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Serving Oregon’s South Coast Since 1878 TUESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2023

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One killed in Coos Bay shooting BY NATE SCHWARTZ The World

A Coos Bay man was killed after an early-morning shooting Tuesday on Ocean Boulevard. The Coos Bay Police Department identified the victim as 56-year-old William Averill after notifying next of kin. According to the Coos County District Attorney Paul Frasier, police received a call at 6:24 a.m. about a body in the parking lot of 2640 Ocean Boulevard. When they arrived on the scene less than five minutes later police discovered Averill in the parking lot at Umpqua Dairy. Averill had been fatally wounded by a gun shot.

Coos County’s Major Crimes Team responded to the scene to discern possible details as to who might have perpetrated the killing. Later Tuesday, the Coos Bay police said a vehicle Averill was driving, a silver 2003 Dodge Dakota pickup with Oregon plate ZJM817, was located near Elkton, an hour or so up Highway 38. Police are inclined to believe that whoever was involved in moving the truck will have crucial information about the murder. Police later identified Jason Lynn Crouch as a person of interest. The 47 year-old is believed to potentially have information on Averill. On Friday, police said Crouch had reached out to them

White House advisor tours Port of Coos Bay Landrieu wanted a close look at potential shipping BY DAVID RUPKALVIS The World

SALEM, Ore — The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is seeking a new member to represent the Coos, Coquille and Tenmile STEP District on the Salmon and Trout Advisory Committee (STAC). Interested individuals are encouraged to apply by Dec. 27, 2023. ODFW is seeking interest from Oregonians that can represent the public and partner organizations involved with the Salmon and Trout Enhancement Program (STEP). Desired applicants will have experience working with volunteers, community service organizations, or involvement in natural resource or angling education. Ideally, candidates should have knowledge of the issues and activities performed by STEP biologists,

volunteers, and partner organizations within their territory. The ideal candidate must be a resident of the Coos, Coquille & Tenmile STEP district, which includes the communities of Lakeside, North Bend, Coos Bay, Bandon, Coquille, Myrtle Point and Powers. This area covers the coastal basins from the Eel/Tenmile Lake area south to Bandon and includes the Millicoma, Coos, and Coquille Rivers. ODFW provides many opportunities for all Oregonians to be engaged with STEP and is looking for ways to further expand our community outreach. Candidates that can connect with or represent young adults, women, families, or underrepresented populations are strongly encouraged to apply. STEP was created by the Oregon Legislature in 1981 to provide a way for volunteers to participate in the restoration of native stocks of salmon, steelhead, and trout. Since that time, thousands of volunteers have assisted Oregon’s fisheries through their involvement in STEP, donating money, materials, Please see VISIT Page 3

Joint Work Session Hopes to Lay Roadmap for Estuary Management Plan BY NATE SCHWARTZ The World

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Man arrested, drugs seized at North Bend home BY DAVID RUPKALVIS The World

and he as no longer a person of interest. A huge police presence was in the area Tuesday morning, with several squad cars shutting down the westbound side of Ocean Boulevard. Though a through lane was established to minimize impact on traffic. Frasier believes this to be an isolated incident and said there is not a risk to the community. The Coos Bay Police Department and District Attorney’s Office are asking for information regarding this case. If you have any information or were near Ocean Boulevard Tuesday morning between 6 and 7 a.m., please reach out to 541-269-8911 or Coos Stop Crime at 541-267-6666.

A large amount of drugs were removed from the street and a North Bend man was arrested after officers with the South Coast Interagency Narcotics Team raided a North Bend home Thursday morning. According to information released by the Coos County Sheriff’s Office, 69-year-old Michael O’Neill was arrested and charged with seven charges with more charges likely. Sgt. Adam Slater said Det. R. Davis with the sheriff’s office had been conducting an extensive narcotics investigation in Coos County for more than a month. As

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a result of the investigation, Davis applied for and received a search warrant for a home at 2960 Broadway Avenue in North Bend. SCINT Director Sgt. A. Whittenburg with the sheriff’s office asked the Coos County Emergency Response team to assist with the search warrant after officers voiced concerns that firearms may be in the house. Thursday morning, a multiagency met at the North Bend Police Department before traveling to the home. At around 9:30 a.m., the emergency response team executed the search warrant. The emergency response team was joined by Please see DRUG BUST Page 3

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A joint work session was held on December 7 in conjunction with Coos County, the city of Coos Bay, and the city of North Bend’s local governments in order to achieve clarity around an estuary management issue. Section 2 of the Coos Bay Estuary Management Plan outlines the fundamental processes through which any revisions to the plan can be made. Confusion had arisen at prior joint work sessions around how small amendments to the Estuary Plan should be made, and which jurisdictions they fall under. The original estuary plan was devised, then divided three-ways among each of the jurisdictions (being Coos County, the City of Coos Bay, and the City of North Bend). This saw each jurisdiction seeing to matters of estuary management on their own, whereas a unified approach could clear up confusion across the board. Jill Rolfe, planning director for Coos County, stated in her opening, “It is very important we get [section 2] right. It is the fundamental process through moving forward with any kind of revision.” This issue arose when the original maps for the plan, still based on information from the ’70s, needed to be updated. This crossjurisdictional issue brought into question the processes used to update information and procedure Please see ESTUARY Page 2

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