School Nursing Program Expands

(L-R) Suly Lopez,RN, health assistant Cindy Olivieri, Julie Turner, RN (Photo: LCSD)

Lincoln County School District has expanded its nursing team with the hiring of Suly Lopez, R.N., B.S.N., of Newport, originally from southern California. Lopez will work with schools in Toledo and Lincoln City, joining Julie Turner, R.N., M.S.N., who will focus on Newport and Waldport. The District also employs a dozen health assistants at district schools, overseeing care for more than five thousand students. “I am pleased that Suly has joined our team,” said Turner, who herself was Oregon School Nurse of the Year in 2010. “She is a capable nurse with proven skills in multitasking, as evidenced by her work in the emergency room of our local hospital. That skill makes all the difference in the world in assessing needs and providing appropriate care. As a team, we ensure that students with medical needs can safely remain in the classroom and are ready to learn.” Turner said another plus for Lopez is her fluency in Spanish.

Among their responsibilities are assisting students who have existing or potential health problems. For example, a child diagnosed with diabetes may require daily multiple insulin injections and close monitoring of blood sugar levels. A special-needs student may require tube-feeding. Another student may have life-threatening asthma attacks. Other students may require the administration of medications.

Lopez is a registered nurse who gained experience in acute care and emergency nursing while working at Newport’s Samaritan Pacific Communities Hospital. Previously, as a medical assistant, she floated through five clinics that provide care ranging from pediatrics to geriatrics, including dermatology and obstetrics. Lopez and husband Steve, who is in the Coast Guard, relocated to Newport from Astoria three years ago; they are parents to two daughters who attend Newport High and Newport Intermediate School.

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Highway 18 Closed Overnight

Oregon 18, between Lincoln City and McMinnville is closed due to downed trees tonight, according to Lou Torres of the Oregon Department of Transportation. Torres said conditions were so dangerous due to falling trees that crews were pulled out and are expected to return Wednesday morning.

(Information reported by our news partner, Oregonlive.com. Photo: Oregonlive.com)

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Lincoln City Address Site of Second Drug Bust

For the second time in two months, a Lincoln City address has been the subject of a search, and arrests, by the Lincoln County Narcotics Team (LINT). An investigation by LINT and Oregon State Police (OSP) led to two arrests after methamphetamine was allegedly sold at the residence, near Taft High School. The OSP SWAT team secured the property at 3560 SE Fleet Avenue about 5:00 a.m. November 19. A quantity of methamphetamine and other related evidence were collected, according to OSP. Two stolen late model Honda motorcycles were also found, and will be eventually returned to their owners. Samuel Travis Blair Clark, 40 and Shelbi Ronele Smith, 20 were arrested and charged with multiple counts of drug possession and delivery. Clark was also written up for theft, possession of a stolen vehicle and other charges. Both were also in violation of either parole or probation.

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Gomberg Files for House Seat

David Gomberg

Lincoln County business owner David Gomberg will run for the Oregon House of Representatives in District 10 in 2012 to succeed Jean Cowan , who will not seek another term. “For more than 20 years, we’ve lived here on the Coast, built a successful business, created jobs, and worked to make our community better,” Gomberg said. “I’m ready to use my experience and my enthusiasm to help create a better economic future for families up and down Oregon’s coast.” Gomberg and his wife Susan own Gomberg Kite Productions and Northwest Winds Kite Stores. They manufacture kites and wholesale to stores throughout North America. “I’m a Democratic businessman with international trade experience. But more important, I’m a small town, family businessman who understand what it takes to survive in a down economy, and put people to work,” he said. Gomberg said the focus of his campaign “has to be jobs. I want to put my experience to work for this district. I want to be an advocate for our small businesses and for middle-class families.“

Gomberg graduated from Oregon State where he served as student body president, and earned a Master Degree in Economics, History, and Political Science. He received a MBA from Willamette University and then worked two sessions in the Oregon legislature – first as a legislative chief-of-staff, and then as administrator of the House Education Committee. Later, he served as an Administrative Law Judge for the Motor Vehicles Division before moving to the Coast to take a position as Executive Director of the Lincoln City Chamber of Commerce. Two years later, he left to focus on his own business. “With Jean (Cowan’s) retirement, we’re losing experience, seniority, and a strong voice for Coastal concerns,” Gomberg said My own work in the legislature and with administrative rules was a long time ago. But it will give me a head start on the job when I’m elected.”

Cowan said, “David has a diverse background and experience in both the private and public sector that will serve this district well. He has already proven himself a hard worker and an articulate advocate for the community. I’m pleased he is running and I’m pleased to support him. Oregon Coast Community College President Patrick O’Connor said, “David was critical in the early development of our coastal college. The college is an important resource for job training or re-training. I’ve worked with David many years and know he is more interested in finding solutions than scoring political victories.” County Commissioner Don Lindly said, “I’ve known David since his Chamber of Commerce days. Several years ago, he came to the Commission with proposals to empower home-based business in the County. And more recently he was most helpful with suggestions to resolve the Animal Shelter issue. I’m pleased to see someone with his ideas and commitment running.”

The revised House District 10 runs from Waldport in the south to Tillamook in the North and Grand Ronde in the East. It includes portions of Lincoln, Tillamook, Polk, and Yamhill Counties.

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Finals Set For Student Talent Contest

20 acts will take the stage December 3 for the second auditions of the “Lincoln County’s Got Talent!” 44 acts totaling 50 students faced. The 29 students chosen for the next round were: Vocalists Saoirse Crone, 13 and Michaela Lee, 13; and dancer Kaden Parker, 7 (Crestview Heights); DISPARITY, comprised of Gage Pursifull, 15, Leland Loomis, 16, Fulton Miller, 16, and Corie McBride, 17 (Eddyville); Vocalist Sydnie Oleman, 14; Duet: Victoria Kidman, 14 and Joycie Reid, 15; ROOM TEMPERATURE comprised of Casey Rilatos, 17, Savanna Rilatos, 14 and Tirzah Rilatos, 14, (Toledo JR/SR) and Raydar Taylor, 12 (Siletz Charter School);

Vocalists Kyle Bertness, 14, and Marlene Williams, 15, Pianist Cherry Shen, 17 and FLANNELWOLF, comprised of Ethan Bear, 18, Grayson Bear, 15, Connor Price, 14 (Newport HS); dancer Tryston Wolfe, 10 (Newport Middle School); Vocalist Laura McCrum, 13 (Isaac Newton MS); Vocalists Samantha Raines, 15, Tristan Smith, 14, and Faith Wood, 13 (Taft HS); vocalist Lillian Salsbery, 10 (Taft Elementary); musician Jason Mickel 18, (OCCC); Vocalist Ethan Church, 17 (Lincoln City)

The “Lincoln County’s Got Talent!” Finale is Saturday, February 4, 2012, 7:00 p.m. at the Newport Performing Arts Center. The top five performers receive prizes. Proceeds from Finale ticket sales and contributions collected from Top Ten Concerts and other local youth performances are used to provide housing assistance for homeless youth and their families, through the Homeless Youth Alliance of Lincoln County. The Alliance’s mission is to help families move into permanent, sustainable housing. For information, or to become a sponsor or volunteer, call 541-765-4558 or send an email. You can also find the group on Facebook.

Judges were Fred Schmale, Mary VanderMeiden, Howard Lackey, JJ Hendricks, Vickie Steen and Mary Ann Gerke.

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