Salem-News.com Lincoln County articles

Critical Injury Traffic Crash - Highway 20 near Toledo (PHOTO SERIES)

Highway 20 was closed for about three hours with a detour established before being opened to one lane. All lanes were opened about 2:45 p.m.

(TOLEDO, Ore.) - A Lincoln City-area woman was critically injured and three others received minor injuries Tuesday morning when her vehicle collided with a commercial truck on Highway 20 near Toledo.

According to Oregon State Police (OSP) Sergeant Justin McGladrey, Tuesday at approximately 5:32 a.m. a 2005 Jeep Cherokee driven by 62-year old Michael F. Meyer of Lincoln City, was eastbound on Highway 20 near milepost 9 when it lost control on the icy highway.

Semi Truck Crash Spares Driver`s Life But Closes Coastal Highway (PHOTO SERIES)

Investigators do not believe the driver was using safety restraints at the time of the crash. OSP troopers from the Newport Area Command office are continuing the investigation.

(OTIS, Ore.) - Police say a Klamath Falls-area man received non-life threatening injuries Thursday morning when he lost control of his commercial vehicle and crashed on Highway 18 east of Lincoln City.

Highway 18 was closed at the crash location and re-opened by mid-afternoon. It's nothing new on this winding Oregon coast highway; and they often lock traffic and routes around Lincoln City down tight.

"Speed is a possible contributing factor," an Oregon State Police investigator said.

Body Found on Oregon Coast Identified as Silverton Man Missing Since Weekend Plane Crash

Debris from the plane was found in the Lincoln City area Saturday and Sunday.

(LINCOLN CITY, Ore. ) - Oregon State Police Identification Services Section was able to positively identify the body discovered Wednesday morning on the ocean shore of Salishan Spit south of Lincoln City as 58-year-old Raymond Patrick Mullen, from Silverton.

Positive identification was made through fingerprints.

Mullen and another person, 61-year-old Larry Underhill, from Woodburn, were missing since the crash of an airplane off the Oregon coast.

Body Found on Salishan Sandspit at Gleneden Beach

Working in conjunction with the Lincoln County Medical Examiner, investigators will be attempting to make positive identification.

(LINCOLN CITY, Ore.) - Oregon State Police, with the assistance of United States Coast Guard, Lincoln County Sheriff's Office and Lincoln County Medical Examiner, are investigating the discovery of an unidentified body found Wednesday morning on the ocean shore of Salishan Spit south of Lincoln City.

On Wednesday, at approximately 7:30 AM a person walking along the beach west of the 200 block of Salishan Drive in the Gleneden Beach area found the body of an adult male along the high tide line.

Salem Teen Busted for Alcohol at Rental House on Oregon Coast

16 other minors in the home had been drinking, nine of which were under the age of 18.

(LINCOLN CITY) - A Salem teenager, along with 16 other minors were issued alcohol-related citations after police busted a party in Lincoln City over the weekend.

Lincoln County Sheriff's Deputy Eric Sorby says he and another deputy were on patrol early Saturday morning in the area of Logan Road and NE 69th Street, when at about 12:30 AM they noticed several minors gathered on the street that appeared to be intoxicated.

They suspected a minor alcohol party was taking place at a residence nearby where other minors were seen.

Burn Ban in Polk, Linn, Benton, And Lincoln Counties Extended

This fire season to date, 779 human-caused wildfires have occurred on the 16 million acres of forestland protected by the Department of Forestry, well above the 10-year average of 632 fires.

(SALEM) - Continued dry forest conditions and warm weather prompted the Oregon Department of Forestry and local fire districts to extend the current prohibition on open burning in Linn, Benton, Polk and Lincoln counties.

Burning of yard waste and other debris in piles or burn barrels will not be permitted until the ban is lifted.

Police Investigate Death in Newport

A charter boat found the man's body about two miles offshore, police say there is no obvious sign of foul play.

(NEWPORT) - Oregon State Police, with the assistance of the Lincoln County Medical Examiner, are investigating the death of an unidentified male found in the Pacific Ocean south of the South Jetty in the Newport area.


Tuesday at approximately 12:15 PM, Oregon State Police were notified that the U.S. Coast Guard was bringing a deceased male found in the ocean to their Yaquina Bay Coast Guard Station. The body was reportedly found by a charter boat floating in the ocean two miles south of the South Jetty about 1/2 mile offshore.


The deceased white male adult appears to be in his 40's and had no identification. There is no obvious sign of foul play. No further description is being provided at this time.

Health Advisory Lifted for Water Contact at Siletz Bay Beach

With only light showers predicted, it should still be a good weekend to head to the beach.

(SALEM) - A health advisory for contact with marine water at Siletz Bay beach in Lincoln County was lifted Friday by the Oregon Department of Human Services, in conjunction with the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and Oregon Parks and Recreation Department.

The advisory was issued on Thursday after water samples at Siletz Bay beach showed higher-than-normal levels of enterococcus, a type of fecal bacteria, in the marine water. Subsequent testing showed the contamination had subsided and the waters did not pose a higher-than-normal risk associated with water-contact activities.

Since 2003, state officials have used a federal Environmental Protection Agency grant to monitor popular Oregon beaches and make timely reports to the public about elevated levels of fecal bacteria. Such bacteria can cause illness in swimmers and others who come into contact with ocean water.

Marine Deputies -The Real Deal in Action

Two-week training course teaches boat handling, safety and survival. Coast Guard recruits -Columbia River Indian Fisheries Enforcement (CRIFE)

(SALEM) - Marine law enforcement officers from 17 counties will converge on Camp Rilea, near Astoria, for an intensive two-week training course beginning May 11th.

"This is a safe training environment that replicates situations officers will routinely experience," said VanMeter, Law Enforcement Training Coordinator for
the Marine Board. "It gives officers a chance to build their confidence and skills on the water. When they leave this academy, they'll be ready for action in the field."

2006 Newport Seafood & Wine Festival Next Weekend

Results are in for the 2005 Commercial Wine Competition; winners will be in the spotlight during Newport's annual event, drawing thousands to the Oregon Coast.

(Newport) - Winter on the Oregon Coast is becoming more popular with visitors, with storm watching, big wave surfing, and always a big draw, the annual Newport Seafood & Wine Festival. It's the premier seafood & wine event of the west coast, the original Northwest seafood and wine festival, and certainly a great choice for a destination this weekend.