TNG328

28, 2023

Lincoln City’s Largest and Most Trusted News Source Since 1927

Tragedy to triumph

Rare whale skeleton to be on display

The skeleton of a rare 70-foot blue whale that washed up on the Oregon Coast several years ago will journey to Alberta, Canada later this week so a team of preservation and restoration specialists can prepare it for public display at Oregon State University’s Hatfield

Marine Science Center in Newport.

Oregon State’s Marine Mammal Institute has contracted with Alberta, Canada-based Dinosaur Valley Studios to complete the cleaning and preservation of the bones and build a permanent display for them.

Extraordinary educational opportunity

“The skeleton of this whale presents an extraordinary educational opportunity for students and researchers and an awe-inspiring experience for all visitors to the Oregon Coast,” said Lisa T. Ballance, director of the Marine Mammal Institute, which is part of OSU’s College of Agricultural Sciences. “We are thrilled to begin this next phase of the preservation and display process.”

The Marine Mammal Institute’s effort to preserve the whale skeleton began in 2015, when the carcass washed ashore near Gold Beach, Oregon. The event was so rare in Oregon that the last known beached blue whale was more than 200 years ago. Researchers from the Marine Mammal Institute saw the carcass as an opportunity for study and

$1.50

“The skeleton of this whale presents an extraordinary educational opportunity for students and researchers ...

education. After examining and dismantling the carcass, researchers bundled the remains of the skeleton in huge nets and submerged them in Yaquina Bay, where seawater and marine invertebrates cleaned the r.

The skeleton was in the water for more than three years before being removed in November 2019. The original plan to clean and restore the skeleton was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic but work is now resuming.

Skeletal reconstruction

Representatives from Dinosaur Valley Studios, which specializes in skeletal reconstruction of very large animals, have been in Newport this past week preparing the bones for transport to their studio in East Coulee, where they will complete the restoration.

The project is expected to take several months or more, depending on how much additional cleaning is needed, said Frank Hadfield, president of Dinosaur Valley Studios. Any remaining connective tissue, marine debris and oil will be removed, and the bones will be disinfected. The team will preserve the bones and build a steel display structure to hold the

See WHALE, Page 10

Far left:The whale washed up on shore in 2015. Center and right: The bones of the whale were laid out and inventoried for the restoration.

Local school site of multi-agency ‘critical event’ exercise

JEREMY C. RUARK Country Media, Inc.

Lincoln City Police Department (LCPD) officers will be taking part in a daylong specialized training session at Oceanlakle Elementary School, 2420, NE 22nd Street. April 1.

LCPD will be joined by public safety agencies from all over Lincoln County, in what is being described by LCPD Lt. Jeffrey Winn as, an interagency training exercise for emergency response to a large-scale critical event.

“This training event will be a day-long event that will allow emergency responders from Lincoln County to work and train together to become better prepared to respond in the event a critical incident occurs in our county,” Winn said.

Specifics about the train-

ing were not immediately available.

Winn said LCPD is alerting the public of the training in hopes of minimizing any alarm or confusion that may occur when people see a large concentration of police cars, fire vehicles, and ambulances heading to or parked at the school.

The training exercise will be occurring during Spring Break when no students will be present at the school, and the only school staff present will be those scheduled to take part in the exercise. Signs will be posted outside the school indicating that a training exercise is underway.

Agencies participating in the training exercise include the Toledo Fire Department, North Lincoln Fire and Rescue, Newport Fire Department, Lincoln City Police Department, Lincoln County

Sheriff’s Office, Newport Police Department, Pacific West Ambulance, First Student Transportation, Care Oregon, and the Lincoln County School District.

Winn said the emergency response agencies thank the Lincoln County School District for allowing the use of Ocfenalake Elementary School for the training exercise.

“The cooperation of all our emergency response agencies and our school district partners is crucial to helping keep the communities and citizens of Lincoln County safe,” Winn said.

Background

The LCPD has conducted such drills over the last several years as an effort to best prepare for mass casualty events. state seminars being conduct (OEM), in partnership with

See DRILL, Page 10

One Oregon Listening Tour comes to Lincoln City

JEREMY C. RUARK Country Media, Inc.

Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek said she expects to sign a historic affordable housing and homelessness solution legislation package into law this week.

During her One Oregon Listen Tour visit to Lincoln County Friday, March 24, Kotek acknowledged the multimillion-dollar package is part of the effort to deal with what has been described as the state’s top priority. She said the next step is gaining recommendations from members of the state’s housing advisory council, which expects to sub-

mit its report in the beginning of April.

“They are going to be coming up with a plan, saying removing the red tape, bring more people into the finances and the construction,” Kotek told reporters during a media gathering following the Lincoln County tour. “I am very impressed by the collaboration of the legislature. It’s pretty impressive. We all have to pull together.”

Other priorities

Kotek said beyond affordable housing and homelessness, there is the connective piece of mental health and ad-

diction that Oregon will need to address.

“We need to make sure if you are suffering or you are addicted, that you have a place to go (for treatment),” Kotek said.

The state also needs to focus on schools and students, on literacy, and to make sure students can catch up on reading, according to Kotek.

“So, we are very much focused on that,” she said. “The opportunities and the challenges are always the same. If you can bring the right people together, and seek their ideas, and have the resources, that’s the effort. So, part of my job is to make sure that all the mon-

ey that we do have is working and going in the same direction so we can help people. Sometimes it is about coordination. Sometimes it is about resources.”

Reaching all Oregonians

Kotek also stated that she supports the News Guard’s efforts as the publication prepares to launch a newspaper for the local Hispanic community.

“It is something that I have been thinking about, but I don’t know what the role of

MICHELLE KLAMPE News Guard Guest Article

Courtesy photos from OSU

Lisa T. Ballance, OSU Marine Mammal Institute Director

Jeremy C. Ruark / Country Media, Inc.

Lincoln City Mayor Susan Wahlke and Oregon Governor Tina Kotek share a moment during the Governor’s Lincoln County visit. See VISIT, Page 2

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

Continued from Page 1 the state could be,” she said.

“I do know that local newspapers, press outlets, are important to local communities and publications that can reach specific audiences is really important. We are going to have to talk about it, maybe with the newspaper association. When I see a paper go under, that’s not good. It is so important for a community’s communication. It is how we stay connected. We lose something in our democracy when we don’t have our local newspaper.”

Before the media session in Lincoln City at the end of her Lincoln County tour, Kotek met with Lincoln City Mayor Susan Wahlke and other local dignitaries to discuss local issues.

Wahlke told the News Guard that she urged Kotek to direct that state to be more flexible when disturbing funding.

“We need to be allowed to spend state money where we need it,” Wahlke said. “And to have flexibility with our transient room tax. We have more lodging tax money in our budget then we have in property taxes, and we are so restricted on how we can spend it.”

Wahlke said Kotek told her, “She is working on it and that flexibility is one of her goals.”

Kotek said she wants to work closely local city government to make sure they have the resources they need.

“I want to make sure that

when money is moving to the counties, that they are working with their with city partners to solve problems,” Kotek said.”

I want to support the good, unified partnerships.”

Wahlke said Kotek’s trip underscores the Governor’s knowledge “that things are happening in Lincoln City, and she wanted to hear about them.”

“She also is recognizing the true needs of rural communities, like Lincoln City,” Wahlke said.

Kotek said beyond her commitment to visit every Oregon county in her first year in office, she wants to return to Lincoln County, and she wants to hear from all Oregonians.

“I am a governor for the whole state,” she said. “If people email me and let me know that they need help, I see those, I get reports from staff, we do the best we can to make sure they are connected to the services they need in every part of the state. That’s my job. Working hard to make it all happen.”

Kotek said she is also taking away valuable learning opportunities with her state-

wide visits.

“That is very good feedback for me so I can go back to our state agencies with those details,” she said. “Our job is good customer service. These little pieces that come to me in these conversations are very important.”

Earlier in the day during the governor’s visit to Newport, Lincoln County School District Superintendent Karen Gray met with Kotek and stressed the need for adequate statewide child care. Gray also urged the governor to seek out an experienced educator from Oregon as the next deputy state school superintendent.

“We need a person who won’t back off,” Gray said, “and who supports diversity, equality and diversion, and someone approachable.”

As she left Lincoln City, Kotek said she is inspired.

“The First Lady and I are inspired, and we are excited. That’s why we got into this job,” Kotek said. “We love this state and know things can be better, no matter what the challenges. We signed up for this. We are here to solve problems.”

April 5

Nelscott Plan Advisory Committee Meeting

From 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the Lincoln City Council Chambers at City Hall, 801 SW Highway 101. The

public is welcome to attend. Please note that the public may observe, but there is no public comment in this meeting. This committee reserves the right to add or delete items as needed, change the order

of the agenda, and discuss any other business deemed necessary. For more information go to www.lincolncityor. iqm2.com/citizens/ calendar.aspx?view=calendar, or call 541996-2151.

Courtesy photo

High waves crashing against the shoreline at Cape Arago along the Oregon Coast. See more Coast Moment photos at thenewsguard.com.

“We love this state and know things can be better, no matter what the challenges. We signed up for this. We are here to solve problems.”

Tina Kotek, Oregon Governor

SHERIFF’S TIP OF THE WEEK

Be ready for spring break

LINCOLN COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE

For many schools, Spring Break is upon us! A break from school usually means time with friends and family, a rest from school, and travel. Regardless of how your household is spending spring break, there are some ways you can make your holiday safer while still having fun.

You already know the basics, stay hydrated, wear sunscreen, and avoid alcohol and other substances. If you do lawfully partake, be responsible and consume in moderation. If you are traveling, remember to prepare ahead and make plans to keep yourself and your companions safe. Below are some tips for a Spring Break safety.

Plan Ahead

Share your plans with loved ones including:

• Any arrival or departure dates. • Locations and contact information for where you are staying.

• Who you are traveling or staying with. Update your car or travel emergency supplies before heading out.

• Secure important documents like your passport and other ID.

Health and Safety

Practice outdoor safety:

• Wear sunscreen and eye protection.

• Seek shade and cooler temperatures in hot climates.

• Avoid cooling off in cold bodies of water. Drowning and/or hypothermia are more likely to occur when outdoor temperatures are warm and the water is cold.

Beer, wine price hike proposal killed

STAFF REPORT

Country Media, Inc.

• Wear life jackets and avoid alcohol or other substances while boating, swimming, or during other water activities.

Practice social responsibility

• Be considerate of others. Try talking out conflicts respectfully if issues arise.

• Don’t drink or use substances and drive.

• Remember the rules of consent. If someone does not want to drink, have sex, or participate in another activity, be respectful and don’t pressure them to do so.

• Use the buddy system. Travel with people you trust and do not leave someone behind or with strangers.

Don’t forget your pets

• If travelling with your fury, feathery, or scaly companion, don’t forget to bring emergency supplies for them.

• Be mindful of temperatures during activities or if you must leave them unattended.

• Have a backup pet sitter or emergency contact in case something happens before you can get back to them.

Spring Break can mean lasting memories with your friends. Unfortunately, it can also mean tragedy and increased accidents. As the weather continues to get nicer and there are more opportunities to be outdoors, remember to put safety first to protect yourself and those around you.

For more information and tips, visit our website at www. lincolncountysheriff.net and like us on Facebook at Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office – Oregon.

POLICE BLOTTER

The police blotter relates to the public record of incidents as reported by law enforcement agencies.

All individuals arrested or charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Information printed is preliminary and subject to change. For specific details about cases listed, contact the appropriate law enforcement agency.

Lincoln City Police

March 3 9:11 a.m.

Caller turned in a counterfeit $20 received in the 2300 block of NE Highway 101. Report taken.

7:51 p.m.

Victim reported that two subjects stole her puppy out of her yard inn the 200 block of SE Neptune Avenue. Report taken.

March 4

6:48 a.m.

Report of a Domestic Disturbance in the 500 block of SE Highway 101. One subject was arrested for Menacing and DV Assault IV and transported to jail.

1:17 p.m.

Caller reported purchasing fake jewelry in the parking lot inn the 1000 block of SE Highway 101. Report taken.

4:22 p.m.

Report of a Domestic Disturbance in the 500 block of SE Highway 101. One person arrested for Warrants, charged with Domestic Menacing and Domestic Harassment, transported to jail.

8:46 p.m.

Caller reported her boyfriend assaulted her in the 1200 block of SE Oar Avenue. Report taken.

March 5

3:27 a.m.

911 Hangup with sounds of possible disturbance in the 4000 block of SE Beach

The Oregon House Behavioral Health & Health Care committee chose not to schedule a hearing for HB 3312, the Alcohol Harm Reduction Act by the Friday, March 17 deadline, effectively overlooking and killing the legislation.

Sponsored by Rep. Tawna Sanchez, Rep. Travis Nelson and Rep. Lisa Reynolds, the Alcohol Harm Reduction Act was designed to reduce Oregon’s alcohol addiction rate from 12% to 5% by temporarily and marginally raising beer and wine taxes to fund immediate access to detox and treatment, pay for primary prevention programs and provide law enforcement with increased resources to address Oregon’s addiction crisis.

Oregon’s beer and wine taxes are second lowest in the nation and have not been raised by the Legislature in over 40 years., according to Oregon Recovers.

Oregon has the 5th highest alcohol addiction rate in the country and six Oregonians die each day due to alcohol.

That is the equivalent to three constituents dying each month in each House district,” Oregon Recovers Executive Director Mike Marshall stated in a release.

“Big Alcohol, organized by lobbyists for the beer and wine distributors, actively opposed the legislation, fearing it would diminish their profits,” Marshall said. “Comparatively, the House is moving forward with legislation to promote distilled liquor consumption and reimburse liquor store owners for diminished profits due to efforts to reduce underage and binge drinking.”

Alcohol is a toxic, addictive carcinogen and binge drinking costs the state economy $4.8 billion annually,

Avenue. On call back, female answered and said a male was threatening to harm her. Call disconnected again after caller indicated that she wasn’t safe to talk on the phone. One person was taken into custody and transported to jail for Domestic Menacing.

7:05 p.m.

Traffic crash reported in the 1400 block of Lake Road. Vehicle high-centered on retaining wall. Juvenile driver contacted at resident nearby. Car Care responded and towed vehicle. Juvenile driver cited for Careless Driving and no Oregon drivers license. Report taken.

9:20 p.m.

Caller reported a subject refusing to leave in the 3000 block of NE 28th Street. Subject uncooperative with staff and damaging property. Subject taken into custody. Report taken.

Oregon State Police

“It’s a sad day in Oregon when the Legislature has an opportunity to address one of the largest Behavioral Health crises affecting our residents and does not give it the time of day.”

Teri Morgan, Oregon Recovers Co-Chair Teri Morgan

according to the release.

“The state is in a crisis due to alcohol and it’s time for the Oregon Legislature to acknowledge that they have a drinking problem,” Marshall said. “Our elected leaders are ignoring that their constituents are dying from alcohol at alarming rates and instead spending their limited time advancing legislation to financially benefit Big Alcohol.”

“This decision once again demonstrates that the Oregon Legislature is not serious about dealing with the profound racial health inequities

March 7

A hit and run non-injury crash occurred at Highway 20 milepost 10 at 2:53 p.m. when a white Chevy pickup sideswiped a white Nissan Rouge causing moderate damage. The Chevy pickup fled the scene and was unable to be located. Victim was given a crash report for insurance purposes.

March 8

At 5:51 a.m.

A non-injury cash was reported at Highway and NE Valley Ridge Lane, Narrative. While traveling westbound on US 20, a blue Dodge pickup lost control due to icy conditions and rolled ending up on it driver side facing eastbound on the WB shoulder. The driver self-extricated himself and was checked by medics before refusing further medical services. Rowley’s towing was called for the vehicle. Photos were taken.

At 6:55 a.m.

A non-injury crash reported on Highway 20, milepost 30.5 westbound. Unit #1, a 1995 Ford flatbed truck lost control while westbound on US-20 coming down Cline Hill. The Ford crossed both eastbound lanes impacting the eastbound guardrail and then sliding back across all three lanes coming to a rest nose into the westbound guardrail blocking the entirety of the westbound and a portion on the eastbound A lane.

Unit #2, a 2004 Honda Coupe traveling westbound down Cline Hill lost control after seeing the lane blocked and slid on the ice crashing into the side of Unit #1. Unit # 2 was towed from the scene by Charlie’s Towing of Corvallis. Unit # 1 was driven to a nearby location out of the roadway to await assistance

ing on the Alcohol Harm Reduction Act, given the volume of legislation they are considering. The Committee did schedule hearings on the following bills:

• HB 3140, removes requirement Public Employees Benefit Board & Oregon Educators Benefit Board solicit new bids for actuarial or technical support every three years.

• HB 2420, directs Oregon Health Authority to adopt rules allowing county registrar to issue and sell records of live births and deaths occurring in any county. While both are important issues neither bill is designed to address a crisis and save Oregonians’ lives. At the request of the alcohol industry, the legislature has held hearings and voted to advance the following bills:

HB 2976, at the request of Oregon Distillers Guild, will redirect General Fund resources to promote liquor consumption and block Governor Kotek’s effort to raise the current bottle fee from $0.50 to $1.

HB 2502, will entitle liquor store operators to significant public funds if any laws designed to lower harmful alcohol consumption reduce their sales.

in this state,” Cielo Treatment Center Executive Director Solara Salazar said. “Native Americans die at 2 and half times the rate of white people due to the consumption of alcohol. Black and Latino Oregonians are more prone than white Oregonians to developing cirrhosis of the liver due to alcohol consumption. The bottom line is the decision to kill this important bill prevents the state from saving lives.”

The House Committee on Behavioral Health & Health Care has argued that there was not time to have a hear-

they arranged. All parties involved denied injuries and declined medical evaluation on scene.

At 7:39 a.m.

an injury crash was reported on Highway 229 and Drift Creek Road. A northbound blue Toyota Tacoma slid on ice and crashed into a tree. The vehicle rotated and came to rest facing northwest in the southbound lane. Driver was transported to Samaritan North Lincoln Hospital. Vehicle was towed by Menefees Towing.

At 3:52 p.m.

A Gray Honda Civic was stopped for speed on Highway 20 at milepost 25. The driver was found to be Driving While Suspended (DWS). The driver was warned for speed and issued a citation for DWS. The vehicle was towed by Coast Towing.

At 7 p.m.

A vehicle was stopped for a traffic violation on Highway 101 at milepost 157. The driver was found to be driving while suspended and uninsured. The vehicle was towed for SB780 impound by Rowley’s Towing out of Newport. The driver was cited for multiple traffic violations.

March 9

At 3:57 p.m.

A non-injury crash reported on Highway Location 101, milepost 125.8. A grey Volkswagen Jetta was stopped for flagged road work near milepost 126 on US-101 NB. A blue Kia Optima was being driven northbound towards the stopped Jetta and did not stop in time causing a rearend crash with the Jetta. No injuries were reported. Car Care Towing responded to remove the Jetta.

March 10

At 9:41 p.m.

SB 616, at the request of Oregon Brewers Guild, more than doubles the amount of beer and cider allowed for direct shipment to homes with children “It’s a sad day in Oregon when the Legislature has an opportunity to address one of the largest Behavioral Health crises affecting our residents and does not give it the time of day,” Oregon Recovers Co-Chair Teri Morgan said. “People are dying and we have a strategic way to start changing that laid out in this bill. Honestly, this should be one of their TOP priorities. It makes no sense to me.”

An OSP trooper attempted to stop a vehicle on highway 101 near mile post 163. The vehicle fled, lost control, and became stuck at the end of NE Brubaker Street in Yachats. Driver of the vehicle fled on foot. Passenger of the vehicle was detained and later released from the scene. The trooper applied for and was granted a vehicle seizure warrant. The vehicle was towed to NPO by Rowleys and the vehicle was secured in the NPO lot pending the application of a search warrant. The trooper applied for and was granted a search warrant for the vehicle. After serving the warrant a suspect has been developed in this case.

March 11

At 11:36 p.m.

A vehicle was stopped on Highway 18 milepost 5 eastbound for a traffic violation and the driver was found to be unlicensed and driving uninsured. The driver was previously stopped and warned not to drive again. The vehicle was towed for SB780 impound by Menefee Towing out of Cloverdale. The driver was cited and offered a ride to Lincoln City or to make a phone call on her behalf, which she refused emphatically.

March 12

At 7:14 a.m.

Two vehicles appeared to be racing through Depoe Bay on Highway 101. Radar checked vehicles traveling 88 mph in a 45 mph. It took four miles to catch the vehicles. The vehicles reached speeds of 106 mph, and they were stopped by multiple agencies. Both drivers were arrested as one of the driver’s showed signs of impairment and was arrested for DUII. The driver showing signs of impairment provided a breath sample of .08.

Metro Creative Connection

OBITUARIES

Kathy Lynn Bingham

May 26, 1955March 12, 2023

Kathy Lynn Bingham passed away Sun., March 12, 2023, in her home at Gleneden Beach, Oregon, due to complications from liver disease. Kathy was born in Oxnard, California, on May 26, 1955, lived in many places during her childhood and attended Sunset High School in Beaverton, Oregon.

For nearly thirty years, she called Gleneden Beach her home. Kathy cherished her relationship with her parents, Gordon and Marjorie Vaterlaus, until their pass ing in 2019. She also had a close-knit group of friends in the area. Kathy had a gift for sto rytelling and was quick with a joke or limerick. She will be remembered for her warm heart, infectious laugh, and riotous sense of humor and how she loved to dance!

Kathy is survived by her sister, Karen Leedom; and brothers, Eric Vaterlaus and Gary Vaterlaus, who stayed by her side and provided her with love and care in the days leading up to her passing. Kathy will be deeply missed.

Job Alen Clark

Aug. 27, 2001March 3, 2023

Job Clark passed away, at the age of 21, on March 3, 2023. He was a sweet and loving young man who was talented in his songwriting and skateboarding. He was known for being the comedian in the crowd and loved by survived by his father and mother, Joel and Emily Clark; and his sisters, Brook For all who would like to attend Job’s larger than life ceremony it will be held from noon – 8 p.m. on April 15, 2023 at the Lincoln City

Beach Club.

LaRena

Brenda Davis

Sept. 26, 1940March 7, 2023

LaRena Davis passed away on March 7, 2023 at the age of 82, with family (sister Teri) at her side and the hymn “How Great Thou Art” playing in the background. The void left by her passing to those that knew her is a testament to the mark she left on so many. She leaves a legacy of kindness and compassion that will live on through all that knew her. As she would often say… “Hmmm,” where to start. Born on Sept. 26, 1940 in Santa Ana, California, to Dorothy and Clifford Gates, LaRena, was the eldest of five children. As a child, her family moved to the Lincoln City area where she would live the rest of her life with her husband Dick Davis and family. LaRena married Dick

Davis at the age of 17 in 1958. They raised four children, Brenda Powers, Bonnie Picard, DaRelle Anderson, and Darin Davis. She loved and was so proud of all of them. LaRena and Dick had 64 wonderful years of marriage together.

LaRena went on to do many meaningful things during her life.

Her Christian faith was at the top of her list. She was an active member in the Church of the Nazarene for over 50 years, working with many different pastors such as Kelli Westmark, Don Moore and many others. She enjoyed planning worship services, teaching Sunday School, attending Ladies Bible Study and more.

LaRena and Dick had many “adventures” over the years including a razor clam operation in Cordova, Alaska, fishing in Alaska, owning All American Putt N Bat, and visiting Dick in Alaska where he cut timber to support his family. She was always up to the challenge. She spearheaded and was so proud of Community Vacation Bible School (CVBS), getting churches of all denominations together

to combine for one Bible School. With the help of family and friends it became a huge success with over 200 kids and ran for many years.

LaRena served as a teacher’s assistant at Taft High School for 17 years. She loved her work there with Mr. Kinney and John Sollers in particular, tutoring students with writing and grammar. Also, during her time there she started Taft High Oregon Student Safety on the Move (OSSOM) which was a state of Oregon anti-drug and alcohol program, which became the largest in the state. She loved her country, loved to “talk politics,” and loved to talk to people about the issues of the day whether they agreed or not.

LaRena is preceded in death by her mother Dorothy “Granna” Keithley; father Clifford Gates; and brother Louis Gates. She is survived by husband Dick; children, Brenda (Mike) Powers, Bonnie (Kevin) Picard, DaRelle (Scott) Anderson and Darin (Stacy) Davis; nine grandchildren; and six great grandchildren; and siblings, Charlotte (Mark) Olivier, Clinton (Janet) Gates and Teri (Randy)

Sawyer.

The countless things she accomplished during her life pale in comparison to her ability to connect and care for people. She could meet a new friend sitting next to her in a plane, at the ballpark, or just about anywhere. The connections and friendships she made over 82 years is what she valued most and why she will be missed so much. Instead of flowers or a donation, she would want you to give your mom, dad, kids, siblings or friends an extra hug in her memory. A life celebration will be held at 3 p.m. on April 15, 2023 at Faith Baptist Church in Lincoln City.

James Walter Stanfill

Nov. 29, 1961March 19, 2023

James Walter Stanfill passed away on March 19, 2023. He is survived by brothers, Robert, Woody, and Johnny; nephews, Jayden and Evie. He was loved by most, but not by all. He made jokes all the time. He will be missed.

A look back at Lincoln City History

Contributed by North Lincoln County Historical Museum

SEA MONSTER ATTRACTS

20,000

PEOPLE TO COAST; WIDE PUBLICITY GAINED

Headline from The North Lincoln News Guard for March 9, 1950

A large mass washed up on the beach where the D River Wayside is today in Delake and attracted national attention. It was said to weigh 1,5002,000 pounds and measured 18 feet in length. Locals disputed the claims of an Oregon State college professor of fish and game and a biologist for the Oregon State fish commission that the monster, was in fact, just whale blubber. This “Sea Monster” was said to have feathers growing out of it. Disputers claimed that these “could have come from sea gulls and other sea birds, either eaten by the animal or picked up as it rolled and tossed on the beach” There was an article in the paper four months later saying that the identity was still yet to be determined.

The Point of View Tavern in the background sat where D River Wayside is today. It was built in the early 1930s and was torn down in 1959.

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More families now claim the EITC

TYLER MAC INNIS News Guard Guest Column Oregon no longer dwells in the bottom when it comes to ensuring families eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) claim it. In fact, according to the most recently available data for the 2019 tax year, Oregon now finds itself a tick above the national average. That means thousands more Oregon families are now getting extra resources to help make ends meet.

In 2019, Oregon made a huge leap forward. That year, nearly 80 percent of Oregonians eligible for the EITC claimed it, the highest figure for Oregon on record dating back to 2012, when the IRS began publishing data on EITC uptake. By comparison, only about 73 percent of eligible households claimed the credit in 2018.

For years, Oregon ranked among the bottom of the list in EITC participation, falling as low as 50th among all states and the District of Columbia for tax years 2017 and 2018. But in 2019, Oregon jumped to the middle of the pack at 29th on the list, and slightly above the national average of 79.3 percent. While there is still room for improvement, the jump in the rankings deserves attention.

The Earned Income Tax Credit is one of the most effective tools for helping working families meet their basic needs and improve their lives. In 2019, households claiming the refundable portion of the credit received nearly $2,100 on average. That figure was higher for tax filers with children. Had Oregon’s EITC uptake rate remained at 2018 levels, 22,000 fewer households would have claimed the credit, making it that much more difficult for those families to make ends meet.

While it is difficult to say for certain what has led to the increase in EITC claims, several factors may be at play.

In 2017, Oregon lawmakers passed SB 398 which directed the Bureau of Labor and Industries to adopt rules requiring employers to send information about the EITC to employees alongside their W-2s. These notices aim to give better information on how to claim the credit to workers who may be eligible.

The pandemic stimulus payments may also have played a role. In order to be eligible for the first Economic Impact Payment issued in

April of 2020, a person needed to have filed their taxes for either 2018 or 2019. Efforts to ensure more Oregonians received federal stimulus payments likely brought some eligible non-filers into the fold, resulting in their receiving the EITC in 2019.

Still, tens of thousands Oregonians remain eligible for the EITC but do not claim it. Fortunately, Oregon lawmakers have not lost sight of the need to improve Oregon’s EITC uptake rate.

In 2022, Oregon created the Tax Infrastructure grant program at the Oregon Department of Human Services.

The Tax Infrastructure grant program can continue to improve Oregon’s EITC uptake by expanding taxpayer assistance for individuals who historically have not filed their taxes. The program not only supports a network of culturally specific, culturally responsive, and rural providers of taxpayer assistance, but also funds innovations in the tax filing system that respond to the needs of communities, especially those that have the most barriers to filing their taxes.

Another approach for ensuring Oregon families qualifying for the EITC get this vital tax credit is for the state and federal governments to enact a free tax filing system.

The reality is that both the IRS and the Oregon Department of Revenue often have in their possession all of the information that goes into a family’s tax return. In a free tax filing system, the IRS and the department would send everyone a pre-filled tax form. People would have the option of submitting it “as is,” correcting it, or rejecting it and preparing a tax return from scratch. A pre-filled tax return would not only relieve many Oregon families of the cost and hassle of preparing a tax return, it would increase the share of qualifying families who claim the earned income tax credit.

Today we can celebrate the progress Oregon has made in ensuring the more families claim the tax credit that can help them make ends meet. And we can vow to continue fighting for the policies that can ensure that all the families that qualify for the EITC actually get it.

Tyler Mac Innis is a policy analysist at the Oregon Center for Public Policy. The Center researches and analyses tax, budget, and economic issues. Our goal is to improve decision making and generate more opportunities for all Oregonians. To reach the Center, call 971-279-4732, or visit info(at)ocpp.org

How to cut ‘seed’ potatoes and ‘wormy’ berry awareness

CHIP BUBL News Guard Guest Column

As all gardeners know, potatoes are clones, planted from tubers or pieces of tubers grown and stored from the year before.

“Seed” potatoes that are larger than eggs are generally cut into egg-sized pieces before planting. This saves on the seed needed since one large potato could easily provide four seed pieces.

The process of cutting and curing the cut seed is important.

First, never use a potato with any signs of disease, either cut or uncut.

Second, after cutting, let the potatoes cure in a paper bag at 50-65 degrees for 4-6 days (gently shake the potatoes at day two) to develop the “corky” texture over the cut surface that will help protect the seed from disease once it is planted.

Third, consider dusting the seed pieces with sulfur at planting to further reduce disease concerns and to help protect the plant from potato scab. Finally, plant as soon as the potential for a 28-degree frost is over (usually around the third week in March but no guarantees). Cover with row covers if a frost is imminent.

“Worms” in berries –planning ahead

Did you notice small “worms” in your blackberries, raspberries, or blueberries last summer? Did the surface of the jam you were making start to wriggle? If so, I suspect you had larva (maggots) of the spotted wing drosophila (SWD).

SWD is a fly that lays its eggs in Marion berries and other blackberry varieties as well as strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries. Annual populations generally start slow, so June-bearing strawberries generally escape but day neutral strawberries

that bear over a longer time, don’t.

Blackberry issues depend on the ripening time of the fruit. Later fruit tends to be more infested depending on the timing of the SWD population development in each spring/summer year.

The female SWD is particular and won’t lay her eggs in unripe fruit. Only berries nearing the peak of flavor and sugars are good enough for her little maggot offspring. Unlike most fruit flies that need damaged fruit to be able to lay their eggs, the SWD female can saw her way in with a saw-tooth ovipositor (egg-laying device) that allows her to lay eggs in firm, but near ripe, fruit. Too clever by half!

Control is complex

First, destroy all dropped fruit/uneaten fruit which could harbor the little maggots.

Second, there are ways to trap SWDs to assess their number and risk to your crop (contact me for more information). Trapping won’t control the SWDs but will tell you when you need to do something.

Third, well timed sprays with a product containing spinosad will provide ~5 days of protection and good control of the adult female. Harvest/eating interval for blackberries is 1 day after spraying. From blueberries, it is three days.

Read and follow all label instructions.

One easily found home garden product with this active ingredient is Monterey Garden Insecticide. There are several others and all

should work just fine. Spinosad is considered “organic” in most home garden formulations.

Finally, sanitation late season is super important. Clean up dropped berries. Keep an open, well-ventilated canopy since the SWDs like cool and moist. And get rid of nearby “wild” blackberries since they provide sustenance for the SWDs that will overwinter.

Picture:

Oregon State University

Food Preservation

You can get up-to –date and accurate answers to your food preservation questions by calling our office at 503397-3462 and ask to speak to Jenny Rudolph.

Donate

Donate extra garden produce and/or money to the food bank, senior centers, or community meals programs. It always is greatly appreciated.

Free Newsletter

The Oregon State University Extension office in Columbia County publishes a monthly newsletter on gardening and farming topics. All you need to do is ask for it and it will be mailed or emailed to you. Call 503-397-3462 to be put on the list. Alternatively, you can find it on the web at http://extension.oregonstate. edu/columbia/ and click on newsletters.

If you have questions on any of these topics or other home garden and/or farm questions, contact Chip Bubl, Oregon State University Extension office in St. Helens at 503-397-3462 or at chip. bubl@oregonstate.edu. The office is open from 8 a.m.- 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. To reach the Lincoln County office of the OSU Extension Service, call 541-554-6534

Tyler Mac Innis

Two local cities highlighted in new state video

STAFF REPORT

Country Media, Inc.

SAIF is featuring two coastal organizations in the new web video series, Oregon Odd Jobs.

At Lincoln City Glass Center, owner and founder Kelly Howard showed host Corey Jenkins, SAIF’s creative services supervisor, how to blow one of their famous glass floats while staying safe on the job.

In Newport, Oregon Coast Aquarium mammologist Megan Pros, environmental health and safety manager Patricia Howe, and aquarist Abby Henderson walked Corey through the care and feed-

ing of the aquarium’s many animals.

Both episodes of the series are available on YouTube or at saif.com/oddjobs.

SAIF is taking a look at uniquely Oregon jobs across the state, and how they’re done safely. More information is below, and interviews are available by request.

SAIF visited workplaces across the state to create a new YouTube series, Oregon Odd Jobs. The series showcases uniquely Oregon jobs and how they’re done safely.

“While safety is everyone’s responsibility, we all go about it differently depending on the job we do,” says SAIF safety consultant Dawn Jacobs. “Oregon Odd Jobs highlights the weird and won-

derful while giving us a look at how Oregonians stay safe.”

Among other things, the videos teach how these businesses find safety success as they combat complacency, stay alert to surrounding hazards, keep up with safety innovations, and put safety redundancies in place.

The first three episodes feature Homestead Log Homes in Central Point, Oregon Potato Company in Boardman, and Oaks Park Amusement Park in Portland. Host Corey Jenkins, SAIF’s creative services supervisor, tries his hand at building log homes, grinding potatoes, and inspecting roller coasters.

SAIF will publish new episodes every two weeks. Future episodes include

wrangling llamas, blowing glass, and feeding sharks. Subscribe to SAIF’s YouTube page for future episodes and other safetyrelated videos

About SAIF

SAIF is a not-for-profit workers’ compensation insurance company and the leading workers’ compensation insurance carrier in Oregon. Since 1914, we’ve been taking care of injured workers and helping people get back to work.

For more information, visit the About SAIF page on saif.com.

Legislation for 500,000-acre land transfer proposed

BOB ATIYEH News Guard Guest Article

Legislation to transfer up to 500,000 acres of state forest land from the Clatsop and Tillamook State Forests to their respective counties has been introduced by State Senator David Smith (R-Port Orford), State Senator Fred Girod (R-Stayton) and State Senator Lynn Findley (R-Vale).

Senate Bill 795 was introduced at the same time that the Oregon Department of Forestry is working on a Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) that will provide guidelines for managing Oregon’s State Forests over the next 70 years.

The HCP would enhance protections for fisheries, critical wildlife habitat, and

endangered species, while bringing the state into compliance with the Federal Endangered Species Act. The HCP was created after substantial public input, and provides for a roughly a 50/50 split between conservation of natural resources and timber harvest.

Former Clatsop County State Senator and 2022 Independent Gubernatorial candidate Betsy Johnson harshly criticized the Habitat Conservation Plan at a recent Oregon Board of Forestry meeting in Corvallis.

Johnson’s criticism was due to a potential 28% reduction in timber harvest on State forest land over the next two years as the plan is being fully implemented. The projected harvest levels over the 70-

year life of the HCP are unlikely to remain as low as the current projections for timber harvest in 2023 and 2024.

According to the Wild Salmon Center, the $550 million North Oregon Coast recreation economy contributed $52 million to State and local taxes in 2019. The Tillamook State Forest is crucial habitat for endangered species such as Coho Salmon, with hundreds of fishing guides, outfitters and commercial fishermen dependent on healthy fish runs.

Wild Salmon Center added that counties lack the expertise and financial resources to properly manage hundreds of thousands of acres of forest lands. These lands would likely end up being sold to

private interests and subject to increased clear-cutting and habitat degradation and fragmentation, while potentially compromising water quality in streams that provide drinking water to more than 500,000 Oregonians.

In 2018, researchers at Oregon State University, led by forest ecologist Beverly Law, found that industrial timber production in Oregon is responsible for an estimated 33 million tons of annual carbon dioxide emissions through logging, slash burning, disturbance of forest soils, and milling (which fractures the wood and releases carbon.

This Oregon State University study was peer reviewed and published by the “Proceedings of the National

$38M for Oregon’s fish, wildlife conservation, outdoor access

STAFF REPORT

Country Media, Inc.

Oregon is receiving nearly $38 million for fish and wildlife conservation and outdoor access.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) will be awarding the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) $28,513,417 from the Wildlife Restoration fund for wildlife habitat restoration projects and research aimed to better manage wild-

life species, and $9,229,182 from the Sport Fish Restoration (SFR) fund to support important fisheries, monitoring, and education programs throughout Oregon.

The funding has been announced by Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden. USFWS is providing over $1.6 billion through the Wildlife Restoration Program, the nation’s oldest and most successful wildlife restoration program, to support states,

commonwealths and territories in their efforts to connect people with nature and conserve fish, wildlife and their habitats.

ODFW utilizes the Wildlife Restoration funds to supports the operation and maintenance of 17 wildlife areas and 7 regional habitat programs which are designed to provide technical assistance and enhance wildlife habitats on public and private lands.

The funds will support fisheries, ensuring wild

stocks are adequately protected, to keep a finger on the pulse of several of our iconic salmon/steelhead populations, including those in the Rogue, Deschutes, Willamette, and Umpqua rivers and along the Oregon Coast, and support the Salmon and Trout Enhancement Program, which engages volunteers throughout the state in education, habitat restoration, monitoring, and fish propagation activities.

Academy of Sciences”, one of the most stringent journals in the world. The Oregon Forest Practices Act mandates that land must be replanted after timber harvest, but younger forests absorb far less carbon than older forests; with this study noting that Oregon’s total carbon emissions could be substantially reduced if trees were harvested on a longer rotation schedule, instead of the 40-year rotation common on the millions of acres of corporate-owned commercial timber land.

In late 2022, the Oregon Employment Department reported that Oregon’s forest industry employed 62,000 workers in 2021, or 3% of the

State’s total workforce, with private companies employing the vast majority of these workers.

Though just 3% of the total state workforce, timber related jobs accounted for an average of 7% of total employment in many rural counties; and employed 10% of the workforce in Crook, Douglas, Jefferson and Lake Counties, and 20% in Grant County. In Clatsop County, forest industry jobs paid an average of $78,000 a year, compared to an annual average of $45,000 for all other jobs.

Bob Atiyeh is a news Guard correspondent who residents in Tillamook.

Courtesy photo from SAIF

A diver cleans the large Passages of the Deep exhibit at the Oregon Coast Aquarium.

NG23-456 IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE STATE OF OREGON FOR THE COUNTY OF LINCOLN In the Matter of the Estate of:

WILLIAM ALBERT VANDAGRIFF, Deceased. Case No. 32PB02320 NOTICE

TO INTERESTED PER-

SONS NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that AMY EUCKER has been appointed personal representative. All persons having claims against the estate are required to present them, with vouchers attached, to Personal Representative, AMY EUCKER, at the address below, within four months after the date of first publication of this notice, or the claims may be barred. All persons whose rights may be affected by the proceedings may obtain additional information from the records of the court, the personal representative, or the attorneys for the personal representative. ADDRESS FOR PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE: c/-o

Attorney David V. Cramer, OSB #992479 Zantello Law Group 2941 NW Highway 101 Lincoln City, OR 97367 DATED and first published: March 28, 2023. David V. Cramer, Attorney for Personal Representative.

NG23-455 IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE STATE OF OREGON FOR THE COUNTY OF LINCOLN In the Matter of the Estate of: NORMA EILEEN THOMPSON, Deceased. Case No. 23PB02197 NOTICE TO INTERESTED PERSONS NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that SHEILA JUSTINE BORDEN has been appointed personal representative. All per-

sons having claims against the estate are required to present them, with vouchers attached, to Personal Representative, SHEILA JUSTINE BORDEN, at the address below, within four months after the date of first publication of this notice, or the claims may be barred. All persons whose rights may be affected by the proceedings may obtain additional information from the records of the court, the personal representative, or the attorneys for the personal representative. ADDRESS FOR PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE: c/-o

Attorney David V. Cramer, OSB #992479 Zantello Law Group, 2941 NW Highway 101, Lincoln City, OR 97367 DATED and first published: March 21, 2023. David V. Cramer, Attorney for Personal Representative.

NG23-450 TS No. OR08000192-22-1

APN R368066 TO No 220659815-OR-MSO

TRUSTEE’S NOTICE OF SALE Reference is made to that certain Trust Deed made by, STEPHANIE ALLISON BOSCH as Grantor to TRUSTEE SERVICES, INC. as Trustee, in favor of RED CANOE CREDIT UNION as Beneficiary dated as of February 18, 2021 and recorded on February 19, 2021 as Instrument No. 2021-02048 of official records in the Office of the Recorder of Lincoln County, Oregon to-wit: APN: R368066 LOT 3, BLOCK

2, CREST LINE ESTATES, IN THE CITY OF WALDPORT, LINCOLN COUNTY, OREGON, ACCORDING TO THE OFFICIAL PLAT THEREOF RECORDED JUNE 9, 1966 IN PLAT BOOK 10, PAGE 12, PLAT RECORDS. Commonly

known as: 120 SW GREENWOOD WAY, WALDPORT, OR 97394 Both the Beneficiary, Red Canoe Credit Union, and the Trustee, Nathan F. Smith, Esq., OSB #120112, have elected to sell the said real property to satisfy the obligations secured by said Trust Deed and notice has been recorded pursuant to Section 86.735(3) of Oregon Revised Statutes. The default for which the foreclosure is made is the Grantor’s failure to pay: Failed to pay payments which became due Monthly Payment(s):

1 Monthly Payment(s) from 07/01/2022 to 02/01/2023 at $15,339.75 Monthly Late Charge(s):

1 Monthly Late Charge(s) By this reason of said default the Beneficiary has declared all obligations secured by said Trust Deed immediately due and payable, said sums being the following, to-wit: The sum of $322,116.53 together with interest thereon at the rate of 3.00000% per annum from June 1, 2022 until paid; plus all accrued late charges thereon; and all Trustee’s fees, foreclosure costs and any sums advanced by the Beneficiary pursuant to the terms of said Trust Deed. Wherefore, notice is hereby given that, the undersigned Trustee will on July 17, 2023 at the hour of 10:00 AM, Standard of Time, as established by Section 187.110, Oregon Revised Statues, at the Olive Street entrance to the Lincoln County Courthouse, 225 W Olive, Newport, OR 97365 County of Lincoln, sell at public auction to the highest bidder for cash the interest in the said described real property which the Grantor had or had power to convey at the time of the execution by him of the said Trust Deed, together

with any interest which the Grantor or his successors in interest acquired after the execution of said Trust Deed, to satisfy the foregoing obligations thereby secured and the costs and expenses of sale, including a reasonable charge by the Trustee. Notice is further given that any person named in Section 86.753 of Oregon Revised Statutes has the right to have the foreclosure proceeding dismissed and the Trust Deed reinstated by payment to the Beneficiary of the entire amount then due (other than such portion of said principal as would not then be due had no default occurred), together with the costs, Trustee’s or attorney’s fees and curing any other default complained of in the Notice of Default

by tendering the performance required under the obligation or Trust Deed, at any time prior to five days before the date last set for sale. Without limiting the Trustee’s disclaimer of representations or warranties, Oregon law requires the Trustee to state in this notice that some residential property sold at a Trustee’s sale may have been used in manufacturing methamphetamines, the chemical components of which are known to be toxic. Prospective purchasers of residential property should be aware of this potential danger before deciding to place a bid for this property at the Trustee’s sale. In construing this notice, the masculine gender includes the feminine and the neuter, the singular includes plural,

the word “Grantor” includes any successor in interest to the Grantor as well as any other persons owing an obligation, the performance of which is secured by said Trust Deed, the words “Trustee” and “Beneficiary” includes their respective successors in interest, if any. Dated: 3/1/2023 By: Nathan F. Smith, Esq., OSB #120112 Successor Trustee Malcolm & Cisneros, A Law Corporation Attention: Nathan F. Smith, Esq., OSB #120112 c/o TRUSTEE CORPS 17100 Gillette Ave, Irvine, CA 92614 949-252-8300 Order Number 89932, Pub Dates: 3/14/2023, 3/21/2023, 3/28/2023, 4/4/2023, THE NEWS GUARD

SOLVE celebrates Earth Day

STAFF REPORT

Country Media, Inc.

Lincoln and Tillamook County residents and visitors have an opportunity to make an environmental difference in April.

The Oregon Spring Clean Up, coincides with Earth Day and is presented by Portland General Electric.

With the support of SOLVE, community leaders and partner organizations host restoration events, urban litter cleanup projects, and beach cleanups.

Volunteer registration is now live, and all Oregonians are encouraged to sign up for this statewide cleanup event. Most Oregon Spring Cleanup events will occur on Earth Day, April 22, but SOLVE will be highlighting community events occurring between April 15-23.

PGE has been supporting SOLVE’s mission to take care of Oregon’s natural spaces for more than thirty years. Each

volunteer project is aimed at caring for one of Oregon’s most precious resources, our water, from source to sea. Removing invasive plant species, nurturing native plants, and collecting litter are all easy ways volunteers can create a positive impact on Oregon’s water quality.

Last year, during the 2022 Oregon Spring Cleanup, over 3,500 volunteers removed 44,000 pounds of litter and debris statewide. Sign up to volunteer today and let’s continue to build upon the momentum of last year’s events.

Each piece of litter collected prevents it from entering a nearby river, waterway, or storm drain, where it will eventually make its way to the sea and contribute to our global marine debris crisis.

Interested community members are encouraged to visit www.solveoregon.org to see a list of volunteer projects and sign up. The website allows you to see a map of Oregon and helps to easily locate

River Clean Up set for April 1

STAFF REPORT

Country Media, Inc.

The annual Siletz River Clean Up is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday April 1 starting at Hee Hee Illahe Park in Siletz.

“Bring your friends and family and have fun while giving back to our beautiful river,” river clean up organizers state in a release.

After a 3-year hiatus due to COVID-19, the annual clean-up event is returning.

“Participants will pick up trash by boat and by foot to support the health of this important river system,” the release reads.

The clean-up is sponsored by the MidCoast Watersheds Council and relies on those who value the river.

For over 20 years, residents, Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians, and river users from the Oregon Coast and Willamette Valley have participated in the clean up event. important fishing area, sup

Siletz River Clean Up

9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 1

Hee Hee Illahe Park , Siletz

porting populations of coho salmon, spring chinook, rainbow trout, and steelhead. The cities of Siletz, Toledo, Newport, and Seal Rock also rely on drinking water from the Siletz River.

Organizers said the trash collection ranges from smaller items such as plastic bottles and food containers, to larger items like car tires.

“By working with local boat owners, we are able to remove much more trash— and much larger pieces of trash— from the river than would be possible with just land-based coverage,” the organizers said.

Coffee and donuts will be provided for the welcome and

dumpster provided by Dahl Disposal Services. Volunteers are encouraged to stay to enjoy a BBQ lunch with meat and vegetarian options provided at no cost.

Those who wish to participate in the clean up are asked to bring friends, gloves, waterproof boots, and dress in layers to take part in this community effort. Pre-registration is not required.

If river flows are over 5.5 feet according to the nearby gauge (https://water.weather. gov/ahps2/hydrograph.php?gage=silo3&wfo=pqr) the clean up will have to postpone. Updates can be found at midcoastwatersheds.org.

projects near you! All necessary tools and supplies will be provided. The Oregon Spring Cleanup presented by PGE is a great way to connect with family members, coworkers, and neighbors, all while collectively giving back to some of Oregon’s most beautiful places.

About SOLVE

SOLVE is a statewide non-profit organization that brings Oregonians together to improve our environment and build a legacy of stewardship. Since 1969, the organization has grown from a small, grassroots group to a national model of volunteer action.

Today, SOLVE mobilizes and trains tens of thousands of volunteers of all ages across Oregon to clean and restore our neighborhoods and natural areas, and to build a legacy of stewardship for our state. Visit solveoregon.org for more information.

Courtesy photo

Last year, during the 2022 Oregon Spring Cleanup, more than 3,500 volunteers removed 44,000 pounds of litter and debris statewide. Sign up to volunteer today and let’s continue to build upon the momentum of last year’s events.

Congressional efforts to protect monarch butterflys

JEREMY C. RUARK Country Media, Inc.

The south Oregon Coast city of Brookings celebrates the Monarch Butterfly each year with a festival at Azalea Park. Now, additional protection for the butterfly is proposed in the U.S. Congress.

Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and Representative Jimmy Panetta (D-CA) have introduced the 2023 Monarch Action, Recovery

and Conservation of Habitat (MONARCH) Act.

The bill introduced March 17 in the U.S. Senate will be introduced in the House of Representatives in the coming weeks. The bicameral MONARCH Act would help prevent the extinction of the western monarch butterfly and other critically important pollinators.

The MONARCH Act would provide urgent protections for the struggling western monarch butterfly,

an iconic and important butterfly whose population has dropped by 99% since the 1980s.

The legislation would authorize $62.5 million for projects aimed at conserving the western monarch and an additional $62.5 million to implement the Western Monarch Butterfly Conservation Plan, which was prepared by the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies in January 2019. The $62.5 million in funding for each effort would be divided into five annual installments of $12.5 million.

“We’ve all experienced the moment of childhood joy

and excitement when we spot a butterfly dancing in the air,” Merkley said. “Though western monarch populations were already in peril, this year’s

extreme winter storms have hit overwintering monarchs hard and made addressing this threat even more urgent. Protecting monarch butterflies and other pollinators is a critical issue that requires sustainable solutions, and we must do everything we can to implement experts’ conservation plans and save these species before time runs out.”

“Fortunately, we in California’s 19th Congressional District have long treasured the western monarch butterflies who overwinter in our communities. Unfortunately, we recently are experiencing the significant decline of their population partly due to the shrinking of their habitats,” Panetta said. “That’s why I’m continuing to lead the House effort to provide the necessary federal investments to restore their habitat and help save the western monarch butterfly from extinction. I look forward to working with my colleagues in the House and the Senate to conserve and restore their habitats so that together we can protect and perpetuate monarchs and other essential pollinators.”

The MONARCH Act is cosponsored by Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Ron Wyden (D-OR), and Martin Heinrich (D-NM).

Courtesy photo

This photo illustrates what volunteers found during a previous Siletz River clean up.

Courtesy photo from the USFWS

The legislation would help protect and restore pollinator populations decimated by recent winter storms on the West Coast.

State urges property owners to buy flood insurance

STAFF REPORT County Media, Inc.

As Oregon heads into spring, heavy rainfall and snow melt are expected to follow, which may lead to flooding in many areas.

The Oregon Division of Financial Regulation (ODFR) urges homeowners and businesses to consider protecting their properties with comprehensive flood insurance, which offers many benefits during natural disasters.

Flood insurance provides peace of mind to property owners that they are protected from the financial devastation that often accompanies natural disasters. Floods can cause extensive damage to homes and businesses, including structural damage, loss of personal property, and

home. With flood insurance, property owners can focus on recovering and rebuilding without the added stress of financial burden, according to the ODFR.

do not cover flood damage.

However, you can buy flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and some private insurers, according to Oregon

Consumer and Business Services Andrew Stolfi.

“Many people assume that their homeowner’s insurance policy will cover damages from a flood, but that is typi-

Kettner

“Flood insurance is a separate policy that provides coverage for damages caused by flooding, and it is important for homeowners and businesses to evaluate whether to have this coverage to protect their

Flood insurance policies can be tailored to meet the specific needs of each customer, providing options for building coverage, contents coverage, and replacement cost coverage. In addition, excess flood coverage is available for those who need additional protection above and beyond the standard policy limits. DFR encourages property owners to consider flood insurance as a crucial part of their disaster preparedness plan. “Don’t wait until it’s too late to protect your property from flooding, or any kind of disaster,” Stolfi said. “With a flood insurance policy, you can have solace knowing you are prepared.”

For more information visit

What the Oregon CHIPS Bill means to the economy

STAFF REPORT

Country Media. Inc.

The Oregon Legislature’s Joint Committee on Semiconductors has passed on a bipartisan vote the OR CHIPS Bill (Senate Bill 4).

The bill is the Oregon Legislature’s first step toward securing the future of Oregon’s semiconductor economy.

The bill is designed to empower Oregon businesses to apply for a share of $52 billion in federal money from the CHIPS and Science Act. This money represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to solidify Oregon’s place as a global leader in semiconductor development and manufacturing.

“This is a crucial first step towards securing Oregon’s semiconductor future. This legislation will create goodpaying, long-term jobs in every corner of our state, keep Oregon’s economy stable and competitive in the 21st Century, and protect America’s critical semiconductor supply chain,” Sen. Janeen Sollman (D-Hillsboro) said.

The bill allocates $190 million to the Oregon CHIPS Fund to be distributed via grants and loans for:

Development and acquisition of a site for semiconductor manufacturing Semiconductor research and development Workforce development, including internships and ap-

Drill

Continued from Page 1 sector entities. The agencies have launched a Mass Casualty Impact and Recovery virtual seminar series.

The nine-session series is designed for companies and organizations interested in enhancing their knowledge and understanding of the impact and recovery of an active

Whale

Continued from Page 1 articulated skeleton. The design uses an external cradle system and requires no drilling, leaving the bones intact and available for study by researchers, Hadfield said.

The challenges

One of the project’s chal-

Loan Fund for financial assistance to local governments to prepare sites for semiconductor industrial development. The University Innovation Research Fund will also receive $10 million for public universities to leverage federal research grants.

“Oregon is a world class hub for semiconductors, and with SB 4, we are making our

shooter or other mass casualty event.

“As emergency managers, we strive to make our communities more resilient and better prepared to handle unexpected disasters of every kind,” OEM Interim Director Matt Garrett. “While it’s disheartening that there’s a need to hold such a series, the reality is, no matter where we live,

lenges is the animal’s sheer size: a blue whale skeleton contains 365 bones ranging in size from tiny to enormous. For example, the mandibles, or jaw bones, are 18 feet long. Some of the phalanges, which are fingers from the flipper, are just a couple of inches long.

Hadfield and his team have preserved other whale

The bill requires that projects funded by OR CHIPS commit to creating permanent, full-time jobs and have a net positive impact on local and state revenues. Semiconductor research and manufacturing jobs are well-paying, stable careers that often do not require fouryear degrees. An estimated 26,000 jobs would be created

work, or go to school, we’re all vulnerable to mass casualty events. These seminars will provide our partners with the resources they need to be better prepared to respond to a future tragic situation.”

More than 1,100 people from 49 states and 25 countries – representing the private sector, nonprofits and government entities – have signed

skeletons and the 24-foot skull of a blue whale, but this will be the group’s first complete blue whale skeleton. Dinosaur Valley got its start, and its name, through its work rebuilding dinosaurs. The company is located adjacent to Drumheller, Alberta, which is known for its extensive deposits of dinosaur bones.

“This is a great first step, but phase two begins now. Oregon has work left to do to attract business and invest in our future shared prosperity,” said Rep. Kim Wallan (R-Medford) said. “I look forward to continuing to work with this powerhouse committee.”

“OR CHIPS is a game changer for Oregon,” Senate Majority Leader Kate Lieber

up for the series, which will feature subject matter experts sharing critical infrastructure best practices, valuable lessons, and planning resources and tools to assist with mass casualty impact and recovery.

The Mass Casualty Impact and Recovery seminar series will be held every third Thursday from March through November on Microsoft Teams

“This is the largest project we’ve ever done,” Hadfield said this week. “The good news is the integrity of these bones is beautiful – they are in really great condition. Most of the residual oils have already been purged, which will make our job easier.”

The project has received enthusiastic support from the public since the idea was

create thousands of family-wage jobs, and put Oregon families in every corner of this state on the path to prosperity.

“There is still more work to be done, but I applaud the urgency and effectiveness of this committee in passing such a consequential piece of legislation this early in session.”

The bill also establishes a balanced land use solu-

live events. Each month will cover a different topic, including addressing immediate needs; crisis communications for media response; providing immediate crisis support; reopening and resuming operations; negotiating short-, mid- and long-term recovery; post incident scams and fraud; and civil and criminal judicial processes.

first introduced, Ballance said. The institute has raised $250,000 for the project and is seeking an additional $150,000 in donations to complete the restoration and display. For more information on the campaign, “Help us build a whale,” visit: beav.es/ bones.

“We are deeply grateful for the public’s support of this

tion that respects Oregon’s 50-year-old land use system while allowing flexibility so billion-dollar manufacturing centers. Under Senate Bill 4, the governor will have the authority to site a maximum of eight new areas outside of

The authority to issue an executive order is limited by clear guardrails within the

• Conduct one public

• Accept public comments for at least 20 days following

• Determine that there is not an existing site within the urban growth boundary that

• Any land brought into the urban growth boundary must be used for semiconductor manufacturing purposes. If a al money through the federal CHIPS Act, the governor can then remove the land from the

• Any legal challenges must be initiated within 60 days and will be directed to the Oregon Supreme Court to ensure due process is respected and Oregon does not miss out on any manufacturing opportunities due to a protracted legal process.

Senate Bill 4 now moves to the Joint Ways and Means Committee for consideration.

Anyone with concerns or questions about the April 1 Lincoln City training, is asked to contact Lt. Jeffrey Winn at 541-994-3636, or Toledo Fire Department Training Captain Shannon Brecik, at 541-3363311 x 5203. Learn more and register for one or all seminars at Eventbrite.

project,” Ballance said. “It is an unforgettable experience to engage with a blue whale and this display will make that possible for so many.”

Michelle Klampe is a writer-news researcher at Oregon State University Relations and Marketing. She may be reached at michelle. klampe@oregonstate.edu.

Courtesy photo from Doug

Community Days organizers release event update

SUBMITTED BY COMMUNITY DAYS PLANNING COMMITTEE

Lincoln City’s Community Days celebration will return after a three-year hiatus this April, offering three days packed with fun, friendship, and fund-raising. “Lincoln City is primarily a visitor economy,” Community Days Planning Committee member Patrick Alexander said. “But Lincoln City is also a tremendous place to live, work and raise a family. Community Days gives us the opportunity to celebrate the town we call home and honor the selfless volunteer work of our friends and neighbors.”

Read The News Guard’s original story published March 7 about the return of Community Days with this story at thenewsguard.com.

Running from Thursday, April 20, through Saturday, April 22, the celebration will see the return of beloved local events like Mud Flat Golf, the Ducky Derby, the Pancake Breakfast and more.

Different approach

Historically, Community Days has included various awards, such as Woman of the Year, Man of the Year and Business of the Year to name a few. This year, organizers took a different approach as they tried to come to terms with three years that included a global pandemic, devastating wildfires, and economic uncertainty.

“Throughout this period, members of the community stepped up in amazing ways to help their neighbors,” Alexander said. “As the committee considered how to structure this year’s event, we concluded that attempting to single out one woman, one man or one business from such a period would be an impossible task.

“Instead, we resolved to celebrate the community’s incredible resolve by crafting a video presentation, which will be screened at the Community Days Kickoff, featuring Secrets of Salsa set for Thursday, April 20.”

The presentation will recognize the community spirit shown by Lincoln City residents since the start of the

begin on Thursday, April 20, with the time-honored Food Drive, running from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. outside McKay’s

5 p.m. along SW 51st street, organized by Signature Home Health. After the parade, stroll down to the sands at 6 p.m. for a Beach Bonfire organized by NW Natural.

Parks and Recreation

• Surf and Earth, a celebration of Oregon Coast surfing organized by ZuhG Life

• A native plant event by the Siletz Tribal Arts and Heritage Society

which can be emailed to palaxender@oregoncoasttoday.com, with the subject line “Community Days Presentation.” Video clips should be no more than 15 seconds long and filmed in landscape format. Please include a brief description of who and what is featured in the video or photo. The deadline for submissions is 5 p.m. Friday, April 7.

Event lineup

Community Days will

Unraveling whale entanglement risk factors

SEAN NEALON News Guard Guest Article

New research by an Oregon State University-led team is beginning to unravel the times of year and locations where whales are at greatest danger of entanglement in fishing gear along the Oregon Coast.

“We’ve been able to geographically locate some areas where the risk of entanglement for whales is higher,” said Solene Derville, a postdoctoral fellow at Oregon State’s Marine Mammal Institute. “We’ve also discovered that risk varies with time. It’s a very dynamic thing. And it varies with responses to ocean conditions.”

The research is important because it provides better tools to manage fisheries, the researchers said.

The focus

In this case, the research focused on the Dungeness crab fishery, the most economically important in Oregon.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, commercial Dungeness crab pot gear is one of the most frequently identified gear types involved in entanglements along the West Coast of the United States.

“The more knowledge we have about when and where whales are, and how that overlaps with the fishery distribution, the better,” said Troy Buell, a state fishery

management program leader for ODFW and co-author of the paper. “It helps us design more targeted management measures that are most effective for the whales, while having the least amount of impact on the fishery.”

In 2020, ODFW adopted new regulations for the commercial Dungeness crab fishery to address whale entanglement concerns. Several key provisions of those rules end after the current Dungeness crab season. ODFW will take into account findings from this just-published paper to evaluate their effectiveness and by fall recommend to continue or adjust the regulations for future seasons, said Kelly Corbett, ODFW’s commercial crab project leader and a co-author of the paper.

The threat

Entanglement in fishing gear presents a major threat to whales because it can drown individuals, cause long-term injuries that impact individual health by limiting their ability to eat, travel and reproduce, and potentially affect population abundance. Entanglement is a pressing concern for whales off the West Coast of the United States, where documented entanglements have risen sharply during the past decade.

During an eight-year period ending in 2021, an average of about 35 entanglements were reported annually in West Coast waters of the United States, according to

NOAA data. That is roughly three times more than the average from the previous eight years. Scientists agree that these counts likely represent only a small fraction of the actual number of entanglements since some may never be observed or reported.

For the new paper, the researchers focused on rorqual whales, which include humpback, fin and blue whales, along the entire Oregon Coast. Humpback whales are most frequently reported as entangled with Dungeness crab gear on the West Coast.

To a lesser extent, endangered blue and fin whales are also at risk of entanglement, although neither species have been confirmed entangled in any Oregon fishing gear, the researchers note.

The researchers drew on past work by the Oregon State team that estimated rorqual whale density, including via monthly helicopter flights along the coastline. This work is conducted by the Geospatial Ecology of Marine Megafauna Laboratory at Hatfield Marine Science Center in Newport, led by associate professor Leigh Torres, a co-author of the new paper.

The research team predicted monthly whale densities in Oregon based on variation in ocean and climate conditions for the period 2011-2020. The team then overlaid these maps with data on Dungeness crab fishing locations to determine where and when whales were most at risk of entanglement with crab gear.

several participating Facebook feeds. That evening will see the Community Days Kickoff, featuring Secrets of Salsa, a multicultural celebration spearheaded by Oceana Family Literacy, taking place from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at St. Peter the Fisherman Lutheran Church.

On Friday, April 21, the Nickel Dive and Ducky Derby will take place at 2 p.m. at the Lincoln City Community Center. Everyone will be invited to take part in a Celebration of Life Jazz Parade at

Throughout the three-day Community Days celebration, keep your eyes peeled for the distinctive blue pinwheels set up at various locations including Lincoln City Outlets, Dr. Bob’s Healthcare and the Lincoln City Chamber of Commerce, marking the return of the Pinwheels for Prevention campaign against child abuse, sponsored by Chinook Winds Casino Resort.

Saturday, April 22, will be the most packed day, starting with the Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast at Mo’s Restaurant from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. Follow your breakfast by swinging a club at Community Days favorite Mudflat Golf, starting at 9 a.m. on Siletz Bay.

April 22 is Earth Day and several Community Days events follow this theme, including:

• SOLVE beach clean sponsored by Lincoln City

• An Earth Day celebration at Camp Westwind just north of Lincoln City.

Festivities will conclude with a Fashion Show Gala at the Beach Club Event Center from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, April 22.

The event will feature dinner, a dessert bar, fashions by Searenity Boutique and a silent auction.

Tickets, $65 apiece, are available at https://www. eventbrite.com/e/fundraiser-fashion-show-gala-tickets-570281375947, with proceeds benefiting Family Promise.

For more information go to www.facebook.com/lccommunitydays. Watch for special Community Days coverage at thenewsguard.com and in the Tuesday print editions of The News Guard.

Among the findings:

• Entanglement exposure was higher on average in nearshore waters (less than about 240 feet deep) off Astoria, off Garibaldi, north of Newport, north of Charleston, north of Port Orford and at the southern border of Oregon waters.

• Exposure peaked in April, when whales were predicted to occur in greater numbers and closer to shore due to the onset of the upwelling season. Upwelling is the process where deeper, cooler water is pushed toward the surface where it encounters light to support productivity and aggregations of krill that whales feed on.

• Exposure remained constant until the end of the crab season in nearshore waters and decreased past these depths.

better tools to manage fisheries.

• Exposure was lower during the marine heatwave event from 2014-2016 when fishing was more active nearshore and whales were predicted to be less abundant.

• Exposure was higher before (2011-2013) and after (2017-2020) the heatwave, which corresponds with stronger upwelling periods.

Fluctuations in climate and ocean conditions, such as the upwelling events and marine heat waves, appear to be the main drivers of entanglement risk to whales in Dungeness crab fishing gear, the researchers conclude. When this information is combined with time of year and location data, the researchers believe that their findings can support decision making by fishery managers.

“Although there can be inherent tension between commercial fishing and

whale entanglements, no one wants to catch a whale and we all want a thriving, sustainable Dungeness crab fishery,” Torres said. “We feel our findings are an important step toward simultaneously achieving both these goals and relieving any tension.”

Craig Hayslip of the Marine Mammal Institute is also a co-author of the paper. The research was funded by NOAA, the Oregon Dungeness Crab Commission, Marine Mammal Institute, ODFW and Oregon Sea Grant. The Marine Mammal Institute is part of the OSU College of Agricultural Sciences.

Sean Nealon is a news editor at Oregon State University’s University Relations and Marketing Department. He may be reached at sean. nealon@oregonstate.edu

Port Orford, Garibaldi to see Marine Reserve effort

STAFF REPORT

Country Media, Inc.

Oregon’s Marine Reserves Program plans to return to the Southwest Oregon port of Port Orford and Garibaldi on the North Oregon Coast this spring and fall in the latest installment of this unique way for coastal commercial and recreational fishers to help fuel scientific research in the state’s near-shore waters.

The Marine Preserves Program, administered by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW), targets the Redfish Rocks Marine Reserve near Port Orford and the Cape Falcon Marine Reserve near Garibaldi during this year’s hook-and-line surveys.

During the surveys, private commercial boats - usually charters – contract with the agency to take out volunteer anglers who catch rockfish in key underwater reefs. They focus within marine reserves where all other fishing is banned as well as comparison areas outside of them. Biologists on board identify and measure the fish before they are quickly and safely released.

When compared to data from nearly identical fishing efforts dating back as far as

2010, marine scientists are able to track changes in catch rates, species caught and their sizes from before and after marine-reserve protections went into place, according to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW). This growing data set not only will help reveal changes to marine life within reserve areas but also create more clarity to the murky world of Oregon’s near-shore reefs.

“It’s our most powerful tool for tracking fish,” Oregon’s Marine Reserves Program Interim Ecological Project Leader Stephanie Fields said. “We consistently get out on the water to get the fish in hand, gathering information on species ID and size.”

Fish survey

The hook-and-line surveys are one of four keyways fish are surveyed in the reserves and outside monitoring areas. The others are visual surveys, such as trained volunteer SCUBA divers and other contracted commercial boats from which stationary cameras are lowered into the reefs as well as a remote underwater roving video camera.

Last year, hook-and-line surveys were run at the Cas-

cade Head Marine Reserve out of Depoe Bay and Cape Perpetua Marine Reserve out of Newport. The fifth and final Oregon marine reserve at Otter Rock near Newport is not part of the hook-and-line surveys because its waters are deemed too shallow for it.

Since the hook-and-line survey began in 2010, the program has paid $382,619.25 to commercial fishermen under survey contracts. The Marine Reserves Program also conducts monitoring of the social impacts of all five reserves on coastal communities, and studies have shown wide-ranging support throughout Western Oregon.

Public engagement

Each year, the hook-andline surveys rely on new volunteer researchers as well as a cadre of regulars, like Don Sarver of Newport. Sarver travels the Oregon coast each summer to jig in the name of science and just plain enjoyment.

“Everybody’s laughing, telling fish stories and just having a great time,” Sarver said. “It’s a fun fishing trip, but on the other hand, it’s a scientific study. And they are comparing this every year to

see do we get more, do we get less, do we get more variety and are the fish bigger. So, it’s kind of neat to see that.”

This year’s survey effort began March 17, when the Marine Reserves Program officially asked for bids from commercial captains. The program plans to hire one boat each out of Garibaldi and Port Orford this year.

Bids are due by April 4.

No fishing dates have yet been set, but plans are to run trips of up to 10 anglers each between April and June, then again from mid-August to early October. Ten trips are planned out of Garibaldi and a dozen out of Port Orford.

Volunteers, who must have marine fishing experience, should email Ryan.T. Fields@odfw.oregon.gov to apply.

Oregon Marine Reserves Program

Enacted by the Oregon Legislature in 2009, the Marine Reserves Program includes five actual marine reserves and nine protected areas that together cover nine percent of Oregon’s nearshore ocean waters.

The reserves, where no plants or animals can be removed and where development is banned, are underwater listening stations tracking

ocean changes including fish, invertebrate and algal communities.

It is the first long-term nearshore ocean conservation and monitoring program run

by the state of Oregon and includes cutting-edge research on the economic, social and cultural dynamics of the Oregon coast and coastal communities.

Courtesy photo from OSU

Researchers say the study is important because it provides

Courtesy photo from the ODFW

A volunteer-caught lingcod gets measured before release during a Marine Reserves Program hook-and-line survey.

THS early spring sports season roundup

WILL LOHRE Country Media, Inc.

Since our last edition, the early stages of the baseball, softball, and track seasons have continued to unfold.

Let’s take a look at how the teams have been faring and where they stand in the OSAA’s rankings.

Softball

After starting 1-1 in their first two games, the Tigers softball team split its next two games at the Bobcat Bash in Nestucca. The team lost a tight game to Nestucca High School 4-3 on March 17 before bombarding Waldport in a 21-0 win on March 18.

The Tigers then faced Neah-Kah-Nie in a home game on March 23. Taft put on a dominant display to the tune of a 15-0 victory.

“All girls in the lineup had a hit, and Hailey [Weaver] had five strikeouts in three innings,” Head Coach Sandy Stuart said. “It was one we needed to win, and we executed very well. Miranda Hankins also had her second home run of the season, which gave us our 15th run and ended the game.”

As of Thursday night, the Tigers had an overall record of 3-2 and were ranked 16th of the 38 teams in the 3A classification and second of the eight teams in 3A-SD2 Special District 2.

To see how Taft fared in its March 24 game against Gladstone and the results of their Medford Spring Break Tournament games on March

27 and 28, visit OSAA.org.

Baseball

Tigers baseball is also toeing the .500 line after splitting its first four games before winning their fifth game against Newport.

In their first game, Taft was bested by Corbett 8-4 at home. Despite the opening defeat, they rebounded to great effect, winning their second and third games of the season. They beat Nestucca and Toledo 14-0 and 12-0, respectively, on March 17 and 18. After a tough loss to the Dalles on March 22, the Tigers bested Newport by a score of 1-0, according to OSAA.org.

The baseball team was scheduled to travel to Arizona for the Coach Bob Invitational, an interstate high school tournament. Taft is set to play March 27-31. Teams from Arizona, Illinois, Colorado, California, Florida, Idaho, New Mexico, Nevada, Missouri, Ohio, Oregon, Texas, and Utah will be in attendance.

Taft will play Blanchet Catholic of Oregon, Centaurus and Denver Christian of Colorado, and Valley Christian from Arizona. To follow the scores from the tournament, visit OSAA.org.

Track and Field

The track and field program competed in its first meet of the season on March 23 at the Jim Barks Grizzly Bear Open at McMinnville High School. The field of teams present at the event

All girls in the lineup had a hit, and Hailey (Weaver) had five strikeouts in three innings. It was one we needed to win and we executed very well.

included Amity, Dayton, Delphian, Franklin, Grant, Knappa, McMinnville, Newport, Perrydale, Valley Catholic, Willamina, and Yamhill-Carlton.

“Some highlights were Kol Tolan taking 2nd in the high jump and triple jump, the boys and girl’s 4x1 placing 5th, Sienna Lillebo 3rd, Evie Harkey 7th, and Trenton Battle 6th in the 200, Aliviah Mode 6th in the 100 hurdles,”

Head Coach Pete Doll said. The Tigers’ next meet will be April 6, at Regis. For complete results of the McMinnville meet, visit https://www. athletic.net/TrackAndField/ meet/479338/results.

Follow Taft High School game results at OSAA.org and find our feature coverage at thenewsguard.com and in the Tuesday print editions of The News Guard.

Courtesy photo from Facebook

Taft Tigers put away their game against Neah-Kah-Nie 15-0 in just three innings.

Sandy Stuart, THS Softball Head Coach

Courtesy photo from Pete Doll  All smiles after Taft›s first track and field meet at McMinnville.