The mystery of the sinkholes.......................... PAGE 3 Taxpayers to see $5.6B in credits. . ................ PAGE 12
September 5, 2023
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Phones to go on lockdown during school
Lincon City Cultural Center
Poetry in motion
JEREMY C. RUARK Country Media, Inc.
Students heading to the classrooms this year at the Lincoln County School District will be greeted with a new cell phone policy, called the Yondr Program. The Yondr Program utilizes a simple, secure pouch that stores a phone. Under the new policy, every student will secure their phone in a personally assigned Yondr pouch when they arrive at school. Students will maintain possession of their phones and will not use them until their pouches are opened at the end of the school day. Students are required to bring their Yondr pouch to and from school each day and are responsible for their pouch at all times.
Jeremy C. Rurak / Country Media, Inc. A worker tamps in bits of stone and aggregate into the cement Poetry Path at the new Lincoln City Cultural Center. See more photos with this story at thenewsguard.com.
Poetry Path emerging at new Cultural Center JEREMY C. RUARK Country Media, Inc.
W
ork crews have been spending the past few weeks developing a Poetry Path that will take visitors around the Lincoln City Cultural Center as part of the new Plaza. “The Poetry Path is about creating an attraction, something meaningful and interesting, that also speaks to what we are as a people in Lincoln City, what we value, and how we believe that life is meant to be shared in this beautiful city,” Lincoln City Cultural Center Director Niki Price said. Price said the 440-feet decorated pathway is wide enough to be driven on and is handicapped accessible. The Poetry Path’s estimated cost is $205,000, funded through grants and donations. “It has aggerates in several different colors in big swaths to make it feel like a riverbed,” she said. “There are also blank spots were there will be words and that’s
where we are going to put the community poem.” The community poem was not available publicly at press time pending final approval. The poem was developed through a community process with a group of ap-
Courtesy photo A drawing of the completed Poetry Path at the new Lincoln City Cultural Center Plaza. proximately 25 people who brainstormed about what the DeLake School site means.
The policy
“So, we will have phrases about life here, and the people who live and visit here,” Price said.
Taft Middle/High School Principal Nick Lupo said the policy means that non-academic devices are not to be used within the school day. “If students are following the policy, then they will be in compliance,” Lupo said. “The Yondr bag is a tool to help students not feel the need to want to access their phone throughout the day. We will be issuing bags on Monday, Sept. 11 to all students for use. Student will remain in possession of their phone and the Yondr bag. They will lock the bag at the beginning of the day and get it unlocked during lunch and then at the end of the school day.” In developing the new policy, Lupo said he spent the time meeting with community members, district office staff, teachers and students last year regard-
Plaza project Work to transform the Cultural Center properly along Highway 101 began last spring. See previous coverage of the project with this story at thenewsguard.com. The overall Plaza project will transform the outdoor space around the historic Delake School building, home to the Lincoln City Cultural Center since 2007. By the end of 2023, the 2.6 acres around the brick schoolhouse will be transformed into a pedestrian friendly outdoor space, filled with dedicated installments of public art, gathering spaces with seating, and sponsored spaces for education and performance, connected by the drive-able meandering pathway. See PATH, Page 4
Courtesy photo Yondr and the LCSD The Yondr Program provides a pouch for students to secure their cell phones. ing the impact of phones in the classroom and how the Yondr Program could be a beneficial tool, “to help with behavior, social emotional support and the main objective is engagement in the classroom with the focus on academics,” he said. If students are not following the policy, they will be asked to “pouch up” and return to class. “If the issue continues, then we will be contacting parents to have a reteach of our policy on campus,” Lupo said. “Taft wants to make sure that all students are following the LCSD policies and engaging in school to pursue their graduation requirements in order to graduate. According to Lupo, if students need to communicate with parents, guardians or other people for transportation, emergency, or other purposes, then they would follow requests to come to the office. Community outreach In a community meeting with parents in mid-August, Lupo presented an outline See PHONES, Page 10
Oregon issuing $39M in food benefits to 325,000 children STAFF REPORT Country Media, Inc.
The Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) is issuing approximately $39 million in Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) food benefits to approximately 325,000 students in Oregon. “We are grateful to be able to provide these food benefits to eligible students in Ore-
gon,” ODHS Self-Sufficiency Programs Director Claire Seguin said. “As communities continue to be affected by COVID-19 and the rising cost of food, we know that many families are experiencing hardship and are struggling to get enough healthy food for themselves and their children. We encourage anyone who is struggling to meet their basic needs to contact our partners
Need help? Anyone struggling to get enough healthy food are encouraged to call 211, the Oregon Food Bank and their local Community Action Agency. at 211, the Oregon Food Bank and their local Community Action Agency for support during this difficult time.” How students will receive P-EBT food benefits
The P-EBT food benefits will be issued onto the P-EBT cards mailed to students in Spring 2023. Families who lost or threw away their card can contact the P-EBT call
center at (844) ORE-PEBT or (844) 673-7328 to request a new card. Newly eligible students will receive two pieces of mail addressed to them: A letter notifying them they will receive P-EBT A separate envelope with their P-EBT card that has $120 of food benefits on it Who is eligible for P-EBT food benefits
Students are eligible for this P-EBT issuance if they received free or reduced-price National School Lunch Program meals at school or attended a Community Eligibility Provision school in May 2023. More P-EBT benefits to come for certain children See HELP, Page 10
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We can help!
Email appointment requests and questions to Jodi Coggins at jodi@insurancestores.com
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541-994-2884 4270 NE HWY 101(north of Wilddower Grill) www.charlottelehto.com
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