The Taft High volleyball team saw its season come to an end Saturday in a three-set loss to host Willamina in the Coastal Range League playoffs.
The Tigers fell 25-17, 25-22, 25-13 to the Bulldogs after defeating Rainier for the third time this season earlier in the day.
Willamina will face regular-season league champion Warrenton in a seeding game for State.
An OSAA ruling turning the team’s only defeat of the season into a victory by forfeit gave the Taft High boys soccer team two victories in one day Friday after the Tigers concluded their regular season with an 8-0 home win over Gervais.
Taft’s only loss of the year — 2-0 at Dayton on Sept. 25 — was classified as a victory by forfeiture due to the use of an ineligible player, giving the Tigers a 14-0 record and improving their season scoring advantage to a blistering 101-8 with the Special District 2 playoffs looming.
Dayton, which self-reported the violation, was ordered Friday to forfeit its first eight games of the season by the Oregon School Activities Association, the governing body of Oregon sports.
The OSAA’s Executive Board voted 8-0 for the forfeitures even after the league approved the school’s transfer hardship appeal. The defeats dropped the Pirates’ season record to 3-12 and their league mark to 3-11.
“Dayton had tremendous turnover last summer, a new superintendent and a new principal who had to hire 18 teachers, two counselors and a VP/AD,” Dayton Vice Principal/Athletic Director Wade Witherspoon said. “I started late August after soccer was well under way. None of us caught the fact that a migrant boy who was living with his stepsister had moved from Salem to Dayton and was playing on the soccer team this year.”
Meanwhile, Taft senior Edson Fuentes scored three goals, Sammy Vasquez two and Kaden Wright, Mauricio Rivas and Kevin Acosta one each Friday evening in the Tigers’ shutout win that concluded the regular season at Voris Field.
“With them [Gervais] still being a young team, we were able to use the time to really focus on keeping our game intact,” Taft coach Ryan Ulicni said. “We were able to get some of our younger players some game time, which will help keep our roster deep going into playoffs.
“Overall, I could not be more proud of how this team has worked hard to be leaders in the league and to overcome any adversaries.”
| League | Overall | GS | GA | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Taft (3A) | 14-0 | 14-0 | 101 | 8 | 4 |
| Western Christian/Perrydale (2A) | 9-3-2 | 9-4-2 | 58 | 23 | 15 |
| Delphian (2A) | 9-3-2 | 9-4-2 | 59 | 17 | 17 |
| Yamhill-Carlton (3A) | 7-5-2 | 7-5-2 | 43 | 27 | 24 |
| Blanchet Catholic (3A) | 4-5-4 | 4-5-4 | 26 | 29 | 0 |
| Dayton (3A) | 3-11 | 3-12 | 26 | 32 | 45 |
| Salem Academy (3A) | 2-10-1 | 2-10-1 | 12 | 104 | 47 |
| Gervais (2A) | 1-12-1 | 1-12-1 | 10 | 110 | 56 |
GS=Goals Scored; GA=Goals Allowed
Wednesday, Sept. 11 vs. Delphian, W 3-1
Thursday, Sept. 12 vs. *Salem Academy, W 20-0
Wednesday, Sept. 18 @ Blanchet Catholic, W 4-0
Thursday, Sept. 20 vs. *Yamhill-Carlton, W 4-0
Wednesday, Sept. 25 @ *Dayton, W by forfeit
Friday, Sept. 27 vs. *Western Christian/Perrydale, W 5-1
Wednesday, Oct. 2 @ *Gervais, W 18-0
Friday, Oct. 4 @ *Delphian, W 3-1
Tuesday, Oct. 8 @ *Salem Academy, W 13-0
Thursday, Oct. 10 vs. *Blanchet Catholic, W 9-0
Monday, Oct. 14 @ *Yamhill-Carlton, W 4-0
Friday, Oct. 18 vs. *Dayton, W 7-4
Wednesday, Oct. 23 @ *Western Christian/Perrydale, W 2-1
Friday, Oct. 25 vs. *Gervais, W 8-0
The Taft High girls soccer team bid farewell to a host of senior players by sending them off with a 5-0 league victory over Gervais on Thursday in the regular-season finale at Voris Field that set the stage for a league playoff appearance.
The fifth-place Tigers will play Tuesday at Salem Academy/Western Christian in the Class 3A/2A/1A Special District 2 postseason tournament for a chance at State. The winner will play the loser of Dayton at Blanchet Catholic on Saturday.
“We have a healthy matchup, for we split with Salem Academy and both games were very close [2-1 home victory Sept. 12; 3-2 road defeat Oct. 8],” Taft coach Joey Arce-Torres said. “Because we have such a large conference, three teams will get selected for the State tournament.”
The Tigers will enter the playoffs on the heels of Thursday’s five-goal shutout of winless Gervais.
“The kids played a great first half,” Arce-Torres said. “There were no shots on goal against us and we moved the ball well offensively.”
Chloe Peterson scored two goals and Avery Nightingale one for a 3-0 Taft lead at halftime.
“Sammy Halferty and Sage Ulrich controlled everything in the middle and sent beautiful passes to open teammates,” Arce-Torres said. “With a dominant performance up front, we were able to empty our bench early and give playing time to many of our younger players.”
Class 3A Taft finished the season 5-8 overall and 5-7 and in fifth place in Special District 2 play.
“After our senior recognition, we ran back to the field and made more adjustments for the second half,” Arce-Torres said. “It is important to recognize sportsmanship and humility as a group and not embarrass other teams when things aren’t going particularly well.
“We changed out our key players and put them on defensive roles. Because of her brilliant, selfless season, we were able to reward Sammy one last time with a penalty kick that she sent screaming through the back of the net to change the score to 4-0. After completely emptying the bench, Lucy Reyes had her opportunity and put in the final score of the evening.
“Every JV athlete suited up and each had significant minutes today in our final home match. Our seniors finished the match on the field and each on the back defensive line where they passed and assisted their younger teammates with direction and praise to close out the game.
“I am so proud of those seniors, especially Sammy and Fatima who played all four years and were significant leaders from June to October. They will be dearly missed.
“I am thankful and blessed to be involved in the process of teaching young kids to be good humans. I take that responsibility very seriously and prioritize it even more than the nuts and bolts of athletics. I am hard on the kids, but they know at the end of the day, I love and respect each and every one of them but I will always be honest and direct about things like character, humility, kindness and sportsmanship. Overall, I think they all got a passing grade this season.”
| League | Overall | GS | GA | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yamhill-Carlton (3A) | 11-0-1 | 11-1-1 | 46 | 10 | 6 |
| Blanchet Catholic (3A) | 8-3-1 | 8-4-1 | 30 | 14 | 0 |
| Salem Academy/Western Christian (3A) | 6-6 | 7-7 | 20 | 34 | 17 |
| Dayton (3A) | 5-4-3 | 5-5-4 | 18 | 21 | 14 |
| Taft (3A) | 5-7 | 5-8 | 20 | 29 | 22 |
| Amity/Perrydale (3A) | 2-7-3 | 2-7-3 | 4 | 13 | 0 |
| Gervais (2A) | 0-10-2 | 0-10-2 | 5 | 46 | 33 |
GS-Goals Scored; GA-Goals Allowed
Don’t look now, but that will be the Taft High volleyball team that will take the court Saturday afternoon in Willamina with eyes on earning a spot in the OSAA State Volleyball Championships.
A perennial doormat in the sport, the Tigers have suddenly emerged as the favorite against Rainier in their 1 p.m. opening Coastal Range League playoff match. The winner will face host Willamina at approximately 3 p.m. to advance to State.
Few forecast such a scenario when the season opened last September for a team that literally went years between winning even a single match just a short time ago.
“I wouldn’t say we’ve exceeded my expectations,” Taft coach Kelsey Hart said. “I knew based on summer open gyms, and the beginning of the season, that we were going to have a strong season. I am incredibly proud of how the girls have played and grown as a team. But I did expect that of them. I do think we’ve exceeded other people’s and teams’ expectations of us, though.”
With no seniors on the roster, Hart said the Tigers expect big things in the future.
“Team attitude is great right now. The girls are excited about our opportunities and proud of what we’ve accomplished this year,” she said. “The entire varsity team will be returning next year. That puts us in an amazing spot moving forward. Many of the other teams in the league have several key seniors on their teams, so they’ll be losing some of their power. We’re only going to be getting stronger from here.”
| League | Overall | SW | SL | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Warrenton | 8-0 | 13-10 | 40 | 35 | 19 |
| Willamina | 6-2 | 12-10 | 44 | 34 | 21 |
| Taft | 4-4 | 6-12 | 24 | 36 | 30 |
| Rainier | 2-6 | 2-16 | 11 | 46 | 33 |
| Clatskanie | 0-8 | 2-14 | 7 | 40 | 35 |
SW = Sets Won; SL = Sets Lost
Schedule
Wednesday, Sept. 4 vs. Amity, L 0-3
Thursday, Sept. 5 @ Waldport, L 2-3
Monday, Sept. 9 vs. Waldport, W 3-2
Tuesday, Sept. 10 @ Toledo, L 3-0
Friday, Sept. 13 @ Sutherlin, L 3-1
Wednesday, Sept. 18 @ Amity, L 3-0
Thursday, Sept. 19 vs. *Warrenton, L 3-2
Tuesday, Sept. 24 @ *Rainier, W 3-0
Thursday, Sept. 26 vs. *Clatskanie, W 3-0
Thursday, Oct. 3 @ Willamina, L 3-0
Tuesday, Oct. 8 @ *Warrenton, L 3-1
Thursday, Oct. 10 vs. *Rainier, W 3-1
Tuesday, Oct. 15 @ *Clatskanie, W 3-0
Tuesday, Oct. 22 vs. *Willamina, L 3-0
Saturday, Oct. 26 vs. Rainier @ Willamina, 1 p.m. (League playoffs)
* denotes league game
Two local businesses have joined forces to help achieve a fundraising goal of $75,000 for the Lincoln City Police Department’s startup K9 program.
Meredith Lodging and Oksenholt Capital are matching up to $10,000 in donations until the end of the year to reach the $75,000 goal, $55,000 of which has already been received.
“The entire city benefits from this important program and we want to encourage the community to donate between now and the end of the year,” Vice President of Operations for Meredith Lodging Aaron Linfoot said. “Meredith Lodging is committed to investing in the success of the communities where our employees live and work, and where our Meredith Lodging Owners have homes.”
LCPD will use money raised to provide K9 handler training and certification, equipment, transport and a kennel.
LCPD will be training a patrol K9, which differs from a drug detecting K9 in that it can do more, like catch fleeing suspects, recover evidence and crowd control.
“We are honored to join Meredith Lodging in matching community donations between now and December 31st to get this project to the finish line,” Oksenholt Capital CEO Jon Oksenholt said. “The police work hard to keep our communities safe. Statistics show the need for and benefit of a police department utilizing a K9 Unit to help reduce crime. In addition, numerous studies show the positive impact a K9 Unit brings to the police force.”
Currently the LCPD depends on the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office for K9 related activities.
“We are grateful to Oksenholt Capital and Meredith Lodging for stepping in to help us get to the finish line on funding this project,” said Officer Holly Blakely, who is spearheading the project. “This project kicked-off last February and we are thankful for the community support we have received so far. We have $20,000 left to go and with this generous donation and match, Oksenholt Capital and Meredith Lodging will help us get there much faster.”
Donations can be made in person at the police station, via email at [email protected], by visiting the project’s website at https://lincolncityk9.com or by the GoFundMe page: https://www.gofundme.com/lincoln-city-k9-program-fund .
Oksenholt Capital is the private investment arm of The Oksenholt Family of Companies with a focus on real estate investments and development.
Meredith Lodging offers a wide selection of Oregon Coast vacation rentals as well as Bend, Sunriver and Central Oregon vacation rentals.
The Oregon Public Utility Commission (PUC) approved a rate increase for natural gas customers of three regulated utilities including NW Natural, which will go into effect Nov. 1.
The PUC approved an increase of over $15 million, or 2.4 percent when compared to 2018 company gross revenues.
A explanation for the increase was provided by the PUC:
In part, rates will increase because the cost of natural gas supply spiked over the last year due to a pipeline explosion last winter, which impacted regional gas supply and caused prices to increase. The PUC approves adjustments to each company’s rates annually to reflect changes in the actual cost of wholesale priced natural gas, known as the Purchased Gas Adjustment (PGA). This allows companies to pass through their actual cost of purchasing gas to customers without a markup on the price. Since 2009, Oregon residents have benefited from a decrease in natural gas rates due to the PGA, except 2013 and 2014.
Avista Utilities and Cascade Natural Gas rates were also increased by the commission.
About the PUC
The Public Utility Commission of Oregon (PUC) regulates customer rates and services of the state’s investor-owned electric, natural gas and telephone utilities, as well as select water companies. The PUC mission is to ensure Oregon utility customers have access to safe, reliable, and high quality utility services at just and reasonable rates, which is accomplished through analysis and independent decision-making conducted in an open and fair process.
HALLOWEEN SAFETY
Fall is in the air and Halloween is here.
Many people view Halloween as a time for fun and treats. However, in the United States, roughly two times as many children aged 5-14 are killed while walking on Halloween evening compared with other evenings of the year. Falls are a leading cause of injuries among children on this holiday. Parents can help prevent children from becoming injured on Halloween by following these safety tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the National Safety Council.
Children should:
When walking in neighborhoods, they should:
Parents and adults should:
To ensure the safety of pedestrian trick-or-treaters, parents and adults should:
Following these tips should help ensure this Halloween is a safe and fun holiday for everyone.
Senior Edson Fuentes and junior William Calderon scored a goal apiece Wednesday to lead the Taft High boys soccer team to its eighth straight league victory, 2-1 at Western Christian/Perrydale.
“We played a very good match against a well-motivated Western Christian team,” said Taft coach Ryan Ulicni, whose sixth-ranked Tigers improved to 12-1 with the win. “With them knowing that everyone is jockeying for playoff seeds, they brought a great game.”
Fuentes scored the Tigers’ first goal by “controlling a great pass from [junior] Alex Del Valle,” Ulicni said. “We seemed to be a little flat starting out, then seemed to coast the rest of the half.”
Fuentes fed Calderon for a second goal to make it 2-0.
“We had Angel Islas and JJ Lupercio, both sophomores, play defense today, and they fit in wonderfully,” Ulicni said. “I was a little nervous at first, but overall it was a very solid performance.”
Ulicni said sophomore goalie Sam Cortez played a major role with 13 saves.
“With our team finishing first in District, we will get the bye in the seeding,” Ulicni said of the upcoming playoffs, which will pit Taft against an undetermined opponent Nov. 2, following this Friday’s 4:15 p.m. regular-season finale against Gervais (0-12-1) at Voris Field.
“We will just make sure our game stays sharp and our focus remains steady so we are prepared for anyone,” he said. “The State playoffs are tricky. By the looks of it, we should actually finish in the top half of the rankings, which means we would be hosting the first round of the playoffs.
“It’s always an honor to go to State, so to do well enough to host a game would be fantastic. I am very much looking forward to the last part of the season. These guys are making it exciting.”
| League | Overall | GS | GA | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Taft (3A) | 12-1 | 12-1 | 92 | 10 | 6 |
| Dayton (3A) | 9-4 | 9-5 | 54 | 27 | 16 |
| Western Christian/Perrydale (2A) | 8-3-2 | 8-4-2 | 54 | 20 | 17 |
| Delphian (2A) | 8-3-2 | 8-4-2 | 55 | 14 | 21 |
| Yamhill-Carlton (3A) | 5-6-2 | 5-6-2 | 41 | 29 | 33 |
| Blanchet Catholic (3A) | 3-6-4 | 3-6-4 | 27 | 33 | 36 |
| Salem Academy (3A) | 1-11-1 | 1-11-1 | 11 | 115 | 52 |
| Gervais (2A) | 0-12-1 | 0-12-1 | 9 | 110 | 56 |
GS=Goals Scored; GA=Goals Allowed
Saying a memorial for students and staff to pay tribute to freshman Bear Reyes is being planned for next week, Taft High 7-12 reacted Wednesday to Tuesday’s death of the student-athlete.
Details of the death have not been disclosed.
Principal Nick Lupo issued the following statement Wednesday:
Families,
We had sad news at our school today. We learned of the death of one of our students, Bear Reyes, a 9th grader at Taft 7-12.
We helped support our students by setting up a Care Room staffed by counselors and specially trained members of our Crisis Response Team. Classroom teachers spent time allowing students to share their reactions to Bear‘s death. Those students needing extra time to talk were encouraged to go to the Care Room. Our school is planning a Memory Activity for students and staff to collectively pay tribute to Bear Reyes, next week.
When events like this happen, it is not unusual for students to react with shock, sadness, fear, anger, or other strong feelings. These reactions may rise and fall today and for several days to come. Here are some strategies to consider with your children: Be sensitive about whether they want or need to talk. Bring it up if they seem reluctant to do so. Ask about their reactions and accept the answers without judgment. Answer all questions directly and honestly, even if the answer is, “I do not know.” Sometimes a child needs to ask the same question repeatedly, be patient. They may also focus on the upsetting details of the death. Do not compare death with sleep or any other state of consciousness. Some children can become sleep deprived, fearing they will die if they sleep. Provide comfort with extra hugs and support.
We appreciate the support to our staff and students provided by the school district and all of our community partners. Times like this remind us of how important it is to come together and value, support and care for each other.
Sincerely,
Nick Lupo
Principal of Taft 7-12
With sunny skies and temperatures hovering in the high 50s Wednesday, Siletz Bay in Taft had an unusually large number of late-October beachgoers.
Fishermen with poles and nets, looking to catch a big one, were out in force amid the nice weather.
The local sea lion population saw the fishermen going after their food source, but reacted like they always do — they caught more sun.
Multiple pairs of humans could be seen strolling along the beach, taking in the perfect day together.
Seagulls used squawking calls to alert everyone in range that they were ready to scavenge opportunistically.
Siletz Bay in Lincoln City is a big draw for tourists and locals alike, with its gorgeous views, abundant wildlife and guitar-playing beach-walkers.
