4/11/25 - Statement Regarding Incident At Waldport City Council Meeting (Photo) -04/11/25

STATEMENT REGARDING INCIDENT AT WALDPORT CITY COUNCIL MEETING
 

On Thursday, April 10, 2025, Sheriff Shanks was requested to attend the Waldport City Council Meeting to present and answer any questions on an agenda item regarding the continuance of the police services contract between the Sheriff’s Office and the City of Waldport. 

Leading up to the meeting, there were concerns from City Council members and the City Manager anticipating a disruption involving former Mayor Heide Lambert in response to a decision made by the City Council on April 3, 2025, which formally removed her from office in accordance with the city’s governing charter. 
  

During the public meeting, Ms. Lambert took a seat at the council’s table and proceeded to make a statement. After being asked multiple times by members of the City Council to vacate the seat reserved for current officials, Ms. Lambert refused to comply which prohibited council from proceeding with the meeting.  

Sheriff’s Office members attempted to de-escalate the situation. The Sheriff spoke with Ms. Lambert and explained she could leave the council table without consequences; he also explained the legal consequences pursuant to ORS 166.025 if she refused to comply with the lawful order to leave the council table. After continued refusal, Ms. Lambert was escorted outside and cited for disorderly conduct. She was released at the scene and then allowed to re-enter the building to attend the meeting in the public seating area with other community members.  
 
In Oregon, public meetings, such as City Council meetings, are open to the public. While public attendance is allowed and encouraged, there are rules (such as Robert’s Rules of Order or local ordinances). This means someone disrupting those proceedings can legally be removed.  
  
We recognize this event has caused concern and strong emotions within our community. Our office does not take such actions lightly. Regardless of a person’s status or position, the law applies equally to everyone. When a lawful order is issued and refused, our duty is to uphold the law while maintaining order and safety.   
 

The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office remains committed to transparency, impartiality, and respectful enforcement of the law. 

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Tip Of The Week For The Week Of April 14, 2025 - Distracted Driving (Photo) -04/10/25

DISTRACTED DRIVING  
 

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has declared April as Distracted Driving Awareness Month. Distracted driving is any activity that takes the driver’s attention away from driving. Cell phone use including texting, talking on the phone, or using social media are some of the activities that are the most dangerous. This is because cell phone use takes your visual, manual, cognitive, and auditory attention away from driving.

While cell phones are some of the most dangerous distractions, other activities such as eating, talking with passengers, grooming, and reading can be dangerous and deadly. According to the NHTSA, 3,275 people were killed by distracted driving in 2023. You can learn more about the dangers of distracted driving by visiting the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s “April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month” webpage.

Use these tips to help keep your car distraction free:

• Don’t call or text while driving. Instead, pull over in a safe place to read and send texts or make a phone call.

• Establish a “co-pilot” passenger to manage your cell phone, GPS, and other distractions.

• Look up your destination ahead of time and become familiar with the area. This will help prevent the need to look at GPS while driving.

• Enjoy your meal at home, in the restaurant, or while parked safely. Eating while driving increases your risk of traffic collisions and the likelihood of choking.

• Keep pets crated or otherwise secured for safety. This will help keep your furry friend safer in the event of a crash and prevents them from crawling onto your lap or other distracting activities.

• Recruit the whole family for distraction-free driving. Teach your children the importance of keeping your attention on the road even before they can drive.

• If your children need help, pull over to help address their needs instead of reaching to the backseat while driving. 

• Encourage friends and family to drive distraction-free. By speaking up, you may save their life and others on the road.

For more information and tips visit our website at www.lincolncountysheriff.net and like us on Facebook at Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office – Oregon.

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Tip Of The Week For The Week Of April 7, 2025 - Sexual Assault And Roofie Awareness (Photo) -04/03/25

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month and is a significant reminder that sexual assault, roofie awareness, and personal safety are important topics throughout the year. According to RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network), every 68 seconds an American is sexually assaulted. You can find additional statistics and resources such as “Understanding Consent”, “Safety and Prevention”, and more at www.rainn.org.

The best tip for preventing sexual assault is: don’t sexually assault someone. While this is the best way to prevent sexual assault, below are some tips to help prevent exposure to date rape drugs and predators with harmful intentions.

There are more than fifty predatory drugs that can be used to sedate someone. These drugs, including rohypnol, ketamine, and GHB, are often known as “roofies” or “date rape drugs”. These predatory drugs relax the body and can feel similar to being drunk. As they pass through your system their effect increases. This can lead to confusion, breathing trouble, blurred vision, and memory loss. These drugs stay in the bloodstream for approximately four hours and testing for them often yields little or no evidence. This makes it very difficult to prove and even harder to prosecute.

Below are some tips to help prevent exposure to these drugs and predators with harmful intentions. If you are drinking:

• Be Aware of Strange Smells or Flavors.
  If the drink is hazy or doesn’t taste like it normally should, don’t drink it. Be sure to pour it out so that no one else drinks it.

• Cover Your Cup.
  Never set down or lose sight of your drink. Hold the cup by covering it with your palm.

• Order Your Own Drinks.
  Don’t accept any beverages from strangers or people you don’t trust. It is safer to only accept drinks directly from the bartender.

• Avoid Community Containers.
  Say no to drinks made in a punch bowl or pitchers. Instead, go for a canned or bottled beverage that hasn’t been opened.

• Don’t Share Drinks with Others.
  You don’t know if your friend has kept a watchful eye on their cup. People can have very different reactions to the same drug. This means they could have ingested something harmful and not feel it’s effects yet.

• Sip Your Drink Slowly.
  Taking time to consume your beverage gives you more time to become aware of any symptoms which can indicate your drink has been altered.

For more information and tips visit our website at www.lincolncountysheriff.net and like us on Facebook at Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office – Oregon.

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Siletz Woman Arrested For Abandoning Her Dogs And False Report -04/01/25

On March 26, 2025, the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) arrested 63-year-old Nickie Young of Siletz, OR after she reported finding two dogs abandoned near milepost 30 of Siletz Highway. Through investigation, Animal Services Deputies determined that Nickie was the owner of both dogs and had reported finding them abandoned because she no longer wanted them. LCSO took protective custody of the dogs and transferred them to an out-of-county partner facility for adoption. Ms. Young is charged with initiating a false report, an A-misdemeanor, and abandoning an animal, a B-misdemeanor. 

The LCSO Animal Services Division provides Law Enforcement services in cases related to animal abuse and neglect, and for enforcement of animal-related violations. Animal Shelters across the nation are experiencing increased animal abandonment cases. If you cannot adequately care for your animal(s), please reach out to your local non-profit Animal Rescue and Animal Adoption Centers. If you are struggling to provide medical care or food for your animals, please contact your local Animal Shelter for guidance on resources available locally to assist. LCSO encourages anyone with animal-related complaints or concerns to contact Dispatch at 541-265-0777.

Tip Of The Week For The Week Of March 31, 2025 - Spring Safety (Photo) -03/27/25

SPRING SAFETY  
 

With the beginning of spring, many find themselves “spring cleaning” and spending more time outdoors. Spring is a great time to review a safety checklist for your home and complete a few updates that could save your life.

Smoke Alarms

1. Smoke alarms save lives – if they are powered by a fresh battery. Test smoke alarm batteries monthly and replace the battery at least once a year. Anytime the alarm makes a "chirping" sound, replace the batteries immediately.

2. Smoke alarms should be located in every bedroom and in the common areas on each floor of a home. Mount them at least 10 feet from the stove to reduce false alarms, less than 12 inches from the ceiling, and away from windows, doors, and ducts.

3. Smoke alarms can be interconnected wirelessly which means when one sounds, they all sound. This is a quick way to notify everyone in a home if there is a fire.

4. When installing or replacing smoke alarms, purchase and install new alarms.

5. Practice how your family will react if smoke alarms go off and consider how that looks at different times through the day or at night. Do not forget to plan your escape from each room and include pets in the process.

6. The National Fire Protection Association has additional resources on smoke alarm safety.

Carbon Monoxide Detectors

1. Carbon monoxide (CO) is an invisible, odorless gas, that can kill you. Anything that burns fuel can potentially become a source of carbon monoxide. CO detectors should be installed in a central location outside each bedroom and on every level of the home.

2. Similar to smoke alarms, test CO detectors’ batteries monthly and replace them at least once a year or sooner if needed.

3. Consider interconnecting the detectors to alert the entire household at once.

4. Make sure vents for your gas appliances (fireplace, dryer, stove, furnace, etc.) are free and clear of snow and debris.

5. Only use gas powered grills and generators outside and away from doors, window, or air intakes.

Household Emergency Plan

Every household needs an emergency plan, especially in the event of a natural disaster or other catastrophic event. Take time to create and review that plan with family, household members, and any neighbors that may have a part in the plan. Consider how your household will react to different emergencies, plan for evacuation routes and alternative routes, and review your emergency supplies. Remember, disasters can strike at any time. Consider what your actions will be if something happens at work, school, the grocery store, and in other areas you frequent.

Emergency plan necessities:

1. A communications plan to outline how your family/household members will contact each another and where you will meet if you need to evacuate.

2. A shelter-in-place plan. This is often necessary during events where outside air is contaminated and unsafe. Remember to prepare supplies for sealing windows, doors, and air vents with plastic sheeting.

3. An evacuation plan with various routes and destinations. If your household has access and functional needs, pets, livestock, or expensive equipment, plan on evacuating sooner so there is more time to safely leave the area. Before there is a disaster, research what friends, family, or hotels can accommodate your pets and livestock during an emergency.

4. A home and car emergency kit. Your emergency kit should include at least one gallon of water per day for each person, at least a 3-day* supply of non-perishable food, flashlight or headlamp and batteries, first aid kit, filter mask, plastic sheeting and duct tape, and medicines. *On the Oregon coast, it is recommended that households have enough supplies to be self-sufficient for at least 3-weeks. Unable to prepare 3-weeks of supplies? Some emergency supplies are still better than no emergency supplies.

5. A plan and supplies for your household’s unique needs. Don’t forget to plan for special circumstances such as mobility challenges, medical conditions, allergies, and other things that impact your household’s comfort, health, and safety.

Be prepared, not scared. Visit Ready.gov for a complete list and other tips for making your family’s emergency plan.

For more information and tips visit our website at www.lincolncountysheriff.net and like us on Facebook at Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office – Oregon.

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Planned Law Enforcement Training - Newport Middle School - Spring Break 2025 -03/23/25

Tip Of The Week For The Week Of March 24, 2025 - Spring Break Safety (Photo) -03/20/25

SPRING BREAK SAFETY TIPS

For many schools, Spring Break is here! Spring break usually means time with friends and family, a rest from school, and travel. Regardless of how your household is spending spring break, there are some ways you can make your holiday safer while still having fun.

You already know the basics, stay hydrated, wear sunscreen, and avoid alcohol and other substances. If you do lawfully partake, be responsible and consume in moderation. If you are traveling, remember to properly prepare and make plans to keep yourself and your companions safe. Below are some tips for overall Spring Break safety.

Plan Ahead

• Share your plans with loved ones including:

  • Arrival or departure dates.

  • Locations and contact information for where you are staying.

  • Who you are travelling and/or staying with.

• Update travel emergency supplies before heading out.

• Secure important documents like your passport and other ID.

Health and Safety

• Practice outdoor safety:

  • Wear sunscreen and eye protection.

  • Seek shade and cooler temperatures in hot climates.

  • Avoid cooling off in cold bodies of water. Drowning and/or hypothermia are more likely to occur when outdoor temperatures are warm and the water is cold.

  • Wear life jackets and avoid alcohol or other substances while boating, swimming, and during other water activities.

• Practice social responsibility:

  • Be considerate of others. Try talking out conflicts respectfully if issues arise.

  • Don’t drink or use substances and drive.

  • Remember the rules of consent. If someone does not want to drink, have sex, or participate in another activity, be respectful and don’t pressure them to do so.

  • Use the buddy system. Travel with people you trust and do not leave someone behind or with strangers.

Don’t forget your pets:

• If travelling with your fury, feathery, or scaly companion, don’t forget to bring emergency supplies for them.

• Keep their collars with your updated contact information and their license information on them. This can help you reunite with your pets sooner.

• Be mindful of temperatures during activities or if you must leave pets unattended.

• Have a backup pet sitter or emergency contact in case something happens before you can get back home to them.

Spring Break can mean lasting memories with your friends. It can also mean tragedy and increased accidents. As the weather continues to get nicer and there are more opportunities to be outdoors, remember to put safety first to protect yourself and those around you.

For more information and tips visit our website at www.lincolncountysheriff.net and like us on Facebook at Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office – Oregon.

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