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SATURDAY, APRIL 12, 2014
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Community foundation debate brews BY CHELSEA DAVIS The World
Photos by Alysha Beck, The World
Robby Green transfers freshly caught king salmon into boxes at Hallmark Fisheries in Charleston on Thursday. So far, the 2014 salmon season has been one of the best in years.
‘Silvers’ and gold South Coast salmon catch is one of the best in years BY THOMAS MORIARTY
SCCF town halls
COOS BAY — Confusion continues to surround the South Coast Community Foundation. The debate’s still brewing over the foundation that would divert half of Jordan Cove Energy Project’s proposed community service fees to local school districts. Coos County commissioners are hosting town halls this weekend to discuss SCCF. They’ll review every comment at their Tuesday meeting. Law enforcement didn’t cite anyone Friday night at Red Lion Hotel, though police officers stood on the outskirts watching the crowd. At the commissioners’ first SCCF town hall Wednesday in Bandon, Ronnie Herne was hit with a harassment charge after allegedly slapping a man. On Friday, several opponents left when county Commissioner Melissa Cribbins steered the group to a “world cafe” portion of the meeting to respond to five questions. “Shame on you!” a woman shouted from the back row, accusing the commissioners of not listening to the public’s concerns. Cribbins slammed the gavel. “Enough!” Opponents stormed
■ 2 p.m. Saturday at Lakeside City Council chambers, 915 North Lake Road, Lakeside. ■ 1:30 p.m. Sunday at Myrtle Point Library, 435 5th Street, Myrtle Point. ■ 4:30 p.m. Sunday at the Owen Building, 201 N. Adams., Coquille.
out, and the woman shouted, “Have fun in your kindergarten reading circle!” The crowd calmed down and circled to five tables, writing about SCCF, transparency and ways to resolve education funding equalization concerns. SCCF is corrupt and “too good to be true,” they wrote. They said advisory boards are needed to ensure the money is distributed fairly. The SCCF board has to follow open meetings and records law, they wrote, and the directors should be elected, not appointed. But the majority wrote that SCCF is the only way to make sure the money isn’t lost to equalization. “This is not giving a tax gift back to (Jordan Cove),” county Assessor Steve Jansen said. “This is a vehicle to get their tax dollars out of their pocket and give every bit of it to SEE DEBATE | A8
The World
COOS BAY — After more than a decade of lousy catches, the Oregon salmon fleet may have finally hit its stride. Jeff Reeves, vice president of the Oregon Salmon Workers at Hallmark Fisheries in Charleston sort through freshly caught king Commission, said the 2014 salmon Thursday afternoon. salmon season is one of the best in memory. Store staff said Oregon coast The first commercial season salmon were now competing The time to buy for offshore salmon opened for price with fish from Alaska The Oregon commercial troll salmon April 1, but its returns are and the Columbia River. season runs from April 1 through July Past seasons had been hyped already being seen at local can31, Aug. 6-29 and Sept. 3 through neries like Hallmark Fisheries as potential comebacks for the Oct. 31. in Charleston, where workers fishery, but it’s taken years for were busy packing fresh salmon the fishery to begin to stabilize. Salmon stocks from the mean customers will pay in boxes Thursday afternoon. and Klamath slightly more, at the counter “The guys are getting record Sacramento catches and great prices,” rivers, where the salmon fished Reeves said the salmon fishReeves said, speaking by phone on the Oregon coast spawn, ery’s profits will help benefit a Charleston fishing community that morning. “$10 a pound, had been depleted since 2005. In 2006 and 2008, federal long used to poor seasons. down to $8.75 today — I’ve “It’s been a blessing for a lot never gotten that much in my authorities declared the West Coast salmon fishery a disaster of people,” he said. life.” Reporter Thomas Moriarty The high price on the docks under the Interjurisdicitional can be reached at 541-269-1222, is also being felt at the market. Fisheries Act. Poor catch numbers were ext. 240, or by email at At Chuck’s Seafood in Charleston, fresh salmon filets also seen along the Southern t h o m a s . m o r i a r t y @ t h e worldlink.com. Follow him on were going for $19.95 a pound, Oregon coast in 2007. While the high dock prices Twitter: @ThomasDMoriarty. with steaks priced only $2 less.
Lakeside contemplates forming special district BY EMILY THORNTON The World
LAKESIDE — The more than a year-long saga of how to rid Tenmile Lakes of its contaminants continued this week. The latest almost-decision came after at least two hours of discussion Thursday among the dozen or so members of the Tenmile Lakes Workgroup. They said they likely would ask voters whether a special district should be formed on November’s ballot. But, they said they would wait until Tim Bishop, member and owner of Bay Area Copier Company, met next week with Josh Soper, county counsel; Richard Litts, watershed monitoring coordinator; and the county surveyor, Michael Dado; to determine where
the district boundaries should be. Tenmile Lakes has had a problem for about the past decade with blue-green algae blooms, which make the lake toxic. There are several factors that might cause the prevalence of the algae, such as leaking septic systems. Other possible pollutants are silt from logging, animal feces and household hazardous waste. The group said they would meet again in the next couple of weeks to finalize whether they would go forward with forming a special district. “There’s a lot of momentum. I’d hate to see it stop,” Bishop said. Commissioners John Sweet and Melissa Cribbins made a rare appearance at the meeting to hear SEE LAKESIDE | A8
Oregon considers selling entire Elliott State Forest
INSIDE
GRANTS PASS — The state of Oregon will consider selling the whole Elliott State Forest, where legal battles over logging and protections for threatened species have reduced revenues for schools. Jim Paul, assistant director of the Department of State Lands, said Friday the forest has turned from an asset into a liability, costing the Common School fund $3
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million last year. He says the state has a responsibility to see if it can turn that around. He adds that selling off the whole forest, whether to a timber company or conservation groups, is just one in a spectrum of possibilities that will be examined by department staff in coming months so the State Lands Board can make a decision. The evaluation was reported Thursday by The News-Review newspaper in Roseburg, where Paul
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described the action at a meeting. The Elliott covers about 90,000 acres north of Coos Bay. It includes some of the last older forest in the Coast Range, where most forests are privately owned and heavily logged. As the state has tried to increase harvest levels in recent years to meet local demands for logs and revenue, it has run into difficulties meeting federal requirements to protect habitat for threatened northern spotted owls, marbled murrelets and coho salmon.
Dominique Minaberrigaray, Coos Bay Nancy Becker, North Bend Erleen Bettencourt, Coos Bay Marian Bennett, Wenatchee, Wash.
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A lawsuit from conservation groups over protections for marbled murrelets, a seabird that nests in large old trees, has resulted in withdrawal of several timber sales. Protesters have occupied timber sales to prevent logging. The State Lands Board, made up of the governor, state treasurer and secretary of state, decided last December to sell off five parcels from the forest to get a better idea of its value in light of logging restrictions to protect threatened species.
Neil Dorst, Coos Bay Ona Muffett, Reedsport Gladys McMahan, Coos Bay Lucinda Hudson, North Bend Arlin Challis, Coos Bay Nettie Elliott, Canyonville
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The deadline for bids on three of them was Friday. Paul said the names of the winners would not be disclosed until Wednesday. Most of the forest is made up of Common School Fund lands, which since statehood have helped pay for schools. Most of the original lands were sold with the idea they would generate more revenue through taxes if they were in private ownership. The forest has previously
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