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THURSDAY, MARCH 20, 2014
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Port quietly joins SCCF
Melton leaves Coos Bay Council
Unanimous vote comes after little discussion
Health problems cause end of decades of public service; Tom Leahy to fill position ■
BY CHELSEA DAVIS The World
COOS BAY — Listen closely, or you’ll miss the Oregon International Port of Coos Bay board of commissioners’ vote.
The commissioners voted unanimously at the board’s meeting Wednesday night to become a member in the South Coast Community Foundation; to induct Bill Lansing, Joanne Verger and John Whitty as the initial foundation directors; to ratify the foundation’s updated bylaws; and to appoint a citizen to serve alongside the three initial directors. In just a few minutes, Port CEO David Koch read through the script on the background of the founda-
tion, how it was derived, the Community Enhancement Plan and the Port’s role. Silence filled the room. Commission president David Kronsteiner asked for a motion. “So moved.” “Second.” “All in favor say aye.” “Aye.” In unison. All five commissioners. Next agenda item. Opponents sat. Silent. Earlier, during a public com-
ment period, two had voiced their concerns. “Why is there such a rush to enact this plan?” Mary Geddry asked. “I’d like an explanation of what the rush is.” Silence fell. “You don’t have any explanation?” she asked. “We’re looking for comments from you to help us with the decisions we’re making,” Kronsteiner said. SEE PORT | A8
BY TIM NOVOTNY The World
COOS BAY — Citing health problems, longtime Coos Bay City Councilor Gene Melton tendered his resignation last week. On Tuesday night, the remaining council members unanimously approved the appointment of Tom Leahy to fill that seat until the next general election in November. Leahy had recently been appointed to the council to fill the seat on a more temporary basis, but Melton’s resignation March 13 necessitated the council taking further action. Gene Melton By stepping down, Melton brought to a conclusion one of his longest runs in public office. A lifelong resident of Coos Bay, his city biography paints a picture of a man dedicated to serving his community. He started as a city councilor for the then-city of Eastside in the 1970s, while also serving as chief of the Eastside Fire Station and as a reserve police officer there for 16 years. He would first serve on the Coos Bay City Council from 1992 to 1994, and then on its budget committee from 2007-2008. In February of 2008, he was appointed to fill the vacancy left by Roger Gould’s resignation before that being re-elected November. “Gene was involved in everything,” said Council President Stephanie Kramer. “We will miss him.” Mayor Crystal Shoji echoed that sentiment, calling Melton’s resignation a “loss” for the city. “His commitment has been of benefit to the city, veterans groups and the entire community for many decades,” Shoji said.
Tentative budgets approved BY EMILY THORNTON The World
By Alysha Beck, The World
Rick Staggenborg, left, Barb Shamet, center, and J.C. Williams wave as cars pass them on the corner across from the Coos Bay Boardwalk on Wednesday. The group was protesting against coporatocracy, a society controlled by corporate interests.
Green energy proponents protest corporate abuse BY CHELSEA DAVIS The World
Barb Shamet hit the Coos Bay Boardwalk on Wednesday night with a few other protesters who regularly picket at the corner of Anderson Avenue and U.S. Highway 101. Shamet spoke up at Oregon Department of Environmental Quality’s informational meeting Tuesday on Jordan Cove’s air quality permit application. She said federal environmental standards need to be updated to include carbon dioxide emissions. “I call on our local DEQ officials to hold off on these permits until federal standards have been set on carbon emissions,” Shamet said. “We’re standing firm against corporate exploitation of our environ-
mental resources. It’s a very small minority that’s benefiting from LNG.” Oregon needs to look into cleaner energy such as wind and solar, she said. While the anti-liquefied natural gas crowd was slim Tuesday night, protester J.C. Williams said if anything, opposition to Jordan Cove is increasing “as people become aware and learn the truth.” “The problem with people in this community is that many don’t have the time to devote to these subjects,” Williams said. “They’re busy living their lives. But if you talk to them, explain the project and the possibilities, then you’ll find that they don’t want it.”
COQUILLE — Line by line, item by item, county department heads Wednesday explained their spending plans. Commissioners had asked departments to justify their need for every line item budgeted months ago. The Coos County Budget Committee heard from the sheriff’s, maintenance, juvenile and human resources departments. Those departments received tentative approvals from the committee, and amounts were subject to change. The explanations were an effort to curtail spending on a budget that drew from forestry funds last year to offset the difference between its $19.8 million in available funds and $22.9 million in expenditures. Departments also were accussome having to tomed contingency funds to offset emergencies, but the committee members were reluctant to allow them. In addition to funds scattered in various departments, the county has about $2 million in contingency funds. “Collectively, is a disaster going to hit every department every year?” asked Commissioner John Sweet. Another possible issue now was departments using manpower and funds to take care of outside entities, such as state courthouse rooms, which are inside the counSEE BUDGET | A8
New VA clinic in Grants Pass
INSIDE
GRANTS PASS — Medical services for veterans who live in Grants Pass will expand greatly at a new clinic scheduled to open April 1 at 1877 Williams Highway. To avoid confusion over what’s presently available to veterans and where, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs hasn’t publicized the exact location of its new community-based outpatient clinic until now. Previously focused on veterans who live in rural Josephine County,
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the new clinic will expand services to in-town veterans who have had to travel to White City or elsewhere for most of their VA medical care up to now. At about 10,000 square feet, the new Grant Pass clinic will be more than three times larger than the present clinic adjacent to Three Rivers Medical Center and will accommodate up to four medical teams, twice the current number. The new clinic will open with three teams, immediately adding services for more than 600 patients, according to Dr. Randall Nelson, chief of medicine for the
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VA’s Southern Oregon Rehabilitation Center and Clinics in White City. “With the three teams here, we will have a capacity to take care of over 3,000 veterans,” he said. “We’ll probably have around 2,000 … of those be in-town veterans.” Services will range from primary care and immunizations, to women’s health care, dermatology, electrocardiograms, mental health services and blood-draws for laboratory testing. Using video equipment, the new
Nina Sanner, Littlefield, Ariz. James Wells, Coquille Terry Walton, North Bend Marilouise Sackfield Wylene Louvring, Coos Bay
SEE CLINIC | A8
By Howard Huntington, Daily Courier
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is preparing to open a new Grants Pass outpatient clinic April 1.The clinic will provide many more services to veterans who live in Grants Pass but currently have to travel to White City or Roseburg for their VA medical care.
Marita Mendenhall-Good, North Bend Wilma Sturgill, Myrtle Point
Obituaries | A5
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