IN THE PLAYOFFS
TAKE A BOW
Portland beats Pelicans to clinch spot, B1
Mickey Rooney dies at age 93, A5
MONDAY, APRIL 7, 2014
Serving Oregon’s South Coast Since 1878
theworldlink.com
■
$1
Lighthouse School starts talks to move
Mr. Bulldog raises $40,000
Airport district enters negotiations with K-8 charter school, NB school district ■
BY CHELSEA DAVIS The World
“I’ve always had a passion for it,” Renae said. “I don’t see the ranch ever being outside the family, even after I’m gone,” said Crystal Harper, the Koester’s grown daughter, who has four children. The 96-acre Lone Cedar Ranch is home to 22 mother Angus cows, two bulls, five doeling goats and several pigs. All the livestock have free range on the property. The Koesters, who have had jobs off the ranch in the past, originally had the livestock for their own family’s use, but recently have increased the number of animals in order to sell beef, goat and pork. The goal is to build the cow herd up to 40 and to add a few more pigs. Cows and pigs have been part of the ranch since Charles Henderer registered a deed on 321 acres more than 150
NORTH BEND — Lighthouse School is taking its first steps toward moving out. The Coos County Airport District board authorized executive director Theresa Cook last Thursday to begin negotiations with the North Bend School District and K-8 charter school Lighthouse’s proposed relocation to the former ACS/Xerox call center. Following a grade reconfiguration decision March 17 — which will move all fifth-graders to the two elementary schools and leave the middle school with grades 6-8 this fall — Lighthouse is in limbo. If Lighthouse can make the move, 450 students On the agenda would occupy each of the 5 p.m. Monday: North Bend three remaining schools, School Board meeting in school taking pressure off the middistrict offices to discuss updates dle school and Hillcrest. But to Lighthouse School relocation. if this falls through, 7:30 a.m. April 17: Coos County Lighthouse would either Airport District board meeting to have to stay in the North Bay try to finalize negotiations and building or move to the midmake a decision regarding prodle school, crowding both. posed Lighthouse relocation to The school district faces former ACS/Xerox call center. another problem if this doesn’t work: it needs to order modular classrooms immediately to get them in time for the first day of school this fall. Every “if” led to North Bend School Board member Julianna Seldon’s vote against reconfiguration last month. “I don’t see this working if Lighthouse is not able to obtain the new space,” she said. “The K-5 model is contingent on that space being viable for Lighthouse.” Timing is every school official’s biggest concern. “We have to be open for school in late August, which gives us a very small window to have all this done,” said Lighthouse board treasurer Mike Seldon. “Unfortunately, speed is of the essence. It makes us anxious, too, because you don’t have as much time to think things through. We’re not expecting it to be perfect when it opens, but it has to be functional.” The 18,000-square-foot call center is bigger than Lighthouse’s current space, though Lighthouse budget committee member John Gibson said it’s not just about the building’s size. “Kids can roam, be out in the woods and use different educational places for them to learn,” he said. Lighthouse has proposed a $10,000 per month lease, though those terms will be worked out during negotiations. North Bend School Board chair Megan Jacquot said under Lighthouse’s charter, the school will receive “plenty of money to cover the lease.”
SEE RANCH | A8
SEE LIGHTHOUSE | A8
By Alysha Beck, The World
Tylan Corder, left, and Hunter Fletcher perform as the Fletchendales during the talent portion of the 2014 Mr. Bulldog competition Saturday night at North Bend High School.The pageant raised over $40,000 that will go to the neonatal intensive care unit at Sacred Heart at RiverBend Hospital in Springfield.
Family keeping a promise Owners of Elkton ranch are fifth generation farmers BY CRAIG REED The News-Review
“I want the family to
ELKTON (AP) — There was only one cedar tree on the property alongside the Umpqua River, so Vern Clemo called it the Lone Cedar Ranch. The tree finally died of old age and is now gone, but the ranch that has been in the same family for more than 150 years and has survived several ownership changes continues today as a working operation under the management of owners Matt and Renae Koester. The Koesters are the fifth generation to work the ranch that’s a few miles downriver from Elkton. “We’re the caretakers until the next generation takes over,” said Renae Koester last week. “All four of our children have an interest in the place. They’re going to see 200 years on this place.” “We made a promise to Vern to keep
come back and feel like they’re back home. This has always been home for the family.” Elkton rancher
it in the family bloodline,” Matt Koester said. Renae Koester, 54, was raised on the ranch. She and Matt Koester, 55, were Elkton High graduates and married in 1979. After Matt finished a four-year stint in the U.S. Navy, the couple have made the ranch their permanent home since 1982.
How to beat chronic inflammation Battle inside our bodies has food, environment to blame BY EMILY THORNTON
WASHINGTON (AP) — The latest Associated Press-GfK poll holds bad news for President Barack Obama, but as the November elections draw closer, there are ominous signs for congressional Democrats as well. A look at the key findings from the March poll on this year’s election and the burgeoning 2016 presidential field.
The World
GOP gaining ground
Police reports . . . . A2 What’s Up. . . . . . . . A3 South Coast. . . . . . A3 Opinion. . . . . . . . . . A4
Comics . . . . . . . . . . A6 Puzzles . . . . . . . . . . A6 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . B1 Classifieds . . . . . . . B5
Good sign Hughey Agee, Coos Bay
Obituaries | A5
WORLD
INSIDE
SEE POLL | A8
By Alysha Beck, The World
Pain specialist Sarah Hicks, left, registered nurse Linda Hicks, right, and dietitian Stephanie Polizzi, not pictured, will teach a free class on chronic pain and inflammation April 22 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Bay Area Hospital Community Health and Education Center in North Bend. The class will look at the diseases that stem from inflammation and discuss nonpharmaceutical approaches for dealing with pain and inflammation such as infrared light therapy.
DEATHS
Preferences for control of Congress are tight, but Republicans have gained on Democrats since January. Thirtysix percent in last month’s poll said
Chronic inflammation has become a common problem in society today. And Coos County is no different, say three health care workers. They are going to educate residents on how they can change their attitudes and lifestyles to minimize, or even do away with, chronic inflammation. The condition includes a laundry list of diseases, such as allergies, fibromyalgia and hyperthyroidism. “Our culture needs to have
An Australian ship has detected two “pings” which could be the black box of the missing Malaysia Airlines jet. Page A7
Need to sell something?
FORECAST
New poll suggests GOP edge
Renae Koester
Free class “The Fire Within” takes place April 22, 6-8 p.m., at the Community Health and Education Center, 3950 Sherman Ave., North Bend. It is free of charge. To register, call 541-269-8076.
a paradigm shift,” said Linda Hicks, a nurse who is coteaching, along with her daughter, Sarah Hicks and Stephanie Polizzi, a new, free class called, “The Fire Within.” One of the main reasons for SEE THERAPY | A8
Mostly sunny 63/42 Weather | A8
WE CAN DELIVER YOUR MESSAGE OVER 100,000 TIMES!
Call Valerie Today! 541-267-6278