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Lincoln County, Oregon
Breaking ground for affordable housing Depoe Bay Townhomes project to create 12 new units
STEVE CARD Lincoln County Leader
Ground was broken on Tuesday, May 20, on the Depoe Bay Townhomes project, which will create 12 new units of affordable housing. These townhomes will be rentals and will be made available to people that live or work in Lincoln County. The project is owned and will be managed/operated by the Housing Authority of Lincoln County. Karen Rockwell, executive director of the Housing Authority of Lincoln County, said these units will be affordable to individuals whose income is at or less than 60 percent of the area median income. The Depoe Bay Townhomes will be located on about 2.5 acres of land at 1099 S Highway 101, just South of Depoe Bay. The cost of the project is estimated at around $8.3 million. See HOUSING, page A6
Construction of the 12-unit Depoe Bay Townhomes project was kicked off with a groundbreaking ceremony on the morning of Tuesday, May 20. (Photo by Steve Card)
Man arrested following School district bond measure armed robbery in Siletz easily passed by voters JEREMY C. RUARK Lincoln County Leader
Investigators with the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office have arrested a Siletz resident following a reported armed robbery. On the evening of May 18, sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to the Siletz Gas and Mini Mart, located at 315 S Gaither St. in Siletz, following a report of an armed robbery that had
just occurred. “The victim reported that a male suspect brandished a weapon and stole cash from the business before fleeing on foot,” LCSO Detective Sergeant Jason Spano said. “The next day, Lincoln County Sheriff’s detectives, with assistance from several patrol deputies, continued the investigation and were able to identify the suspect as 42-year-old
Marcus D. McCall, of Siletz.” Investigators took McCall into custody at approximately 4:15 p.m. on Tuesday, May 20, outside Noel’s Market in Siletz. He was transported to the Lincoln County Jail, where he was booked on charges of robbery in the first degree, unlawful use of a weapon, theft in the See ARREST, page A7
STEVE CARD Lincoln County Leader
The Lincoln County School District’s bond measure on the ballot in the May 20 Special Election easily passed with about a two-thirds majority voting in favor. With 95 percent of the vote counted as of the Lincoln County Leader’s press deadline, there were 8,049 (68 percent) voting in favor, and
3,835 (32 percent) voting against the bond. The school district bond measure will go toward funding safety and security improvements, making repairs, updating schools and providing vocational education. Two other bond measures on the ballot also passed, but both by narrower margins. One of these was for the renewal of a five-year operational
levy for Central Oregon Coast Fire & Rescue, which was approved by voters with 625 (55 percent) voting in favor and 515 (45 percent) opposed. The other measure was for East Lincoln County Fire & Rescue District, asking for approval of a five-year levy for needed equipment and disaster preparedness. This measure See BOND, page A7
Rally demonstrates public concern over possible hospital reductions JEREMY C. RUARK Lincoln County Leader
Public pressure is mounting to retain hospital birthing centers in Lincoln City and Lebanon. Nurses, patients and community members held a public rally outside the Samaritan Health Plan Building in Corvallis on May 21, ahead of Samaritan Health Services’ scheduled board of directors meeting. Nurses and community allies are rallying to save the birth centers at Samaritan Lebanon Community Hospital and Samaritan North Lincoln Hospital and prevent cuts to other local
health services, according to Oregon Nurses Association spokesman Kevin Mealy. “Samaritan executives are considering closing both birth centers and eliminating Lebanon’s emergency surgery team along with other essential health care cuts,” Mealy said. “The proposed cuts would compromise access to health care for more than 180,000 residents in Linn and Lincoln counties.” Mealy said more than 2,500 people have signed an online petition to save Lebanon’s birth center and more than 12,400
emails have been sent to Samaritan’s corporate executives and board of directors asking them to save local birth centers and keep essential health services open in Lebanon See RALLY, page A4
Nurses, patients and other community members hold signs and wave to passing motorists during a May 21 rally outside the Samaritan Health Plan Building in Corvallis. (Courtesy photo)
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