Local assists sinking kayaker .... PAGE 3 Job Fair July 20............................ PAGE 10
July 13, 2021
Serving Lincoln City Since 1927
Yuille steps up as Belmont retires
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Threads of Honor
LCPD plans crosswalk operation AMBER DEYO newsguardeditor@countrymedia.net
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CHERI BRUBAKER Guest Contributor
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ayne Belmont officially retired last Friday after 35 years as Lincoln County Counsel, though he will continue to work with the county counsel’s office on a contract basis, assisting with special projects and helping as needed over the next year. Lincoln County Board Chair Doug Hunt noted at the board’s regular meeting July 6 that in addition to the duties of county counsel, Belmont has fulfilled the role of county administrator, doing so “admirably and with tireless dedication and selfless commitment to the county,” he said. “As a new commissioner, he provided me guidance and insight to complex and controversial challenges, making the adjustment to my job so much smoother,” Hunt recalled. Representing county commissioners and other elected officials in civil matters was Belmont’s dream as he attended the University of Oregon School of Law. “There are so many things we can do together,” Belmont said, relationships central to the successful
PHOTOS BY AMBER DEYO
(Top) Volunteers and veterans Jerry Morgan and Gary Dulley wrap quilt recipient Frank Royston in a quilt handmade for him. (Right) Stanley Kekule thanks Dulley for the gift. Quilts were awarded by the Quilts of Valor Foundation.
Veterans quilted in appreciation AMBER DEYO newsguardeditor@countrymedia.net
Retired Army veteran Kekule was one of three American soldiers who received France’s highest honor, Knight in the National Order of the Legion of Honour, which is for US soldiers who fought between October 1943 and May 1945. He served in the Army Medical Corps from 1939 to 1962. At 102 years old, Kekule recently moved to Lincoln City. Volunteers and veterans Jerry Morgan and Gary Dulley came from Eugene to present the quilts. Quilts of Valor provides handmade quilts to service members or veterans touched by war. More information about Quilts of Valor can be found online at qovf.org, which includes guidance on making and donating a quilt for one of the many who have been nominated but are awaiting their quilt award.
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ith family and friends attending in support, two residents of Hillside Place in Lincoln City were awarded “Quilts of Valor” on July 7. Both Frank Royston and Stanley Kekule were nominated to receive a quilt from the Quilts of Valor Foundation. Royston served in the US Navy from 1951 to 1955 on the USS Point Cruz. During his time on the carrier, the crew rescued an abandoned baby in Korea which was the inspiration for the 1997 movie, A Thousand Men and a Baby. Royston had authorization to go anywhere on the ship and said he would visit and hold the baby.
he Lincoln City Police Department will be utilizing grant funds from the Oregon Department of Transportation and Oregon Impact to conduct a pedestrian safety operation between noon and 4 p.m. on Wednesday, July 21 on Hwy 101 in the area between South 5th Street and South 1st Street. Police Lieutenant Jeffrey Winn said the primary focus of the operation is to raise pedestrian safety awareness. The area will be marked with cones to note where to stop. Failure to yield for a pedestrian, also includes passing a vehicle stopped for a pedestrian. “It’s an opportunity for education and enforcement,” said Lieutenant Jeffrey Winn. “These safety operations are conducted in an effort to reduce the potential for injuries or death to pedestrians in our city. If someone fails to yield to the decoy pedestrian, a patrol officer will be notified and the vehicle will be pulled over. When pulled over, the officer will also check for insurance, warrants or other violations, Winn said. Video will be taken of all operations to be used as evidence. Winn said the officer running the operation has been trained to give the benefit of the doubt to the driver. The court set bail amount for failing to stop at a crosswalk is $265.
Online shopping Now available! Boating crashes are up, danger is increasing See YUILLE, Page 3
JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net
State Marine Board Boating Safety Program Manager Randy Henry. The News Guard: How many boating fatalities have their been in Oregon in the past two years? Randy Henry: Oregon had 26 fatalities in 2020, and we have six so far this year. The News Guard: What are the most common elements that lead to boating accidents and fatalities? Henry: Life jackets would likely have saved 19 of last year’s drowningrelated fatalities, so wearing a life jacket is your best bet
for surviving a dunking incident. But life jackets don’t prevent accidents, they just help you survive them. The elements that lead to the majority of incidents is people operating above their skill or knowledge level. There were many novices last year that ended up in strong currents and simply capsized, or turned too quickly and were ejected from their boat. If you’re using a small boat, you should dress with the expectation that you’ll
p online with Mckay’s market to-go powered by rosie. us online @ mckaysmarket.com Or download the rosie app Even during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, boaters from all over were flocking to the waterways. Now that the pandemic restrictions are lifted, the Oregon Marine Board is seeing a flood of recreationists on waterways throughout the state. Marine patrol officers said that is heightening conflicts and danger. In the following conversation, The News Guard gains insight into the waterway dangers from Oregon
JEREMY C. RUARK / THE NEWS GUARD
This boat fire is one of the unusual incidents that has occurred at Devils Lake in Lincoln City over the years.
See CRASHES, Page 3
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