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Moving meditation
Old school comes down
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$1 | VOL. 86 | NO. 46 | 2 SECTIONS YOUR WEEKLY COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER SINCE 1927
Local football player honored
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NOVEMBER 20, 2013 | WEDNESDAY
www.TheNewsGuard.com
LINCOLN CITY, OREGON
Gas prices falling fast
DAILY NEWS ONLINE thenewsguard.com
But local residents continue to pay more
ONLINE POLL
JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net
As gasoline prices tumble significantly across Oregon and the nation, drivers in Lincoln City might wonder why they are paying more at the pumps than motorists in Portland, Salem and Eugene. On Sunday, Nov. 17, The News Guard spotted gas selling in Salem and Portland as low as $2.99 a gallon, while on the same day the price ranged from $3.45 to $3.59 a gallon in Lincoln City. Market watchers say demand for gasoline has flattened, production has
This week Do gasoline prices in Lincoln City cause you to change your travel habits?
POLL RESULTS Last week
Public comments are being taken by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) in the review for a new Goodwill Industries store proposed for the 900 block of Highway 101 in Lincoln City. Goodwill Industries is proposing to redevelop the property and six adjoining tax lots into a retail store and job connection center, according to documents from the DEQ. Redevelopment will provide jobs during construction and upon completion. The new facility will employ from 35 to 48 full time positions and provide a no-cost job placement service to area residents. The site is approximately one-half acre and includes a gravel and soil surface with limited areas of asphalt. The property was the former location of the Franko #6 and Lincoln City Pride service and fuel dispensing stations. The
With more retailers open on Thanksgiving Day, will you start your holiday shopping?
YES 28% NO 72%
FORECAST Wednesday Partly Sunny High 49 / Low 37 Thursday Partly Sunny High 50 / Low 35 Friday Patchy Clouds High 53 / Low 37 Saturday Clouds and Sun High 56 / Low 38 Sunday Clouds and Sun High 55 / Low 39 Monday Partly Sunny High 56 / Low 43 Tuesday Rain High 53 / Low 43 See Sheridan Jones’ weather details Page A3
DEQ said Petroleum contamination from gasoline, diesel, and heavy–oil has been observed on the property since at least 1988. Underground storage tank systems and fuels dispensers were removed in 1993. “Since the report of contamination and removal of the underground storage tank systems, several stages of site investigation have been completed,” said Jim Glass, DEQ project manager. “Soil and groundwater have been contaminated at multiple locations on the subject property. A network of groundwater monitoring wells has been installed to assess the level of contamination and track remedial progress. No surface water contamination has been reported.” Glass said some cleanup has been completed including the installation of a vapor extraction system in the area of See GOODWILL, Page A8
JEREMY C. RUARK/THE NEWS GUARD
An agreement may be finalized later this week to end litigation over the annexation of Roads End.
Council approves Roads End settlement, attaches conditions JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net
The Lincoln City City Council has approved, with conditions, a settlement agreement designed
to end litigation over the City’s annexation in July of the Roads End area. The conditions include that all members of the Roads End Water District Board, the Roads
End Sanitary District Board, and others involved in litigation over the annexation sign the agreement by late afternoon Nov. 22.
See COUNCIL, Page A8
Deputy DA Branam Governor to announce endorsed by Bovett Bovett replacement Last week’s resignation of longtime Lincoln County District Attorney Rob Bovett has paved the way for associate Michelle Branam to take over reins of the office. In a letter dated Nov. 12, Bovett, who has served as District Attorney since 2009 and has resigned to become legal counsel/policy manager for the Association of Oregon Counties beginning Jan. 7, urged Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber to appoint his chief deputy as his replacement. “Michelle has demonstrated the skills and talents necessary to do the job, and is committed to continuing our work to modernize and improve the justice system in Lincoln County,” Bovett said. “She has shown the highest levels of skill
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of January. Once the Governor’s Office receives applications, the formal process begins, and it could include screening panel interviews with local input and finalist interviews with the Governor. By statute, the District Attorney must be a member of the Oregon State Bar (a licensed attorney). Beyond that, the Governor will look for candidates who understand the broad duties of the office, can provide leadership for the office, and know the value of working with public, nonprofit and private partners in the community to advance public safety, according to the Governor’s Office. The salary for the District Attorney is set by the legislature with
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JEREMY C. RUARK as a prosecutor, and handles many of our most important and chaljruark@countrymedia.net lenging cases, including major crimes. She is The process to highly, and universally, find a replacement respected by our law for Lincoln County enforcement partners.” District Attorney Rob As Deputy District Bovett began after he Attorney since June announced last week, 2004, Branam “has in a letter to Gov. John shown the talents Kitzhaber, that he necessary to lead the would leave his post office in a positive in January to become manner, and continue legal counsel/policy our progress modernmanager for the Asizing our justice system sociation of Oregon to better hold offenders Counties. accountable, and end According to cycles of crime whenKitzhaber’s office, Rob Bovett ever possible.” applications for the “I am excited to have post must be received by 5 p.m. Dec 9. The Governor could announce a replacement by the end See BOVETT, Page A8
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Public review of proposed Goodwill site under way
YES ___ NO ___
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increased, and crude oil prices are dropping, and that’s why prices at the pumps have dropped as much as 50 cents a gallon over the past 30 days. According to AAA Oregon/Idaho, gas prices in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. are lower than they were a week ago, a month ago and a year ago. The national average for regular unleaded reached $3.18 a gallon, while Oregon’s average tumbled to $3.32 a gallon last week. Triple-A said the national average is at its lowest point since February 2011, while Oregon’s average is at its lowest