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Sports PAGE B1 Wednesday, February 28, 2024
Lincoln County, Oregon
Festival draws crowds
For the most part, the weather was favorable for those who attended the 47th annual Newport Seafood & Wine Festival last Thursday through Sunday. Crowds meandered through the tents erected on Port of Newport property on the south side of Yaquina Bay, where they enjoyed wine, craft beer, seafood and other savory treats, live music and arts and crafts. Below, Vickie Bates, left, and Mark Vermillion staff the Greater Newport Chamber of Commerce souvenir booth. See more photos on page A4. (Photos by Steve Card)
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Pothole patrols in Lincoln City
Following fall and winter storms, Lincoln City Public Works crews fan out across the city to fill the potholes. (Photo by Jeremy C. Ruark) JEREMY C. RUARK Lincoln County Leader
Spring is drawing near, and that means flowers will be blooming and drivers in Lincoln City will be navigating past potholes left over from the fall and winter storms. In the following conversation with the Lincoln County Leader, Lincoln City Public Works Director Stephanie Reid shares her insight into what the
city is doing to repair the streets and roadways. Lincoln County Leader: How severe has the fall and winter been impacting local streets and roads in Lincoln City? Stephanie Reid: Most of the impacts to local streets this fall and winter were to downed trees and branches because of ice and wind. Ice also built up on streets during this latest See POTHOLE, page A9
Juntos en el Jardin likely relocating to Newport voters will see gas tax proposal Newport Library STEVE CARD Lincoln County Leader
It’s official. The Newport City Council on Feb. 20 took action to place a measure on the May 21 ballot asking voters to approve an increase in the city’s gas tax. Newport currently collects a gas tax of 3 cents per gallon from June through October, and 1 cent per gallon during the balance of the year. The proposal is to increase the gas tax to 5 cents See GAS TAX, page A8
In this May’s primary election, Newport voters will be asked once again to approve an increase in the city’s gas tax, raising the rate to 5 cents per gallon on a year-round basis. (Photo by Steve Card)
Lincoln City tourism surging into spring, summer JEREMY C. RUARK Lincoln County Leader
“Heads in beds” is the typical term used by the experts when defining tourism in Lincoln City, and the latest report shows a return to sustainable numbers, which translates into improving lodging, dining, and shopping revenues.
BY THE NUMBERS
Explore Lincoln City Director Kim Cooper Findling said transient lodging tax numbers in Lincoln City for the summer of 2023 were down over 2022, but on par with 2019.
Fodor’s Travel listed Lincoln City among the top 12 U.S. seaside cities for summer travel in 2022. (Photo courtesy of Matt Brandt)
The Newport City Council gave the nod this month for city officials to work out details of relocating Juntos in el Jardin (Together in the Garden) to this area north of the Newport Public Library parking lot. If all goes as planned, the trees will be removed and a fence will be erected around the garden plots. (Photo by Steve Card) STEVE CARD Lincoln County Leader
For the past several years, a project called Juntos in el Jardin (Together in the Garden) has been located at the Lincoln County Commons in Newport. However, because Lincoln County is getting ready to start a major improvement project at the commons, the garden beds there had to be removed, and the group is seeking a new location. At the Feb. 20 meeting of the Newport City Council, preliminary action was taken to move the gardens to the Newport
Public Library, at the north end of the parking lot. “The city has had a number of discussions with Juntos en el Jardin for a location for the Latinx community and Mesoamerican Indigenous community members to have garden plots,” City Manager Spencer Nebel told council members. “This has filled an important need to address basic needs for this population.” After looking at different potential sites around the city, the location at the library appeared to be the most viable See RELOCATING, page A9
See TOURISM, page A8
1422 N Coast Hwy 101 • Newport • 541-265-7731
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