Salem-News.com Newport articles Page 9

Construction Company Requests ODOT Terminate $130 Million Contract

YRC signed a contract with ODOT worth $130 million in 2005 to complete the project.

(SALEM) - Yaquina River Constructors, the prime contractor for the Highway 20 Pioneer Mountain-Eddyville improvement project, has taken the unusual step of requesting that the Oregon Department of Transportation terminate its contract to build a new, 7-mile section of highway across the Coast Range between Corvallis and Newport.

This request to terminate follows months of discussion concerning landslide mitigation measures throughout the project site.

Canby, Oregon Man Found Guilty on 46 Counts of Sex Crimes

The crimes occurred in Lincoln County and Canby.

(NEWPORT, Ore. ) - A Canby man has been found guilty of 46 counts of sex crimes by a Lincoln County Jury last Friday.

63-year-old Rex Duane Stephenson was originally arrested July 6th, 2006 for multiple counts of various sex crimes.

The two female juvenile victims were known to Stephenson, and were 11 years old when the abuse started.

Man Dies in Surfing-Related Incident off Yaquina Head at Newport

The surfer and two friends were overwhelmed by large waves.

(NEWPORT, Ore.) - One person died Tuesday afternoon after being overcome by large waves while surfing with two friends on Yaquina Head on the north end of Newport.

The victim died after being transported to a Newport-area hospital. The name of the 26-year old male victim and two friends will not be released until after his parents are notified following their return Wednesday from an out-of-country trip.

Volunteers Remove 54 Tons of Trash from Oregon Beaches

Volunteers removed an estimated 54 tons of trash from Oregon's coastline.

(NEWPORT, Ore. ) - On Saturday, more than 5,100 volunteers turned out to participate in the 22nd Great Oregon Spring Beach Cleanup.

The entire Oregon coastline, 362 miles, was cleaned of debris that had accumulated during the stormy winter months.

Many interesting items turned up, including a shopping cart, a washing machine, a refrigerator, a water heater, a pocket knife, a car seat, a Ford Bronco, more than 60 tires, and thousands of plastic bottles.

Spring Break, Low Tides, and Clam Diggers Makes Shellfish Monitoring in Oregon Important

The ODA routinely monitors shellfish for two toxins: domoic acid and paralytic shellfish poisoning.

(NEWPORT, Ore.) - The arrival of spring, with low tides and potentially good harvest conditions along the Oregon coast, is expected to bring out eager clam diggers over the next few weeks, all the more reason for the Oregon Department of Agriculture to continue monitoring shellfish for marine toxins.

Currently, all beaches are open for recreational razor clamming. But that can always change over the course of the next few months.

Eating shellfish contaminated with low levels of domoic acid can cause minor illness within minutes to hours after consumption.

Newport, Oregon Soldier Dies at Walter Reed Medical Center

Nicholas was injured March 15th when an improvised explosive device detonated near his unit while on combat patrol in Baghdad.

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

29-year old Nicholas J. Lightner of Newport died March 21st from wounds suffered in Iraq.

He had been transported back to the United States and was under care at the Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington D.C.

Public Urged to Restrain from Touching Seal Pups

In past worst-case scenarios, concerned beach-goers have picked up seal pups and taken them away from the beaches – and their mothers.

(NEWPORT, Ore. ) - Seal pups are beginning to appear on the beaches of Oregon and an Oregon State University marine mammal biologist is urging the public to restrain from trying to “rescue” them.

During this time of year, seal pups are frequently discovered alone on the beach, and “this is perfectly normal,” said Jim Rice, coordinator of the statewide Oregon Marine Mammal Stranding Network headquartered at OSU’s Hatfield Marine Science Center.

Newborn pups typically spend several hours each day waiting for the mothers, he pointed out.

Marine Killed in Iraq is Newport, Oregon Graduate

A community memorial service and celebration of life will be held from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM Thursday in the Boone Center at Newport High School.

(NEWPORT, Ore.) - The Newport News Times reports that 20-year old Nathan Windsor of Newport, a lance corporal in the United States Marine Corps, was killed in action Saturday during a military operation in Iraq.

Nathan Windsor is a 2005 graduate of Newport High School.

It is reported that he was shot while serving as a sniper during a military "surge" offensive.

Coast Guard Offering Oregon Commercial Fisherman Safety, Emergency Training

The fee for the workshop is $50.

(NEWPORT, Ore. ) - Commercial fishermen will have the opportunity to receive hands-on safety equipment and emergency drill training provided by the U. S. Coast Guard in association with Oregon Sea Grant.

The Coast Guard-approved Marine Safety and Survival Course is scheduled for March 8th-9th, in Newport.

Upon completion of the course, participants will receive certification to conduct emergency drills aboard commercial fishing vessels.

Newport Seafood & Wine Festival Happens Later this Month

Being the early bird is the key more than ever these days for lodging, as rooms fill up to 100 percent in the area, including in outlying towns like Depoe Bay, Lincoln City and Waldport.

(NEWPORT) - At the last weekend of every February, the central Oregon coast resort town of Newport swells with well over 17,000 visitors, who come to the annual Newport Seafood & Wine Festival for a weekend of wine, wonders in the culinary world, seafood and arts & crafts.

This year, the Newport Seafood & Wine Festival celebrates its 30th year of cramming hordes of wine and food lovers into a small coastal town, happening February 23rd - 25th, 2007 - adjacent to the Rogue Ales Warehouse, 2320 OSU Drive, just south of downtown Newport.