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Devereux Center receives State funding for relocation project North Bend served the same role for the Devereux Center project. Both bodies needed An impassioned crowd of Coos to enter an intergovernmental County residents were present for agreement (IGA) with Coos Bay a North Bend City Council work to act as the go-through for the session and regular meetings on grant money. The proposal for February 12th and 13th, 2024. the Salvation Army did not see The response was prompted nearly as much of a response by news of the Coos County from the community, however. Homeless Response Office’s During public comment for both (HRO) $1.5 million allocation of North Bend meetings this week state funds to move and renovate it became clear why that was. the Devereux Center, the largest Portions of the community are not homelessness services center in big fans of the Devereux Center. the area. As the most visible center for The funding, which is a portion homeless services in the area, of $26.1 million approved by the Devereux often shoulders the Gov. Tina Kotek for bolstering blame for the homeless population rural homelessness shelters, in Coos County. will go towards the addition In the handful of fierce of upwards of 30 shelter beds public comments on Monday alongside other facility upgrades. evening, citizens were often less A $480,000 chunk of the over concerned with the finer details $1.9 million awarded to Coos of the proposal, but instead were County has already been approved frustrated over two main points. for a similar initiative with the The first was over the City of Salvation Army. Coos Bay’s City Council and their Coos County served as the process for approving this project. fiscal agent for the Salvation Army’s expansion project, and Please see DEVEREUX Page 10 BY NATE SCHWARTZ The World
Fin whale washes ashore at Sunset Beach
BY JEREMY C. RUARK Country Media, Inc.
The Seaside Aquarium has released details about the Feb. 12 stranding of a large Fin whale at Sunset Beach along the North Oregon Coast. “As the whale was washing ashore, the surf was pushing it around making some people believe that the whale was still alive at the time of stranding,” Seaside Aquarium states in a Facebook post. “Unfortunately, before authorized responders had a chance to examine the whale, someone removed the entangling
gear. While it may have seemed like a good idea at the time, this compromised the stranding and entanglement investigation. “ A necropsy was performed at the site of the stranding Tuesday, Feb. 13, and the results were pending at press time. “What we do know is that the whale was extremely underweight and had recent interactions with orcas, evidenced by fresh rake marks,” the Aquarium officials said. “The entanglement injuries appeared to be fresh and the abrasions noted were superficial.” It is extremely important to
report strandings and to not interact or remove entangling gear from stranded animals. Analyzing removed entangling gear provides information that may reduce the risk of future entanglements, according to Aquarium officials. “By identifying the source of entangling fishing gear, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries can work with the fishing industry and coastal communities to identify geographic areas, times of year, fisheries, and gear configurations that have resulted
in whale entanglements,” the Aquarium officials said. The data can help NOAA Fisheries better understand and minimize the risks of entanglement and ultimately aids in the conservation and management of many large whale species. Seaside Aquarium officials also urge that anyone finding a stranded whale along the Oregon Coast, to not disturb it. Fin whales are the second largest whale in the world, after Blue whales, and they are protected by law.
Arrest made in MHS sex abuse investigation BY NATE SCHWARTZ The World
On February 7th, the Coos Bay Police Department (CBPD) began investigation into a report that a student at Marshfield High School (MHS) was being sexually abused by a teacher. CBPD moved to arrest 45-yearold Jeremy Burgher, who was promptly escorted from school grounds on February 14th and placed on administrative leave by the Coos Bay School District. The charges which lead to Mr. Burgher’s arrest are as follows: • 5 Counts of Second Degree Sex Abuse • First Degree Official Misconduct • Luring a Minor
NBPD doubles down its support of city manager BY NATE SCHWARTZ The World
Two figures in the North Bend Police community came forward to re-double their support of City Manager David Milliron, after the relationship between City Hall and NBPD grew frosty in late 2021. NBPD Sgt. and President of the Police Officers Association Pat
Kinney and former Vice-President of the Police Officers Association Ed Perry each wanted to rectify a leaked letter containing a ‘vote of no confidence’, and to express their satisfaction with the direction of the department. The original letter, which leaked to the media in the Fall of 2021 following the unexpected retirement of the sitting Chief
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and Captain, stated that City Manager Milliron’s behavior was ‘increasingly bizarre and abusive’ and that they had lost faith in the City Manager and Council. Since the shake up in the NBPD, the department has had to reshape itself and remedy some of the issues that led to the dramatic
“The CBSD states that although personnel policies and legal issues prevent us from going into specifics, our first goal is to keep our students safe, and we have no tolerance for behaviors that endanger young people” relayed Public Information Officer Kristen McGarity in the CBPD press release. As investigations unfold, those with information pertaining to the case are urged to call CBPD at (541) 289-8911 EXT 1 or the Coos Stop Crime hotline at (541) 267-6666.
Please see NBPD Page 11
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