Active Search For Missing Hunter

Floyd Lucero

The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) has search and rescue operations working in the Rose Lodge area, after a report of an overdue hunter. A friend of Floyd Lucero, 56, of Otis called 9-1-1 when Lucero failed to return from a late afternoon hunt November 19. He was in a timber area accessed off Holiday Lane in Rose Lodge. He was believed to be hunting between there and Bear Creek Road, south of Highway 18. Lucero was wearing camouflage, was reportedly familiar with the area and an avid outdoorsman, according to LCSO. A ground search is underway utilizing the Lincoln County Search and Rescue Team, North Lincoln Fire and Rescue and the U.S. Forest Service and some private citizens. Anyone with information on Lucero’s whereabouts is asked to call 541-265-4231.

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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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Nominees Sought For Leadership Training

The Ford Family Foundation of Roseburg wants nominees for a leadership training and community building class starting next year in North Lincoln County. The Foundation works in rural communities in Oregon to build community collaboration, strengthen non-profit organizations and improve community leadership. It’s Leadership Institute Program, which begins in February, is open to people in the t City area, or who work for an agency that serves the entire county. The program requires a commitment of one Friday and one Saturday per month for four workshops. There is also an expense-paid weekend in May for a conference at Skamania Lodge in Washington. The dates are February 24, 25, March 16, 17, April 20, 21, May 4-6 and June 1, 2. Friday sessions run from 1:00 – 6:00 p.m. and Saturday sessions from 9:00 – 4:00. To apply click here.

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Siletz Tribe Holds 34th Annual Restoration Pow-Wow

The public is invited to join the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians (CTSI) November 19 as it holds its annual Restoration Pow-Wow at Chinook Winds Casino Resort. It is a free event that begins with a grand entry at 6:00 p.m. Siletz cultural displays and American Indian vendors – with jewelry, beadwork and other items for sale – will be available throughout the day. The Pow-Wow marks the signing of Public Law 95-195, which re-established government-to-government relations between the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians and the United States. The Siletz Tribe was among the Tribes of Western Oregon that were terminated from federal recognition in August 1954. CTSI was the second in the nation to achieve restoration.

Significant Tribal accomplishments since Restoration include opening the original health clinic in 1991 and a new much larger clinic in 2010; building more than 100 homes and multiple dwellings for Tribal members, including 20 units at Neachesna Village in Lincoln City that opened in 2009 and another eight units that opened earlier this year; completing the Siletz Dance House in 1996; opening the Tenas Illahee Childcare Center in 2003; and opening the Tillicum Fitness Center, a new gymnasium and a new USDA food distribution warehouse, all in Siletz, in 2008. The Siletz Tribal Business Corporation owns and operates a number of businesses in Siletz, Lincoln City and Depoe Bay, and has Tribal offices in Siletz, Portland, Salem and Eugene. It also played an important role in opening Siletz Valley School in 2003 and the Siletz Valley Early College Academy in 2006. CTSI has also distributed more than $9 million through its Tribal Charitable Contribution Fund and other Tribal resources.

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