Northwest Oregon Works (NOW) has received federal grant funds to access a crew of temporary workers related to the recent Echo Mountain fire disaster in Lincoln County. Training scholarships or On-the-Job training supports are also available for unemployed workers.

Humanitarian Work
* Food, clothing or related distribution
* Navigator or Peer-Support
* Other humanitarian aid

Clean Up Work
* Debris Removal
* Demolition of Structures

Recover/Rebuild Work
* Repair and reconstruction of structures, facilities or lands related to the disaster
* Recovery and rebuilding work will focus on public land

Job Seekers
* Currently not employed with priority to those who have been laid off as a consequence of the disaster
* Training funds are also available for non-disaster related work
* Supportive services to enable participation in disaster relief employment and training services

For more information contact Angeline Chan-Pepper at 888-457-1178 ext 602 or Angeline.chan@equusworks.com

The Oregon Health Authority is providing free private well testing vouchers to property owners impacted by the 2020 Labor Day wildfires.

How it works:

1. If you’re eligible for the program, apply online.
2. OHA will send you a voucher that covers the cost of a having a certified laboratory test a sample of your well water.
3. Follow OHA’s guidance on how to assess your well, and collect a water sample.
4. Submit the sample and voucher to a laboratory for testing. The voucher will cover the cost of the lab test.
5. OHA will contact you with your test results and next steps.

More information, eligibility criteria and applications are online. Application deadline is May 15 2021, while supplies last.

Note: You do not need to participate in the Step 2 cleanup program to qualify for OHA’s well testing voucher.

As Lincoln County transitions from higher risk to lower risk regarding COVID-19 it is important to continue wearing masks and following the State Risk Sector Guidance for Activities. Even with the shift to lower risk the Oregon Health Authority just reported a nine-case COVID-19 outbreak associated with the Samaritan Coastal Clinic here in Lincoln City. Samaritan said in a press release Monday that four health care workers at the clinic tested positive for COVID-19.

Lincoln County Public Health conducted contact tracing, and the positive employees have been self-isolating away from the clinic until they meet return-to-work criteria, the press release said. “In working with public health officials, it is believed that these cases were most likely the result of community spread,” the press release reads. 

Please see Risk Sector Risk Guidance from OHA below for activity risk categories including limitations.

Salem, OR—Governor Kate Brown today announced that 16 counties improved in risk level, with 10 of those improving from Extreme Risk. County risk levels under the state’s public health framework aim to reduce transmission and protect Oregonians from COVID-19. The framework uses four different risk levels for counties based on COVID-19 spread—Extreme Risk, High Risk, Moderate Risk, and Lower Risk—and assigns health and safety measures for each level.

Effective February 26 through March 11, there will be five counties in the Extreme Risk level, 11 at High Risk, 10 at Moderate Risk, and 10 at Lower Risk. A complete list of counties and their associated risk levels is available here .

“For the second time in a row, we are seeing great progress in stopping the spread of COVID-19 across Oregon and saving lives,” said Governor Brown. “Oregonians continue to step up and make smart choices. While these county movements are welcome news, we must continue to take seriously health and safety measures, especially as more businesses reopen and we start to get out more. As we see infection rates going down and vaccinations ramping up, now is not the time to let down our guard. Continue to wear your masks, keep physical distance, and avoid indoor gatherings.”

The Oregon Health Authority will examine and publish county data weekly. County risk levels will be reassigned every two weeks. The first week’s data will provide a “warning week” to prepare counties for potential risk level changes. The next assignment of risk levels will be announced March 9 and take effect March 12.

Lincoln County shifted from higher risk to lower risk.

Updates to Warning Week data and county risk levels will be posted to coronavirus.oregon.gov .

Flags lowered to half-staff in memory of more than 500,000 Americans lost to COVID-19

Governor Kate Brown today ordered all flags at Oregon public institutions to be flown at half-staff until sunset, Feb. 26 in memory of the more than 500,000 Americans who have lost their lives due to COVID-19. This includes 2,155 Oregonians. 

“Every life lost to COVID-19 is a tragedy,” said Governor Brown. “With more than 500,000 Americans who have died from this virus, there are infinitely more people who are now without a friend, family member, or other loved one. My thoughts are with all those who have lost someone to this disease and, to all Oregonians, I want you to know I remain committed to ensuring that we do everything we can to stop the spread and save lives. I hope that, as we remember all those we have lost, we collectively continue to help protect each other from this disease.” 

The full Presidential Proclamation is available on the White House’s website.  

Michael Phillips, newly hired Executive Assistant for the City of Lincoln City Manager has resided in Depoe Bay for the last 18 years. He graduated with an MBA from Marylhurst University in 2013 and previously worked for ten years for the Siletz Tribal Business Corporation where he managed multiple commercial properties and business enterprises as well as their tribal loan program. During his tenure he helped turn annual property and business enterprises losses into annual profits. He currently serves as the Vice President for the City of Depoe Bay Planning Commission. During his time at the Siletz Tribal Business Corporation he successfully managed and upgraded their Consumer, Home and Business small business loan program provided to all adult tribal members to include monthly TransUnion credit reporting as well as provided one-on-one and facilitated conferences on personal and business finance. This included how teaching how credit scores and reports can impact their lives which helped many tribal members improve their financial standing. His professional goals include being part of a strong collaborative team that maximizes organizational efficiency while providing top quality support for the larger community. His skillsets include multitasking, IT background, grant management, willing to perform any task needed to assist others as required or needed while working collaboratively. His hobbies include tinkering with building computers, reading a variety of fiction and non-fiction and walking his dog Chewbacca.

Starting, Feb. 17, Youth Open Air Fitness will be offered by the Lincoln City Parks and Recreation for the next six weeks (Feb. 17- Mar. 24) on Mon/Wed from 4-5p at Taft Park. This activity is available to anyone grades K-8, pre-registration required via ActiveNet.

During this hour, participants will participate in a number of exercises in a high interval training model. This may include jumping jacks, planks, jogging, sprinting, cone drills, relays, push-ups, etc. All participants will be pre-screened prior to the start of the activity. For information contact the Community Center at 541-994-2131.

Resumption of outdoor contact school sports, with protocols in place, to be allowed in schools that have returned to classrooms for at least limited in-person instruction

Governor issues challenge to parents and coaches: “If our school gyms, fields, and weight rooms are to reopen, we owe it to Oregon’s children to make sure our classrooms, libraries, and science labs fully reopen as well.”
  (Salem, OR) — Governor Kate Brown announced today that the Oregon Health Authority will be revising its guidance for outdoor sports, as well as the exemption for college athletics.

“This has been a difficult year for Oregon’s youth athletes and, as our COVID-19 numbers have dropped, I have been committed to working with our health experts to reevaluate our protocols for sports,” said Governor Brown. “School sports play an important role in fostering students’ mental, emotional, and physical health. We will proceed with caution, to ensure that teams are following health and safety precautions to protect our athletes, their families, and their communities.”

Beginning this week, outdoor contact sports will be permitted to resume with health and safety protocols in place based on county risk level. In Lower Risk and Moderate Risk counties, practices and games for outdoor contact sports, including high school football, can resume following health and safety guidance to be issued by the Oregon Health Authority.

In High Risk and Extreme Risk counties, where COVID-19 remains more widespread, schools and other sports organizations can opt-in to resuming outdoor contact sports with additional protocols in place. In such counties, sports organizations must offer on-site responsive testing for symptomatic individuals and close contacts, contact information for contact tracing, and a waiver identifying health and safety risks and a commitment to isolation and quarantine if exposed to COVID-19.

Schools in Extreme and High Risk counties wishing to opt in for outdoor contact sports must meet the requirements for sports organizations above, and must also have at least limited in-person instruction occurring, with the goal of achieving hybrid or full in-person instruction for students this school year. Schools must also be in compliance with state guidance for COVID-19 testing. All Oregon counties currently meet the COVID-19 case count advisory metrics for limited in-person instruction. As of February 12, 11 Oregon counties in High Risk, including Portland metro-area counties, will also meet the advisory metrics threshold, under 200 cases per 100,000, to return to at least hybrid in-person instruction.

Current Abbott BinaxNOW rapid testing resources for schools can be used for on-site testing of symptomatic student athletes. Schools and sports organizations will also be encouraged to explore partnerships with the university system for student athlete testing.

Those schools and sports organizations in High and Extreme Risk counties that do not opt in and implement the protocols and requirements above will continue to be limited to non-contact sports, practices and games. Indoor contact sports continue to be prohibited in all counties, due to the risk of COVID-19 transmission.

Governor Brown continued: “To all of Oregon’s high school athletes: I am asking you now to be leaders in your communities. We’ve given you the chance to play, but with that opportunity comes great responsibility. If COVID-19 numbers spike, we may have to shut down contact sports again. When you are off the field, set the example for your peers: wear a mask, maintain physical distance, and avoid social gatherings.

“It is not lost on me that this decision today will allow high school football to resume, when too many high school classrooms across Oregon remain empty. To all the parents of student athletes and coaches who have called and emailed me in the last year asking for school sports to resume, I am challenging you now to devote your energy to making sure in-person academics can resume for your kids, too. If our school gyms, fields, and weight rooms are to reopen, we owe it to Oregon’s children to make sure our classrooms, libraries, and science labs fully reopen as well.”

In addition, with COVID-19 case counts going down across the state, the Oregon Health Authority will be updating the exemption for college sports––allowing Division 2, Division 3, and NAIA schools to submit health and safety plans to resume college athletics. However, all such teams must still meet the same rigorous standards that Oregon’s Division 1 programs have met before they will be permitted to resume full activities––including regular COVID-19 testing, plans for contact tracing, isolation, and quarantine, and health and safety protocols for practices and games.

The Lincoln City Council set their goals during last night’s City Council meeting.

Goal: Code Enforcement – To Educate, Inform and Protect the Residents of Lincoln City.

Goal: Community Engagement – Increase Participation in and Develop Skills for Civic Involvement.

Goal: Economic Development and Workforce Housing – Provide Support, Opportunities and Expansion for Residential and Commercial.

Goal: Emergency Preparedness – Maintain and Expand Emergency Preparedness for the Safety of Our Community.

Goal: Infrastructure – Long Range Planning – Maintain, Restore and Create On-going Long Range Projects for the City.

Goal: Parks and Recreation – Provide and Maintain Natural Resources and Recreational Opportunities.

Goal: Sustainability – Provide Direction for a Healthy Community that is Sustainable and Environmentally Friendly.

Goal: Financial – Maintain and Monitor State and Local Budgetary Obligations in Order to Support Fiscal Responsibilities of the City.

The City Council also discussed during their February 1, 2021 work meeting priorities and tasks to achieve these goals. These included among other items:

A new computer program to track and analyze code enforcement issues.

Creating a community service officer

The role of the various City committees

The appointment process for City committees

Easing the prohibition of single-use dwellings in the multi-family zone.

The development of the Villages at Sitka Woods

The City policy and practice about the use of emergency caches.

Completing the updates to the City’s Comprehensive Plan

Using the various plans already adopted such as the Transportation Plan, the Parks and Recreation Plan, etc.

Congratulations to the following individuals who were appointed by the City Council to serve on Lincoln City committees.

Laura Joki – Appointed to the Explore Lincoln City Committee

Alanna Miel – Appointed to the Explore Lincoln City Committee

Barbara Hahn – Appointed to the Parks and Recreation Board

Jane Mulholland – Appointed to the Parks and Recreation Board

Nancy Oksenholt – Appointed to the Budget Committee

Ty Guadagno – Appointed to the Budget Committee