Ballots on There Way, Levy on the Ballot
Lane County voters will begin receiving their ballots in the mail over the next several days as the November third general election approaches. Ballots begin going out today. Among the local issues facing western Lane County voters is Measure 20-389, which would renew an existing property tax levy supporting Western Lane Ambulance services for another five years. The measure would maintain the current rate of 45 cents per thousand dollars of assessed property value. The levy supports emergency medical services in Florence, Mapleton, and surrounding communities. Voters will have until November third to return their ballots.
Mushroom Festival
The Yachats Mushroom Festival returns this Friday through Sunday, offering three days of food, education, and forest exploration. Events at the Yachats Commons include mushroom identification, educational presentations, a vendor fair, and guided forest walks. Visitors can also hunt for hidden glass mushrooms throughout town. And speaking of mushrooms, Oregon’s Malheur National Forest is home to one of the world’s largest living organisms—a single fungus covering nearly four square miles, estimated to be thousands of years old. Festival details are available through the Yachats Chamber of Commerce.
Dunes City Looks to Curb Short-Term Rentals
Dunes City voters will decide whether to prohibit new short-term vacation rentals and impose additional requirements on existing properties. Measure 20-386 would require rental properties to have a permanent resident host on-site during guest stays, limit occupancy to eight people, and require complaints to be addressed within 60 minutes. Dunes City currently has 27 licensed short-term rentals, down from approximately 75 before regulations were adopted in 2024. Supporters say the measure would strengthen neighborhood protections. Opponents argue it could force existing rentals to close and reduce city revenue. A no vote would leave current regulations in place.
