With 99% of the vote in….

For the final tally in Lincoln County Click here.

For Newport Port Commissioner Position 1, Incumbent Walter Chuck walked a way with it over challenger Dennis Bishop 1,727 to 1,077.

For Newport Port Commissioner Position 4, Oly Olson won by just under a hundred votes beating Ken Brown. The tally was Olson 1,232, Ken Brown 1,138, and Steve Beck 558.

Banning plastic bags was defeated by 1,481 voting NO, 1,109 voting YES. The ban fails.

And the tax override for the Children’s Trust of Lincoln County also went down to defeat 5,856 to 4,392.

SURPRISINGLY, BOTH THE PLASTIC BAG BAN AND THE CHILDREN’S TRUST ISSUE WENT DOWN BY THE SAME MARGINS, 57% TO 43%.

Yachats Rural Fire Protection District, Elect 3. Betty Johnston and Ed Hallahan make it (only two candidates) one may be appointed later to the Board.

Same for Carmel Beach Water District, Elect 3 so both Robin White and Julie Gamache made it (only two candidates) one may be appointed later to the Board.

Devils Lake Water Improvement District Position 4, Brian Green beat Mark Ronald Christie 982 to 420. For DLWID Position 5, David Skirvin holds a narrow lead over Jack Strayer 676 to 656. 1% of the vote is still not counted.

Surfland Special Road District, Position 2, Ray Kimbell beat Elizabeth Golden 39 to 25. For Position 3, Louis Ross bested Barry Compton 50 to 14.

All other names on the ballot won the seats they ran for.

That is the final report from the Lincoln County Clerk’s Office. A reported 38.68% turnout. 99% percent of all ballots counted, with 10,568 Lincoln County voters voting.

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Blackheaded Grosbeak
Donna Plummer photo

Poppy plant with petals (L)
Without petals (R)
Donna Plummer photo
Click photos to enlarge

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The 17th Annual Lincoln County Law Enforcement Recognition Banquet (LERB) was held recently at the Inn at Otter Crest. This annual event pays tribute to local law enforcement for their hard work, dedication, and commitment to serving the citizens of Lincoln County.

The 17th Annual Lincoln County Law Enforcement Recognition Banquet (LERB) was held at the Inn at Otter Crest. This annual event pays tribute to local law enforcement for their hard
work, dedication, and commitment to serving the citizens of Lincoln County.

The following agency awards were presented:

* Lincoln City Police Department:
* Officer of the Year: Detective David Broderick
* Civilian Employee of the Year: Dispatcher Alyssa Thompson

* Lincoln County District Attorney’s Office:
* Employees of the Year:
* Deputy District Attorney Nelly Wright
* Case Manager Gina Lekas
* Investigator Ron Benson
* Special Award: Volunteer Investigator Robert Winkler

* Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office:
* Employees of the Year:
* Jail: Corrections Deputy Ben Klecker
* Patrol: Patrol Deputy David Boys II
* Animal Shelter: Animal Care Specialist Brandi Richmond
* Civil/Records: Evidence Technician Kerry deLisser-Shanks
* Volunteer: Daron Wilson

* 20 years of service awards:
* Sergeant Thomas Graham
* Sergeant Barbara Perry

* Lincoln County Parole and Probation:
* Employee of the Year: Parole and Probation Officer Kenneth Krause

* Newport Police Department:
* Employee of the Year: Officer Bradley Purdom

* Oregon State Police:
* Employees of the Year:
* Sergeant Todd Thompson
* Trooper Heather van Meter

* Toledo Police Department:
* Employee of the Year: Officer Michael Pace

DUII and MIP Enforcement Awards:
* The Partnership Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (PAADA) presented this year’s DUII Enforcers of the Year awards to:
* Officer Torin Liden (Lincoln City Police Department)
* Deputy Cliff Sites (Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office)
* Officer Bradley Purdom (Newport Police Department)
* Trooper Brian Tucker (Oregon State Police)
* Officer Aaron Pitcher (Toledo Police Department).

PAADA also presented the MIP Enforcer of the Year award to Officer Torin Liden of the
Lincoln City Police Department. Runner-up MIP Enforcers of the Year were Officer Thomas Lekas
(Newport Police Department), Officer Michael Pace (Toledo Police Department), and Deputy Eric Larson (Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office).

Special Thanks: The LERB Committee gave a special award to Chief Deputy District Attorney
Marcia Buckley for her five years of service as an excellent host of the LERB Awards Banquet, citing her efficiency and wit.

Larry Ballinger
Lincoln County Law Enforcement Hall of Fame
LC Juvenile Dept.
34 years of service to families and law enforcement

2013 Inductee into the Lincoln County Law Enforcement Hall of Fame: Larry Ballinger

The evening closed with this year’s induction into the Lincoln County Law Enforcement Hall of
Fame, the highest honor bestowed on a member of the Lincoln County law enforcement community.
Each year a selection is made by the LERB Committee, which consists of members from each agency, and represents a broad spectrum of law enforcement professions. The award is symbolized with a permanent plaque placed in the hallway of the first floor of the Lincoln County Courthouse. Past recipients of the award have included Ernie Hansen, Ralph Turre, Maria Waldrip, John Meister, Christie Meister, Mike Menzies, Vangie Eisenbarth, Dave Bavarro, John O’Brien, Mark Huber, Jim Rivers, Maureen “Mo” Kelly, Mike Holden, Dan Glode, Bill Shawver, Pete Peregrin, Jim Hatch, Jim Hawley, Steve Tolliver, and Larry Spencer.

Larry Ballinger was hired by the Lincoln County Juvenile Department in 1978 to act as one of the first live-in managers of the Lincoln County Shelter Home. Larry held that position until 1980, when he accepted a position at the Olalla Center for Children. Larry returned to the Juvenile Department later that same year when he was hired as a Juvenile Court Counselor. He served in that position until 1995, when he became the Department’s first Probation Supervisor. Larry retired in January of 2013, after over 34 years with our Juvenile Department.

Larry’s contributions to the children and families we deal with are probably as numerous as the incalculable number of people he dealt with throughout his career. More than most, many of Larry’s former clients contact him to update him on their lives and families. Additionally, Larry has served the community in many capacities, including Toledo Rotary Club, and serving on the boards of many organizations, such as the Olalla Center, PAADA, and the Lincoln County Children’s Advocacy Center, to mention a few.

“For decades, Larry has made a huge positive contribution to the youth and families of Lincoln County,” said District Attorney Rob Bovett, who presented Larry Ballinger with the award. “It is with great pride and honor that the Lincoln County law enforcement community inducts Larry Ballinger into the Lincoln County Law Enforcement Hall of Fame.”

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Toby Winn, Exec. Dir.
Neighbors for Kids

It’s no secret that music education is offered less and less in today’s public schools. As a result, many students are not offered the opportunity to play a musical instrument or to learn the basic foundations of music.

Neighbors For Kids (NFK) believes strongly in making music lessons accessible to more children in the region. So during the Kids Zone after school and summer programs, students are engaged in music lessons, starting with the building blocks of reading music. Students learn how to read music measures, and then they are given the opportunity to learn how to play an instrument.

Instruments range from the acoustic, electric and bass guitars, mandolin, percussions, ukulele, didgeridoo, flute and piano. Each child is given the option to choose what instrument(s) they would like play, and then receive group and individual lessons based on skill levels. NFK’s youth facility in Depoe Bay now has two separate music studios dedicated to this specific program. In addition to ongoing music lessons, children attend field trips to musical concerts and take part in special group workshops throughout the year.

The recently expanded music education program at the Kids Zone is composed of three talented music teachers, each with a specialization in various instrument groups. The veteran instructor is Diane Robertson who has 13 years of experience at the Kids Zone teaching the elements of piano, including the coordination of hands, self-discipline, and memorization.

Bear Jackson
…on drums…

The second teacher is Melody Jackson, specializing in percussion. Melody has experience playing music since 1992 and is the drummer for the popular local band, “Island Joy.” She is a recent addition to the Kids Zone musical family.

A third new music teacher is Tony Kaltenberg, specializing in various instruments related to the guitar family. Tony has been playing music for many years, continues to tour the world playing concerts and also teaches private lessons at Red Lotus Music located in Newport, Oregon.

A unique aspect of the music education program is that many of these instruments are derived from various different cultures. At the Kids Zone, culture reverberates in the music room with the ukulele, didgeridoo, flute and various drums from native cultures. These instruments allow the students to perceive the world beyond our Oregon borders, and they are exposed to the fact that not all music is played with modern instruments. Most students playing the instruments have become interested in the anthropology and history of music.

NFK’s Music Education Program has been generously supported by the Siletz Tribal Charitable Contribution Fund and Trust Management Services, LLC. To register your child in the Kids Zone Program, learn more about other Neighbors For Kids programs, sign up as a volunteer or to make a charitable contribution, please call 541-765-8990 or visit the organization’s website at www.NeighborsForKids.Org or feel free to arrange a site tour and meeting.

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Thomas Garcia
Sentenced to 25 to life
for Murder & Assault

From District Attorney Rob Bovett

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