop the Siletz Tribal Cultural Center. STAHS also helps the Tribe with acquiring object and archival collections.

Chinook Winds Casino in Lincoln City opened in 1995. In 2004, the Siletz Tribe purchased the former Shilo Inn adjacent to the casino and opened Chinook Winds Casino Resort. Chinook Winds Golf Resort opened in 2005 when the Tribe purchased the former Lakeside Golf and Fitness Center in Lincoln City.

The combination of Tribal employees and those at Chinook Winds Casino Resort has made the Siletz Tribe the largest employer in Lincoln County.

The Siletz Tribe has honored its tradition of sharing within the community by distributing more than $17.6 million through the Siletz Tribal Charitable Contribution Fund and other Tribal resources. Chinook Winds has donated more than $6.5 million in cash and fund-raising items since 1995. It also provides in-kind donations of convention space for various fundraisers as well as technical support, advertising and manpower for events.

Transitional housing: Helping Hands meet-and-greet at City Hall

Justin Werner
-
5
Transitional housing: Helping Hands meet-and-greet at City Hall
Helping Hands Lincoln City
City Manager Ron Chandler “redirects” a question asked to Helping Hands at a Thursday, Jan. 30 meet-and-greet

The City of Lincoln City hosted a meet-and-greet with the public for Helping Hands Reentry Thursday, Jan. 30, where CEO Alan Evans gave a presentation on the structure and functions of homeless outreach services and transitional housing.

“We live in a society that makes it hard to make ends meet,” Evans said. “Everybody deserves a chance. Everybody has a story.”

During the presentation, Evans covered the evaluation process that allows Helping Hands staff to pinpoint needs and roadmaps to success. He went over data the outreach center collects and how it helps the nonprofit get the homeless back on their feet with housing and breaking down barriers to employment.

Helping Hands Lincoln City
Helping Hands CEO Alan Evans presents homeless outreach services before the public in City Council chambers

Lincoln City citizen Jay Roelof said Helping Hands had a great opportunity to do some good work in Lincoln City and brought up the “unvetted” homeless population problem. 

Lincoln City Homeless Solutions President Lynne Rudstrom spoke in favor for the transitional housing venture.

Local business owner Randy Mallette asked pointed questions to Evans, drawing the City Manager’s attention with a reminder to stay within the bounds of the meeting’s purpose.

Evans fielded Mallette’s question, “where people go after the program,” but the question was ultimately redirected by City Manager Ron Chandler who wanted to keep the discussion geared towards “meeting Helping Hands.”

“We’ve never failed to place a person in housing,” Evans said. “We do the best we can.”

Evans gave a tentative timeline for placement of homeless in permanent housing at around 6-8 months with a “cap” of 18 months, but cautioned everyone’s needs are different and it was hard to give an exact date.

“I’ve got a million questions,” Mallette said.

“And I’ve got a million answers,” Chandler replied. “Grab a card from the back and contact me after the meeting.”

Lincoln Woods Apartments and Ashley Inn & Suites owners were at the meeting but acting on advice from their lawyer, declined to ask questions or engage with Helping Hands, who reportedly hired an attorney in response to a legal challenge of the City and Helping Hands’ transitional housing deal.

Mallette asked questions surrounding the deal and was told there would be no discussion about any legal issues.

City Council members were not in attendance.

SECURE Act: Good News for Business Owners

Wendy Wilson
-
0
SECURE Act: Good News for Business Owners
Getty Images

If you own a business, you know that setting up a retirement plan for yourself and your employees can be challenging. But it may now be getting easier.

Here’s the story: Congress recent passed the SECURE Act, which, among many provisions, includes some key changes designed to help make it easier for business owners to establish retirement plans. And the need is clear: Just slightly more than half of workers at private-sector establishments with fewer than 100 employees have access to a retirement plan, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. And startup costs were named as the biggest impediment to creating such plans, according to research compiled by the Pew Charitable Trust.

The SECURE Act is designed to address this concern in a few different ways:

  • Increased business tax credit for plan startup costs – The maximum tax credit for establishing a retirement plan has been increased from $500 to $5000, although some restrictions apply.
  • Tax credit for automatic enrollment – Some smaller employers who set up automatic enrollment in their retirement plans can now receive a tax credit of $500.
  • Multiple-employer plans (MEPs) – Different companies can now work together to offer employees a 401(k) plan with less administrative work and fewer fiduciary responsibilities than each employer would otherwise carry alone. This provision of the SECURE Act is intended to result in lower costs. These multiple-employer plans (MEPs) have been around for a while, but, until now, they were “closed” in the sense that participating employers needed to share some common relationship, such as membership to the same industry, trade association, etc. But now, these MEPs have been opened up to include unrelated companies.

These new rules may make it easier for you to create and administer a 401(k) or similar plan and potentially increase your employees’ savings rate. However, to determine how your business should respond to these changes, you should consult with your tax and financial advisors.

And don’t forget that you still have other retirement plan options. If you have just a few employees or are self-employed with no employees, you may want to consider a SEP IRA. You fund the plan with tax-deductible contributions, and you must cover all eligible employees – they cannot contribute to the plan. You can contribute up to 25% of compensation, up to $57,000 in 2020. Or, if your business has fewer than 100 employees, you might consider a SIMPLE IRA. Employees may choose to contribute, and you, as the employer, are required to make either matching or nonelective contributions, which are deductible. But while a SIMPLE IRA may be advantageous for your employees, it’s less generous to you, as far as allowable contributions, than a SEP IRA. For 2020, your annual contributions are generally limited to $13,500, or $16,500 if you’re 50 or older by the end of the year. You can also make a matching contribution of up to 3% to yourself.

In any case, if you don’t already offer a retirement plan, consider contacting a financial professional to determine which plan might be most appropriate for your business. A retirement plan is an effective tool for attracting and retaining good employees – not to mention helping you build resources for your own retirement.

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

Edward Jones. Member SIPC

Arts Committee seeks public input for Cultural Center project

Justin Werner
-
0
Arts Committee seeks public input for Cultural Center project

The City of Lincoln City is holding a public forum 5-7 p.m. Feb. 28 at City Hall to provide input for a large scale art installation for the Lincoln City Cultural Plaza revitalization project.

Six artist finalists will present their visions for the project and showcase their past work as well as answer questions from the public at the forum.

As part of the Public Art Master Plan approved by City Council, the Public Arts Committee was tasked with recommending an artist to build a large-scale art piece in Lincoln City. The committee issued a “request for quotation” and received multiple proposals. The committee has narrowed the list to six finalists.

Pete Beeman, Hilary Pfiefer, Heidi Erickson, Bill and Karma Simmons and Adrienne Peck will each have the opportunity to share previous work and their vision for the current project. After the forum and interviews, the Committee will narrow the list to one recommendation which they will present to City Council for approval.

Comment cards will be available for the public to fill out and light refreshments will be provided at the forum.

A $1.5 million State lottery bond allocation for the Lincoln City Cultural Plaza revitalization project was secured by Rep. David Gomberg in July 2019.

For information on the Cultural Plaza, call the LCCC at 541-994-9994 or head to lincolncityculturalcenter.org/plaza.

Previous coverage:

$1.5 million in lottery bonds to enhance Lincoln City Cultural Plaza

Free award-winning disaster class teaches preparedness

Justin Werner
-
0
Free award-winning disaster class teaches preparedness

Disater Preparedness Jim Kusz

If you’ve ever wondered what to do during a zombie outbreak or asteroid strike, then Oregon Coast Community College’s “Disaster Preparedness for the Pacific Northwest” class is for you.

Two three-hour classes take place 5:30-8:30 p.m. Feb. 20 and Feb. 27 at Oregon Coast Community College (OCCC) in Lincoln City.

The free class is taught by North Lincoln Fire and Rescue’s District Captain Jim Kusz. Kusz uses humor and decades of experience to take the paranoia and panic out of planning for threats facing the Oregon Coast. Damaging storms, power outages and the looming Cascadia Subduction Zone will be discussed in frank detail and participants will be shown simple steps they can take to be prepared for anything thrown at them.

Kusz was awarded Oregon’s Community Education Educator of the Year for teaching the class and it’s the most-attended class in the history of OCCC’s Community Ed program.

The program is offered free of charge due to a partnership between OCCC and North Lincoln Fire and Rescue.

Citizens interested in attending the class can register online or call 541-996-6222.

 

Who looks after Lincoln City’s “unvetted” homeless population?

LCH Reader
-
10
Who looks after Lincoln City’s “unvetted” homeless population?

Lincoln City Homepage Letters to the editor

Although I genuinely support any well-intentioned attempt the city takes in acknowledging its responsibility to provide shelter of any kind for its homeless population, I can’t help but note the huge difference between the support that the city recently gave to the Helping Hands non-profit ($750,000 up front!) in its mission to provide “transitional housing,” primarily for the City’s “vetted” homeless – compared to the support the City reluctantly allocated over the years to the now dissolved Lincoln City Emergency Warming Shelter (LCWS) non-profit, which primarily served the “unvetted” homeless.

From its inception, LCWS was both underfunded and legally encumbered by the city, both before and after it briefly occupied the old Taft Fire House, which the city forced it to vacate, leaving LCWS with the only option to merge with the newly established, north Lincoln City C.H.A.N.C.E. non-profit, which (even though it primarily serves the “vetted” homeless) the city eventually hamstrung legally, once again leaving a significant portion of the City’s homeless problem (mostly “unvetted”) to our churches to solve this winter.

In that regard, a big “Thank You!” is due from our community to the First Baptist Church and its neighbors!

Jay Roelof, Lincoln City

Lincoln County Planning Commission seeks new members

News Release
-
0
Lincoln County Planning Commission seeks new members

Lincoln County oregon

Lincoln County seeks new members to serve on the Lincoln County Planning Commission.

The Planning Commission plays a key role in the administration of land use planning within the unincorporated areas of Lincoln County.  The primary duties of the Commission are to conduct public hearings and help make decisions on local land use applications and permits.  The Commission also reviews and makes recommendations on amendments to the comprehensive plan and land use regulations.

The Planning Commission receives staff support from the Lincoln County Department of Planning and Development which is responsible for the administration of land use planning, building inspection, on-site sewage disposal and related land development regulatory programs in the unincorporated areas of the County.

The County seeks regular members from the north, central, and south regions of the County. Regular members serve four year terms. Members typically meet twice per month from 7-9 p.m. and usually spend an additional 1-3 hours per month studying materials often in preparation for meetings.

“Being on the Lincoln County Planning Commission is a great way to serve Lincoln County. The issues that come before the Planning Commission have a big impact on people and on our environment.”  Lincoln County Director of Planning and Development Onno Husing said. “I urge people to contact us if they are interested. We’ll walk them through how the process works and field questions.”

County residents interested in serving on the Planning Commission may download an application on Lincoln County’s website or pick up an application in the Board of Commissioners Office in Room 108 in the Lincoln County Courthouse, Newport. https://www.co.lincoln.or.us/boc/page/committee-and-board-application

Applications from interested parties should be submitted by Feb. 14. The positions are open until filled.

For more information contact:

Department of Planning & Development
210 SW 2nd Street – Newport, OR 97365
(541) 265-4192
Completed applications may be delivered in person/mailed to, Lincoln County Courthouse, 225 W. Olive Street, Room #110, Newport, OR 97365 or emailed to [email protected]

 

To reach Lincoln County Public Information Officer, Casey Miller: 541-265-0211 [email protected]

Inside the new Samaritan North Lincoln Hospital

Justin Werner
-
0
Inside the new Samaritan North Lincoln Hospital

Representatives of the media were provided a tour Monday of the 52,000 square-foot replacement Samaritan North Lincoln Hospital built by Skanska USA.

NEW SNLH Lincoln City

Hospital CEO Dr. Leslie Ogden gave a tour of the newly constructed $42 million facility, pointing out numerous advantages over the old hospital located next door, which is slated for demolition.

Newport News Times Reporter Rick Beasley asks Dr. Leslie Ogden questions Monday at the new Samaritan North Lincoln Hospital

Skanska USA’s Vice President/Account Manager Todd Predmore described the earthquake resiliency built into the project and offered other technical explanations, such as how steel beams are built into the ceilings and how air filtration systems bring in fresh air.

“This was a fantastic project to build with some great partners,” He said. “This is a state-of-the-art efficient hospital.”

Ogden said focus was put on patient privacy and convenience, with most patients never having to leave one room. The hospital has been designed so staff can access supplies and empty garbages from behind the scenes so as to not disturb the patient.

SNLH Staff

Ogden said patients want good customer service so the hospital has been designed around that. Visitors won’t see what’s going on behind the scenes because of a new “off-stage/on-stage” approach, where staff is allowed to do their jobs and patients get their privacy.

TRAUMA ROOM SNLH

“This hospital is not like the old one where these things crossed very frequently,” she said. “They will get a different level of care and privacy here in this hospital.”

A safe room with recessed door handles, walled-off equipment and video monitoring was built in to protect people with mental illnesses from possibly hurting themselves. The video monitoring system sees the entire room with no blind spots.

Hospital staff wear “smart badges,” allowing other staff to locate them in an instant and provides them information specific to patients.

PR and Marketing Coordinator Mary Jo Kerlin took over as tour guide when Ogden took a phone call to finalize needed approvals for the building. She showed the tour the birthing units, commercial kitchen & cafeteria and a comprehensive accounting of supplies and offices.

The new hospital opens Tuesday, Feb. 4 at 7 a.m.

SNLH Bob Gibson

LSD-fueled juvenile bites Sheriff’s deputy in Otis

Homepage Staff
-
0
LSD-fueled juvenile bites Sheriff’s deputy in Otis

juvenile Bites deputy

A Lincoln County Sheriff’s deputy was bitten by a juvenile allegedly on LSD in Otis Saturday night after he banged kitchen utensils together as she attempted to speak to him.

A caller reported at 11:45 p.m. Saturday, a 16-year-old male juvenile was “on acid” or a similar hallucinogen and acting violently. The caller said one person had already been assaulted at the residence on N. Echo Mountain Road before a deputy was able to arrive.

While the deputy was attempting to talk to the juvenile in the kitchen, he proceeded to bang kitchen utensils together. The young male tried to kick the deputy as she got close, leading to a physical confrontation on the ground.

While on the floor of the residence, the juvenile bit the deputy’s upper left arm as he was being restrained. After five minutes of fighting, the injured deputy deployed her taser on the teen to subdue him.

Both the juvenile and deputy were transported to the hospital for minor injuries.

The deputy was treated and released and the 16-year-old was charged with assaulting a public safety officer, harassment and released at the hospital.

NWS: Waterspouts possible over Central Coast waters

Justin Werner
-
0
NWS: Waterspouts possible over Central Coast waters

waterspout depoe bay

National Weather Service Portland (NWS) issued a “marine weather statement” Sunday calling for the possibility of waterspouts, high winds and hail off the Oregon Coast.

According to NWS, Doppler radar indicates thunderstorms off the central Oregon coast moving northeast could form weak waterspouts early Sunday afternoon through the evening about 10 nautical miles offshore between Florence, Newport and Lincoln City.

A waterspout was confirmed by NWS Jan. 21 in Depoe Bay and was caught on camera by Ainslees Salt Water Taffy.

Mariners can expect gusty winds around 30 knots, higher local waves and lightning strikes. Boaters should seek safe harbor immediately until the storm passes.

1...616263...245Page 62 of 245

Real Estate Agents

Fitness and Exercise

Client name

client-image

Real Estate Photography

spot_img

Client name

client-image

Food and Beverage

Beach Equipment Rental

© 2022 Lincoln City Homepage. All rights reserved.