Nelscot Plan Open House................................ PAGE 4 Cheering on Taft Cheer Team. . .................. PAGE 12
February 14, 2023
Serving Lincoln County since 1927
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Plan to close beach access under review
JEREMY C. RUARK Country Media, Inc.
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ehicle access to two locations along the beach at Lincoln City could be discontinued under a proposal under review by the Lincoln City Council and the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department. During a work session Feb. 8, the council reviewed the process that had been initiated in December in which the council passed Resolution 2022-45. The resolution is a formal request to the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) to begin a public process to permanently close the NW 34th Court access to the public and permit only emergency vehicle access to that location. The city council also requested that the ORPD review the NW 15th Street beach access regarding its suitability for continued use, including whether beach access is appropriate. The council Resolution 2022-45 extended the closure of NW 34th Court to December 2023. The vehicle beach access at NW 15th Street remains open. Congestion, safety concerns Discussion by city officials about the need for the vehicle access closures at the beach has been underway for several years. The concerns center around the vehicle congestion and public safety on the beach, especially in the summer. Access by emergency vehicles is slowed. High waves and sneaker waves along the beach have also raised concerns. Over the years, vehicles have gotten stuck in the sand, and on several occasions, been
swamped by the incoming tide. Pulling the vehicles from the rising tide can be dangerous and expensive, according to officials.
Following the Feb. 8 work session, Lincoln City Parks & Recreation Department Director Jeanne Sprague said the city is moving ahead with its request to the state agency. “Lincoln City is already following the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department process, by requesting the agency’s Parks Commission consider the requests in Council approved Resolution 2022-45,” Sprague said. ORRD response “These small parking areas are unique to Lincoln County,” OPRD spokesman Chris Havel said. “Other stretches of the beach are open to driving, but these spots are more about parking, and the closest parallel would be the spot up at Cape Kiwanda that went through this same process in 2020 and is now closed to most parking. So, our response is: when a local government formally asks is to change a beach driving rule, we do.” Havel said enforcement begins with education over citations.
“On the enforcement question, we can issue citations to people who bring a motor vehicle into an area where they aren’t allowed, but we usually start with warnings if the rule has changed recently,” he said. “We normally work with both county sheriff and state police on enforcement since they have actual law enforcement powers, and we don’t.” The OPRD regulates the ocean shore and beaches for public use and recreational access and issues permits for improvements on the ocean shore and for the removal of driftwood. Follow this developing story at thenewsguard.com and in the Tuesday print editions of The News Guard. Jeremy C. Ruark / Country Media, Inc. Traffic congestion blocking emergency vehicle access access to the beach, and public safety are the main concerns prompting closure review.
Oregon Supreme Court issues Measure 114 ruling JEREMY C. RUARK Country Media, Inc.
he Oregon Supreme Court has ruled against allowing Measure 114 to take effect. The measure would require a permit to purchase a firearm and a background check. The measure triggered a firestorm from gun shop owners and others that it was unconstitutional. The court ruled against a petition filed by the Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum in January. The measure was narrowly approved by voters in November but has been on hold due to continuing court challenges. Read the court decision in the information below provide by the Oregon Supreme
Court. Cases decided February 9, 2023. Joseph Arnold, et al. v. Tina Kotek et al., (CC 22CV41008) (SC S069998) On petition for a writ of mandamus filed January 13, 2023; considered and under advisement on January 31, 2023. The petition for a writ of mandamus is denied without prejudice. The motion for stay is dismissed as moot without prejudice. Opinion of the Court Per Curiam. Today, the Oregon Supreme Court denied a petition for writ of mandamus filed by the state, which had asked the Court to vacate two preliminary orders entered in a pending trial court action challenging Ballot Measure 114 (2022), enacted by the voters at the November 2022
ruary 2023. This means that February 2023 is the final month that ODHS is allowed to provide these emergency food benefits to people receiving SNAP in Oregon. These emergency food benefits have provided people in Oregon with $1.86 billion in additional money for food since April 2020. Fariborz said he is encouraging people who are concerned to start planning for this change today. “Having a plan ahead of time will reduce the chance of experiencing an emergency or crisis later,” he said. “There are food supports available to everyone in Oregon, you can find what is available in your community by contacting our partners at 211, the Oregon Food Bank or by visiting needfood.oregon.gov.”
“It’s critical that Oregonians facing reduced support for groceries know that food remains available to all who need it,” Oregon Food Bank CEO Susannah Morgan said. “Across rural, urban and suburban communities, more than 1,400 free food markets, pantries and meal sites are moving mountains to make sure families have the resources we need to fill the gap. And everyone is welcome — regardless of race, gender, religion or immigration status.” “The end of the emergency allotments, as we all know, will be a very hard time for many folks and families, but we know there are great people at 211, ODHS and our partner agencies who stand ready to help and will lead with compassion to help the community navigate this
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Jeremy C. Ruark / Country Media, Inc. Gun sales across the state sharply increased following passage of Ballot Measure 114.
SNAP emergency food allocations ending STAFF REPORT Country Media, Inc.
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ost residents in Lincoln County and across Oregon who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits will receive emergency allotments this month. Approximately 416,000 SNAP households will receive approximately $71 million in extra food benefits during February in addition to their regular SNAP benefits. This will be the final emergency allotment provided to Oregonians. March 2023 will be the first month since April 2020 that most people on SNAP in Oregon will only receive their regular SNAP food benefits. “We know that many rely on these additional emergency food benefits to get enough
healthy food for themselves and their families,” Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) Director Fariborz Pakseresht said. “As Oregon continues to be impacted by COVID-19 and the rising cost of food, we know that without these emergency food benefits some in Oregon may experience hardship and hunger. Why emergency food benefits are ending after February 2023 The federal government has approved emergency allotments every month since April 2020. The 2023 federal spending bill ended funding for emergency allotments. Due to this change, the federal government will no longer allow Oregon to issue emergency food benefits after Feb-
General Election. Measure 114 made several statutory changes pertaining to firearms, including requiring a permit to purchase a firearm (“permit-to-purchase requirement”); requiring completion of a criminal background check before a firearm may be purchased, acquired, delivered, or transferred (“background-check requirement”); and imposing restrictions regarding “large-capacity” magazines (“large-capacity magazine restrictions”), generally defined as fixed or detachable ammunition feeding devices with a capacity of more than 10 rounds of ammunition. Shortly after the election, plaintiffs filed in the Harney County Circuit Court a declaratory judgment action against three state defendants (“the state”),
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See RULING, Page 11
Fast Fact Approximately 416,000 SNAP households will receive approximately $71 million in extra food benefits during February in addition to their regular SNAP benefits. This will be the final emergency allottment provided to Oregonians. change,” 211info Emergency Management Director Kerry Hoeschen said. “At 211info we are available 24/7 to pro-
vide information and referrals to agencies offering support See FOOD, Page 11
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asserting that Measure 114 was unconstitutional under Article I, section 27, of the Oregon Constitution. Plaintiffs also sought preliminary relief, which the trial court granted in two orders: (1) a temporary restraining order as to the permit-to- purchase and background-check requirements, restraining their enforcement until state notification that the permit-to-purchase requirement is ready to implement and further preliminary hearing; and (2) a preliminary injunction as to the large-capacity magazine restrictions, enjoining their enforcement until a full hearing is held on plaintiffs’ complaint. The state filed a petition in the Supreme Court, seeking a
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