TIGERS TEARING IT UP THIS YEAR
OSU EXTENSION SEED GIVEAWAY RETURNS FOR SIXTH YEAR
Sports PAGE B8
Coast Life PAGE B1
Wednesday, February 12, 2025
COMMEMORATIVE BEER CELEBRATES 25 YEARS OF FINDERS KEEPERS PROGRAM
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Lincoln County, Oregon
Seeking a new moorage Steve Card Lincoln County Leader
A project to replace the protective coating on the Depoe Bay Bridge on Highway 101 will begin in late summer or early fall, which will means some occasional sidewalk and lane closures. (File photo)
Depoe Bay Bridge Preservation Project to begin this year Steve Card Lincoln County Leader
A project to help preserve the Depoe Bay Bridge on Highway 101 will begin this year, according to information released by the Oregon Department of Transportation. Like most coastal bridges, the Depoe Bay Bridge is exposed to harsh winds and salt water. A protective coating called cathodic protection will be applied to help See BRIDGE, page A7
For many years, people driving along the highway in South Beach has seen a large fishing boat dry-docked at the intersection of Southeast 40th Street and Highway 101. But the property where it is located was recently acquired by South Beach Church, and in the nottoo-distant future, the boat will need to find a new home or be demolished. South Beach Church is building a large new worship center just up the way on Southeast 40th Street, but that project is not connected with the property they also own alongside the highway. “That piece has nothing to do with the church development,” said South Beach Church Lead Pastor Luke Frechette. “It was part of the land acquisition when we bought the 12 acres. We also had to buy the 2.5 acres down there.” The new church property is already within the Newport city limits, and church officials recently approached the city to get the parcel along the highway annexed in as well. That annexation was the topic of a public hearing during the Newport City Council’s Feb. 3 meeting.
This old boat has become something of a landmark alongside Highway 101 in South Beach, but its days at this location are numbered. It sits on property owned by South Beach Church and will need to be relocated in the not-too-distant future, so church officials are seeking a new home for it. (Photo by Steve Card) The city council had no problem agreeing with the proposed annexation, as the property is within the city’s urban growth boundary and is adjacent to the current city limits. In addition, Newport Community Development Director Derrick Tokos said, “We have a deficiency of industrial
property, (and) they’d like a light industrial designation, so it makes sense to bring it into the city. South Beach Church’s objective at this point is not to develop the property right now but rather to get it inside the city limits because they have been advised that that will increase the value of the proper-
ty. Our recommendation would be for you to move forward.” Frechette was in attendance at the city council meeting, and before the annexation request was voted on, he was asked about the future of the old boat on the property. “I See BOAT, page A4
Plans moving forward for new pool in Toledo
The Siletz Tribal Council, pictured from left to right, are Delores Pigsley, Selene Rilatos, Reggie Butler Jr., Loraine Butler, Judy Muschamp, Robert Kentta, Buddy Lane, Bud Lane, and Gerald Ben. (Courtesy photo)
Siletz Tribal Council members elected Jeremy C. Ruark Lincoln County Leader
Reginald “Reggie” Butler, Alfred “Bud” Lane III, and Delores Pigsley were elected on Feb. 1 to the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians Tribal Council. Butler, from Siletz, was elected with 336 votes; Lane, from Siletz, was elected with 325 votes; and Pigsley, from Keizer, was elected with 318 votes. Ten candidates ran for the three open positions, and the three who received the most votes were elected. The swearing-in ceremony for the newly elected council members took place Sunday, Feb. 2. The tribal council officers are elected on an annual basis and those selected for 2025 were Delores Pigsley, chairman; Bud Lane II, vice chairman; Robert Kentta, treasurer; and Judy Mus-
champ, secretary. Pigsley has served for more than 39 years as tribal chairman out of a total of 46 years on the council. Years served by other council members are: Bud Lane, 27; Loraine Butler, 20; Robert Kentta, 19; Selene Rilatos, five; Gerald Ben, four; Buddy Lane, two; and Judy Muschamp, two. Reggie Butler was elected for his first term. The term of office is three years for each position on the nine-member council. Enrolled members of the Siletz Tribe who are age 18 and older are eligible to vote in tribal elections. The tribe has more than 5,600 enrolled members. “The Siletz Tribe has spent the last 47 years rebuilding its government and economic struc-
ture,” a release from the Confederated Tribes of Siletz states. “The signing of Public Law 95-195 in 1977, which restored government-to-government relations between the Siletz Tribe and the federal government, started this process. The Siletz Tribe was the second in the nation — and the first in Oregon — to achieve restoration.” Accomplishments The Siletz Tribe was among the first to become a self-governance tribe, giving tribal government more control over services provided to tribal members. Under self-governance, the U.S. government provides general funding to the tribe (rather than to specific programs), then tribal
The Toledo Swimming Pool first opened in 1948, and efforts are currently underway to replace it with an entirely new structure. Construction of a new pool could begin as soon as the end of this year. (Photo by Steve Card) Steve Card Lincoln County Leader
There are still some major details to be sorted out, but plans for a new swimming pool in Toledo continue to move forward, with construction possibly beginning toward the end of this year. The current five-lane, 25-yard pool opened in 1948 as an outdoor pool. It was covered in the 1960s and has operated as a city pool since its inception. The pool was initially part of a public works project designed to enhance local infrastructure and provide a safe place for swimming and aquatic activities. Over the decades, it became a
See COUNCIL, page A4
1422 N Coast Hwy 101 • Newport • 541-265-7731
beloved institution, serving as a venue for swimming lessons, competitive swim meets, fitness classes, and family recreation. By the 2010s, however, the aging facility faced significant challenges. Years of wear and tear, along with escalating maintenance costs, placed the pool’s future in jeopardy. Despite its importance to the community, funding became increasingly difficult to secure, raising concerns about a potential closure. In response, residents of Toledo and the surrounding areas rallied to save the pool. Through grassroots organizing and public advocacy, they See POOL, page A4
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