Freshman Aleah Bailey led Taft High in aces and kills as the Tigers turned the tables on visiting Waldport to win 3-2 Monday night, less than a week after losing by the same score to the Irish on the road.
“It was a great serving night for the Tigers,” Taft coach Kelsey Hart said. The girls were ecstatic last night to get their first win of the season so early on. Last year, we only won one of our games, so it’s a major accomplishment to have tied that record already this year. We have a young team, but a very talented team.”
Bailey had a team-leading nine aces and six kills for Taft.
Waldport was coming off a 3-2 season-opening defeat of the Tigers on Thursday.
“The girls made me so proud in how hard they fought throughout the entire five sets,” Waldport coach Anna Kelley said following last week’s win. “Our girls really stepped up to the plate when they needed to and showed the unity we have been seeking on and off the court.”
Taft returns to the court Tuesday and Friday for nonleague games at Toledo and Sutherlin.
The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) issued a public health advisory today for higher-than-normal levels of bacteria in ocean waters at D River Beach in Lincoln County and Rockaway Beach in Tillamook County.
People should avoid direct contact with the water in this area until the advisory is lifted. Higher-than-normal levels of fecal bacteria can cause diarrhea, stomach cramps, skin rashes, upper respiratory infections and other illnesses. This applies especially to children and the elderly, who may be more vulnerable to illness from waterborne bacteria.
Increased pathogen and fecal bacteria levels in ocean waters can come from both shore and inland sources such as stormwater runoff, sewer overflows, failing septic systems, and animal waste from livestock, pets and wildlife.
While this advisory is in effect at Rockaway Beach and D River Beach, visitors should avoid wading in nearby creeks, pools of water on the beach, or in discolored water, and stay clear of water runoff flowing into the ocean. Even if there is no advisory in effect, officials recommend avoiding swimming in the ocean within 48 hours after a rainstorm.
Although state officials advise against water contact, they continue to encourage other recreational activities (flying kites, picnicking, playing on the beach, walking, etc.) on this beach because they pose no health risk even during an advisory.
The status of water contact advisories at beaches is subject to change. For the most recent information on advisories, visit the Oregon Beach Monitoring Program website at http://www.healthoregon.org/beach or call 971-673-0482 or 877-290-6767 (toll-free).
With what amounts to two exhibitions under their heels, the Taft High cross country team opens with its first true competition of the fall season Tuesday at the Amity Invite.
“Our strengths are experience and passion,” coach Eva Ahumada said of her team’s strengths with the 5,000-meter event scheduled Tuesday afternoon at Keeler Estate Vineyards. “Every person on this team is here because they want to be here and is excited to see what we can achieve. It is a fairly new team, but we have already made so much progress and are starting to come together as a family.”
Hunter Lundstedt and Lucas Hindman are expected to be the heads of the family on the boys side, while fellow senior Autumn Ellis will serve as statesman for the girls.
Lucas Hindman, left, Hunter Lundstedt and Finnish foreign exchange student Matias Vesma
“Hunter and Lucas have been in cross country for four years now and will be leading the boys team, both in speed and training,” Ahumada said. “Autumn is our leading girl and has been a powerful force in revamping the girls cross country team.”
New faces will also be prominent in any success the Tigers enjoy this season, Ahumada said.
“All of our freshmen boys are coming into the team with a lot of talent and drive,” she said.
The freshmen boys led the way in taking the top three positions for the Tigers in the opening 2-mile Trial at Cottage Grove and last Saturday’s Ultimook Race near Tillamook, which can be better described as a human mud bog.
Ahumada said she also likes what she’s seen from junior newcomer Rafael Perez.
“He ran long distance for track last season and so far has proven to be a very promising runner,” she said.
Team-wise, aiming for representation at State is the primary objective.
“The ultimate goal is to make it to State,” Ahumada said. “I am hoping to have the boys team make it to State again this year. Autumn has really been pushing it this season. I would really like to see her make it to State.”
Conditioning will be key in achieving a boys team invite or any individual qualifiers to State.
“Endurance is the area where we need the most work,” Ahumada said. “We have a lot of natural talent, and we have a lot of speed, but cross country is a mind race. Training the athletes to overcome this mind block so they can race to their fullest potential will definitely be the focus of this season.”
Ahumada said she expects Harrisburg to be her team’s toughest competition this season.
“They have a lot of returning seniors that make up their varsity team,” she said. “They took first at the District meet last year, and our boys will really have to work hard this season if they way to reclaim that title this year. I am excited to work with this team and to see what we can accomplish together.”
Gaudy goals such as becoming the first Taft High girls soccer team to make a State playoff run are among coach Joey Arce-Torres’ lofty aspirations for his team this season, but excelling in the classroom is also high on his list.
“Getting the highest GPA of all fall sports at Taft and the sportsmanship trophy for our conference,” Arce-Torres said of his squad’s priorities as the team prepares to open its season Tuesday at home with a tough first assignment against Amity.
He’ll certainly have the numbers to draw from to accomplish several firsts this season, beginning at 4:15 p.m. Tuesday on the pitch at Voris Field.
“We are extremely fortunate to be bringing back a large group this season,” Arce-Torres said.
Expected to lead a squad of nearly 25 girls is senior Sammy Halferty, the team’s leading scorer from last year.
Sammy Halferty
“She has looked very sharp during summer workouts and has increased her conditioning level and accuracy,” Arce-Torres said. “I expect her to carry much of the responsibility of our vertically attacking offense.”
Sophomore Jaelyn Olmeda will join Halferty with scoring responsibilities this season, Arce-Torres said.
“Her increased knowledge of the game and overall speed has been very noticeable from the previous season,” he said.
Junior Avery Nightingale is likely to anchor the Taft defense despite seeing limited practice because of a summer exchange program.
“We expect to see her develop into a possible all-league candidate this season,” Arce-Torres said.
Sophomore Nicole Reyes will shift from midfielder to goalie this season.
“We are very excited by her move,” he said.
Senior Ella Knott, who also stars in track and field, will return to the team following a devastating knee injury last year.
“She is one of the fastest athletes in the state and appears very confident in her scoring ability this year,” Arce-Torres said.
Taft will welcome the addition of sophomore Ryan Sue, who Arce-Torres said has shown great promise.
“She, too, has a good understanding of space and no fear in gaining possession of 50/50 balls,” he said. “She also has a very accurate shot.”
Senior Autumn Ellis, who played as freshman but supported the cross country program over the last two seasons, is rejoining the team and “has shown amazing conditioning and leadership,” he said.
Nightingale and Ellis
Team depth and speed leading a potent offensive attack best characterizes the Tigers this season, Arce-Torres said..
“We will also score more goals as a team than any previous season, but our defense will be the area that requires a few games to get comfortable for a solid opportunity to make a State run,” he said. “We will be starting a new goalie and have many new starters. They have the athleticism to compete — just lacking in experience.”
Arce-Torres said he looks for Blanchet Catholic, Yamhill Carlton and Amity to pose the Tigers’ toughest competition, “but most of the teams within our large conference will be very competitive.”
The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) will offer discounted rates for electrical and full-hookup RV campsites at selected state parks during October and November.
Starting today, campers will be able to use the code FallFun19 at oregonstateparks.reserveamerica.com to receive a $7 discount off the nightly RV campsite rate, bringing the current rate from $24-34 down to $17-27.
Chris Havel, Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) associate director, says the discount is intended as a pilot program to see if price can encourage campers to explore different parks during the shoulder season.
“The fall is a great time to enjoy the changing season, and there’s nothing like a cozy campfire on a brisk fall morning,” Havel said. “We challenge Oregonians to discover their new favorite camping season.”
Additional details:
The discount applies to online advanced reservations only and will not apply to reservations made by phone or to walk-in campers, nor can OPRD apply it to existing reservations.
The discount is only for new reservations made on or after Sep. 9, 2019.
Reservations must be made at least 24 hours in advance.
The discount is for recreational vehicle campsites only.
ADA-accessible campsites are eligible for the discount. To reserve an ADA-accessible site and apply the discount, call the state parks information center at 800-551-6949, Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
A Newport man has been arrested on manslaughter charges following the driving death of a female passenger from Waldport Saturday evening near Newport.
According to an Oregon State Police investigation, Michael John Craycraft, 52, had been driving a brown 1978 Jeep CJ5 shortly before 5:55 p.m. Saturday evening when emergency personnel responded to the report of a single-vehicle, serious-injury crash on U.S. Highway 20 near milepost 2.
Preliminary investigation revealed Craycraft was traveling eastbound on U.S. 20 when he lost control of the Jeep and spun off the south side of the roadway and struck an embankment. The unrestrained passenger, Rhawnie Lynn Harp, 40, was ejected from the vehicle and transported by ground ambulance to Samaritan Pacific Communities Hospital (SPCH) in Newport where she was pronounced dead.
Craycraft was also transported to SPCH where he was kept overnight due to his injuries.
Hospital tests on Craycraft revealed presence of alcohol level over the .08 percent. He was placed under arrest and lodged at the Lincoln County Jail on charges of Manslaughter II, Driving While Under the Influence of Intoxicants, Reckless Driving and Reckless Endangering.
US-20 was closed to one lane for approximately three hours following the crash. OSP was assisted by Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, Oregon Department of Transportation, PACWEST Ambulance and Newport Fire.
What does investing mean to you? If the word makes you think of transactions – buying or selling stocks and bonds – you’re looking at just part of the picture. To work toward all your goals, such as a comfortable retirement, you need a comprehensive financial strategy. And for that, you might need to work with a personal financial advisor. But what, specifically, can this type of professional do for you?
Here are some of the key services a financial advisor can provide:
Help you invest for your retirement – An experienced financial advisor can look at all the relevant factors – your current and projected income, age at which you’d like to retire, desired retirement lifestyle – to help you determine how much you need to invest, and in which investment vehicles, to help you reach your retirement goals. To cite just one example, a financial advisor can review your employer-sponsored retirement plan and help you determine how to use it to your greatest advantage.
Help you save for college – Higher education is expensive, and costs are rising every year. If you’d like to help your children – or grandchildren – go to college someday, you need to save and invest early and often. A financial advisor can suggest appropriate college savings vehicles and strategies.
Help make sure you’re well-protected – If something were to happen to you, could your family maintain its standard of living? Or if you someday needed some type of long-term care, such as an extended stay in a nursing home, would you be able to maintain your financial independence, or would you be forced to rely on your adult children for help? A financial advisor can recommend and possibly provide suitable protection products and services for your needs.
Help you adjust your financial strategy – Not much will stay constant in your life – and that includes your financial strategy. Any number of events – a new child, a new job, a new retirement destination – can cause you to adjust your investment moves, as will some of the factors influencing the financial markets – economic downturns, changing interest rates, new tax laws, and more. A financial advisor can help you change course as needed – and sometimes encourage you not to change course, when, in his or her professional opinion, you might be tempted to overreact to some event or other.
While a financial advisor can help you in many ways, you’ll need, above all else, to feel comfortable with whomever you choose. Ultimately, you’ll want to pick someone who understands what’s important to you, and who will follow an established process to create personalized strategies and recommend specific actions needed to help achieve your goals. And you’ll want someone who will be with you in the long run – someone who will revisit your objectives and risk tolerance and who can adjust your strategies in response to changes in your life.
A financial advisor can make a big difference in your life. So, work diligently to find the right one – and take full advantage of the help you’ll receive as you move toward your important goals.
This article was written by Edward Jones for use by Edward Jones Financial Advisor Wendy Wilson.
Dragons are coming — well, pretty much finished, says local artist and fantasy movie buff Justin Sparks of Sparks Gallery in Lincoln City, about the new dragon mural in Taft.
“It was her vision to say I would like a dragon with really deep woods,” Sparks said about the green dragon adorning the west side of the Sapphire Center, 4840 SE Highway 101, owned by Claire Hagen.
Sparks was commissioned by Hagen in August to paint a “dragon in deep forest” in the historic Taft District that can be seen by anyone travelling south on Highway 101.
“Douggie Mike” waiting for his eye from Sparks
The local artist started with a forest backdrop, then painted an intricate log and is finally adding the “forest camouflaged dragon.”
“I love what ‘Douggie Mike the Dragon’ represents,” Hagen said. “It’s all about making people happy and reminding people to use their imagination and get back to nature.”
Sparks has been working on “Douggie Mike” for over a month and is using exterior latex paint with a two-inch angled sash brush as his go-to, and smaller brushes for finer details.
“Each little section I do I try to come up with something new to put in there and make it look a little different,” Sparks said. “It really makes the town look a lot better when you have artwork all over the town.
“It draws people in and is something people can enjoy looking at while they are walking through different districts,” he said.
“Douggie Mike” is a one-of-a-kind mural and is just one of Spark’s many murals painted in Depoe Bay, Geleneden Beach and now, Lincoln City.
Sparks paints wildlife-based paintings at his gallery, 1808 Highway 101, and loves watching fantasy and sci-fi movies. His wife and Taft High Drama Director Jennifer Sparks, said he can be heard humming Lord of the Rings music while he paints.
Hagen wants people to Like the Sapphire Center Facebook page for a “secret” fans of the dragon will want to “see” coming soon.
Harrisburg players display their frustration following a sack by Trenton Hall (24) late in the game
The Taft High defense, just a year removed from surrendering 60 points in a lopsided shootout loss to State-bound Harrisburg, limited the Eagles to only six points Friday to march off with a 14-6 home upset in the Class 3A football opener for both teams.
Led by two interceptions by junior defensive back Darius Smith, the Tigers took a 14-6 halftime lead on a 12-yard pass from junior quarterback Antonio Saurez to junior JJ French, and a 60-yard catch and run by senior Logan Gilleo.
Junior place-kicker William Calderon added both extra-point conversions.
Senior running back Gabe Knox returned a kickoff for a touchdown with 10:55 left in the first half for the Eagles’ only score that made it 7-6 after French scored the game’s first TD at the 11:12 mark of the second quarter.
Gilleo then caught a short swing pass from Saurez and ran the rest of the way to make it 14-6 5:37 before halftime.
Logan Gilleo celebrates after taking a pass from Antonio Saurez 60 yards for a score
The teams then played to a scoreless second half.
Harrisburg, which finished 7-3 and ranked 14th before being eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by eventual State runner-up Cascade Christian, defeated the Tigers 60-29 to open the season last year.
SD1 West member Taft, coming off a 1-8 season, returns to play at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 13, at Sutherlin, the only team the Tigers defeated last year, 14-13 at home.
Night work will begin Tuesday on U.S. Highway 101 Schooner Creek Bridge.
Lanes will be closed and traffic flagged through the work zone. Travelers should expect minor delays between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. at the southern entrance to Lincoln City.
Workers are grinding the asphalt off of the bridge and installing titanium strengthening bars in the deck. Work on Schooner Creek Bridge is expected to last a year and a half.
The Schooner Creek Bridge and Devil’s Lake Outlet Bridge (D-River Bridge) are being protected and improved, along with other coastal bridges. Between now and 2021, the bridges are receiving:
Repairs to damaged concrete.
Installation of a zinc coating or zinc blocks to protect the bridges from the harsh coastal climate.
Replacement of bridge railings, to meet current crash standards.
Strengthening of the bridge structures with steel and titanium.
Work on D-River Bridge continues during the day underneath the bridge. D-River Bridge is scheduled to be completed in spring 2020.
For updates on traffic, go to www.TripCheck.com or call 511.Access for pedestrians, including those with disabilities, is available and identified through or around work zones.
