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Wednesday, September 18, 2024
2024
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Lincoln County, Oregon
Dozens volunteer on Waldport playground project STEVE CARD Lincoln County Leader
About three-dozen volunteers turned out over a threeday period last week to help assemble the new playground equipment at Southworth Park in Waldport. In just that short amount of time, the largest playground around emerged. Unfortunately for the young people who can now see it there, it will be a while yet before they can play on it. “I’m really hoping that sometime in October,” Waldport City Manager Dann Cutter said of an opening date. “Our biggest concern is the whole park is still a construction area, and so we’ve got to figure out logistically how we can get people to and from the playground without having them go through the rest of the park.” The next major component of the project will be to install See PLAYGROUND, page A3
To give some perspective as to the size of the new playground structure in Waldport, one of the volunteers, Steve Corwin, stood next to it for a photo on Saturday. It will take some time yet before the playground is ready for use, but city officials hope it will open some time in October. (Photo by Steve Card)
ODOT launches curb improvements in Lincoln City This flyover shows the areas of the curb ramp improvement project along Highway 101 in Lincoln City. (Photo courtesy of ODOT)
Oregon Department of Emergency Management (OEM) Director Erin
The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) is starting construction for a $24.1 million Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) curb ramp project in Lincoln City. “We’re upgrading and installing new curb ramps to improve accessibility for all,” ODOT Public Information Officer Mindy McCartt said. “We’re planning to start at the south end of Lincoln Beach on the east side and will work north.” The Lincoln City Ramp Project location is along U.S. Highway
See PREPARED, page A6
See ODOT, page A6
Lincoln City authorities use this dispatch center at the Lincoln City Police Department to monitor emergency events and notifications. (Photo by Jeremy C. Ruark)
Social media, new tool kit part of Preparedness Month JEREMY C. RUARK Lincoln County Leader
September has been established as National
Preparedness Month. “Disasters and emergencies can happen anywhere, and without warning,”
JEREMY C. RUARK Lincoln County Leader
Juntos en el Jardin moving forward STEVE CARD Lincoln County Leader
Progress continues moving forward on a project called Juntos en el Jardin (Together in the Garden), located on the north side of the Newport Public Library parking lot. This is a community garden for the Latinx and Mesoamerican Indigenous community members in the Newport area. For the past several years, this garden had been located at the Lincoln County Commons (fairgrounds), but because Lincoln
County is getting ready to start a major improvement project at the commons, the garden beds had to be removed, and the city was approached for help in finding a new site. In a staff report submitted to the city council, Library Director Laura Kimberly wrote, “The Newport Public Library is an ideal location for the establishment of a community garden space. With existing infrastructure such as the Newport Seed Library, raised
garden beds, ongoing programs, and partnerships, the library presents a unique opportunity to further enrich the community through sustainable gardening practices.” The Newport City Council approved an agreement to allow the library property to be used. The site is being provided through an agreement between the city of Newport and the Olalla Center/Lincoln County Extension as See JARDIN, page A6
The Juntos en el Jardin (Together in the Garden) project on the north side of the Newport Public Library is moving forward, with raised garden beds now being installed. (Photo by Steve Card)
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