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Man and dog shot in altercation BY NATE SCHWARTZ The World
After an incident in the Empire area of Coos Bay, a local resident finds himself in legal trouble following a dispute and shooting. On January 22 at 8:38 p.m., the North Coos 9-1-1 Center received distress calls reporting a dispute and a dog bite in the 800 block of Michigan Avenue. The
callers reported hearing gunshots, indications of a physical altercation, and speculation that a dog had been shot. Responding promptly to the calls, officers from the Coos Bay Police Department arrived at the scene to investigate the matter. Upon arrival, they discovered two males each accompanied by a dog, with one male and one dog sustaining gunshot
wounds. The male victim was swiftly transported to Bay Area Hospital, where he received treatment for nonlife-threatening injuries, while the injured dog was taken for veterinary care. As the investigation unfolded, law enforcement learned that the incident stemmed from a dispute involving two males and 57-year-old Robert Pierce of Coos Bay at the intersection
of Michigan Avenue and South Main Street. Allegedly, Pierce discharged rounds from his firearm at a dog that was attacking him, striking both the dog and one of the males. In the aftermath, Pierce was apprehended and subsequently transported to the Coos County Jail. He now faces charges of Assault 4, Unlawful Use of a Weapon, and Harassment in
connection with the incident. The investigation remains ongoing as authorities delve further into the circumstances surrounding the altercation. The Coos Bay Police Department received assistance from various agencies during the incident, including the Oregon State Police, the North Bend Police Department, the Coos Bay Fire Department and Bay Cities Ambulance.
Marshfield journalism students recognized with “superior” award BY BREE LAUGHLIN The World
Students in Marshfield High School’s journalism class stayed after school to hit their latest deadline for the Marshfield Times news magazine. Some gathered together to discuss their headlines, others took photos and worked on page designs. Journalism instructor Carrie Fields said the class fosters an environment where students work together. Older students mentor the underclassmen, and each student is encouraged to pursue their
strengths and passions. “We try to give each student something specific to work on. If they really enjoy the photo side, we try to have them work primarily with photos or digital art or layout. If someone really likes to be outgoing, we try to have them primarily work on interviewing. If someone is really strong in writing, we try to have them step up as an editor as well as writing their own pieces,” Fields said. Each students’ work comes together to create a cohesive 16-page news magazine.
The students work diligently to create at least seven magazines throughout the school year. In the past, students would each write a different story related to school happenings, but there was no real theme to each issue. Last year, the journalism students switched things up and started writing articles that fit within a specific theme. “The editors choose the theme that we want to focus on. From there, we have a round table where everyone submits story ideas that fall
under the theme the editors have assigned,” Fields said. “Then we sit around and we bounce ideas off of each other and try to figure out
who wants to write which stories,” she said. This model has proven Please see JOURNALISM Page 3
Steele sentenced to six years for manslaughter BY DAVID RUPKALVIS The World
A Myrtle Point woman will spend more than four years in prison after being sentenced for the death of a Coquille child she was caring in 2022. Hayley Steele. 28, pleaded guilty to second-degree manslaughter earlier in January and went back before Judge Andrew Combs for sentencing last week. In front of a packed courtroom, Steele was sentenced to 75 months in prison. The sentence was in line with guidelines from Measure 11. Because manslaughter is a Measure 11 crime, Steele will serve every day of her sentence. The guilty plea and sentence came after Steele was arrested and charged with the death of a child she was caring for in November 2022. At the time, Steele called 9-1-1 and reported the child was not breathing and child’s eyes were not responding in a normal manner. When first responders arrived, they found 10-month-old Owen Nichols in critical condition and requiring CPR. The infant was immediately transported to Coquille Valley Hospital. In Coquille, Nichols was found to have a fractured skull and bleeding on the brain. He was then flown to Emmanuel Hospital in Portland. Despite around-the-clock care at the hospital, Nichols’ condition deteriorated, and he died two days later. Medical personnel at the two hospitals determined the injuries the baby suffered were not the result of an accident or natural causes, rather the result of abusive head trauma. That investigation, along with the medical findings led to Steele’s arrest.
Lakeside election slate filled city’s Planning Commission, will face off against, Sara Coats. Coats owns and While Lakeside will not have operates Coats Construction a city council meeting for a and Excavation in Lakeside. few more months, the races to Coats has also created a fill open seats on the council campaign Facebook page to are well underway. communicate with residents. Lakeside City Manager Rick There will be two elections Hohnbaum released a list of for places on the city council. candidates who qualified for Two seats will be up in January the ballot last week. In the 2025 with one seat running race for mayor, two candidates through January 2027. will face off in the election. Five candidates have filed Mark Crouch, who currently to run for the two seats that end in 2025 while two will face serves as the chairman of the BY DAVID RUPKALVIS The World
off the empty seat that ends in 2027. James Carlisle, Cheneya Strutton, Catherine Ullom, Robert Ward and Aaron Griffith are competing for the two seats that end in 2025 while Bryant Hand and Sandra Lendahl are running for the position that runs through 2027. The election will be held March 12, and the four elected officials will give Lakeside enough council members to reach a quorum.
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