County Budget Hearing Tonight in Waldport

Lincoln County’s Budget Committee holds two more public meetings before moving to finalize the county’s Fiscal Year 2013 budget. There is a hearing tonight (May 2) in the Waldport City Council Chambers (125 Alsea Highway), and another May 23 in the Board of Commissioners conference room (room 108) at the County Courthouse (225 W. Olive Street).

Here is a link to the draft budget document.

Video of the first budget committee meeting held April 30 is now available online.

 Report an error

County Rope Rescue Team Meets First Test

Rope Rescue equipment during training (Photo: Toledo Fire and Rescue)

The first activation of the Lincoln County Rope Rescue Team took place Monday, April 23, in response to an ATV crash on Barber Mountain. The team is made up of firefighters and first responders from several districts in the county, but train and work together when needed. The Central Division team was called just before 7:00 p.m, with participation by Toledo, Siletz and Newport members. Depoe Bay and South County members were on standby at their stations in case further assistance was needed. The rescue was for the operator of a quad that went about 10 feet off the road. Toledo Fire Division Chief Larry Robeson said the ATV had to be stabilized to keep it from toppling onto the driver, who was about 60 feet below.

Part of the path to the victim was over steep angle terrain, requiring specialized rescuer training and equipment. The team was able to get a paramedic downhill to stabilize the victim and provide pain relief, then they brought the victim back to the ambulance. The rescue took approximately an hour and a half. Oregon Department of Forestry personnel assisted with the rescue. Toledo Fire Chief Will Ewing credited Capt. Dennis Cannon of Central Oregon Coast Fire and Rescue for bringing the idea of a county rope rescue team to fruition through training and development of procedures.

 Report an error

Library Changes Underway Countywide

The way patrons can use the Toledo Public Library are changing, due to a new alignment among regional libraries. By June 30, the Newport, Driftwood (Lincoln City) and Tillamook County libraries will no longer be part of the Coastal Resource Sharing Network (CSRN), to which Toledo belongs. Toledo library card holders can no longer place reserves from home on materials owned by those libraries. However, they will still be able to place a hold on items owned by the Toledo, Waldport, Siletz and Community College libraries. Toledo’s Library Director Peter Rayment said he and his staff are “committed to what we call ‘resource sharing’ – we’ll share what we have.” The difference is that Toledo patrons will have to obtain a second card to directly check out books from Newport, Lincoln City and Tilamook. Books may still be requested through the Toledo library through the inter-library loan system. Rayment said access to the Library2Go system, offering downloadable audio books, videos an e-books, remains unchanged.

District Librarian Diedre Conkling said the new “Chinook Library Network,” which includes Toledo, also gives direct access to materials from the Siletz Public Library, Toledo Public Library, Waldport Public Library, Oregon Coast Community College, Tillamook Bay Community College and Clatsop Community College. The new library catalog will be available to the public starting June 11. Rayment said Toledo and others opted for an open source sharing network, which he said is less expensive to set up and maintain than the proprietary system chosen by Newport, Driftwood and Tillamook.

 Report an error

Three County Residents Arrested for Heroin Trafficking

Clinton Webster

Kelly Tryon

Four people were arrested this week in a heroin trafficking investigation, three from Lincoln County and one from Portland. An investigation by the Lincoln County Interagency Narcotics Team (LINT) and the Corvallis Street Crimes unit led to the arrest of Clinton Michael Webster, 26 from Newport, for delivery and possession of heroin. A search warrant served at his South Beach residence led officers to Jacob Daniel Lisi, 26, of Newport, who investigators said was frequenting the residence, a fifth-wheel trailer. During the search of the trailer, investigators said they seized evidence related to the sale and delivery of heroin. Lisi was arrested and charged with heroin possession and other charges. Further investigation revealed the name and vehicle description of a woman who was allegedly going to deliver heroin to Webster’s residence. Newport police spotted and stopped the vehicle, discovering more than 24 grams of heroin. The driver, Kelly Tryon, 28, of Waldport, was arrested for delivery and possession of heroin. Her passenger, Akasha Tamara Berard, 23, of Portland was also arrested for possessing the drug. LINT said the investigation of this case continues.

 Report an error

Parenting Classes Offered in Yachats and Toledo

Coastal Families Together has parenting education classes starting in Yachats later this month and in Toledo in early May. Classes come with a nutritional family-style meal and childcare. Parents of children age 5-10 can sign up for “Incredible Years.” The class is designed to give parents a greater understanding of child development, effective discipline and will strengthen the role of the parent. The class begins Tuesday, April 24, and continues once a week for ten weeks. Dinner is served at 6:00 p.m., and the class runs from 6:30 – 8:00 at the Yachats Commons (441 No. Highway 101), Room 8.

The “Making Parenting a Pleasure” class in Toledo is held in conjunction with Central Coast Child Development Center. The class focuses on parents of children 0-9 years of age. Parents learn the need for self-care and personal empowerment, and moving from adult-to-adult focus to an adult/child/family emphasis. Class begins Wednesday May 9 and continues once a week for ten weeks. Class will be held in the Central Coast Child Development Center, 1811 NE Arcadia Drive, Toledo from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Registration for both classes is available online, or by calling 541-574-4485. Space is limited. There is a $45 registration fee per family. Scholarships are available for all or part of the registration fee. For more information on this parenting education initiative, future classes or questions about local opportunities call 541-574-4485, visit the Coastal Families Together website, or send an email.

 Report an error