19th Annual Markham Marine Science Research Symposium

The 19^th Annual Markham Symposium, a celebration of graduate student research and scholarship, will be held at the Oregon State University Hatfield Marine Science Center (HMSC) in Newport on June 19. This year’s symposium will feature student research presentations in an exciting, fast-paced format.  Poster presentations and an informal reception will give attendees a chance to meet students and their mentors. The event from 10 am-12:30 pm in the Visitor Center auditorium is free and open to the public.

Janet Webster, Interim Director of the OSU Hatfield Marine Science Center, recently announced the 2014 HMSC scholarship funds totaling $80,500 awarded to students in 5 OSU departments in 3 different colleges. These funds come from generous private donations to HMSC’s student programs.  “Our competitive graduate program provides academic and research opportunities to an international cadre of outstanding students,” according to Webster. “Add to this the generosity of private donors who wish to contribute to the education of tomorrow’s marine scientists, and you have the Markham Marine Science Research Symposium.” 

Graduate and undergraduate education is at the heart of HMSC’s mission to improve scientific understanding of marine systems and coastal processes and resources, and apply this knowledge to social, economic, and environmental issues. “Students have an amazing opportunity to do marine research in professional laboratories at HMSC, mentored by world-class faculty and agency scientists”, said Itchung Cheung, HMSC Academic Program Manager. “Scholarships not only help with the financial challenges they face, but also recognize and validate students’ outstanding research efforts.”

 To view the Markham Symposium agenda including list of awardees, or to learn more about supporting HMSC’s scholarship and awards, see hmsc.oregonstate.edu/supporters.

Two Arrested For Selling Meth From A Motel

SHALBERG, APRIL MARIE

Two people were arrested last Thursday by the Lincoln Interagency Narcotics Team (LINT), with the assistance of Newport Police Department and Oregon State Police, during the execution of a narcotics-related search warrant at a Newport-area motel.

LINT began the investigation after learning the suspects were staying at the Inn at Yaquina Bay in Newport and selling methamphetamine from the motel. On June 13, 2013, LINT served a search warrant on multiple rooms at the business and a vehicle associated with the suspects. Officers located methamphetamine, packaging materials, digital scales and other evidence of drug use and sales.

Otter Rock And Roll Results

The Surfrider Foundation’s Newport Chapter, joined by their Siuslaw and Portland Chapters, hosted 67 competitors and over 200 spectators for the 5^th annual Otter Rock n’ Roll Youth Surf and Beach Cleanup Challenge in celebration of International Surfing Day.  Observed globally, International Surfing Day celebrates the sport of surfing and helps raise awareness about issues facing our oceans, waves, and beaches.

The 18 and under surf contest and beach cleanup challenge kicked off Saturday morning at Otter Rock/Devil’s Punchbowl State Park, running 22 fifteen-minute heats in divisions from “Best Beginner,” which comes with surfing lessons provided by non-profit Warm Current, to the hot shot 16-18 year-olds. Conditions were favorable for the youngest, with small enough waves to keep them stoked, but not intimidated. While the older kids could have hoped for some larger, punchier waves, they made the most of every opportunity in the water.

The “Parent with Child” division was the most popular with 15 parent/child teams battling it out over 6 heats throughout the day. The beach cleanup challenge, a popular way for the non-surfing beachgoers to participate, awarded prizes for best beach trash art, biggest marine debris haul, longest travelled piece of debris, largest piece of foam, and many other categories. The challenge teaches stewardship and awareness of marine debris while rewarding and reinforcing cleanup behaviors.

Five Alarm Firehouse Cook-Off

Our local firefighters, who mean so much to our communities, put their lives on the line for us everyday. Now they leap out of the fire and into the frying pan as they battle for culinary supremacy in one of the most unique events held in the United States. It’s coastal fire station versus coastal fire station in the second annual 5 Alarm Firehouse Cook-Off.Firefighters go after thegold medalin the Olympics of cook-offs this Saturday from 6:00pm – 8:30p.m. at Newport Intermediate School, 825 NE 7^th Street.

 Fire stations competing include Toledo Fire Department, Seal Rock Rural Fire Prevention District, Rockaway Beach Fire & Rescue, Siuslaw Valley Firefighters Association, Nestucca Rural Fire Protection District and Newport Fire Department.

This is not a chili cook-off but a three course battle in the tradition of the Iron Chef and other popular television culinary competitions. Each station will field a team that will compete for culinary glory in three categories: Oregon Pink Shrimp Cocktail, Main Dish & Dessert.

A bronze, silver and gold medal will be award in each division with the 5 Alarm Grand Champion the fire station with the highest point total in all three divisions combined. Prizes donated by local businesses will be awarded to the winning teams.

Admission includes unlimited sampling of the team culinary entries with the proceeds from the Cook-Off benefiting the Newport Food Pantry and Operation Snackpacks emergency food programs. Special entertainment will be the fabulous the Sweet Adelines women’s Barbershop Chorus of Lincoln County.

Tickets at the door are $15 for Adults, $10 for Students 12-17, Children $5 with kids five and under free.  Oregon Pink Shrimp provided Corey & Maria Rock of the fishing vessel Kylie Lynn.

82 Year Old Man Missing

UPDATE: Missing person, Larry Hubbard has been located in Portland.

Newport Police report they are looking for 82-year old Larry Hubbard. He is described as bald with a beard, with a medium build. He was last seen today (6/13) at the Hallmark in Newport around 2 pm. Anyone with any information or who may have seen Mr. Hubbard is asked to call 541-265-4231.

PCHD Receives Grant For Future Health Education Center

The Pacific Communities Health District (PCHD) Foundation is the recipient of a $40,000 grant from the William Swindells, Sr. Memorial Fund of The Oregon Community Foundation (OCF). The grant will help build the future Center for Health Education on Highway 101, adjacent to the Samaritan Pacific Communities Hospital.

The two-story 12,000 square-foot Art Deco building will include a community resource center, a teaching kitchen, labs for ongoing health professional training, and dedicated spaces for support groups and other community health-related activities. The center will become a central point for disease prevention and chronic condition management programs and activities, helping to improve quality of life and lower healthcare costs.

“Lincoln County’s new health education center will greatly improve local capacity for preventive and chronic disease management programs, and ongoing training for health care professionals,” said Kathleen Cornett, OCF’s vice president of grants & programs. “OCF is impressed by dedicated citizens, the creation of private and public partnerships, and significant community donations, in order to prioritize and build this important facility.”

The mission of the OCF is to improve life in Oregon and promote effective philanthropy. OCF works with individuals, families, businesses and organizations to create charitable funds to support the community causes they care about. Through these funds, OCF awards nearly $70 million annually in grants and scholarships.

The OCF makes grants through an application process that involves local citizens in the review and evaluation of requests for funds. Application materials are available through the foundation’s Portland office. Individuals or businesses interested in establishing a fund may contact the Portland office at 1221 SW Yamhill, Suite 100, Portland OR 97205, 503-227-6846 or visit oregoncf.org. For more information about the PCHD Foundation or the Center for Health Education, call 541-574-4745 or visit samhealth.org/pchdf.

Aquarium Dive Staff Cleans Yaquina Bay

Oregon Coast Aquarium staff and volunteer divers had a trashy afternoon on Saturday, June 8 when they plunged into Yaquina Bay to clean up the underwater landscape surrounding Port Dock 1 on Newport’s Historic Bayfront. The divers worked in shifts over the course of the afternoon to haul marine debris out of the water. By the time they climbed back on deck and pulled off their thermal dry suits, a pile of trash measuring over six feet high and weighing approximately 300 pounds had been removed from the seafloor. 

Dive Safety Officer Vallorie Hodges described the cleanup as challenging, “Cold water, low visibility and physical exertion is standard for these dives. Also, pulling objects out of the soft substrate bottom results in zero visibility and a slime layer over our gear, but all the divers believe the effort is worthwhile to make Yaquina Bay a bit cleaner.” The team selected the site because it is important habitat for local wildlife and popular with Newport residents and visitors.

OCCC Students Hold Mock Trial

Students enrolled in Gretchen Havner’s Introduction to Judicial Process course at Oregon Coast Community College (OCCC) recently conducted a classroom exercise that provided insight into the sequence of events that occur during a criminal court case. Throughout the term students have been studying the American judicial system and gaining insight into the proper processing of a case from an arrest to the phase of filing an appeal.

 The entire class was actively involved in a mock trial by serving as prosecuting and defense attorneys, witnesses, or the accused.  The learning exercise also included legal expertise as “Judge Ken Havner” graciously presided as the court’s judge. In real life, Mr. Havner is a practicing attorney from Leawood, KS and is Gretchen Havner’s father. 

The jury consisted of 7 volunteers who were recruited by students and Interim President Bruce Koike remarked, while smiling, “I am reasonably assured that none of the jurors were tampered with prior to the exercise! The mock trial is a creative way to get student engaged in the learning process by thinking and responding in a fast paced environment.  The students definitely dressed to reflect their role during the learning activity.” 

Aquarium Celebrates World Oceans Day June 8

The Oregon Coast Aquarium will team up with marine conservation groups around the planet to celebrate World Oceans Day on Saturday, June 8. The event is a United Nations designated day for ocean celebration held to encourage people to take action to protect the world’s oceans. The theme for 2013 and 2014 is “Together we have the power to protect the ocean!” This is intended to call people to celebrate and strive to create the future they want to see for the ocean that provides for billions of people and countless plants and animals. 

The Aquarium is scheduling special activities to commemorate World Oceans Day including interactive education presentations, a fish dissection and SCUBA diving presentations in the Aquarium’s Passages of the Deep and Oregon Kelp Forest exhibits. Ocean Discovery Stations will provide visitors the opportunity to learn what sea otter fur feels like and how many teeth sharks have. Stations set up by the Aquarium’s partners in ocean conservation, like the NOAA National Marine Fisheries and the Fishermen’s Wives, will offer the opportunity for guests to learn these organizations’ unique perspectives on how the ocean plays a role in peoples’ daily lives, and the best ways to protect its future.

State Police Evidence Technician Arrested For Theft

Oregon State Police (OSP) arrested one of their evidence technicians Wednesday following the alleged theft of money from the Department’s evidence room at the Newport Area Command office. The non-sworn employee arrested has been lodged in jail and placed on unpaid administrative leave pending an ongoing criminal investigation.

On June 5, 2013, OSP Criminal Investigation Division detectives arrested PAULA DIANE BELL, age 37, for Theft in the First Degree and Official Misconduct in the First Degree. BELL was located in northeast Oregon and transported by OSP to the Lincoln County Jail where she was lodged early Thursday morning. An initial arraignment in Lincoln County Circuit Court is scheduled June 6 at 1:30 p.m.

OSP started an investigation Wednesday morning after a sworn employee discovered the Newport Area Command office evidence room in a disheveled state including opened evidence packaging. During the day, an undisclosed amount of cash was determined to be missing. The exact amount of cash unaccounted for has not been fully determined.

OSP will be conducting an audit to determine what was unlawfully taken from the evidence room. A complete audit of the OSP Newport evidence room, as well as evidence rooms at the McMinnville and Tillamook offices, are pending where BELL was responsible for handling, storage, and disposal of evidence and other property. BELL was hired by OSP as an evidence technician March 31, 2008.

 At the request of the Lincoln County District Attorney’s Office, the State of Oregon Department of Justice will handle the prosecution. OSP will brief area law enforcement partners of any potential impacts to pending cases.

 OSP has 16 evidence technicians, most full-time employees, located with OSP area commands and worksites. They play a vital role in the support of all department divisions through the acquisition, maintenance and disposition of all agency evidence and other property. No other information to be released at this time pending the ongoing investigation unless authorized by Department of Justice.