W040924

Coos Bay declares emergency over fentanyl crisis

BY NATE SCHWARTZ The World

The City of Coos Bay followed the lead of the City of Portland in declaring a state of emergency over fentanyl, which has become an increasingly concerning issue in Coastal Oregon, and nationwide. The discussion took place at the Coos Bay City Council meeting on Wednesday March, 5th.

The groundwork was laid by Governor Tina Kotek, Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler, and

Multnomah County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson, who worked collectively to draft a declaration of emergency in response to what has been called “Fentanyl Crisis” in Portland. That crisis is sweeping the nation however, as the ongoing opioid epidemic continues to ravage rural and middle America. The declaration written for Portland was directed by Governor Kotek to maximize the possible benefit provided by the state in the wake of changes to Measure 110.

Councilor Farmer, advised by City Attorney Nate McClintock, co-opted the language of the Portland declaration in hopes the state benefits will apply to Coos Bay just as it will for Oregon’s largest city.

“I took what the Governor directed the City [of Portland] and the County [of Multnomah] up there to do. I turned it into things that could apply to Coos Bay. Chief Chapanar and Nate [McClintock] went through it, made it something that will work a little better for us,” said

Councilman Farmer about the declaration.

The declaration of emergency itself is not a plan of action, but rather, opens the door for funding and resources through state initiatives. Councilman Farmer mentioned that Portland had received 8 Oregon state officers for city patrols and will be receiving more due to their declaration.

“My intention behind this is that it opened the door, 1: for the county to see, yes, this can be done and to move forward with a

Two appraisers on the ballot for the County Assessor’s Office

BY DEAN BRICKEY

For The World

COQUILLE — Two appraisers in the Coos County Assessor’s Office are vying in the May Primary Election to succeed their boss, Steve Jansen, who intends to retire when his term expires in January. It’s a four-year term and the winner would serve through 2028. Jason Corbus, a residential appraiser, and Jeff Etzel, a commercial and industrial appraiser, have filed for election as Coos County assessor. Their names will appear on the May 21 Primary Ballot, which will be mailed to voters by May 2, according to the Elections Department of the Coos County Clerk’s Office. Corbus, 45, a Coquille resident

since 1991, and a 1997 Coquille High School graduate, joined the Assessor’s Office in 2018 after working 20 years at Safeway. He attended Southwestern Oregon Community College, Coos Bay, for a time before entering the grocery business. After 20 years at Safeway in Coquille, the last 10 as grocery manager, Corbus realized that to advance with the company he’d have to leave Coquille. “I wanted to remain in this community because I love it,” he said. He and his wife, Sheena, have two sons, Jaxon, 17, and Parker, 14. Sheena is a commercial loan officer at First Community Credit Union in Coquille. Corbus is running for assessor

declaration on their part. And 2: so that we can establish things that we want to see based on what was already offered to Portland, because if they’re going to receive it, there shouldn’t be any reason we can’t receive it,” said Farmer in Wednesday’s meeting. Farmer hopes that this precedent will allow the County to rectify some of the issues with the jail and District Attorney’s Office. A property tax levy has

Extension office offers toddler-based cooking program

Thursday, April 18 at 10::00 am the Coos Bay Public Library and Oregon State University Extension Office’s Food Hero Program are offering a preschool and toddler-based cooking program to give parents tips and tricks for working with children in the kitchen. In this hands-on session adults and toddlers or preschoolers will create a snack to share. The free event geared towards toddlers and preschoolers ages 0-5 and a parent of caregiver will be held at the Coos Bay Public Library.

Oregon State University Extension Service partners with local communities to provide trusted expertise and science-based knowledge to address critical issues and help every Oregonian thrive. The Coos County Extension Office is based in Myrtle Point and offers a wide range of programming throughout the year for all ages, including outreach with the Food Hero program, food preservation, gardening, and support for 4-H.

For more information on programs at the Coos Bay Public Library visit the Coos Bay Public Library’s website at www. coosbaylibrary.org or call (541) 269-1101.

Congresswoman Hoyle Secures $4 Million in Funding for Workers Housing

BY NATE SCHWARTZ The World

North Bend, ORCongresswoman Val Hoyle and members of her team were in North Bend this week to meet with local officials and announce a new workforce housing project in Downtown North Bend. Located next door to City Hall at 1975 McPhearson Ave, the County Annex and former Kaiser Memorial Hospital will become the development site.

The project plans for 72 affordable workforce housing units aimed toward critical workers such as those in healthcare, education, public safety, and logistics. North Bend, like many coastal communities, has a housing vacancy of below 1%, making it increasingly difficult to find a stable living situation, let alone an affordable one.

“So the place in my district that has the most vacancy is

Eugene at 1.6%. Roseburg, the entire coast, has half-a-percent or less vacancy, and that’s not just low-income housing. That’s middle-income housing, That’s high-income housing. I mean, Bay Area hospital said they were trying to recruit a doctor, and the doctor could not find a house to buy or rent. So, we don’t have enough housing stock, that is the bottom line we don’t have enough housing stock for workforce, so workers can’t afford to live in the places where they need to work,” said Congresswoman Hoyle on the housing crisis.

A proactive approach to the housing issue in her district is what helped Hoyle to secure $4 million in funding for the project from the House Committee on Appropriations in D.C. This development hopes to help revitalize the downtown area and bring skilled workers in to capitalize on the City’s economic

Opinions expressed on this page are the writer’s alone and do not represent the opinion of the newspaper or its parent company, Country Media, Inc.

As we begin another election year, it is a good time to realize that at the top of the list of freedoms we Americans enjoy is our ability to participate in free and fair elections, and to appreciate the tireless efforts of those who keep our elections accurate, accessible, safe, and secure: you, our election workers. We know you give what are often long hours of your time to a stressful job that sometimes includes harassment and threats that cause you to fear for the safety of you and your family, in order to help voters here in Coos County exercise our right to vote. We see that you take your responsibilities seriously to implement the checks and balances in our longstanding Oregon election law to ensure the integrity of our elections for all voters, regardless of political affiliation. We value and respect your outstanding commitment to the work you do. Thank you for your service.

Ventgen,

Carol

Mike Perkins, Paula

Bechtold, Mike Washburn,

Eura Washburn, David Tilton, Janet Tilton Coos County Voters

I’m supporting Farmer for commissioner

County safety measure: instead of voting no because of our red necktie commissioner, vote for Drew Farmer to replace Bob Main. He and commissioner Sweet will help Rod Taylor be ra-tional. Later, when Taylor is up for reelection, well, you know what to do.

Drew is independent, and has shown rational thinking while on the Coos Bay City Council.

Gregor

Gary

North Bend

Resolution in Support of The Public Safety Levy

Whereas, the Coos County Jail is utilized by law enforcement throughout Coos County, including every city, unincorporated community and rural areas; and, Whereas, Coos County faces a budget shortfall without the proposed public safety levy; and,

Whereas, Coos County current annual property tax receipts would not cover the operating of the jail leaving around a 1.8 million dollar shortfall just for the jail alone and a 4 million dollar deficit overall; and, Whereas, a lack of sufficient beds in the jail results in situations where individuals accused or convicted of crimes are released back into the community due to jail overcrowding; and,

Whereas, the funding from the levy will improve the Sheriff’s ability to hold those accused or convicted of crimes in the jail until their cases have been resolved or their time has been served by increasing the number of beds from 98 to 147; and,

Whereas, the District Attorney’s (DA’s) office faces a major backlog of around 1,500 cases and cannot hire new staff or give competitive salaries without the proposed public safety levy; and, Whereas, funding from the levy will allow the DA to hire and add two Deputy DA positions to the department which, once filled, would allow the office to catch up on that backlog in a year; and,

Whereas, the levy would fund trial expenses which are currently inadequate with two homicide cases on the horizon; and,

Whereas, property crime in Coos County has been an issue of interest and, according to law enforcement officials, the proposed levy would help reduce property crime; and, Whereas, the proposed levy would provide 5.7 million

dollars the first year, covering the shortfall and allowing for improvements to our public safety system; and,

Whereas, the Coos County Democrats care about our community’s welfare and support our local public safety officials who have asked us, the people, to pass this levy.

Now, Therefore, be it resolved that the Coos County Democrats do hereby support the proposed public safety levy and encourage the voters of Coos County

Garrett King Chair-Coos

County Democrats

Letter to the Editor

My family lives up Garden Valley Road, directly across the highway from ODFW’s wetland project. I am the last home up Garden Valley that is part of the Beaver Slough Drainage District (BSDD). I feel that BSDD sold us out to ODFW and their great mosquito farm. Beaver Slough is a DRAINAGE DISTRICT! They took prime farm property and turned it into an ODFW wetland. The majority of the families in the drainage district oppose this wetland of 588 acres. Now ODFW wants to purchase another 500 acres in the Beaver Slough Drainage District. ODFW is not a good neighbor! The board of directors of BSDD were pushing for this wetland deal and the concerns of the small acreage landowners were just brushed aside. The board of directors of BSDD and ODFW assured us there would be no mosquito problem. Coquille Valley Wildlife Area Management Plan, published April 22, 2016, states that “restoration and management of the CVWA are being planned to minimize the possibility of enhancing mosquito populations.”… they states that “if mosquitos do become an issue, we will follow the ODFW Vector Control Guidance for Sensitive Areas (February 13, 2014)”.

Also part of the report, ODFW states, “methods that have been successful in controlling mosquito’s at Bandon Marsh Wildlife Refuge include the use of BTI (Bacillus Thuringiensis Isreaelensis). BTI is a bacteria that kills mosquito larvae living in water bodies”.

At the Coos County Commissioners meeting on 8/17/2023, Mike Gray, a fish biologist for ODFW told us that Coos County ODFW has a stock pile of BTI. Why haven’t they used it? We aren’t rich golfers with clout! We’re just outdoor loving, ordinary, hardworking Coos County people. We have lived up Garden Valley Road since 1975 and we have Never had problems with mosquito’s until ODFW started irrigating their wetland project.

I am totally against ODFW obtaining this 500 additional acres until they keep their promise to the Coquille Valley and accept their responsibility to get rid of the mosquito’s as their management plan and leaders promised they would do.

On November 11, 2023 Curt Melcher, Director of ODFW, presented to the Ways and Means Sub-Committee On Natural Resources is Salem that “… there is NO OPPOSITION to ODFW purchasing an additional 500 acres” in the BSDD. The homeowners and business owners of the Valley were not informed of the plan to expand the marsh, so how could we oppose or have input?!! The mosquito’s are affecting out physical and mental health, by forcing us to stay indoors in the summer and fall.

I appreciate Coos Health and Wellness for sending out mosquito surveys to Coquille Valley residents. Lets hope and pray something gets done.

-Thank you.

Independent physician practices are disappearing That’s bad for patients

By DR. PAUL BERGGREEN Guest Column

Corporate juggernauts are coming to dominate the U.S. healthcare system.

UnitedHealth now employs 10% of all physicians in the United States. Hospitals signed up more than 58,000 new physician employees and acquired nearly 5,000 private practices between 2019 and the end of 2021. Amazon and CVS are investing heavily in adding doctors to their payrolls.

The gradual disappearance of independent physician practices is not in patients’ interests. Policymakers must ensure that our healthcare system does not discriminate against independent practices -- and unwittingly put them out of business.

The healthcare market has been consolidating for decades. As of 2021, more than half of doctors worked for hospitals or health systems, according to research conducted by Avalere Health for the Physicians Advocacy Institute.

Forty years ago, by contrast, roughly three-quarters of physicians worked in their own medical practices.

For doctors leaving private practice, employment can mean steadier pay, a larger corporate infrastructure to offer administrative support, and a source of new patient referrals.

But independent practice offers patients and the healthcare system many benefits.

Research shows that independent physician practices have more success getting patients to follow a prescribed treatment plan and post significantly lower rates of preventable hospital admissions and readmissions.

Farmer has my vote for commissioner

It seems to me that many voting Americans from all sides of the aisle are concerned about allowing “career politicians “ mandate their own agendas and impose those schemes on the rest of us.

I have heard from many about their frustrations when voters cast their ballot simply because of name recognition, yet they also complain that those same people continue to allow the status quo to continue. This November Coos County voters have the opportunity to change this.

Drew Farmer is not a career politician. He is an extremely skilled individual who can bring fresh ideas, skills and a new perspective to the table. His opponent is a career politician.

Mr. Main has held his office for decades. Even bread goes stale if it stays on the shelf for too long.

If you are tired of allowing the same old same old to continue, then please join me in voting for a new and refreshing perspective on the Coos County commission. Cast your vote for Drew Farmer and see how positive things can be accomplished.

Gail Olsen Coquille

Joanne Moss Coos Bay

Their patients also report higher levels of satisfaction.

One study from researchers at Harvard found that the differences in performance between health system-affiliated and non-system physicians were small. But health systems charged much higher prices for physician services -- in some cases over 25% more.

Administrators of healthcare behemoths claim that consolidation allows for more efficient and cost-effective treatment for patients. But by buying up their competitors, hospitals and health systems have gained the market power to command higher prices.

There are several ways policymakers can ensure the viability of independent physician practices -- and bring about a competitive marketplace that works to the advantage of patients.

First, Congress can fix the formula Medicare uses to pay doctors. When adjusted for inflation, Medicare reimbursement for physicians has sunk 30% since 2001.

Independent physicians’ costs haven’t decreased during that period. The cost of running a practice is up nearly 50%.

For comparison, Medicare reimbursement for hospitals has increased in line with inflation since 2001.

The combination of pay cuts,

increased costs, and Medicare’s structural bias in favor of hospitals makes it harder for independent physicians to compete against hospital-owned facilities. Independent doctors deserve a level playing field.

Earlier this year, six senators -- three Republicans and three Democrats -- announced that they’d work on legislation that would “make changes to the current Medicare physician payment system to ensure financial stability for providers, improve patient outcomes, promote access to quality care, and incentivize the utilization of emerging health care technology.”

In the House, a bipartisan group of 82 members of Congress has endorsed a measure that would index physician pay under Medicare to inflation.

Approaches like these would help ensure that independent physician practices can continue to provide the high-quality, costefficient care patients are looking for -- and push back against the broader consolidation trend that has taken hold in the healthcare market.

Coos Health & Wellness welcomes new Public Health Director

We are thrilled to introduce

Dr. Timothy Lynch as the new Coos Health & Wellness Public Health Director! Dr. Lynch brings a wealth of expertise and dedication to our mission of promoting health and wellness.

Dr. Lynch holds a degree in Public Health and Epidemiology from Walden University, along with a master’s in business administration from Colorado State University. His extensive background includes participating in Public Health residency programs and collaborating on innovative solutions to tackle pressing health issues.

Previously, Dr. Lynch spearheaded efforts to combat the opioid crisis in Eagle County, Colorado, by working closely with local hospitals, behavioral health representatives, and community leaders. His commitment to addressing community health challenges is truly commendable.

Dr. Lynch’s vision for our community revolves around implementing preventative health measures, improving health outcomes and enhancing emergency preparedness. His goal is to build resources tailored to our community’s needs, ensuring that everyone has access to quality healthcare.

Dr. Lynch is excited to join our vibrant community along the stunning Oregon coast. He is eager to collaborate with the local community partners and

contribute to Coos Health & Wellnesses outstanding reputation in the public health community.

As Director of Public Health,

Dr. Lynch and his dedicated team are committed to providing exceptional service and promoting informed choices that benefit us all. Together, we can create a safer, healthier community for generations to come.

Dr. Lynch’s philosophy underscores the importance of

service in preventing disease, extending lives, and promoting overall well-being. Let’s join hands and work towards a brighter, healthier future for our community!

Thank you, Dr. Lynch, for your commitment to our wellbeing. Welcome to our community!

To find additional information related to our Public Health Department please go to the Coos Health & Wellness website or call 541-266-6700

Supreme Court denies hearing county’s timber lawsuit

BY DEAN BRICKEY For The World

COQUILLE — The U.S. Supreme Court has denied a petition to hear a case that could have restored millions in timber revenue to Coos County and 17 other Western Oregon counties.

“Extremely disappointing,” said Coos County Commissioner Robert “Bob” Main, who also is vice president of the Association of O&C Counties (AOCC), based in Roseburg, which was a party to the lawsuit.

“Thousands of jobs could have been restored as well as vital general funding for counties,” Main said on March 25, when he and others closely watching the Supreme Court learned that the high court had declined to review the Oregon case. “That funding/jobs would have made communities vibrant again.” The Supreme Court declined to review the Obama-era expansion of the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument and the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) 2016 Resource

Management Plans for Western Oregon O&C lands, the AOCC said in a news release. The case posed legal questions of national interest around Executive Branch overreach and the use of the Antiquities Act to nullify Congressional intent on federal lands.

The AOCC’s battle to retain timber sales revenue for its member counties began in 2016, when the BLM, which manages the timberlands formerly owned by the defunct Oregon & California Railroad, developed a new “resource management plan.” That plan stripped Coos County and the 17 other member counties of timber sale revenue from about 2.2 million acres in Western Oregon. The 1937 O&C Act designated the forest land for the sole benefit of the Western Oregon counties.

Notably, Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh said they would grant the American Forest Resource Council (AFRC)Association of O&C Counties’ joint petition for certiorari, but did not write an opinion dissenting.

“We’re disappointed the Supreme Court did not take this historic opportunity to provide balance to growing executive overreach on federal lands through the Antiquities Act, and legal clarity for our forests, communities, and the people who steward them,” said AFRC President Travis Joseph.

“Today, the Supreme Court denied a request to review our case involving the 2016 Resource Management plan for the BLM O&C lands, and the inclusion of approximately 40,000 acres of O&C land in the expansion of CascadeSiskiyou Monument in 2017,” said AOCC Executive Director Doug Robertson of Roseburg.

“While disappointing, this decision was not a surprise,” Robertson added. “We knew getting our case before the Supreme Court would be very difficult. The Association of O&C Counties has historically prioritized maintaining the O&C lands for sustained yield management as mandated by the 1937 O&C Act. Diminishing the

number of acres available for management impacts the employment, the economy, and the overall stability of all the O&C Counties in Oregon. The Association will continue to work closely with the BLM state office on the future management of the O&C lands.”

The Supreme Court’s denial comes right after AFRC urged the Pacific Northwest’s congressional delegation in a letter to take action to address challenges to the region’s forest and wood products sector. The letter noted that Western Oregon has experienced the closure or curtailment of three wood products mills since the beginning of the year, and additional

closures and curtailments in the Pacific Northwest are likely to occur. The common thread is a diminishing timber supply to the region’s wood products manufacturers, including from O&C lands managed by the BLM. Three BLM districts within the working circle of the three recently closed mills have seen a 43 percent reduction in timber harvest volume from 2021 to 2024. “The status quo in Western Oregon is unacceptable and unsustainable for our forests and communities,” Joseph said. “The Oregon congressional delegation is now in the hot seat: will they provide

meaningful solutions for our forests, workers, and at-risk communities? Or will this ongoing social, environmental, economic, and political conflict in Western Oregon continue for the foreseeable future? We remain undeterred and committed to practical, bipartisan outcomes for a better future. The AFRC is a regional trade association representing more than 50 forest product businesses and forest landowners whose purpose is to advocate for sustained yield timber harvests on public timberlands throughout the West to enhance forest health and resistance to fire, insects, and disease.

Darlene Bussanich

November 21, 1935 - March 26, 2024

A memorial service for Darlene Bussanich, 88, of Coos Bay, will be held at 11:30am, Saturday, April 13 at the North Bend First Presbyterian Church, 2238 Pony Creek Road in North Bend, with Pastor Eric Lindsey, officiating. Private burial will be held at Sunset Memorial Park in Coos Bay.

Darlene was born in Spokane, Washington November 21, 1935 to Isabelle and Robert Kelly. She was a loving sister to brothers Pat (d 2018), Mike and Bill. She passed away March 26, 2024 in Coos Bay.

Darlene had a tax company and was a respected stock broker and financial consultant, taking care of clients for 40 years. Darlene lived life in full planning for trips and events with the love of her life Warren Bussanich (d. 2016); always making time for friends and family. She always said one of her greatest accomplishments was raising three beautiful children, Diane Huber (d. 2016), Cynthia Baley from Coos Bay, Oregon and Gordon Huber from Santa Ana, California.

Darlene is survived by her two brothers, Mike Lowery and Bill Kelly; two children, Cynthia Baley and Gordon Huber; four grandchildren, Kristina Espinoza, Amanda Evans, Lorenzo Espinoza and Brook Huber; seven great-grandchildren, Taylin

and

Arrangements are under the care of Coos Bay Chapel, 541-267-3131 www. coosbayareafunerals.com

F. Geraldine (Gerri) Hunt

August 16, 1930 – March 22, 2024

Gerri was born August 16, 1930 in Ranger, Texas to James and Lula Williams. She went home on March 22, 2024 to be with the Lord and reunited with her loved ones. In 1948 Gerri moved to Willamina Oregon and then Coos Bay in 1950. She met and married the love of her life, Lowell Hunt. They enjoyed 51 years of marriage before Lowell’s death in July of 2005. Gerri worked at Marshfield High School for 18 years as a Librarian assistant. She loved gardening, reading, knitting, attending church and cherished time with family and friends. Gerri is survived by four daughters, Patty Anderson of Coos Bay Oregon, Vickie Hunt of Eugene Oregon, Sherri Lysiak of Goodyear Arizona and Tammy Lilly of Ridgecrest California. Also, halfsisters Phyllis Arnold and Mary Beth Williams and two half-brothers, Paul and David Williams and four granddaughters and six great grandchildren. Gerri was preceded in death by her husband Lowell Hunt, parents James and Lula Williams, Stepmother Dorothy Williams, brother

Lewis Ball

August 3, 1938 – March 10, 2024

A new report from the American Lung Association urges local and state elected officials to focus on restricting the sale of flavored tobacco products to reduce the burden of tobacco use. The 2024 State of Tobacco Control report evaluates state and federal policies on actions taken to eliminate tobacco use and recommends proveneffective tobacco control laws and policies to save lives. Oregon fares well in all categories except for flavored tobacco, according to the new report. Tobacco use is the leading cause of death in Oregon and across the country and takes the lives of over 5,400 state residents each year, according to the American Lung Association. “The tobacco industry will do anything to protect their profits at the expense of Oregon lives, so we must push forward in our efforts to prevent and reduce tobacco use,” the American Lung Association Senior Director of Advocacy Carrie Nyssen said. This year, the Association is working with local and state policymakers to focus on ending the sale of all flavored tobacco products, including menthol cigarettes. “We know that kids are attracted to flavored e-cigarettes, and that menthol cigarettes continue to be the major cause of tobacco-related death and disease in Black communities, with over 80% of Black individuals

From Page 1 STAFF REPORT Country Media, Inc.

who smoke using them,” Nyssen said. “Ending the sale of all flavored tobacco products, including menthol cigarettes, will not only help end youth vaping, but will address health disparities.”

Oregon Grades The State of Tobacco Control report grades states and the District of Columbia in five areas that have been proven to prevent and reduce tobacco use and save lives. In the 2024 report, Oregon received the following grades:

Funding for State Tobacco Prevention Programs – Grade B*

Strength of Smokefree Workplace Laws –

Housing

potential. “This project is a valuable use of taxpayer funds because the City of North Bend is currently facing a housing crisis that if left unattended, could drive current residents to other cities with greater housing options, severely affecting the local economy in North Bend. While the City of North Bend is currently expanding, housing options are extremely limited. The City of North Bend plays a crucial role in facilitating trade with major commodity markets across the nation and is home to service workers

with several small businesses, including his most recent

venture, Used Affordable Autos in North Bend, Oregon.

Outside of work, Lew found joy in various hobbies such as Stock Car racing, Pool League, Bowling, hunting, fishing, and most notably, caring fir his beloved dogs and cats.

In honoring Lew’s wishes, there will not be a service to commemorate his life. Coos Bay Chapel in Coos Bay, Oregon, is assisting with the arrangements.

Mr. Lewis “Lew” Ray Ball will be dearly missed by all who knew him, and his memory will live on trough the legacy he leaves behind.

Gayle

Linda R. Christie, 79,

Serge

of North Bend Oregon, died March 30th age of 77.

hard work of state tobacco control programs or advocates.

Federal Grades Overview

This year’s report focuses on recent federal actions, including President Biden’s failure to finalize rules to end the sale of menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars, as well as FDA’s overdue review of all applications for

in a variety of industries, such as doctors, teachers, port workers, members of the U.S. Coast Guard, and other trade and service members who desperately need affordable housing,” stated Hoyle’s announcement of the funding. The North Bend Urban Renewal Agency purchased the 1.33 acre site from the County for a discount rate and with the inclusion of two smaller, adjacent lots at 2040 Union Ave, and 885 Virginia Ave. This was back in 2021, with plans for the building always containing some sort of affordable housing. Our initial coverage of that purchase can be found here: https://theworldlink. com/news/north-bend-

purchases-old-hospitalto-revitalize-downtown/ article_3fb85b94-fea911eb-b9d7-0b293235bf17. html#tncms-source=login

The City has already conducted cleanup surveys for potentially hazardous materials. Now, with federal funding behind it, the project will start to gain momentum, with aims

for completion in the next couple years. This will be a huge step in the City and its URA reducing blight and fostering economic growth downtown, made possible by the support of our District’s federal elected officials. Stay tuned for our full conversation with Congresswoman Hoyle.

Espinoza, Ashton Blondell, Parker

Madoc Evans, Donovan and Damon Espinoza and Clyde Elrich; two greatgreat grandchildren, Kendall and Kingston Webley; four nieces, Wendy, Shelly, Kendra, Tanisha and four nephews, Jason, Pat, Shane and Brandon.

James Williams and two sisters, Colleen Darland and Dorothy Roth. A private cremation burial will be held at a later date.

David “Scott” S. Backen, 61, of North Bend, passed away on March 28, 2024 in Coos Bay. Arrangements are under the care of North Bend Chapel, www. coosbayareafunerals.com 541-756-0440.

Glenn W. Bernard, 70, of Coos Bay, passed away March 27, 2024 at Coos Bay. Cremation Rites are under the direction of Nelson’s Bay Area Mortuary, 405 Elrod Ave., Coos Bay, Oregon 541/267-4216

Alice LaDonna Limson, 60, of North Bend, passed away March 28, 2024 at Coos Bay. Cremation Rites are under the direction of Nelson’s Bay Area Mortuary, 405 Elrod Ave., Coos Bay, Oregon 541/267-4216

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with the required filing fee. It must be in proper form and have proof of service on the plaintiff’s attorney or, if the plaintiff does not have an attorney, proof of service on the plaintiff. The object of the complaint is to foreclose a deed of trust dated September 14, 2020, and recorded as Instrument No. 2020-09201 given by Boneva Wilson and Viva Mathieson, not as tenants in common but with rights of survivorship on property commonly known as 868 N 8th Terrace (shown on DOT as 868 8th Ter), Coos Bay,

Any person may appear

and discuss the proposed programs with the Budget Committee. Published: March 29 and April 9, 2024. The World & ONPA. (ID:387299)

Notice of Budget Committee Meeting

A public meeting of the Budget Committee of the City of Coquille, Coos County, will be held in the Council Chambers at Coquille City Hall, 851 Central Blvd., Coquille, to discuss the City of Coquille Budget and the Coquille Urban Renewal Agency budget for fiscal year July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025. The meeting is scheduled to take place on May 8, 2024, at 6:30 PM. The purpose of the meeting is to receive the budget message and to receive comment from the public on the budget. This is a public meeting where deliberation of the Budget Committee will take place. Any person may appear at the meeting to discuss the proposed programs with the

website. http://www.Cityofcoquille. org. Published: April 9, 16, and 23, 2024. The World & ONPA. (ID:388658)

NOTICE OF BUDGET COMMITTEE MEETING Lakeside Water District

A public meeting of the Budget Committee

cure:

to the

for cash to satisfy the obligations secured by the Trust Deed and the expenses of sale, including the compensation of the trustee as provided by law, and the reasonable fees of trustee’s attorneys. The default for which the foreclosure is made is: The monthly installment of principal and interest which became due on 8/1/2023, late charges, and all subsequent monthly installments of principal and interest. You are responsible to pay all payments and charges due under the terms and conditions of the loan documents which come due subsequent to the date of this notice, including, but not limited to, foreclosure trustee fees and costs, advances and late charges. Furthermore, as a condition to bring your account in good standing, you must provide the undersigned with written proof that you are not in default on any senior encumbrance and provide proof of insurance. Nothing in this notice should be construed as a waiver of any fees owing to the beneficiary under the deed of trust, pursuant to the terms and provisions of the loan documents. The amount required to cure the default in payments to date is calculated as follows: From: 8/1/2023 Total of past due payments: $22,023.97 Late Charges: $380.92 Additional charges (Taxes, Insurance, Corporate Advances, Other Fees):

“for the opportunity to make a bit of an impact in the office,” he said, adding that he wants “to take what we have and find ways to streamline and become more efficient” and to continue steps to improve data accuracy “and continue to press toward utilizing new technology for efficiency.”

In the past five years, he said, the assessor has focused on cross-training employees so more workers can handle more duties. The office has 15 employees, including four residential appraisers, each of whom work in specific geographic areas of the county.

“Jansen implemented new things and has gone to bat for us as far as staffing our office when we were down some employees and making sure our office stays well-staffed. That’s been a real big positive,” Corbus said, indicating he doesn’t intend to make a lot of changes in the office’s operations if he’s elected. “We’ve tried to make steps toward getting new mapping systems, like EagleView, which helps to view rural properties that are difficult to access.”

If elected, Corbus would like to implement steps toward more digital record

Deed reinstated by payment to the beneficiary of the entire amount then due (other than such portion of the principal as would not then be due had no default occurred) and by curing any other default complained of herein that is capable of being cured by tendering the performance required under the obligation(s) of the Trust Deed, and in addition to paying said sums or tendering the performance necessary to cure the default, by paying all costs and expenses actually incurred in enforcing the obligation and Trust Deed, together with the trustee’s and attorney’s fees not exceeding the amounts provided by ORS 86.778.

The mailing address of the trustee is: ZBS Law, LLP 5 Centerpointe Dr., Suite 400 Lake Oswego, OR 97035 (503) 946-6558

Please note the amounts stated herein are subject to confirmation and review and are likely to change during the next 30 days. Please contact the successor trustee ZBS Law, LLP, to obtain a “reinstatement’ and or “payoff’ quote prior to remitting funds. By reason of said default the beneficiary has declared all sums owing on the obligation secured by the Trust Deed due and payable. The amount required to discharge this lien in its entirety to date is: $439,199.98 Said sale shall be held at the hour of 1:00 PM on 6/12/2024 in accord with the standard of time established by ORS 187.110, and pursuant to ORS 86.771(7) shall occur at the following designated place: At the Main Entrance of the Coos County Courthouse, 250 North Baxter Street, Coquille, OR 97423 Other than as shown of record, neither the said beneficiary nor the said trustee have any actual notice of any person having or claiming to have any lien upon or interest in the real property hereinabove described subsequent to the interest of the trustee in the Trust Deed, or of any successors) in interest to the grantors or of any lessee or other person in possession of or occupying the property, except: NONE Notice is further given that any person named in ORS 86.778 has the right, at any time prior to five days before the date last set for sale, to have this foreclosure proceeding dismissed and the Trust

keeping (and, therefore less paperwork) in the office, he said, “utilizing our mobile computers … to do our data input out in the field while visiting properties.” As a residential appraiser, he’s often not welcomed to homeowners’ properties. He prides himself on facing sometimes hostile homeowners with a cheery attitude and pleasant demeanor.

“This happens a lot,” he said. “We go into a property and the owner doesn’t really want anything to do with us,” but with good people skills Corbus and his partner often are able to turn a hostile situation into an amicable one. “We try to be on their side and work with them, not against them,” he said.

Appraisers work on a cycle, attempting to visit every property in the county once every six years. “It used to be a hard and fast state rule,” Corbus said, “but not so much anymore. We try to get to every property through every appraisal cycle. It helps to be a lot more accurate, especially in rural areas — because there are structures we usually don’t know about — for the accuracy of our records.

“Things pop up all the time,” he added, referring to buildings on rural properties, sometime built

In construing this notice, the masculine gender includes the feminine and the neuter, the singular includes plural, the word “grantor” includes any successor in interest to the grantor as well as any other persons owing an obligation, the performance of which is secured by said trust deed, the words “trustee” and “beneficiary” include their respective successors in interest, if any. Without limiting the trustee’s disclaimer of representations or warranties, Oregon law requires the trustee to state in this notice that some residential property sold at a trustee’s sale may have been used in manufacturing methamphetamines, the chemical components of which are known to be toxic. Prospective purchasers of residential property should be aware of this potential danger before deciding to place a bid for this property at the trustee’s sale.

Dated:2/1/2024 ZBS LAW, LLP By: Jeffrey A. Myers, Esq., OSB#094561 ZBS Law, LLP Authorized to sign on behalf of the trustee A-4809821

A. FIRST CLAIM FOR RELIEF:

1. For principal sum of $9,712.42, plus accrued interest at the contract rate through July 31, 2023, in the sum of $950.68, plus accrued interest at the statutory rate of 9.00 percent per annum from August 1, 2023, through November 1, 2023, in the sum of $222.72, plus interest accruing on the principal balance at the statutory rate of 9.00 percent per annum ($2.39 per diem) from November 2, 2023, until the date judgment is entered;

2. For Plaintiff’s reasonable attorney fees, costs and disbursements incurred herein; and

3. For interest on the sum of paragraphs A1 and A2 above at the statutory rate of 9.00 percent per annum, from the date judgment is entered, until paid in full.

B. SECOND CLAIM FOR

RELIEF:

1. For principal sum of $14,602.91, plus accrued interest at the contract rate through July 31, 2023, in the sum of $1,334.03, plus accrued interest at the statutory rate of 9.00 percent per annum from August 1, 2023, through November 1, 2023, in the sum of $334.87, plus interest accruing on the principal balance at the statutory rate of 9.00 percent per annum ($3.60 per diem) from November 2, 2023, until the date judgment is entered;

2. For Plaintiff’s reasonable attorney fees, costs and disbursements incurred herein; and

3. For interest on the sum of paragraphs B1 and B2 above at the statutory rate of 9.00 percent per annum, from the date judgment is entered, until paid in full.

C. THIRD CLAIM FOR RELIEF:

1. For the principal sum of $6,052.26, plus accrued interest in the amount of $484.93 through November 1, 2023, plus interest accruing on the principal

without a permit. Also seeking the assessor’s position is Jeff Etzel, a commercial and industrial appraiser who has worked in the Assessor’s Office nearly four years.

Etzel, 57, North Bend, has lived in Coos County since 2004, moving from Reedsport, where he worked five years in food service and more than 16 years with computer software. He grew up in Salem and graduated from North Salem High School in 1984. He has a bachelor’s degree in computer science from Baker College, Flint, Mich., which he earned online.

In high school, Etzel got a job at a local Dairy Queen, where he met his wife, Terri. He worked his way up in the company and became manager of the Reedsport store in April 1989 and married in August. He continued at the Reedsport restaurant until June 1994, when he made the move to the local software company. He and Terri, have two adult children, Matthew and Rachel.

The Etzels moved to Coos Bay in 2004, and he commuted to Reedsport. When he graduated magna cum laude in 2009 with his computer science degree, he was a computer programmer for the Reedsport firm. He remained there until

at the contract rate of 8.99 percent per annum ($1.49 per diem) from November 2, 2023, until the date judgment is entered;

2. For Plaintiff’s reasonable attorney fees, costs and disbursements incurred herein; and

3. For interest on the sum of paragraphs C1 and C2 above at the contract rate of 8.99 percent per annum, from the date judgment is entered, until paid in full. D. ALL CLAIMS FOR RELIEF:

1. For such

December 2010, when he began repairing computers and working in construction. In about 2012, Etzel joined South Coast Office Supply in Coos Bay as a copier repair technician. He also was doing private commercial and industrial appraisals, mostly machinery and equipment, which led to him applying at the Coos County Assessor’s Office.

As the county’s only commercial-industrial appraiser, Etzel visits businesses with less than $1 million in improvements. State appraisers handle the larger industrial firms. His job involves measuring outside of structures and photographing the buildings and the surrounding area, if it’s a new business, and/ or a new structure. City and county building permits usually trigger appraisals. “We don’t chase sales,” he said. “We’re not like California.”

“That’s part of what I want to do because we don’t raise your taxes,” he said. “We’re not the bad guys.”

Etzel said taxpayers raise their own taxes when they improve their properties. He also hopes to educate the public on how the tax system works and show people how they can get property and tax information on their own.

“Most people don’t understand,” he said, explaining that every property has three values, Real Market Value (RMV), the Maximum Assessed Value (MAV) and the Assessed Value (AV). “You’re taxed on your Assessed Value,” he said.

“The Assessed Value is equal to the lesser of the Real Market Value and the Maximum Assessed Value.” If he’s elected, Etzel

One of Etzel’s goals, if he’s elected, is educating taxpayers about what the Assessor’s Office does and doesn’t do.

plans to continue the efforts of the office personnel, “giving what I think is pretty good customer service,” he said. “I enjoy helping people and I think I can help co-workers in ways that I can’t do now.

“We’re understaffed,” he added, “so there are ways we can work smarter. There are some efficiencies that I’d like to make.”

Etzel said the difference between residential and commercial appraising is that most houses are the same, with living rooms, kitchens, bedrooms and bathrooms.

“But with commercial, you’ve got different types of buildings with different kinds of businesses in them.”

Generally, he said appraisers use three methods of valuing a business or industrial property: a sales comparison, an income approach and a cost approach.

requirement we all have. Not just food, but a source of good nutrition, hope and a belief in the caring attitude for those in the community that require help in securing the very basic of needs. Your support made it possible for the distribution of over 121,400 pounds of food to more than 900 households, representing over

southern

men, women and children along

coast. With

help

were able to provide

pounds of fresh fruit and vegetables, 53,900 pounds of non-perishable canned and packaged foods and

pounds of dairy, bread and

the Knights of Columbus and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints organize the event, it is your participation and contribution of your resources, time and efforts that make this “Grass Roots” event the incredible display of humanitarianism that it has become. As always, we cannot thank you enough for your support. On behalf of the Knights of Columbus Council 1261, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and mostly on behalf of those you came to the aid of, Thank You for caring. In addition to the over 250 private donors, we would like to recognize the following businesses, Foundations, Service Organizations and municipal organizations for their invaluable commitments to this project. Thanks to: Best Western Holiday Hotel of Coos Bay, Les’s Sanitary Service, Roto Rooter Service of Coos Bay/North Bend, Peterson CAT, Sause Bros. Ocean Towing, Ferguson Transfer, South Coast Food Share, City of North

Fentanyl

From Page 1

already been approved for the May ballot to help alleviate capacity issues in the Coos County Jail, and to help with the DAs office’s backlog of cases, which is around the 1400 mark.

Farmer figures if police are being provided to Portland, there is no reason Coos County cannot receive support to help temporarily staff the jail. He also hopes that the DAs office can request help from the Department of Justice to assist them with their pending cases.

“The restrictions on consuming controlled substances outlined in this chapter will take immediate effect when any of the following occur:

1. The State of Oregon passes a law granting local jurisdictions the power to regulate public consumption of controlled substances;

Other benefits that Portland received include a $20 million grant from ODOT to help clean up graffiti and garbage. The City Council hopes that in making a similar declaration early, Coos Bay will also receive priority from the state in a similar manner to Portland.

An amendment to Ordinance 566, which was paired with the declaration of emergency, recriminalizes the public consumption and possession of controlled substances, but also open container alcoholic beverages. Until Measure 110 is amended, the ordinance does not carry much weight, but will activate when those amendments are passed.

2. A court with appropriate jurisdiction determines that cities are allowed to regulate the public consumption of such substances within their jurisdictions/ boundaries; or

3. A regulatory body of the State of Oregon identifies or drafts regulations allowing the implementation of ordinances, resolutions, rules and/or policies consistent with this ordinance,” states the language of the ordinance.

The Coos Bay City Council voted unanimously to enact the public consumption ordinance and make the declaration of emergency.

Once Measure 110 is changed the City will have already re-criminalized the possession of certain drugs and will be able to punish offenders within the scope of what is allowed by the new Measure 110. The ordinance states this explicitly.

John Gunther World Sports

TUESDAY, APRIL 9, 2024

Petrey wins three events at Prefontaine Rotary Invitational SWOCC softball team off to strong start

Bandon’s Marley Petrey was one of several South Coast athletes with big days at the annual Prefontaine Rotary Invitational at Marshfield on Saturday.

Petrey won the 100 (13.13), 400 (1:00.91) and 300 hurdles (48.38) on the track and also was second in the triple jump.

Bando’s Analise Miller won the 800 with a new best 2:30.82.

North Bend’s Ellie Massey won the Prefontaine Mile (5:31.53) and was third in the 3,000 (11:01.77).

Bandon’s Giada Moore was third in the 300 hurdles with a new best 49.64.

Coquille’s Ada Millet was third in the 400 (1:01.99) and fifth in the 100 (13.64) and 300 hurdles (50.24).

North Bend’s Eva Jensen was third in the 200 (28.17).

North Bend’s Drew Hood was second (17.58) and Bandon’s Makiah Vierck fourth (17.80) in the 100 hurdles.

North Bend also was second in the 4x400 relay, with the quartet of Emma Slade, Jensen, Ayla Riddle and Lauren Efraimson posting a season-best 4:18.94.

In other field events, Marshfield’s Daphne Scriven was second in the shot put (33-10) and won the discus (120-3). Coquille’s Holli Vigue (113-2) and Callie Millet (110-5) were second and third in the discus and Millet won the javelin with the South Coast posting the top four finishers. Millet and Bandon’s Katelyn Senn both threw 123-4, with Millet having a better second throw. Myrtle Point’s Kenzie Robinson was third (117-10) and North Bend’s Hood was fourth (106-7). Senn and Robinson both had career bests.

The South Coast went 1-5 in the pole vault, with North Bend’s Abby Woodruff edging Coquille’s Callie Millet and Reagan Krantz for the title based on fewer misses after they all cleared 10-6. North Bend’s Roxy Day was fourth (9-6) and Coquille’s Ada Millet fifth (8-6).

Coquille’s Melanie Lambson soared a new best 17-3 to win the long jump, with Marshfield’s Alie Clarke second with her own best 16-8.

In the triple jump, Emma Johnston of St. Mary’s won with a mark of 35-11, while Petrey had a new best 34-11 ¾ to finish

second, with North Bend’s Lauren Efraimson third (34-3) and Coquille’s Emelia Wirebaugh fourth (33-8).

Myrtle Point’s Jadelin Warner was third in the high jump, clearing 4-10 for the first time.

For the boys, North Bend’s Jason Padgett won the 100 (11.23 seconds) and 200 (23.15) and Marshfield’s Bodey Lutes won the 400 (48.50).

Marshfield won the 4x100

relay. The quartet of Lutes, Carter McGriff, Quinton Kloster and John Parks finished in 43.74, about half a second ahead of North Bend’s group of Padgett, Cole Hansen, Andrew Efraimson and Connor Macbeth (44.26).

Marshfield also won the 4x400

relay with the group of Lutes, Kloster, Joe Herbert and Elijah Cellura finishing in 3:29.63. Marshfield’s Jaxson Stovall had a big personal best to take third in the 3,000 (9:07.29).

Myrtle Point’s Mason Detzler was a double-winner in the throws, taking the shot put by almost 14 feet with his throw of 58 feet, 3 ¼ inches and the discus by almost 17 feet with his ark of 150-5.

North Bend’s Shaunathan Wilder was fourth in the shot put (43-1 1/2).

Gold Beach’s Nelson Wilstead was second in the javelin (165-0).

North Bend’s Miles Baxter cleared 6-1 for the first time in the high jump, finishing second to Brayden Decker of Phoenix, who won with a height of 6-2. Baxter also was second in the long jump, with a new best of 19-10 ½ and fourth in the triple jump (38-5 ½).

Parks won the pole vault for Marshfield by clearing 14-3, with teammate Danner Wilson second (13-6).

Crook County won the boys title with 102 points, ahead of South Eugene (92), Marshfield (69) and North Bend (58).

South Eugene topped the girls with 93 points, followed by Eureka (86.5), North Bend (82), Coquille (79) and Bandon (74).

This week, most of the South Coast’s smaller schools will be in Coquille for the Coquille Twilight on Friday. Marshfield and North Bend are at Junction City on Tuesday and in Roseburg for its invitational on Saturday. Bandon also will be at Roseburg.

Pirates open league season with three softball wins

John Gunther World Sports

Marshfield’s softball team won all three of its games to open the SkyEm League season and added a nonleague win, too.

The Pirates opened the week topping Junction City 19-12. Tatum Montiel pitched a complete game and also had a home run and triple, four RBIs and two runs in the win.

Gracie Peach had four hits, three runs and three RBIs and Faith Hite had three hits, three runs and three RBIs. Makenna Johnson had two hits, three runs and three RBIs and CeCe Cox, Rowan Hampton and Mackenzie Fitzgerald-Thornton also had two hits each, with Hampton and Thornton both scoring twice.

Marshfield followed that win with a nonleague victory over Hidden Valley, beating the Mustangs 13-6. Peach had two doubles and a single, two runs and two RBIs; Makenna Johnson and Montiel had two

hits each and Hampton scored four runs.

On Friday, Marshfield swept a doubleheader from Cottage Grove, winning 11-1 and 10-0.

In the 11-1 win, Jayla Johnson pitched a four-hitter and Marshfield was the recipient of 12 walks. Hite had three runs and Makenna Johnson, Hampton and Peach scored two runs each.

In the 10-0 win, Montiel had a home run and two singles, drove in four runs and scored twice. Peach had a three-run triple and scored twice and Hite and Makenna Johnson also scored twice. Jocelyn Mulkey pitched the game, allowing just two hits.

This week, Marshfield hosts Phoenix in a nonleague game Tuesday and is at Marist Catholic for a doubleheader on Thursday. The Pirates have won six of their past seven games and are 10-4 overall.

BULLDOGS

WIN TWO: North Bend lost its league opener to Marist Catholic 14-9

but bounced back with a doubleheader sweep over Junction City.

Against the Spartans, North Bend fell behind 7-1, then rallied to tie the score at 7 but couldn’t maintain that momentum.

Mirra Riddle and McKenzie Breakfield had home runs for the Bulldogs. Erica McClintock was 3-for-5 with two doubles and Emma Spalding also had two hits. North Bend beat Junction City 11-7 and 14-13 in nine innings to finish the week on a strong note.

In the opener against the Tigers, the bottom half of the lineup led the production, coach John Olson said. Adrianna Delph went 3-for-4 with a double and three RBIs and Ally Burgmeier added two hits and three RBIs. Riddle added a home run and Laila Veloz had a single and a double.

In the nightcap, North Bend rallied from a 7-0 deficit in the first inning to beat Junction City. McClintock, Angel An-

drade, Spalding, Veloz, Breakfield and Burgmeier all had three hits and Riddle added two doubles. Veloz had two home runs and drove in four runs, Spalding clubbed three doubles and also had four RBIs, and McClintock and Andrade each scored three runs.

Veloz’s second homer came with two outs and provided the winning run.

“After the first inning, I was so proud of the girls not giving up and staying positive,” Olson said.

The Bulldogs, now 5-3 against Oregon competition, are at Cottage Grove on Tuesday for their only Sky-Em League game this week and visit Pleasant Hill on Saturday for a nonleague contest.

TIGERS TOP

REEDSPORT: Bandon won its league opener against Reedsport 16-12 last week, but fell to Toledo 8-1 in its other game.

The Tigers have three league games this week, at home against Eddyville Charter on Tuesday and

Waldport on Saturday and at Gold Beach on Thursday.

Reedsport’s only league game was against Bandon. The Brave are at Waldport on Thursday and host Myrtle Point on Saturday.

Myrtle Point beat Gold Beach 18-0 in its league opener on Friday.

The Bobcats had a nonleague game against Umpqua Valley Christian on Monday, visit Toledo on Tuesday and host Eddyville on Friday before their game against Reedsport.

RED DEVILS SPLIT:

Coquille edged Sutherlin 13-12 in the first game of their Far West League doubleheader, but dropped the nightcap 2411 to fall to 1-3 in league play.

The Red Devils played at Rogue River on Saturday. Scores were not available.

Coquille hosts Cascade Christian for a doubleheader Thursday and Umpqua Valley Christian for a nonleague game Saturday.

North Bend edges Marist Catholic in league opener

John Gunther World Sports

North Bend got a pitching gem by Luke Wheeling and timely hitting in the seventh inning to edge visiting Marist Catholic 3-2 in the Sky-Em League baseball opener for both schools. Wheeling went the distance, allowing five hits and the two runs. Marist Catholic’s Drew Wooten was Wheeling’s equal into the final inning. The Spartans led 2-1, but North Bend’s freshmen came up big. Drakkar Funk had a leadoff single, Joshio Stevens sacrificed him over to second base, and freshman Hunter Osuna had a single. Pinch runner Caden Hunt stole second and, following a strikeout, freshman Josh Sullivan brought in both Funk and Hunt with a walk-off single.

North Bend’s other run came in the second, when Peyton Forrester had a leadoff double and scored on a single by Stevens. The Bulldogs split a doubleheader at Junction City on Friday, losing 5-2 and winning 5-3 to improve to 2-1 in league play and 5-5 overall.

Marist Catholic was third and Junction City ninth in the most recent coaches poll for Class 4A.

The Bulldogs are at Cottage Grove for their only league game of the week on Tuesday and host North Salem on Friday and Pleasant Hill on Saturday before the first of three league games against Marshfield next Tuesday in Coos Bay.

PIRATES WIN TWO:

Marshfield swept Cottage Grove in a doubleheader on Friday 18-8 and 6-0 to improve to 2-1 in league play.

Marshfield is tied for first early

in the league season with North Bend and Junction City, which beat the Pirates 9-2 in the league opener.

Marshfield hosts Phoenix for a nonleague game on Tuesday before facing Marist Catholic in a doubleheader Friday in Eugene.

REEDSPORT TOPS

BANDON: Reedsport beat host Bandon 6-4 in their league opener last week and also topped Eddyville Charter 12-0 to improve to 7-3 on the season and 2-0 in league. The Brave are at Siletz Valley on Tuesday and Waldport on Thursday and host Myrtle Point on Saturday.

BOBCATS WIN TWO:

Myrtle Point also is 2-0 in league after beating Siletz Valley 17-0 and Gold Beach 12-1.

The Bobcats, who are 4-1 overall, are at Toledo on Tuesday and host Eddyville on Friday

before facing Reedsport. TIGERS TOP TOLEDO: Bandon bounced back from its loss to Reedsport to beat Toledo 11-6 on the road Friday, improving to 8-4 overall and 1-1 in league. Bandon hosts Edyville on Tuesday and Waldport on Saturday and is at Gold Beach on Thursday.

RED DEVILS SPLIT

TWIN BILLS: Coquille lost both games of a doubleheader at Sutherlin in Far West League play, falling 13-3 and 14-7. On Saturday, Coquille bounced back to sweep Rogue River 9-4 and 15-4 for the team’s first two wins of the league season.

The Red Devils, now 4-7 on the season, are at Cascade Christian on Thursday for their only league doubleheader this week.

John Gunther World Sports

The Southwestern Oregon Community College softball team is off to an 11-3 start to the NWAC South Region season, tied for second place with Lower Columbia and a game behind Mount Hood. The Lakers split doubleheaders with both of those schools and also with Clackamas as part of their league start.

The Lakers opened league play with a sweep over Chemeketa (7-4 and 14-6) and split with Clackamas (a 10-9 loss and 15-10 win) and Mount Hood (a 6-5 win and 5-2 loss) before rolling off seven straight wins — over Clark (8-0 and 11-0), Centralia (5-3 and 10-2) and Grays Harbor (8-3 and 4-1) and in the first game of a doubleheader against Lower Columbia (7-5). The Red Devils won the nightcap 9-1.

All of SWOCC’s losses have come on the road. The Lakers were home against Chemeketa on Saturday (scores were not available) and this week host Clackamas on Wednesday before a big doubleheader against Mount Hood on Saturday.

Ryleigh Blaire leads SWOCC in hitting with a .475 batting average and has six home runs, 10 doubles, 19 runs and 31 RBIs.

Eliana Ulufale has a team-best seven home runs and has 27 RBIs and 15 runs. Noelani Barawis has scored 37 runs and also leads the team with 16 stolen bases. Ashley Fritz has scored 28 runs, Riley Peeler 22 and Tori Goodell 21. Taylor Brewer has a team-best nine wins on the season and is tied for the lead among NWAC pitchers. Avery Garbarek has seven wins.

BASEBALL SWOCC’s baseball team is third in the South Region at 10-8, trailing Linn-Benton (162) and Umpqua (14-4). The Lakers have been swept by Umpqua twice and also by Linn-Benton and Centralia. They have a pair of doubleheader sweeps over Chemeketa and also have swept Clackamas once and split with the Cougars another twin bill. They also split with Lane and swept a twin bill with Centralia. SWOCC was home against Umpqua for a doubleheader on Sunday and hosts Chemeketa on Thursday before visiting the Storm on Saturday.

Ryder Okimoto leads the Lakers with a .347 average and also has 20 stolen bases, 20 RBIs and 21 runs. Deyven White has scored 23 times and shares the team lead in RBIs with Raine Yoshida, each driving in 21 so far.

White also has three of the team’s eight home runs, while Okimoto and Isaac Roberts have two each.

Mahiro Tomita leads the pitching staff with five wins and has four complete games and a squad-best 61 strikeouts. Drew Boyles has three wins and two complete games.

Wyden town hall draws demonstrators, Gaza conflict concerns

BY JEREMY C. RUARK Country Media, Inc.

Oregon U.S, Senator Ron Wyden will go back to Washington, D.C.

remembering comments and questions from his latest town halls in Oregon. Wyden made stops in Oregon last week in, Lincoln, Tillamook, Polk and Clatsop counties.

The senator spent a few hours Saturday afternoon, March 17, listening and answering questions from those attending the event at the Lincoln City Cultural Center.

Outside the town hall

Before the noon time town hall, members of the Lincoln City-based Hilltop Patriots conducted a demonstration along the Highway 101 sidewalk in front of the Cultural Center. The demonstrators held signs and chanted their concerns, which include timber cutting policies, city housing issues, control of the U.S. border, and proposed offshore wind energy projects.

The group’s spokesperson, Marie McFarland, said they opposes the wind energy projects.

“They will affect our fisheries,” she said. “Those windmills are all going to produce power that all goes to California, with the exception of 3%,” she said.

“Also, those windmills

have to be closed down whenever the wind is over 45 miles and hour. In the ocean, it does/t take much to exceed 45 miles an hour. We are definitely opposed to the windmills.”

McFarland said her group is also worried about the U.S. Border control issues.

“Lincoln City appears to be targeted with new apartment houses and we have no idea who is moving into them,” she said. “From everything we see, it is about diversity, equity and inclusion.”

McFarland acknowledged that the city has a housing shortage.

“But the people I am hearing from are not allowed to be part of these homes,” she said, adding that the apartments were not approved by the city’s planning commission.

“The planning commission had no say,” she claimed. “The decisions came from the state and federal level.”

McFarland said she believes the people moving into the new apartments are coming in from out of the country. “The talk is that this city is for recreation and for visitors but the fear is that we don’t have the infrastructure. We don’t have the jobs. We don’t have a robust bus situation,” she said. “And they don’t have enough parking for those

apartments.”

Lincoln City Mayor Susan Wahlke, arriving to introduce Sen. Wyden during the town hall, disputed McFarland’s statements about the new housing.

“We have a lack of housing in this community,” Wahlke said. “There are a lot of people without housing. There are s lot of people doubled up in housing. I think we can probably fill those apartments with the people who are here. There are organizations that are working to fill those apartments with people who need housing in this area. I disagree that these apartments are drawing people from out of the country”

Inside the town hall

Inside the Cultural Center, Wahlke joined Lincoln City Cultural Center Director Niki Price at a table on stage at the Center’s performing arts room. Wyden appeared shortly after, waving to the audience, which had assembled for the town hall.

Following his introduction by Wahlke, Wyden took a variety of questions, carefully answering each person. The questions ranged from child tax credits and health care, district attorney prosecuting power, assistants for veteran, the

U.S. Border control, and oil drilling along the Oregon Coast.

“As long as I am a U.S. Senator, you will not have oil drilling along the Oregon Coast,” Wyden stated.

During the town hall, Wyden listened intently to a statement from one woman who outlined her concern about the conflict in Gaza. During his response, Wyden said in part: “I think it is important now to think through how to proceed, humanitarian aide in, hostages out, and look to try to find the best way forward,” Wyden said. “There is so much horrible history here. So, we have a lot to do.”

The woman responded saying she objected to Wyden’s assessment of the situation and the United States reaction to the conflict in Gaza. The woman then promptly

began to leave the room. “I object to that,” she said as she departed. “I stand for the Palestinians and for the Jews.”

As the woman left the town hall, the audience applauded. Shortly after, another audience member addressed his concerns about the Gaza conflict.

Wyden responded saying in part, “We have to find a way out.”

He added that he valued such town hall discussions. At the end of the Lincoln City meeting, Wyden thanked the audience for participating and said that such gatherings are rare in other parts of the world.

“We are fortunate,” he said.

TikTok ban reaction Following the town hall, Wyden responded to The Lincoln County Leader’s inquiry about his take on the recent U.S. House vote to ban TikTok.

“There national security issues here but there are other issues, including the First Amendment question, anti-trust issues, and an interest of the buying it, so there is a lot to look at,” he said.

But when The Leader asked what his vote would be, Wyden responded: “We aren’t even sure the Senate is going to vote on what was passed in the House,” he said. “So, I am going to take my time in looking at it.”

Before the Lincoln City town hall, Wyden, toured the Hatfield Marine Science Center, NOAA Fisheries, and NOAA Marine Operations receiving updates about the facilities’ research and the vital roles each plays in the economy for Lincoln County and the entire Oregon Coast. Widen also conducted town halls in Polk, Tillamook, and Clatsop counties over the weekend.

Oregon governor signs sweeping drug addiction proposal into law

new and expanded residential treatment facilities, recovery houses and programs for counties to set up so-called deflection programs that people can participate in to avoid jail and criminal charges after an interaction with police.

Kotek previously had said she would sign House Bill 4002, which was a centerpiece proposal of the short session. The law puts in place a new misdemeanor penalty for possession of small amounts of hard drugs, with opportunities for defendants to avoid jail if they enroll in programs that aid in their recovery and potential treatment.

In a letter to legislative leaders, Kotek said the state needs to have a carefully coordinated implementation to work as intended.

“Success of this policy framework hinges on the ability of implementing partners to commit to deep coordination at all levels,” Kotek wrote in her letter to Senate President Rob Wagner, D-Lake Oswego and House Speaker Julie Fahey, D-Eugene.

The new law will put $211 million towards a variety of court and treatment programs, including

So far, 23 of Oregon’s 36 counties have agreed to set up those programs, which are not mandatory.

The new misdemeanor penalty starts in September, with jail time only required when defendants violate or fail their probation. The misdemeanor penalty unwinds the drug decriminalization of Measure 110, which Oregon voters passed in 2020. Measure 110 put a $100 citation system in place with no criminal penalty for possession of small amounts of hard drugs. But the new law also keeps in place the provision of Measure 110 that funnels a share of cannabis revenue into addiction programs and services.

In her letter, Kotek said she has met with leaders from across the state –including prosecutors, public defenders, mental health providers, courts and law enforcement –who will be involved in

setting up the new programs to try to steer drug users toward recovery. ‘One strategy’ While counties will have flexibility to determine what their programs look like, Kotek said it’s important to balance local community program designs with the need for statewide consistency.

Noting that House Bill 4002 encourages law enforcement to prioritize deflection without an arrest, Kotek said this approach is “one strategy” to reduce the disproportionate impact on communities of color – and reduce the number of court records that need to be sealed.

“Simplification and standardization of court and other administrative processes will help reduce confusion and support successful completion of programs necessary to achieve future expungement,” Kotek said.

Under the law, no charges are filed when someone enters deflection. For those who are charged with the misdemeanor in court and convicted, the case will be expunged after completion of probation.

Advocates and public defenders have warned

House Bill 4002 has potential complications that could harm people in addiction rather than help them. For example, the state already has a lack of public defenders, a lack of addiction treatment options to help people, and the state’s own analysis found the law could disproportionately put people of color in jail. And people could inadvertently end up in jail in other ways under the new misdemeanor charge, such as if they don’t show up in court and are charged with failure to appear, which carries up

to 364 days in jail.

Kotek said she’s directed state agencies to make the new law work as seamlessly and as fairly as possible.

“Implementation of House Bill 4002 will be complex, but committing to clarity and coordination is one way to improve its likelihood of long-term success,” Kotek wrote.

For example, she has directed the Oregon Criminal Justice Commission to use certification forms that clearly show when someone has completed deflection to create consistency across different jurisdictions.

Kotek said the Oregon Department of Corrections will “exhaust non-jail opportunities for misdemeanor sanctions.” She’s also directed the Oregon Public Defense Commission and Criminal Justice Commission to collaborate and share data about trends and new cases as the programs start.

In the long-term, Kotek said, her office is working on strategies to bolster the behavioral health care workforce, which is key to access and care.

Amanda McCarthy joins International Cultural Exchange Services

“I have lived on the Southern Oregon Coast for 21 years. I enjoy reading, church activities, and spending time outdoors in

the nice weather with my family. I’m excited to work with exchange students because I believe in the power of positive experiences gained through

the exchange program.” Amanda is excited for this new opportunity to work with international high school students and the local families that host them

spending money to cover all personal expenses; Host families provide room & board and loving parental guidance to the student.

and feels that having exchange students in our local schools and communities increase mutual understanding and improves relationships between countries. Amanda will be working with families and schools in Coos Bay and in the surrounding area. Amanda is currently looking for families that would like to host for the school year of 2024.

Did you know that HEARING LOSS is linked to*: De n, Anxiety, Falls, Balance issues, and Social Isolation

Exchange students live as a member of the host family—not a guest or boarder. They participate in family activities, follow host family rules, and help with chores. Students have their own medical insurance and

Did you know that HEARING LOSS is linked to*:

Dementia, Depression, Anxiety, Falls, Balance issues, and Social Isolation

You are invited to participate in a special promotional event being conducted as part of a local outreach program in your area. The purpose of this event is to introduce our newest technologies to as many patients as possible from a major U.S. supplier of hearing instruments. Take advantage of this limited time offer. You represent the segment of the population which is most likely to experience hearing loss and tinnitus (ringing and other sounds in the ears), and we have the tools to help you.

As the Local Coordinator, Amanda is available to answer questions, give advice, and provide general support to students and host families throughout the experience. For more information about hosting or working with ICES, please contact Amanda McCarthy at amccarthy@icesusa.org. ICES is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting a peaceful world by increasing international awareness and understanding through cultural sharing experiences. Youareinvitedtoparticipateina specialpromotional event beingconducted as partof a localoutreach programinyourarea.Thepurposeofthiseventis tointroduceournewesttechnologiestoasmanypatientsaspossiblefroma majorU.S.supplierofhearinginstruments. Takeadvantageofthislimited timeoffer. You represent the segment ofthe population whichis most likely to experience hearing loss and tinnitus (ringing and othersoundsintheears), andwehavethetoolstohelpyou

Do you or a loved one struggle with any of the following common hearing issues?

Take this quick FREE hearing survey to find out!

Do o you or a loveed d one sttrruugggle with h anny of thhe foollowiing coommon n heaarriing isssuess? Takethisquick FREEhearingsurveytofindout!

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Do you have trouble hearing conversations in noisy environments, like restaurants or parties?

Do you find yourself frequently asking people to repeat themselves?

Do you have difficulty hearing high-pitched sounds?

Do you feel like you need to turn up the volume on the TV or radio to hear it properly?

Have you noticed any ringing or buzzing sounds in your ears?

Do you have a family history of hearing loss?

Have you ever worked in a noisy environment, such as construction or manufacturing?

If f y you o or r a l looved d o onne c chhecckkeed e eveen n o onne o of f t thheese e b boxees s

If you or a loved one checked even one of these boxes CALL NOW for a FREE hearing evaluation.

CALLL L N NOOW f foor r a F FRREE E h heeariinng g e evvaluuaatiioon

In exchange for spending approximately 45 minutes of your time with us, you will receive a: FREE $100 Restaurant.com Gift Card

In exchange for spending approximately 45 minutes of your time with us, you will receive a:

You will also receive a FREE hearing evaluation using an Audiometer – much like you probably experienced in grade school. Neither inspection will cost you a penny, nor are you under any obligation. In addition, a trained hearing care professional will be conducting demonstrations of incredible new digital hearing instrument technologies.

FREE $100 Restaurant.com Gift Card

FOR A LIMITED TIME WE ARE OFFERING A 100% RISK FREE TRIAL*

Miracle-Ear® is conducting this special promotion in order to introduce its newest technologies to as many patients as possible. The FREE $100 Restaurant.com Gift Card* is our way of saying thank you for participating. This program will be conducted Monday through Friday.

You will also receive a FREE hearing evaluation using an Audiometer – much like you probably experienced in grade school. Neither inspection will cost you a penny, nor are you under any obligation.

We expect a very high demand for appointments. If you’d like to participate in this event and experience the Miracle-Ear 100% RISK FREE TRIAL*, please call your local Miracle - Ear Office listed below for an appointment today.

In addition, a trained hearing care professional will be conducting demonstrations of incredible new digital hearing instrument technologies.

FOR A LIMITED TIME WE ARE OFFERING A 100% RISK FREE TRIAL*

Miracle-Ear® is conducting this special promotion in order to introduce its newest technologies to as many patients as possible. The FREE $100 Restaurant.com Gift Card* is our way of saying thank you for participating. This program will be conducted Monday through Friday We

For the World International Cultural Exchange Services (ICES) welcomes Amanda McCarthy as a new Local Coordinator.