TAFT WRESTLING AGAINST SHERIDAN
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Wednesday, January 22, 2025
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Lincoln County, Oregon
Details of county commissioner Local firefighters join battle against investigation have been released raging wildfires in California STEVE CARD Lincoln County Leader
JEREMY C. RUARK Lincoln County Leader
On Friday, Jan. 17, Lincoln County issued a press release regarding an investigation into statements made, and actions taken by County Commissioner Casey Miller. “An independent report found Commissioner Casey Miller released confidential information regarding staff and did harm to Lincoln County’s See MILLER, page A7
At least 27 people had died in the devastating Southern California wildfires as of late last week, and the death toll is likely to rise, according to officials. Thousands of people have been forced from their homes, and complete neighborhoods have been destroyed by the fastmoving wind-driven fires. Casey Miller
See FIRE, page A4
Unpredictable fire behavior and high winds have challenged firefighters attempting to stop the wildfires. (Photos courtesy of the Oregon State Fire Marshal)
Lantern removed from lighthouse Grand jury
Renovation work will continue until summer
indicts man for murder
The lantern is lifted from the top of the Yaquina Bay Lighthouse in Newport on Jan. 15 as part of a project for the complete restoration of the building’s exterior. (Photo courtesy of Oregon Parks and Recreation Department)
STEVE CARD Lincoln County Leader
STEVE CARD Lincoln County Leader
A Lincoln County Grand Jury has indicted a Toledo man for murder in the January 2022 death of Ryan Staggs. That indictment was handed down by the grand jury on Jan. 14 against Murphy Calvin Henry II, 54, who had been arrested by police for murder on Jan. 9. In addition to one count of murder in the second degree, Henry faces charges of assault in the first degree, burglary in the first degree, abuse of a corpse in the second degree, tampering with physical evidence, and solicitation to commit murder in the second degree. Henry was scheduled to be arraigned on the grand jury indictment in Lincoln County Circuit Court at 1:15 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 21, before Judge Sheryl Bachart. That hearing was held after this week’s Lincoln County Leader press deadline and will be reported on in a future story. Another person has been arrested in connection with this case — Jack David Baird, 60, of Newport. Baird was jailed on Dec. 27, 2024, after police served a search
Anyone who happened to be in the area of the Yaquina Bay Lighthouse in Newport late Wednesday morning, Jan. 15, may have witnessed a very unusual sight. A large crane lifted the lantern off of the lighthouse building and loaded it onto a flatbed truck to haul it off. This was as part of a $1.6 million project to completely restore the exterior of the lighthouse, being done by the Oregon Department of Parks and Recreation (OPRD), which manages the lighthouse property. Other elements of the project will include repairing the roof framing and chimneys; the brick foundation; the siding, doors and windows; and installing a new roof. The lighthouse is closed to the public during the restoration work, which is expected to take until June at the earliest. The removal of the lighthouse lantern last week wasn’t accomplished as easily as had been anticipated. In fact, it took about 24 hours longer than expected. A crew from Ness See LIGHTHOUSE, page A6
See MURDER, page A7
Will we see another severe ice storm again this winter? JEREMY C. RUARK Lincoln County Leader
While the weather in Lincoln County this January is challenging, locals are hopeful they won’t see a repeat of the severe ice storm that caused power outages, downed trees, kept many in their homes, and caused travel delays in the region during January 2024.
THE 2024 ICE STORM
Icicles could be seen on the railing of the Yaquina Bay Bridge in Newport during the January 2024 winter storm. (File photo)
annual Climate Report Jan. 1 of this year, detailing the 2024 winter storm. “A strong cold offshore flow allowed cold air to push into the area,” the report states. “A very strong arctic front moved across the area Jan. 12 and 13, with temperatures plummeting 20-25 degrees below normal. Strong easterly winds occurred See STORMS, page A6
The National Weather Service (NWS) issued its
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