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GREAT BREAKFAST AND SEAFOOD ALL DAY
Wednesday, August 6, 2025
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Lincoln County, Oregon
Summer tourism reflects attitude of visitors, businesses JEREMY C. RUARK Lincoln County Leader
Events, such as this art fair at the Lincoln City Cultural Center last weekend, are designed to engage locals and attract visitors. (Jeremy C. Ruark / Lincoln County Leader)
Tourism is a main industry along the Oregon Coast, but spending surges depend on visitors’ and local businesses’ attitudes, according to those who keep track of the economic trends. Newport Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Wayne Patterson said initial tourism reports show an increase of
tourism revenue over last summer. “Best visitor trend analysis we have is lodging taxes since everyone who stays at least one nigh there, must pay and the city tracks those lodging taxes,” he said. “We will end up this last fiscal year with more tax income than any previous year in Newport. Hard to track retail including restaurants, but typically their revenue aligns with people here staying in hotels. Based
on what we have heard, sales were great!” As to Patterson’s take on the economic impact of the city’s cancellation of retail fireworks in Newport, he stated: “Living in Nye Beach last year was much quieter than this year with fireworks on the beach! Nobody could understand the cancelation of fireworks, but the stands were open,” he said. Overall, Patterson said the summer of 2025 is proving to be
an economic boost for Newport. “Summer brings lots of families looking for a variety of things to do,” he said. “Beaches, hikes, lighthouses, boating, fishing, eating seafood, and many more are on the list of our visitors.” Patterson said Newport’s main tourist attractions include the number one draw, the Oregon Coast Aquarium. “Sea lions when in See TOURISM, page A4
Cascade Head Biosphere Collaborative gets national exposure JEREMY C. RUARK Lincoln County Leader
Northwest Travel & Life magazine features the Cascade Head Biosphere Collaborative in the article entitled ‘Protected Places Exploring Biosphere Reserves throughout the Northwest.’ “We’re thrilled to see the Biosphere Region featured in Northwest Travel & Life,” Cascade Head Biosphere Collaborative Staff Scientist and Project and Communication Manager Paul Robertson said. “These places are stunning – not just for their natural beauty and biodiversity, but also for the communities and cultural traditions they support,” Northwest Travel & Life Chief Editorial Director Allan Cox writes in his Editor’s Note in the beginning of the magazine. “The idea behind a Biosphere Reserve is to find balance between people using the land and nature continuing to thrive.” Robertson said the magazine’s exposure is invaluable. See BIOSPHERE, page A4
Each summer, community members and visitors join The Sand Art Contest, described as “a powerful tribute to the deep bond between our community and the Cascade Head Biosphere Region,” Duncan Berry, Co-Director of the Cascade Head Biosphere Collaborative said. “It reflects the pride we share as stewards of this land and our commitment to preserving it for future generations. The Sand Art Contest offers a fun and creative way to connect people to a deeper relationship with the living planet.” See more photos with this story at the Lincoln County Leader website. (Courtesy photos from the Cascade Head Biosphere Collaborative)
Originally designated in 1976, the newly reauthorized Cascade Head Biosphere Region includes the Salmon River and Estuary, the Cascade Head Marine Reserve, and much of the City of Lincoln City.
Preparedness urged following Lincoln County Health and Human Services Director has retired Tsunami Watch, Advisory JEREMY C. RUARK Lincoln County Leader
A Tsunami Watch, followed by a Tsunami Advisory issued by the national Weather Service (NWS) July 29, were cancelled July 30. The Watch and Advisory was issued after a magnitude 8.8 earthquake occurred near the Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia, at approximately 4:25 p.m. July 29. During the event, Oregon Department of Emergency Management (OEM) urged residents
and visitors along the Oregon Coast to use caution. Wave surges were expected to continue for several hours following the tsunami. Small tsunami waves— the largest being between 1 to 2 feet in height— reached parts of the Oregon coast starting at around 11:50 p.m. on July 29. Although The OEM said this is not a major tsunami, hazardous conditions including dangerous currents and
strong wave action remained possible in coastal and harbor areas. As of Wednesday afternoon, July 30, OEM said there had not been any major damages or injuries reported from local municipalities. However, OEM continued to urge coast visitors to exercise caution as large debris washes ashore days after such an event. Even minor tsunami activity can pose a significant danger to people near the water.
Lincoln County bid farewell Friday, Aug. 1, to who officials call a dynamic leader who helmed the Department of Health and Human Services out of the COVID-19 pandemic. Jayne Romero took the reins at the Department of Health and Human Services in late spring 2021, reunifying the department after two years of operation under dual directors. Her legacy includes emergence from the pandemic with an enhanced organizational structure, strong
Jayne Romero. (Courtesy photo from Lincoln County) leadership at the division level, new or reconfigured programs and services, and a safer,
healthier community. Romero previously worked in human services in western Pennsylvania’s Venango County from 1998 through 2017. In 2004, she was named mental health and developmental services administrator for Venango County. She was again promoted in 2013, becoming human services administrator, and served in that role until 2018, when she moved to Lincoln County with her husband, See DIRECTOR, page A4
See TSUNAMI, page A5
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