Skip to main content

TNG815

Page 1

Increased education funding.......................... PAGE 6 Self-serve gasoline in Oregon.. ..................... PAGE 10

August 15, 2023

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

$1.50

Upgrades, improvements preparing for back to school JEREMY C. RUARK Country Media, Inc. With just a few weeks to go before the start of the new school year, the Lincoln County School District (LCSD) administrators and maintenance crews have been working through the summer upgrading and conducting an-

nual maintenance projects at the school buildings. The News Guard reached out to Lincoln County School District Facilities Director Rich Belloni for insight into the summer projects. The News Guard: What have been the most significant projects at the district’s school buildings this summer

and why those projects? Rich Belloni: Handicap access to Taft High School, Seismic up-grade to Yaquina View School. This is funded through a $2.5 million grant LCSD applied for and received. Along with this is a safety upgrade to office. Staff will now have sight lines to people entering the building

with a vestibule and double entry. Other projects include: • Newport High School building under grandstands federal grant • Crestview Elementary Waldport safety upgrade to office • Toledo High School contracted a section of roof approximately. 20K sq. ft.

Proud&True

The News Guard: What are the costs for the individual projects? Belloni: The individual costs are: • Taft High School is funded by LCSD 75K • Taft High School bathrooms and concession stands with a press box above l80K • Yaquina View School

seismic upgrade is funded by the State of Oregon 2.5M • Yaquina View School office is 200k funded by LCSD • Newport High School building under federal grant 250K • Toledo High School 100k LCSD See SCHOOL, Page 14

Celebrating 150 years of the Yaquina Head Lighthouse JEREMY C. RUARK Country Media, Inc.

The Bureau of Land Management is hosting what is billed as a historic milestone: the 150-year commemoration ceremony of the Yaquina Head Lighthouse. The event is slated for Aug. 19 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the lighthouse located in the Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area, 750 NW Lighthouse Drive in Newport. The Yaquina Head Light Station has been a crucial aid to navigation along the Oregon Coast for 150 years, according to the BLM. “Standing 93-feet tall at the westernmost point of the basalt headland, the lighthouse has been a bright beacon of the night, guiding ships and their supplies along the west coast since the light was first lit on August 20, 1873,” a release from the BLM states. Starting at 3 p.m. on August 19, the commemoration will feature the U.S. Coast Guard Honor Guard and remarks from various partners and supporters. The speakers schedule to attend include, BLM Oregon/Washington State Director Barry Bushue, senior leaders from the U.S. Coast Guard, Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management, Oregon State House of Representatives, and Lincoln County. Shortly before sunset, the Coast Guard will lead a ceremonial relighting of the Yaquina Head Lighthouse. Throughout the day, costumed park rangers will lead children’s games and activities, host a children’s art show, and tend a period garden.

Tidepools will be available for exploring between 8 a.m. and noon. History One of Oregon’s tallest lighthouses, Yaquina remains an active lighthouse and its beam can be seen glowing in the night. The lighthouse and the surrounding natural area attracts an estimated 350,000 visitors annually from around the world. Restoration and maintenance efforts for the lighthouse include a $400,000 paint job and other work conducted in 2015, which was funded through grants, donations, and fundraisers. Over the years, tours have been conducted at the lighthouse with volunteers dressed in period-costumes. Nearby the lighthouse is a cobble beach composed of millions of rounded basalt rocks. The beach by the lighthouse is rich with tide pools and the Yaquina Head Natural Area also offers hiking trails. The lighthouse is currently closed and not offering tours. The tidepools are open 365 days a year. For the Aug. 19 celebration, RSVPs are encouraged to Sarah Bennett, BLM Oregon/Washington public affairs officer at spbennett@blm.gov, or call 503-808-6003, are appreciated by Thursday, Aug. 17. For more information about the Yaquina Head Lighthouse, call 541-574-3100.

If You Go

Lighthouse Celebration 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 19 Yaquina Head Lighthouse 750 NW Lighthouse Drive Newport

Courtesy photo Yaquina Head Lighthouse south of Lincoln City attracts about 350,000 visitors each year.

Shooting leaves one dead One detained, few details surrounding event are known JEREMY C. RUARK Country Media, Inc. Specific details of a fatal shooting on the Yaquina Bay Bridge had not been revealed by investigators as of late last week. The incident unfolded shortly before 1 p.m. Aug. 9, as Newport Police Department (NPD) officers were dispatched to a possible shooting on the bridge along Highway 101 in south Newport. “Officers arrived on scene and immediately detained a male subject,” according to a release from NPD. “Officers located a deceased male on the west walkway of the Ya-

quina Bay Bridge. Officers confirmed the deceased male suffered at least one gunshot wound.” Officers located and identified several witnesses to the incident. During the investigation, officers closed the north and south bound lanes of the bridge to traffic for approximately two hours. Traffic adjacent to the bridge backed up for blocks in the north and the south bound lanes of Highway 101, the major route through Newport. Specific details about the victim, the person detained, and what led to the fatal shooting had not been released by law enforcement officials as

the investigation continued through the afternoon, Aug. 9. NPD said there was no threat to the community. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Newport Police Department at the non-emergency telephone number, 541-574-3348. Follow developments at thenewsguard.com and in the Tuesday print editions of The News Guard. Jeremy C. Ruark / Country Media, Inc. Officers gathered at the southwest side of the bridge during the investigation.

TheNewsGuard.com

WEATHER

INDEX Police Blotter ............ 3 Opinion ...................... 5

Classifieds.................. 9 Comics ...................... 11

VOL. 96 NO. 31

TUE.

WED.

THU.

FRI.

SAT.

SUN.

MON.

71º/57º

70º/57º

71º/57º

67º/55º

65º/54º

66º/53º

64º/54º


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook