TNG 4-10-13

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Shooter training at local schools

Tigers baseball team improves to 9-0

See Page A8

See Page A2

$1 | VOL. 86 | NO. 15 | 2 SECTIONS YOUR WEEKLY COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER SINCE 1927

APRIL 10, 2013 | WEDNESDAY

www.TheNewsGuard.com

LINCOLN CITY, OREGON

Coast workers get fewer benefits, survey finds

For daily Lincoln City News, visit:

DON PATTERSON The News Guard

Portland area employers offer paid vacation time to at least some employees, while only 50 percent of coastal firms offer any paid vacation at all. Of the top 12 common employer provided benefits, only one, discounted merchandise, was comparable in benefits offered to workers in Portland and on the coast. Benefits offered by employers varied substantially by industry as well. Workers in wholesale trades, health care and information industries generally enjoyed the greatest

Do you feel your employer skimps on benefits? If you do, you’re not alone. A recent study by the State of Oregon Employment Department showed that, when compared to the Portland region, Oregon coast businesses offer fewer benefits to both full time and part-time employees. The most popular benefit, paid vacations, is a good example. Nearly 71 percent of

TheNews Guard.com

number of employer paid benefits while employees in construction, natural resources and the hospitality industries got the fewest. The Oregon Employment Department surveyed nearly 12,000 businesses statewide between June and August 2012. The survey was intended to provide an extensive picture of benefits offered by employers. Results were reported for six broad regions throughout the state. Medical and dental insurance were among the most

coverage. More coastal employers discontinued health benefits for employees. Twenty-two percent of coastal employers discontinued the popular benefit while only 9 percent of Portland employers eliminated the offering. Small businesses, those employing two to nine workers, were most likely to end health coverage. The coastal region covered Clatsop, Tillamook, Lincoln, Coos, Curry and coastal portions of Douglas and Lane counties.

popular benefits offered by employers, but employers said rising costs were having an impact. Seventy-two percent of employers who offered health benefits reported a change in cost over the past year. The average change was $48.48 per month. A relatively small number of employers that offered health insurance said they were forced to discontinue it by the costs, but about a quarter of employers raised costs to employees, mostly by higher deductibles and co-pays or reduced

No reductions included in transit budget

PERFORMING ARTS OF INDONESIA AT CULTURAL CENTER Page B1

Public review hearings set this month

INSERTS Rite Aide; Bi-Mart; Sears; Safeway; Walgreens; Tanger Outlet Center; Price N Pride; Roby’s Furniture; Chinook Winds

JEREMY C. RUARK The News Guard

Hundreds of people in Lincoln City, Newport, Depoe Bay and other towns across the county depend on the Lincoln County Transportation Service District bus system. “With our touristbased economy, there are many people who are only making minimum wage,” said Cynda Bruce, Lincoln County Transportation Service District program director. “They can’t afford a car, automobile insurance and fuel on what they make.” According to Bruce, many people depend on

WEATHER GUIDE PRECIPITATION AMOUNTS

High Low Prec.

Tues., April 2 Wed., April 3 Thurs., April 4 Fri., April 5 Sat., April 6 Sun., Aoril 7 Mon., April 8

55 61 56 52 55 51 53

49 45 49 51 49 46 44

0 0 .5 .5 .7 .3 T

Hikers tour Spyglass open space in Lincoln City as part of Arbor Week celebrations. Lincoln City Parks Dept. is sponsoring the guided tours.

Arbor Week in Tree City U.S.A.

Weekly Rainfall: 2.0 inches Yearly Rainfall: 20.12 inches

DON PATTERSON The News Guard

WEEKLY OUTLOOK April showers bring May flowers is an old adage. Thursday and Friday have the best chance of sunbreaks with showers returning on the weekend. We could do without showers on the weekend!

Lincoln City has been designated a Tree City U.S.A. for the fifth year in a row. Kristen Ramstad, urban forester for the Oregon Department of Forestry, presented the award to the city during a brief ceremony at the city council meeting Monday. Ramstad commended the city for its open spaces and for its efforts to encourage homeowners to use trees compatible

Weather data provided by Roads End Weather Watcher Sheridan Jones

with coastal soils and weather. The city makes a guide to landscape trees available that identifies species suitable for conditions found on the coast. To earn the Tree City U.S.A. designation, the city had to meet four requirements. The city must have a tree board or department. The city must have a tree standard. Lincoln City has a tree protection and removal ordinance. The city must also spend at least two dollars per capita annually on trees and tree care and the city must proclaim and celebrate

See TRANSIT, Page A5

Transit Budget Public Review Hearings

Arbor Week. As part of its celebration, the city is offering tours of the popular open spaces. Wednesday is the Friends of Wildwood area. Thursday walkers can tour Agnes Creek and Friday is Springlake and Regatta Park. The one-hour tours are guided and begin at 10 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. A free shuttle leaves twice a day from the Community Center to transport hikers to the tour site. Maps of the open spaces are available online at lincolncity.org.

• April 25, Lincoln City City Hall • April 29, Yachats City Hall • All hearings at 6 p.m.

Neighbor’s quick response saves home Vicki Carter was speaking to her father, when she noticed what appeared to be a heavy fog coming from the house next to the dwelling they had rented for a beach getaway. Carter, 65 from Vancouver, Wash. went outside and saw flames coming from the house located at NE 64th and Mast in Roads End. Soon multiple callers reported the fire at approximately 6 p.m. on April 5. North Lincoln Fire & Rescue responded to 1828 N.E. 64th Street. First-in units noticed smoke coming from all sides of the building and flames coming out the east bedroom window. Engines also responded from Depoe Bay and Nestucca Fire, and stood by with additional North Lincoln Fire & Rescue’s ladder truck and an additional rescue unit. Firefighters quickly ex-

Open 8a-7p Mon-Fri, 8a-6p Sat

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Firefighters arrive to extinguish a blaze in a house at Roads End.

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tinguished the fire; however, flames had severely damaged two bedrooms and the ceiling; heavy smoke and heat damaged the majority of the 1100 square foot beach house owned by Brad and Nancy Conklin of Dundee. Saturday morning investigators from the recently formed Lincoln (County) Fire Investigation Team, determined the cause to most likely be from an electrical outlet in the bedroom. LFIT members are firefighters and police officers with fire and arson investigation backgrounds. The team is activated to investigate and determine the cause of fires throughout the county.

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