Siletz Library Celebrates 58th Birthday

The Siletz Valley Friends of the Library will be hosting a book and bake sale at the library Saturday, February 25, from 1:00-4:00 p.m. The library is located at 255 South Gaither, next to the post office.  The Friends group is raising money to power wash and stain the exterior cedar siding of the five year-old library, which has developed an unsightly green-gray mold. The Lincoln County Library District pays for staff, books and computers, but the Friends group, who originally raised the money for the new library, still shoulders many costs associated with keeping the library clean, maintained and operating smoothly. The estimate for the siding work is $18,000 and can only be accomplished in the summer, so the group is trying to raise the funds in the next few months.

All kinds of books will be offered for sale, including hardbacks and paperbacks in great shape, and videos and DVDs. In honor of Valentine’s Day, most of the baked offerings will be chocolate, including brownies and candy, but there will be some non-chocolate offerings. There will be goodies for sale by the piece or a whole dessert. During the same time frame, citizens of Siletz will be celebrating the 58^th birthday of the Siletz Library, and the public is invited to this free event. Cake, punch and coffee will be served.

Mobile DUII Processing Center In Newport

According to Lt. McGladrey with Oregon State Police they will have the state police mobile DUII processing center or MDPC in town to help process drivers who are under the influence. He said they have a grant from ODOT to help pay for extra overtime patrols this weekend to help keep the community safe. He said state police volunteers man the mobile DUII processing center.

The MDPC is a 2007 Winnebago 36-foot Voyage motorhome.  Its purpose is to be available to all law enforcement agencies throughout Oregon as they conduct DUII patrols at large events.  It is retrofitted with equipment and supplies necessary to test and process impaired drivers.  Along with other equipment, the MDPC has two holding cells, breath testing equipment and computers. 

Newport Seafood And Wine Festival This Weekend

Swingin’ on the vine for the 35^th time is the theme for this years’ Newport Seafood and Wine Festival going on now in South Beach. Artists and Craftsmen will showcase a variety of fine art, sculpture, photography, pottery, and jewelry. Pacific Northwest Wineries will be pouring the finest of wines and culinary professionals will serve up delectable delights. While seafood items will be the most featured there will be plenty of non-seafood items available also. Attendees must be over 21 and ID is required of everyone. Parking is available at the festival site for $5 and shuttle services are also available.

Those who plan to drink are encouraged to take an alternate form of transportation such as a taxi or shuttle, as extra police patrols will be out on the roadway this weekend. Friday February 24th hours are from 2 until 9 then Saturday the 25th  from 10 am to 6 and from 10-4 on Sunday the 26th.

For more information or to purchase E-tickets go online to the chamber of commerce website by clicking on thier logo below.

Hwy 20 Crash

State police and emergency personel are responding to a head on crash on hwy 20 st Sams Creek Road east of Toledo. One lane is blocked so use caution and expect delays.

Several Cited For MIP In Lincoln City

Within the last two weeks Lincoln City police have cited 27 juveniles between the ages of 17 and 20 for MIP. Lincoln City police officers responded to a report of a noise at a vacation rental on SW Coast Ave where police found a large underage drinking party. Police found a number of minors that were intoxicated including some that had to be taken to Samaritan North Lincoln Hospital because they were found passed out and unresponsive to officers and there was fear of alcohol poisoning.

The owner of the home was also notified as there was considerable damage done to the home including broken furniture, damage to walls and appliances and a lot of trash in the home. Police cited 25 individuals for MIP and cited 21-year old Cynthia Lopez for furnishing alcohol to minors. Then on Wednesday night alert neighbors called police to report suspicious activity at a home that was under construction. Police arrived and found three people up on a balcony of the home with alcohol in their possession. A 20-year old and a 17-year old from Lincoln City were cited for MIP. 21-year old Brian Manniger was cited for furnishing alcohol to a minor.

Lt. Palmer with Lincoln City police reminds that Lincoln County has a zero tolerance for underage drinking.District Attorney Rob Bovett said the consequences for being cited for MIP include large fines and suspension of driving privileges. Furnishing alcohol to a minor is a crime punishable by fines and possible jail time.

Port of Newport Terminal Project Update

The Port of Newport won a $323,500 grant from the Infrastructure Finance Authority for excavation dredging at the Terminal Renovation project. The cofferdam and portions of the fishing dock have been removed. Pilings from the cofferdam are being cleaned and coated and re-driven at the bow of the Hennebique. Scrap iron from the ships is being sold. Revenue from those sales is being rolled back into the project budget. Over the last month the material that was under the Pasley inside the cofferdam has been taken down to silt stone and approved for upland disposal.

A total of 5,931 tons of contaminated material has been hauled to the Coffin Butte landfill as of November 30, 2011. Piling installation for the east dock has been completed and pile driving continues on the west pier. A diving inspection was conducted to review the condition of the existing piles at the ro-ro dock. An amendment to the contract between the Port and KPFF Consulting Engineers was also approved by the Port Commission at the December meeting for design modifications for the ro-ro dock at the terminal. The ro-ro dock has been found to be structurally sound and will remain, rather than being removed as previously planned. That will also result in savings to the project.

Gleneden Beach Man Sentenced For Rape of 13-year old

On February 15^th Jonathan M. Ramirez of Gleneden Beach pled guilty to rape in the second degree and sodomy in the second degree and was sentenced by Lincoln County Circuit Court Judge Charles Littlehales to twelve years and five months in prison. Ramirez was arrested in September of 2011 after investigation showed that he was having sex with a 13-year old girl in exchange for money to purchase marijuana. According to the probable cause statement Ramirez engaged in various sexual acts with the victim from May through August during the time the victim was 13 and 14-years old. Deputy District Attorney Marcia Buckley who prosecuted the case said she was pleased with the sentence.

Buckley reminds that we have great resources in Lincoln County to help children and families of sexual abuse through the Children’s Advocacy Center. She also encouraged parents to contact law enforcement immediately should they suspect any type of sexual abuse. Ramirez pled guilty to two of the most serious of the charges against him the other 20 charges where dropped as part of the plea agreement. As part of his sentence he will not be eligible for any early release programs and will serve 10-years of post prison supervision. He will also have to register as a sex offender when released and must pay a total of $1,416 in fines. If you need help or have questions regarding a possible child sexual assault contact the children’s advocacy center by clicking on the banner below.

Nurse Family Partnership Program

Joell Archibald public health division director with Lincoln County Health and Human Services provided the board of commissioners with information regarding a federal grant for a nurse-family partnership program. She explained that Oregon is one of 13 states to receive 13.3 million in funding and Lincoln County is one of only 5 counties in the state to receive a grant to start this program.

Archibald explained that in Lincoln County there are over 140 infants born to low income mothers each year. This program she said pairs a nurse with a low-income pregnant woman to improve pregnancy outcomes and improve child health and development. This is a program only offered to low-income first time mothers.

Man Stabbed After Strangeling His Girlfriend

Monday night February 20th at about 11:00 PM, Deputy David Hawley with the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to a report of a domestic disturbance at a home on Aqua Vista Loop in Yachats. The report was that a female subject stabbed her boyfriend while he was attempting to choke her. The male subject left the location in a vehicle prior to deputies’ arrival. Deputy Hawley observed the vehicle dispatch described heading east on Highway 34 near Broadway Street in Waldport.

Deputy Hawley conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle and contacted the driver identified as, 30-year old Brandon P. Dyer from Vancouver, Washington. Dyer was identified as the male subject involved in the altercation at the Aqua Vista Loop address. He was treated by medical personnel at the scene for a stab wound which was not believed to be life threatening. An investigation revealed that Dyer reportedly caused physical injury to a female at the residence and the stabbing appeared to be in self-defense.