Wednesday, October 23, 2024
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Lincoln County, Oregon
The mental health impact facing Police shoot, kill suspect in local motel incident Oregon’s wildland firefighters JEREMY C. RUARK Lincoln County Leader
As of late September, wildfires had spread over a record 1.9 million acres during Oregon’s 2024 wildfire season. This photo shows firefighters building a containment line around the Lane One Wildfire southeast of Cottage Grove. (Courtesy photo from the U.S. Forest Service.)
Oregon’s wildfire season is expected to continue through this month, but the mental scares and impact of the season on the firefighters who battle blazes along the Oregon Coast and across the state, and their families, may last a lifetime, according to Jeff Dill, the founder of Firefighter Behavioral Health Alliance (FBHA). See FIREFIGHTERS, page A7
JEREMY C. RUARK Lincoln County Leader
One person was fatally shot, and a use of force investigation was underway following a shooting at a Lincoln City motel. At approximately 12:22 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19, Lincoln City Police Department (LCPD) officers responded to report of a domestic disturbance between a male and female at the Motel 6, located at 3517 NW Highway 101, in Lincoln City. Officers responded to the motel, identified the suspect,
and discovered outstanding warrants for his arrest, according to a release from investigators. “The occupants of the room also appeared to be associated with a stolen vehicle located in the parking lot of the hotel,” the release states. “At approximately 13:04 p.m., LCPD officers contacted the male suspect in the hotel room, and he was noncompliant. During the contact, the suspect had two firearms in his waistband which he reached for and was shot by officers.” See SUSPECT, page A7
Cougar spotted on Newport docks Lincoln City receives $1 million for new park
JEREMY C. RUARK Lincoln County Leader
A cougar spotted walking along the docks at Newport and a severe livestock attack that killed at least 12 goats by a cougar near Eugene, illustrate how cougars are migrating into populated areas. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) report the number cougars are increasing in the Pacific Northwest and the Oregon Coast Range. “Oregon is cougar country and ODFW encourages people to review safety tips and information on how to keep people, pets and livestock safe,” ODFW West Region Public Information Officer Beth Quillian said. Following the Eugene area livestock kill, the landowner hired a private agent who trapped and killed a single cougar on the property, according to Quillian. First responders quickly responded when a cougar was spotted walking on the docks at the Embarcadero along the bay front in Newport Oct. 17. “At the time, it was a very dangerous situation, and our first concern is always for the See COUGAR, page A6
This cougar was spotted along the docks at Newport Oct. 17. (Courtesy from Newport Police)
Lincoln City Parks & Recreation is receiving $1 million from the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department for the continued development of the new 6.71-acre Schooner Creek Discovery Park. This $1 million in funding follows a 2022 OPRD grant award of $750,000 to LCP&R, for a total of $1.75 million in support for the new park construction. Schooner Creek Discovery Park is the first community park to be built in Lincoln City in more than two decades, while also being the first community park in the historic Taft District (southern area of Lincoln City). The park is stated as the number one goal of the 2016 Lincoln City Parks System Plan and will address a recreation gap in the southern part of Lincoln City. It will offer many new amenities to residents and visitors, including an accessible and inclusive playground, multi-sports courts See PARK, page A7
High School’s Culinary Program cooking up success JEREMY C. RUARK Lincoln County Leader
It’s more than just reading, writing, and arithmetic at Toledo High Jr/Sr School. An innovative culinary foods program combining hands-on skills with real-world experience is on the verge of receiving Career and Technical Education (CTE) certification as an official Program of Study, according to school administrators. “Students who complete a Program of Study receive a CTE-specific graduation cord, have a statistically higher graduation rate than other students, and are exposed to more career readiness skills,” a release from the school states.
During the 2019/20 school year, Instructor Derek Robinson started teaching culinary classes in his Spanish classes. When pandemic limitations hit, students picked up ingredients from school then followed Robinson’s cooking instructions on Zoom from their homes. Since then, the program has evolved into a hands-on learning adventure that’s garnered a waiting list, with about 50 students currently enrolled. Robinson emphasizes the benefits of this type of experiential learning. See CULINARY, page A7
Freshman Aly Boyer watches as sophomore Kourtnie Wagner measures and adds flour to a mixing bowl. The students are two of about 50 Toledo students enrolled in the popular Culinary class.
Teacher Derek Robinson gives instruction to students in his Toledo Culinary class. The class is on the verge of official CTE certification. (Courtesy photos)
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