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Connectivity issue interrupts local Verizon telephone service

Justin Werner & Jim Fossum
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Connectivity issue interrupts local Verizon telephone service

Verizon Lincoln City

A connectivity issue caused an interruption in Verizon telephone service in parts of Lincoln and Tillamook counties, Verizon West Area Consumer Media Relations Coordinator Heidi Flato said late Wednesday night.

“Our engineers are aware of this issue and are working with our vendor partners to quickly resolve this issue,” Flato said via email in response to a Homepage inquiry.

Flato said the connectivity issue could involve CenturyLink’s fiber connectivity.

“There was a cut in their line that impacted our service,” Flato said.

Reports of outages began at approximately 4 p.m. and are ongoing.

Excerpts from numerous Facebook posts from several hours ago:

“Anyone else experiencing problems with cell service in Otis? I have Verizon and was in the middle of a call, line went dead and now I am showing ‘no service’ status on my phone.”

“I have zero cell service right now. Verizon service.”

“The company line when I called about the decrease in cell signal is, ‘upgrading towers to be ready for 5G.'”

“I got online with Verizon, and the guy said Veneta is down. Veneta is a main Verizon hub, so that brought down a lot of towers that rely on Veneta. We’re part of that.”

“Same for Depoe Bay”

“Gleneden out. I can’t call in my hour of need. I have a big foot wrestling an Alien in my back yard, with the Loch Ness monster looking on and I can’t call the police! Where were you Verizon when I needed you most?!! haha”

“I honestly hope nobody really needs fire or police during this outage!”

“Verizon service has been restored,” Flato said at 1:32 p.m.

 

Step inside for sneak preview of NLFR’s newest addition — Heavy Rescue 1639

Justin Werner
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Step inside for sneak preview of NLFR’s newest addition — Heavy Rescue 1639

Lincoln City Heavy Rescue

Heavy Rescue 1639, a technical rescue operations vehicle, could be considered the flagship for the North Lincoln Fire & Rescue fleet. It has much in common with a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier, in that it carries more firepower than any other vehicle available for deployment.

Fireman Dennis Knudson led a tour of Lincoln City’s newest addition to the NLFR fleet Wednesday night, showing the capabilities of the vehicle that was purchased and modified for around $200,000 — a steal by any standard considering a comparable vehicle outfitted with the same equipment would cost the agency upwards of $600,000.

Modifications include dual flat-screen displays that fold up when stored; a bell with the engraving, “Dedicated to the citizens from the volunteers of North Lincoln Fire & Rescue;” and winches on all four sides. A drone can also be piloted from the dual screens inside the vehicle.

NLFR Division Chief of Training Jamie Mason was responsible for ordering the modifications and overall vision of the project.

The vehicle was used previously by Virginia Beach, Va., volunteer firefighters, and was a dark forest green. The truck was painted and decals and new tires added.

The Heavy Rescue can handle virtually any task required. Ropes allow first responders to repel up to 600 feet. An inflatable wash station can be deployed in minutes and with an existing trailer, HAZMAT capabilities are possible.  Multiple separators, Jaws of Life, saws-alls, air tools, confined space tools, axes, air bags — you name it — are loaded onto the vehicle and easy to access to handle technically complicated accidents.

Heavy Rescue 1639 serves as a mobile headquarters, replete with green lights that signify the vehicle as the hub during a major event. A camera gives command a 360 degree view of the area.

The “Bug Grinder” as Knudson so delicately puts it, is the virtual sound cannon attached to the front of the vehicle, aptly named for how it sounds when it “grinds bugs” while the vehicle plows through town. It is also one of the loudest things you’ll hear as it rivals the town’s tsunami warning horn.

NLFR’s Heavy Rescue 1639 will be on display for all to see at Saturday’s Life Safety event at St. Clair Station, 4520 SE Highway 101.

NLFR firefighter Blacketer retires after 15 years of volunteer service

Justin Werner
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NLFR firefighter Blacketer retires after 15 years of volunteer service

George Blacketer

Not everyone can claim they have enjoyed working at a job for over 15 years, but longtime volunteer firefighter Lt. George Blacketer can — and did during the public comment portion at the end of Wednesday night’s NLFR Board of Directors meeting.

Blacketer announced his retirement after congratulating three members of the board he ran against for NLFR Board Directors in the May 21 special election.

“Up until today I had a long, drawn-out speech planned, but I’m going to keep it short and simple,” Blacketer said. “After 15 years of service, I would like to announce my retirement effective immediately.”

Blacketer

“One thing I would like to ask as a small token is to keep my red helmet,” he said. “I think everybody in this room could agree that I worked pretty hard to get that. That’s all I’m asking.”

Interim Fire Chief Rob Dahlman said he would try to accommodate the request.

Blacketer said he joined NLFR in 1998 after a good friend talked him into it. He resigned three years later. He rejoined in 2007, and graduated from the academy as Firefighter 1. Blacketer spent two years in Depoe Bay before transferring back to NLFR after returning to Lincoln City.

Among Blacketer’s achievements during his 15-year career:

Firefighter 2
Emergency Medical Responder
Wildland Firefighter
HAZMAT Responder
Category 3 Driver
Rope Rescue Training
Rank of Lieutenant

“I’m going to spend time with the family,” Blacketer said after the meeting. “That’s what is behind this. I was missing out on family things.

“It was a hard decision to make. It’s taken a couple of weeks to really consider. In the end, my family has supported me over the last 15 years and it’s time to return the favor.”

Lincoln City Parks & Rec to host several summertime events

Justin Werner
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Lincoln City Parks & Rec to host several summertime events

Motion pictures, a foot race and a police-sponsored nighttime community rally are among the events planned this summer by the Lincoln City Parks & Recreation Department.

Parks & Rec Supervisor Boone Marker shared information on this  summer’s special events, including Movies in the Park, Ocean’s Edge 5K & 10K and National Night Out.

Movies in the Park is sponsored by Coldwell Banker and features the movies How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World, Incredibles 2 and Mary Poppins Returns. The movies will be shown on a large inflatable screen at dusk on June 15, July 13 and Aug. 10, respectively. Viewers are encouraged to bring blankets and enjoy popcorn provided by Bijou Theatre.

The annual Ocean’s Edge 5K and 10K run/walk event will be held at 9:30 a.m., Saturday, July 6, at low tide and is family and pet-friendly, Marker said. The race starts and ends on the sand behind Kyllo’s Seafood & Grill and glass floats will be awarded to the first overall male and female participants. Interested runners/walkers can sign up online at runsignup.com.

National Night Out will take place from 5:30-7:30 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 6, and brings the Lincoln City community and Lincoln City Police Department together for a night of free food, live music, raffle prizes, a dunk tank, bounce houses and more at Kirtsis Park.

Local amateur radio club to dial in for national Field Day in Toledo

News Release
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Local amateur radio club to dial in for national Field Day in Toledo
Toledo’s Waterfront Park will be the site June 22-23 for Amateur Radio Field Day

Since 1933, ham radio operators across North America have established temporary ham radio stations in public locations during Amateur Radio Field Day to showcase the science and skill of amateur radio.

Members of the Lincoln County Amateur Radio Club will participate in the national Field Day’s 24-hour exercise beginning at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 22, at the Port of Toledo Waterfront Park next to the Toledo Post Office.

For more than 100 years, amateur radio — sometimes called ham radio — has allowed people from all walks of life to experiment with electronics and communications techniques, as well as provide a free public service to their communities during a disaster, all without needing a cell phone or the Internet. Field Day demonstrates ham radio’s ability to work reliably under any conditions from almost any location and create an independent communications network.

Field Day is a showcase to show the public how amateur radio works reliably under any conditions from almost any location to create an independent communications network.

“Ham radio functions completely independent of the Internet or cell phone infrastructure, can interface with tablets or smartphones, and can be set up almost anywhere in minutes,” said David Isgur, N1RSN, communications manager for ARRL, the national association for Amateur Radio®, (www.arrl.org), which represents amateur (or “ham”) radio operators across the country. “That’s the beauty of amateur radio during a communications outage.

“In today’s electronic do-it-yourself (DIY) environment, ham radio remains one of the best ways for people to learn about electronics, physics, meteorology, and numerous other scientific disciplines, and is a huge asset to any community during disasters or emergencies if the standard communication infrastructure goes down.”

Anyone can become a licensed amateur radio operator. There are more than 725,000 licensed hams in the United States, as young as 9 and as old as 100.

The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office sponsors the Auxiliary Communications Service Volunteer Group, 70-plus amateur radio operators specifically supporting local government emergency response.

For more information:

Cyclist slightly injured, ferret unscathed in bike-car collision in Newport

Justin Werner
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Cyclist slightly injured, ferret unscathed in bike-car collision in Newport
(Photos by Justin Werner)

A bicycle crashed into a car pulling onto Highway 101 in Newport around noon today, ejecting a ferret from a pet carrier and sending the domesticated weasel under the car.

The cyclist, who was traveling northbound on the east side of Highway 101, could be seen reaching under the Volkswagen Tiguan to retrieve the ferret.

The driver of the Volkswagen called Newport Police and handed the cyclist the door to the pet carrier.

The bicyclist appeared to sustain injuries to his right leg as he was observed limping.

The driver of the Volkswagen — or ferret — did not appear to be injured.

Injured elderly woman rescued after hiking at Roads End

Homepage Staff
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Injured elderly woman rescued after hiking at Roads End

Gods Thumb Rescue

An elderly woman who injured her ankle while hiking is in good spirits after being rescued today at approximately 11 a.m. at God’s Thumb in Roads End.

“She was not in a very precarious place, but it was very narrow,” NLFR Capt. Jim Kusz said.

Crews, who brought water to the 69-year-old victim, carried her to an awaiting Pacific West Ambulance in a stokes basket.

The rescue took nearly two hours in rugged terrain and hot conditions.

NLFR recommended the following for a safe hike:

  1. Travel with a companion OR Tell somebody where you’re going
  2. Know your physical limitations
  3. Check trail conditions before you go
  4. Bring a fully charged cellphone and a signaling mirror
  5. Learn basic first aid and bring a kit
  6. Watch cliff edges and slippery areas
  7. Bring appropriate clothing
  8. Wear proper hiking boots
  9. Keep an eye on the weather
  10. Drink lots of water
  11. Know your poisonous plants
  12. Heed warning signs

Pixie Kitchen Secret Recipe Demo set June 22 at Culinary Center

News Release
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Pixie Kitchen Secret Recipe Demo set June 22 at Culinary Center

The Culinary Center in Lincoln City invites you to take a trip back in time — a time when the Pixie Kitchen, a beloved long-lost restaurant, delighted kids and families with its signature menu. Learn the secret behind one of their most popular items from 1-3 p.m. Saturday, June 22, at the Pixie Kitchen Secret Recipe Demo.

The Culinary Center, in partnership with the Kiwanis Club of Lincoln City, will recreate delicious items, including authentic Pixie Kitchen Cole Slaw, angel food cake (courtesy of My Petite Sweet) and their legendary Cod Balls. Served with Wheat Thins, the secret recipe for the Cod Balls will be unveiled for lucky participants of this demo class.

“The Cod Balls were a popular item on the Pixie Kitchen menu,” Culinary Center Manager Donna Riani said. “Over the past few years, I have gotten many requests on how to make them. Well, here is your chance to learn the recipe! We will show you how to make this delicious dish.  Step back in time and enjoy a great meal with us.”

The Kiwanis Club of Lincoln City promises that this will be no ordinary demo class. Authentic Pixie Kitchen memorabilia such as cookbooks, cut out displays, fun house mirrors, and maybe even a Pixie or two will grace the Culinary Center stage. Milt Johnson, Chairperson of the Kiwanis Club Pixiefest Committee, is grateful for the opportunity to showcase the Pixie Kitchen.

“The Culinary Center of Lincoln City has been a major partner in bringing Pixie Kitchen and Pixieland back from the past,” Milt Johnson said. “Donna literally recreated the taste of Pixie Kitchen through her diligent research, interviews with family members and talks with former employees. We are grateful to her for hosting this culinary event and sharing some of the secrets of Pixie Kitchen.”

Tickets are $40 per person, which includes the meal and Willamette Valley Vineyards wine. Seats are limited and can be purchased online at CulinaryCenterLincolnCity.com.

The demo class serves as an appetizer for Pixiefest, June 29-30. Held on the athletic field at Taft High School, the family-friendly event returns to Lincoln City with new and improved prices, entertainment and more.

Learn more at Pixiefest.com.

Pixiefest moved to Taft High, other major changes announced

 

Samaritan North Lincoln Hospital welcomes new orthopedic surgery team

Mary Jo Kerlin
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Samaritan North Lincoln Hospital welcomes new orthopedic surgery team

orthopedic surgery

On June 1, Samaritan North Lincoln Hospital launched an orthopedic surgery program in partnership with Synergy Surgicalists, a nationwide company focused on expanding general and orthopedic surgery services in rural communities.

Designed to increase access to quality orthopedic care close to home, a team of three orthopedic surgeons will provide care out of Samaritan Coastal Clinic and the hospital, ensuring care for patients 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

“We are so pleased to once again offer complete orthopedic care at Samaritan North Lincoln Hospital,” SNLH Chief Executive Officer Lesley Ogden said. “The advantage of working with a team of orthopedic surgeons, rather than an individual surgeon, is continuous coverage for orthopedic medical appointments, consultations, planned surgeries and emergency surgeries at our hospital. This partnership allows us to bring three talented surgeons, each with different clinical strengths, into our community.”

Daniel Robertson

Daniel Robertson, MD, began June 1, providing care to general orthopedic patients of all ages.

Robertson earned a medical degree from University of Texas Medical School, Texas Medical Center. He completed residency training in orthopedic surgery at University of Texas – Houston Medical School, and a knee and sports medicine research fellowship at University of California, Kaiser Permanente.

 

Robert Blake

Robertson will be joined later this month by Robert Blake, MD, who earned a medical degree from Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons. He completed residency training in orthopedic surgery at University of Texas Health Science Center, and a fellowship in hand and microsurgery at Christine M. Kleinert Institute for Hand and Microsurgery.

 

Darren Herzog

Later this summer, Darren Herzog, MD, will complete the three-surgeon team. He earned a medical degree from University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine, completed residency training in orthopedic surgery at Detroit Medical Center/Wayne State University and completed an adult reconstruction fellowship at University of California.

For more information about the comprehensive orthopedic services now available in Lincoln City, call Samaritan Coastal Clinic at 541-557-6477.

Police officers honored for 65 years combined service

Justin Werner
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Police officers honored for 65 years combined service
Lane Hopkins
Detective Bud Lane, left, and 911 Dispatcher Mark Hopkins

Lincoln City Police Chief Jerry Palmer honored Detective Bud Lane for 30 years of service and police sergeant-turned-911-dispatcher Mark Hopkins for 35 years at Monday’s City Council meeting.

“Bud does anything that is asked of him over and above stuff that he does away from work,” Palmer said. “He’s lead on our Major Crimes Team, he works closely with our federal and state partners. He’s a remarkable employee that makes my job easier.”

Lane earned an Associate of Applied Science in criminal justice from Portland Community College in 1988. Lane joined the LCPD in 1989 and graduated the police academy in 1990. In 1991, Lane took on added responsibilities as evidence officer. Lane was promoted to detective in 1992.

“Detectives make our agency shine everyday,” Palmer said.

Hopkins, who retired from the department as a patrol sergeant in 2007, was also honored by Palmer for coming back in 2011 as a 911 dispatcher and hitting 35 years of service.

“Bud is one of those guys who I’m not sure we can retrain, and Mark is one of those examples that shows we can,” Palmer said.

Mayor Dick Anderson asked Lane to share the biggest difference he saw in his 30 years serving Lincoln City.

“I’ve seen a lot of improvement in the city itself, housing and our department in 30 years. It’s been really remarkable to see,” Lane said. “If anyone was here 30 years ago and you drove down Highway 101, you saw a lot of vacant buildings, a lot of depleted buildings — business and industry has been a major change.

“Our caseloads have changed. When I started out as a detective, I did bad check cases because there was not a lot to do. Those days are gone. I have not done a bad check case in 20 years. It’s person crimes now. It’s been an amazing change.”

Anderson asked Hopkins to share any thoughts on going from officer to dispatch.

“Its an unusual way for the career to go. More often it’s from dispatch into patrol,” Hopkins said. “This is a less complex role for me, but a different set of complexities in the 911 center. My colleagues are truly amazing, you guys are lucky to have them. Keep them. They’ll keep you all safe.”

Hopkins joined LCPD as an officer in 1980 after serving for three years as an officer in California. Hopkins was promoted to patrol sergeant in 1997 and retired in 2007. He successfully applied for 911 dispatcher in 2011.

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