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Christmas trains South Coast Train Club hosts model railroad show, always welcomes new members.

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SERVING CURRY COUNTY SINCE 1946 www.currypilot.com

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2023

Brookings, Oregon

Gold Beach honors veteran centenarian On her 20th birthday, 1943, she enlisted in the U.S. Navy Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service, entering active duty by January 1, 1944. Nickerson underwent boot camp training at Hunter College in New York (now Lehman College) and specialized as a Navy Corpsman. During her service, she worked as a medic, caring for injured sailors and enemy POWs alike. In her free time, Nickerson continued her service through volunteering through the United Service Organization. While serving in the Navy, Dorothy met U.S. Marine Howard Elliott whom she would soon marry. Despite the option to continue her Navy service after the war, she chose to return to civilian life and begin their family. Proud of her service, Nickerson subsequently pursued a career in the medicine, raising four children in the process. At 50-yearsold, she embarked on a sailing adventure to Baja, Mexico, after purchasing a 32-foot boat to pursue her love of marine-biology.

BY NATE SCHWARTZ Curry Pilot

The Gold Beach Veterans of Foreign Wars society commemorated the 100th birthday of World War II veteran Dorothy Moseley Elliott Nickerson on December 10. According to a biography written by Sandra Welsh, she was born Dorothy Moseley in Madera, California. Nickerson spent her adolescence in San Mateo, and San Francisco. Insistent on completing her diploma in San Mateo, she commuted every school day via Greyhound bus from San Francisco. She volunteered for the Office of Civilian Defense as a senior at San Mateo High School, working in the numbering and sorting division at Civilian Defense Headquarters. Post-graduation, she contributed to the war effort by working in a factory manufacturing large radio tubes for the government. Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, Nickerson’s uncle, Clarence Leal, unable to enlist due to poor eyesight, inspired her to join the Navy in his place.

Please see VETERAN, Page 4

Contributed photo

Dorothy Moseley Elliott Nickerson is all smiles as she celebrates her 100th birthday with a celebration at the Gold Beach VFW office. Nickerson served in the U.S. Navy Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service during World War II.

Fires, elections and rescues highlight 2023 couple of years, fires again raged across Curry County this summer and into the fall. While there were fires throughout the summer, such as the Flat Fire in June and the O’Brien fire in August, things peaked in October as the Smith River Complex of fires that began in Northern California cross the state lines and the Anvil fire erupted near Port Orford. The Smith River Complex was especially destructive, but most of the damage was across the state border, although the Brookings area dealt with smoke and some smaller portions of the blaze for weeks. Near Port Orford, the Anvil

THE PILOT

It has been an eventful year across Curry County, to say the least. Looking back at 2023, there was a lot of changes as Court Boice left county government to serve in the state Legislature, fires ravaged throughout the summer and fall, a recall election was held in Brookings and much more. Today, we are looking at the top 10 stories of the year based on the stories most read on our website, www.currypilot.com. 1 - Fires cause havoc across county After a fairly uneventful

fire caused major disruptions including level one evacuations as the blaze moved close to areas people lived. The fire grew to more than 20,000 acres before it was controlled without much damage to property.

2 – Azalea Middle School teacher brings concerns to school board In February, Azalea Middle School teacher Marshal Jones voiced concerns about leadership at the school and the district. During an emotional meeting, Jones and two parents talked to the school board about their

concerns. “Top-down no shared decision making, reactionary management, alarmingly high certificated resignations and a shoot from the hip mentality without any thought of the time or place. WE CAN DO BETTER,” Jones declared at the meeting. Board Vice-Chair Jay Trost promised to look into complainant Jones allegations and stated, “We can do better. We will do better.” 3 – Landslide south of Port Orford closes Highway 101

In January, a landslide on Highway 101 near Port Orford caused chaos to traffic and closed the highway. The landslide caused a 200-foot segment of the highway to drop by up to 12 feet. After closing the entire highway for about a week, one lane was opened as work continued on the roadway. Within two weeks, the state reopened the entire road to through traffic. 4 – Rescue at Secret Beach, 4 fall of cliff In April, hikers walking Please see TOP 10, Page 3

File photos

Above: Firefighters battle the Flat Fire over the summer. The Flat Fire was one of many wildfires that impacted Curry County in 2023. Left: Brookings City Manager Janell Howard was reinstated to her post.

INDEX

Phone Number: 541-813-1717 • Address: 519 Chetco Avenue, Unit 7, Brookings, OR 97415 • Email: Circulation@CountryMedia.net

Calendar of Events

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