TAFT AND NEWPORT SWIM TEAMS PERFORM AT TAFT INVITATIONAL
A COLORFUL SPECTACLE
TAPHOUSE AT NYE CREEK CLOSES ITS DOORS
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Wednesday, January 15, 2025
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Lincoln County, Oregon
County Commissioner Kaety Jacobson resigning Man charged with murder in cold case investigation STEVE CARD Lincoln County Leader
Lincoln County Commissioner Kaety Jacobson announced on Friday, Jan. 10, that she will be stepping down from her position effective Feb. 14. Jacobson was elected to position 3 on the county commission in 2018 and began serving in January 2019. She was re-elected to a second term in 2022 and had two years remaining in her current term
Kaety Jacobson of office. “Serving this community during the past six years has
been an incredible honor and privilege,” Jacobson said in a statement released via email. “Together, we have faced several unprecedented challenges, and I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to have served in this role. I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to the voters who supported me in my last two elections, the dedicated staff of Lincoln County, and the amazing community partners who have been integral to See RESIGNING, page A4
STEVE CARD Lincoln County Leader
A Toledo man has been arrested and charged with murder in connection with a threeyear-old missing person case. Murphy Calvin Henry II, 54, was arrested at around 3 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 9, and lodged in the Lincoln County Jail on charges of murder in the second degree, abuse of a
corpse in the second degree, and tampering with evidence related to the disappearance of Ryan Staggs. Staggs was last seen in late January 2022 at his residence at 175 NW 55th St. in Newport. He was reported as a missing person in February 2022. Investigators received numerous pieces of information, but See COLD CASE, page A6
Local fishing boats depart for Alaska STEVE CARD Lincoln County Leader
A number of the larger commercial fishing boats that call Newport’s Yaquina Bay their home headed out last week for the annual trek to Alaska’s Bering Sea. It can take eight to 10 days for them to make the journey up north, depending on the weather. Boats from Newport will be docking either at Dutch Harbor or Kodiak, where they will be based while fishing for pollack and cod, a fishery that generally lasts for several months. The Port of Newport’s International Terminal was hopping with activity last week as boat owners and their crews made final preparations. And as has been the custom for a number of years, part of the preparation process before heading up to Alaska involved holding a prayer service, asking for safety for the fishing crews and their loved ones at home, and for a bountiful harvest. A service for the Alaskan fleet was held at noon on Wednesday, Jan. 8, at the International Terminal, led by Pastor Luke Frechette, from South Beach Church. Dozens of fishermen, along with their families and friends, gathered See BOATS, page A4
Pastor Luke Frechette (above), from South Beach Church, led a prayer service at noon on Wednesday, Jan. 8, asking for safety for the fishing crews leaving for Alaska, for their loved ones at home, and for a bountiful harvest. Two of Yaquina Bay’s larger commercial fishing boats (right) are pictured at the Port of Newport International Terminal last week shortly before they departed for Alaska’s Bering Sea. (Photos by Steve Card)
Local legislators set County Commons construction begins this year 2025 session priorities Plans being made JEREMY C. RUARK Lincoln County Leader
The 2025 session of the Oregon Legislature began Monday, Jan. 13 in Salem. Gov. Tina Kotek’s focus for the session includes housing and homelessness, education and behavioral health. The Lincoln County Leader reached out to local legislators Sen. Dick Anderson and Rep. David Gomberg for their insight into what people might expect during the 2025 session. Lincoln County Leader: What are your top priorities this session and why those priorities?
Sen. Dick Anderson: Housing production on all levels. The governor has called for 36,000 units a year. We are not producing even 20,000 units in 2024. We have a long ways to go. I am actively engaged in finding more ways to increase affordable housing, transitional housing, workforce housing and regular old market rate homes. We need them all. Metro areas need them, and we do as well on the coast. I am pursuing policies to help See SESSIONS, page A4
to accommodate 2025 fair at other locations STEVE CARD Lincoln County Leader
It has been a very lengthy process, but the construction of the new Lincoln County Commons in Newport will finally begin this year. See COMMONS, page A6
This artist rendering shows what the new Lincoln County Commons could look like. Construction on that project will begin this year. (Courtesy graphic)
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