The morning of July 16th the Lincoln County Fire Defense Board fulfilled a resource request from the Oregon State Fire Marshal's Office by mobilizing Strike Team 7 in support of the East Evans Creek Road Fire, located approximately 14 miles northeast of Rogue River in Jackson County, Oregon. Strike Team #7 is comprised of units from Lincoln, Linn & Tillamook Counties with the following resources. The deployment is being led by Strike Team Leader Mark Bernt of the City of Al

The green area shows where the problem pipe is and the square shows where the break is Lincoln County commissioners convened an emergency meeting on July 2 to authorize immediate septic repairs at the Lincoln County Courthouse, after a sewer line problem forced the shutdown of water service to much of the building and raised concerns about public health and access to essential court functions. The meeting, was called specifically to approve emergency procurement for the septi

Oregon Health Authority (OHA) is awarding about $97.1 million in additional federal funding to improve the health and well-being of Oregon’s rural communities this year. The grants will collectively support 136 new projects across all counties in the state. With this announcement, Oregon has so far awarded about $175.3 million total to support health in rural communities this year. Lincoln County will receive 12 grants. “Overwhelming interest in this program demonstrates the

Lincoln County commissioners adopted a package of year-end budget amendments during a special meeting June 30, while clashing briefly over public access and to commissioners access to backup documents and hearing sharp criticism from a citizen during public comment. Finance Director Lennon Pierce walked the board through a series of adjustments across multiple funds, including about $486,000 in increased materials and services for roads and highways, $125,000 for new motor ve

The Oregon State Marine Board, in partnership with marine law enforcement across the state, will be participating in Operation Dry Water, July 3rd through July 5th, as part of a nationally coordinated effort to reduce the number of accidents and fatalities related to boating under the influence of intoxicants (BUII). BUII includes consumption of prescription drugs, alcohol, inhalants, marijuana, or any combination impairing a person’s ability to operate a boat safely. The e

The Lincoln County Board of Commissioners formally recognized the work of local probation, parole and community supervision officers, proclaiming July 19–25, 2026 as Probation, Parole and Community Supervision Week in Lincoln County. Commissioner Casey Miller read the proclamation at the start of the board’s meeting, noting that juvenile and adult community supervision is “an essential part of the criminal justice and public safety system.” The proclamation stated that Lincol

NEWPORT — Lincoln County commissioners adopted the county’s 2026-27 budget after a process that raised questions about draft changes, audit findings, financial-system access and the public’s ability to review a 330-page spending plan before final approval. The dispute was not only about how much the county plans to spend. It was also about which version of the budget was being adopted, what changed between drafts and whether commissioners and residents had enough information

The Oregon Coast Aquarium opened “Amazon Basin: An Adventure for the Senses” on Saturday, May 23, immersing visitors in one of Earth’s most biodiverse ecosystems through sight, sound, smell and touch. The changing exhibit, running through Jan. 2, 2028, features the largest collection of animals in a temporary exhibit at the Aquarium in decades. Entry is included with general admission. True to its name, the exhibit is designed to be felt as much as seen. An interactive smell

The Lincoln County Board of Commissioners addressed multiple agenda items on June 3 but deferred final action on two matters: filling the vacant Position 2 seat and approving unapproved meeting minutes. Position 2 Vacancy Appointment The board did not reach a consensus on how to fill the Position 2 vacancy, which was created by the passing of Chair Claire Hall in January. Following an initial pool of 24 applicants, the county interviewed two finalists in March: Cristen Don of

During a series of town hall's Samaritan Health Services leaders laid out their case for affiliating with Washington-based MultiCare Health System during a public town hall in Newport, describing the proposed deal as essential to long‑term financial stability, expanded local services, and maintaining rural access to care on the central Oregon coast. President & Chief Executive Officer, Samaritan Health Services Marty Cahill was in Lincoln County providing information about th

In the May 19th election primary, results were counted for the second time on Wednesday May 20th and announced at 5pm with statewide results showing on Thursday May 21st at 7am. In Lincoln County right now the voter turnout was 44% and the statewide turnount was 34%. Here are the most recent results, for the race for Governor it looks like it will be Republican Christine Drazen who currently has 41% of the vote who is going against Tina Kotek, who has over 84%. For US Represe

Oregon Coast Community College’s Small Business Development Center wrapped up its annual youth pitch competition Wednesday night, giving Lincoln County high school students a public stage to present their business ideas and compete for startup funding. The event took place at the Gladys Valley building at OSU’s Hatfield Marine Science Center in Newport. Students from multiple local high schools delivered short business pitches to a panel of judges and an audience of parents,

Lincoln County’s reliance on an outside private investigation firm has prompted renewed scrutiny over taxpayer spending and the administration's handling of internal personnel disputes. At the center of the inquiry is the county’s retention of Ferraris Investigations & Consulting LLC to review county staff. One ongoing case involves a legal assistant in the District Attorney’s office, who has been on paid administrative leave since Oct. 12, 2025, with a hearing scheduled for

If you’ve received text or email messages claiming to be from Oregon DMV saying you owe money, you’re not alone. This nationwide scam, which began as a toll phishing scam, has been targeting drivers in several states for nearly two years. Oregon DMV will never send you notices, warnings or payment requests by text or email. DMV transactions should only be completed online at DMV2U, in person at a DMV office, at a self-service Express Kiosk or by mail. What to look for These f

May is Wildfire Awareness Month, and Benton and Lincoln counties are partnering to launch a coordinated campaign encouraging residents to take steps now to prevent wildfires and prepare their homes and families. With current conditions across Oregon, fire experts are predicting a potentially difficult wildfire season. Local officials say early action and community awareness are critical to reducing risk and protecting lives, property and natural resources. The campaign brin

U.S. Senator Ron Wyden announced he will hold an open-to-all town hall for Lincoln County on Thursday, May 7, at the Oregon Coast Community College campus in Newport, starting at 4:30. Heading into this town hall at the community college (400 SE College Way, Newport), Wyden has held 1,163 open-to-all town halls statewide in keeping his promise to hold at least one town hall each year in each of Oregon’s 36 counties. “I made my town hall pledge because all Oregonians deserve o

The Oregon Department of Emergency Management brought its Tsunami Roadshow to Lincoln County as part of a broader push to help coastal residents better prepare for disasters. The roadshow, which traveled down the Oregon coast , making stops in every coastal county, featured subject-matter experts in tsunami science and earthquake preparedness. In Lincoln County, the team delivered two identical presentations on April 2 – one at 11:30 a.m. in Newport and another at 6 p.m. in

Gone are the days when US Post Offices stayed open late on Tax Day. No more lines of cars in the Post Office driveway after dark. The late local news no longer features live interviews with taxpayers explaining why they waited until the last minute to file. Don’t be fooled, however. Taxpayers still wait until the last minute and it’s almost here. “As much as we wish it wasn’t, it’s normal for nearly half of returns to come in the last two weeks,” said Megan Denison, Persona

By Kiera Morgan During the October 1 Board of Commissioners meeting, Lincoln County District Attorney Jenna Wallace spoke during public...

Families enrolling children in Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in Oregon can now choose between the Standard English Book Collection...