Governor signs bill to raise age to purchase tobacco to 21; now in effect
NEWPORT, Ore. — In August,
Oregon Gov. Kate Brown signed a new
law raising the required minimum age to
legally buy or obtain tobacco products
from 18 to 21. Oregon is the fifth state to
implement this type of law, often coined
“Tobacco 21.”
The new law took effect Sept. 1,
with enforcement and fines set to begin
Jan. 1, 2018.
This year, Oregon celebrates 20 years
of tobacco prevention work and Tobacco
21 is a step forward in this work and in
protecting the health of Oregon youth.
Tobacco is highly addictive and starts
early – 90 percent of individuals report
starting tobacco use before turning 18
and nearly 100 percent before turning 26.
Youth statistics in Lincoln County
13.5 percent of 11 th -graders report
using some form of tobacco products
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9 in 10 retailers sell flavored tobacco
Nearly 1 in 2 retailers display tobacco
advertising outside
33 percent of retailers sell tobacco at
discounted prices
“Lincoln County tobacco use remains
much higher than the state average,” said
Rebecca Austen, Public Health Division
director, Lincoln County Health and
Human Services. “The Lincoln County
Board of Commissioners is in the pro-
cess of passing an ordinance prohibiting
tobacco use on all county properties,
including parks. This is another example
of changing policies to protect the public
from harmful effects of tobacco use,
including secondhand smoke.”
Tobacco use increases risks for chronic
disease like asthma, heart disease and can-
cer. In Lincoln County approximately 64
percent of adults have at least one chronic
disease. Tobacco control strategies like
raising the age of tobacco use and creating
Additionally, Selene Rilatos, tobacco
prevention coordinator, leads the Siletz
Tribes’ effort to keep people from starting
and help them to stop smoking cigarettes.
She’s available at 541-444-9682 or 800-
600-5599.
Learn more by visiting oregon.
gov/oha/PH/PREVENTIONWELL-
NESS/TOBACCOPREVENTION/Pages/
retailenvironment.aspx. Email questions
to Tobacco.Inspections@state.or.us.
Tom Rinearson, Superintendent
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Kristin Bigler
Communications Specialist
Lincoln County School District
Cell: 541-270-3366
Kristin.bigler@lincoln.k12.or.us
Two Lincoln County High Schools Awarded Bronze Medal
NEWPORT, OR September 19, 2017– US News & World Report Best High Schools Rankings awarded both
Waldport High School and Siletz Valley Early College Academy each a Bronze Medal in the 2017 rankings.
These rankings include data on more than 22,000 public schools in 50 states and the District of Columbia.
Schools were awarded gold, silver or bronze medals based on their performance on state assessments and
how well they prepare students for college. There are seven high schools in the Lincoln County School District.
Waldport High School Principal Diana MacKenzie writes, “I’d like to congratulate Waldport High School on
receiving the 2017 US News & World Report Best High Schools Bronze ranking for the third consecutive year!
We are a nationally recognized school! With the college readiness strategies we are implementing this year,
our goal is to be ranked Silver by 2019. Smarter Balance State Assessment scores were released and I'm proud
to say that the Irish exceeded State averages in both Language Arts and Math. Our kids and staff are
competitive and willing to put in the work it takes to exceed expectations!”
At Siletz Valley Early College Academy, Principal Sam Tupou reports, “I got a quote from a Siletz student, Julia
Trachsel. When I shared the US News and World Report 2017 High School rankings with her, she said, "That's
awesome!" When I asked her why she thought this news was awesome, she said with a smile, "Well, I always
knew we were a cool school but I now feel reassured by it."
Julia is a senior this year preparing to pursue a career in broadcast journalism. She has over 20 colleges that
are interested in having her apply to them, but her priority focus is getting into Boston University, University
of Oregon, UCLA, Columbia University or George Mason University. George Mason University is where she
attended the Washington Journalism and Media Conference this summer and got to meet many of the power
journalists and media personnel.
Tupou continued, “I echo what Julia said, and agree that Siletz is a pretty unique school. Anytime you get any
kind of positive recognition, you have to celebrate it. At Siletz, like most schools, we provide a solid education
for our students. My teachers do this kind of work day in and day out and behind the scenes where it often go
unnoticed. So, the national high school rankings recognition is a welcome gift; a new benchmark for us to build
on.”
Siletz News
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For more information, visit smoke-
freeoregon.com.
Lincoln County School District
P.O. Box 1110
Newport, OR 97365
www.lincoln.k12.or.us
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Effective immediately, retailers and
certified smoke shops can no lon-
ger sell tobacco products, inhalant
delivery systems or tobacco delivery
systems to people younger than 21.
There are no exceptions.
Retailers and certified smoke shops
that sell tobacco products or inhalant
delivery systems are required to dis-
play a sign stating the prohibition of
tobacco product or inhalant delivery
system sales to persons younger than
21. Failure to post a sign stating this
would be a Class A violation.
In a previous issue of Siletz News, we published a photo of Agnes Pilgrim,
Alton Butler and Nat Butler. After the issue came out, we mailed the photo
back to Sylvia Butler, but it did not arrive.
If you happen to have it or come across it, please mail it to Siletz News,
P.O. Box 549, Siletz, OR 97380-0549 or bring it to the Tribal administration
building at 201 SE Swan Ave. in Siletz.
Thank you!
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“This new law offers a powerful
component for public health to combat
the tobacco industry’s continuing efforts
to secure lifelong users of their products,”
said Cheryl Connell, director of Lincoln
County Health and Human Services. “It
gives this age group the means to avoid
becoming a tobacco user and therefore,
the opportunity to live longer and healthier
lives free from tobacco addiction.”
Congratulations to our sister,
Juanita Howell-Roth, on her 2017
championship at the Fairview Moun-
tain Golf Club in Oliver, B.C.
So proud of you, Sis!
NEWS RELEASE:
Information for retailers and
certified smoke shop owners
tobacco-free spaces will help to reduce the
rates of these chronic diseases.
October 2017