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DROPPING IN
HALF AND HALF
Marine Osprey visits Japanese ship, A7
North Coos splits doubleheader, B1
SATURDAY, JUNE 15, 2013
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Cornerstone of revival Museum boosters hope project will energize South Coast development BY EMILY THORNTON The World
COOS BAY — It’s been a long process, but the Coos County Historical Society announced Friday it will break ground on its new museum this month. Project leaders hope the project will be an economic sparkplug for the area. Here’s what some of them say: ■ “It will be a tremendous front door for visitors to our community,” said Steve Greif, president of the historical society. “We envision it as being a jumping off point for all South Coast adventures.” ■ “I personally believe it will anchor the developing shops on Front Street,” said Bill Lansing, who chaired the project’s capital campaign committee. “Now people just pass by on their way to Florence.” “People who drive through
will be able to see it,” said lawyer John Whitty, a longtime museum supporter and legal adviser. “They’ll be able to get some information and see what there is to do. It’s a side effect of having a museum.” ■ “I think it’ll be a tremendous asset to the economy,” said Sandra Geiser-Messerle, executive director of the South Coast Development Council. “The location is a tremendous asset.” ■ “I think it will be a great cultural and economic boon to the area,” said City Councilor Jennifer Groth, a former historical society board member . All those glowing words come at the end of a long and difficult journey. Planning began 13 years ago, when historical society members decided the current location — beside U.S. Highway 101, just south of the McCullough Bridge — wouldn’t
meet evolving needs. “Traffic has sped up and it’s not visible from the road,” said Anne Donnelly, the historical society’s executive director. “We’re more and more isolated. “In the ’50s, museums were temples of objects. Now, they’re about discovery and interaction. This building has served us well for a long time, but we can’t serve the community very well,” she said. A $1 million donation launched the fundraising effort more than a decade ago, Greif said. “That got us looking for a proposal to build a museum,” he said. “We’ve been working on developing plans and raising funds ever since.” Fundraising and a legal roadblock delayed the project, Donnelly said. The city of Coos
By Lou Sennick, The World
At the project site Friday, Steve Greif and Jennifer Groth change the sign to “Driving Piling,” signifying the impending start of construction.
About the project Size: 13,000 square feet Phase A contract: $3.7 million for initial base construction. Contractor is Scott Partney Construction, North Bend. Total cost: At least $10 million (includes donated site, donated materials and services) G rou nd b re ak in g c e re mon y : August 2013 Grand opening: Fall 2014
Money sources ■ Coquille Tribe has pledged $1 million. ■ Private donors have given more than $3.5 million. ■ Local government entities and businesses. ■ Additional support comes from the Oregon Community Foundation, The Collins Foundation, The Ford Family Foundation, Meyer Memorial Trust, the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust, The James and Marion Miller Foundation, and The Paul Allen Foundation. Source: Coos County Historical Society
SEE MARITIME | A10
Cosmetic surgery
Car chase leads man to prison BY GEORGE ARTSITAS The World
By Alysha Beck, The World
Josh Blewett carves away at his wood sculpture during the quick carve competition in Reedsport Fon riday at the 14th annual Oregon Divisional Chainsaw Sculpting Championships. The event continues at 7:30 a.m. today, continuing through a 5:30 p.m. auction. It starts again at 7:30 a.m. Sunday and winds up with an awards ceremony at 3 p.m. See more photos at www.theworldlink.com.
Madison’s principal ends 26-year run The World
INSIDE
Police reports . . . . A2 What’s Up . . . . . . . Go! South Coast. . . . . . A3 Opinion. . . . . . . . . . A4
Comics . . . . . . . . . . C5 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . B1 Classifieds . . . . . . . C6 Puzzles . . . . . . . . . . C5
DEATHS
Contributed photo
Veteran Principal Arlene Roblan, left, joins her students in a final year-end hallway dash.
COOS BAY — With her last days at the helm winding down this past week, Madison Elementary Principal Arlene Roblan handed out some parting gifts to her teachers. It was an artistic creation that included a heartfelt message, reading in part: “In our garden we plant the seeds, nurture the beginnings, rejoice in the growth, savor the variety of textures and flavors, celebrate the harvest ... we are educators ... this is the highest of callings.” Roblan symbolically ended
her 26 years as an educator Thursday with a sprint down the halls of Madison Elementary School — a tradition she held for kids each year on the last day of school. Youthful exuberance for education is something Roblan had from an early age. “I was really fascinated by child development,” Roblan said, “fascinated by the way they learned.” That fascination never left, but now she is ready to take some time watching and helping her grandchildren learn. Starting in 1987 as a kindergarten teacher, Roblan worked most of her years in elementary
Donna Rucas, Coos Bay Doretta Littrell-Lawrence, Coos Bay Steven Wayne. Phoenix Margie Maine, North Bend William Deel, Myrtle Point Avis Golub, Coos Bay
education. She moved up briefly as an assistant principal at Sunset Middle School before returning to elementary education as principal at Charleston for two years and Madison for the last 11 years. One of the things she has stressed throughout her career is a process called developmentally appropriate practices. “You meet the child where they are in their stage of development, intellectual ability and skill level,” Roblan said as she sat in her office Fr i d ay a f te r n o o n . “ Yo u encourage and grow those
James Haseltine, Bandon Kathleen Sexton, North Bend Lloyd Smith, Coos Bay Christina Covely, Coos Bay
Obituaries | A5
SEE CHASE | A10
Eagle Point schools may arm teachers EAGLE POINT (AP) — A school district in southern Oregon is considering arming teachers and other staff members to protect students from school violence. “The first three minutes of an armed attack require an armed response,” said Scott Grissom, president of the five-member school board in Eagle Point, a town of about 8,500 north of Medford. Under Grissom’s plan, employees approved by the board would be trained in firearm safety, the
SEE PRINCIPAL | A10
FORECAST
BY TIM NOVOTNY
COQUILLE — A career criminal failed in his attempt to avoid a lengthy prison sentence Thursday. Thomas David Pusztai, 41, was sentenced to two and a half years in prison after being convicted of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, attempting to elude police (both in and out of a vehicle), third-degree escape, failure to Thomas perform the Pusztai duties of a driver Sentenced and seconddegree criminal mischief. Pusztai stole a Jeep in April and led police on a car chase in Myrtle Point before crashing the vehicle. It wasn’t Pusztai’s first time at a sentencing hearing. Deputy District Attorney Stephen Petty said Pusztai had previous one-year prison terms in 1993 for burglary and another in
SEE FIREARMS | A10
Partly cloudy 64/50 Weather | A10
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