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SATURDAY, JUNE 14, 2014
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Mexico vacation nightmare
Art with a chainsaw
Myrtle Point family fights to bring home son hospitalized in Cabo San Lucas ■
Traveling from Russia to compete in the Oregon Divisional Chainsaw Sculpting Championships in Reedsport, Akimov Evgeni uses a chisel to work on some details around the eye of his work Friday afternoon.
Photos by Lou Sennick, The World
Josh Blewett, Cannon Beach, stands on the wings of his eagle as he carves the details in the feathers Friday afternoon. The pro carver is competing in the annual Oregon Divisional Chainsaw Sculpting Championships in Reedsport this week. Carving started Thursday and will finish up Sunday afternoon with an auction. See Lou Sennick’s photo gallery for this story at theworldlink.com
Cassidy Richey, 6 from Anderson, Calif., has her photo taken next to a carved Donald Duck Friday afternoon.
Flag Day
BY CHELSEA DAVIS The World
This week has been nerve-wracking for a Myrtle Point family trying to bring their son back from Mexico after an accident that left him unresponsive. Craig Leibelt grew up in Myrtle Point and now lives in Beaverton working for Nike. He was on vacation with his girlfriend, Monica Komperda, in Mexico last week to celebrate his 28th birthday, June 8. While swimming in the ocean Monday, he was stung by a jellyfish and went in to cardiac arrest. A man nearby pulled Leibelt out of the water, and he was rushed to a hospital in Cabo San Lucas. His family flew down to be with him, and said the hospital bill started at around $20,000 and kept growing and growing to more than $50,000. Hospital staff demanded it be paid in full before Leibelt could leave, said his aunt, Denise Larsen. “The hospital got at least $45,000 out of the family,” she said. “He was put in a tiny hospital room and they wouldn’t let (Komperda) in. She was alone until his family arrived.” A U.S. Department of State official could not share specific details of the case without written authorization of the people involved, but told The World these kinds of complaints are common in Mexico. “In recent years, some U.S. citizens have complained that certain health-care facilities in beach resorts have taken advantage of them by overcharging or providing unnecessary medical care,” according to the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs website regarding Mexico. “A signif-
Honoring the American Flag
SEE NIGHTMARE | A8
Ceremonies to retire flags, with honor, highlight activities today BY TIM NOVOTNY The World
NORTH BEND — It’s origin dates back to the late 1800s, but it wasn’t until the mid20th century that the United States government officially made Flag Day a national day of honor. In North Bend, veterans organizations are honoring the flag while also trying to assist military members past and present, and their families. According to the website usflag.org, “Flag Day — the anniversary of the Flag Resolution of 1777 — was officially established by the proclamation of President Woodrow Wilson on May 30, 1916. While Flag Day was celebrated in various communities for years
after Wilson’s proclamation, it was not until Aug. 3, 1949, that President Harry Truman signed an Act of Congress designating June 14 of each year as National Flag Day.” This year in North Bend, Flag Day takes on added significance as Operation Informed Warrior and the VA Roseburg are holding a military family fun day at Ferry Road Park. From 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. they will have resources available for veterans, service members and their families. There will also be free food and fun activities for kids. One event in particular, though, will hold a special place in the hearts of veterans. That is the flag retiring ceremony. According to the American Legion website, legion.org, “a set of rules of civilian flag
courtesy popularly known as the Flag Code was first formulated by the National Flag Conference meeting in Washington, June 14-15, 1923.” It calls for flags that have become worn and faded to be honorably retired, with a ceremonial burn typically the method that is used to complete that task. Beverly Perry, a volunteer at Southwestern Oregon Veterans Outreach in the Pony Village Mall, says people should keep in mind that it needs to be done in a proper manner. “You don’t throw flags in the garbage and you don’t just throw them in a burn pile,” she said. “(The ceremony) is a respectful way to say goodbye to a flag.”
INSIDE
WASHINGTON — The Obama administration has been quietly advising local police not to disclose details about surveillance technology they are using to sweep up basic cellphone data from entire neighborhoods, The Associated Press has learned. Citing security reasons, the U.S. has intervened in routine state public records cases and criminal trials regarding use of the technology. This has resulted in police
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departments withholding materials or heavily censoring documents in rare instances when they disclose any about the purchase and use of such powerful surveillance equipment. Federal involvement in local open records proceedings is unusual. It comes at a time when President Barack Obama has said he welcomes a debate on government surveillance and called for more transparency about spying in the wake of disclosures about classified federal surveillance programs. One well-known type of this surveillance
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DEATHS
The Associated Press
BY THOMAS MORIARTY The World
equipment is known as a Stingray, an innovative way for law enforcement to track cellphones used by suspects and gather evidence. The equipment tricks cellphones into identifying some of their owners’ account information, like a unique subscriber number, and transmitting data to police as if it were a phone company’s tower. That allows police to obtain cellphone information without having to ask for help from service providers, such as Verizon or AT&T, and can
BANDON — Authorities say a wave of rumors surrounding federal agents in Bandon this week was sparked by a multiagency investigation into alleged Social Security fraud. Police say the U.S. Marshals Service served three search warrants Tuesday at properties connected to Bandon resident Dan Stadelman. The properties included Stadelman’s home; Bandon Supply, which Stadelman's brother owns; and a property on state Highway 42S. Supervisory Deputy Eric Wahlstrom said the marshals were involved at the request of the Social Security Administration’s Office of the Inspector General. Deputy marshals in Oregon are based out offices in Portland, Eugene and Medford. They act as the law enforcement arm of the federal court system and are involved in a broad range of criminal investigative work. Wahlstrom said while other federal law
SEE MUM | A8
SEE BANDON | A8
US pushing cops to stay mum on surveillance BY JACK GILLUM AND EILEEN SULLIVAN
Feds descend on Bandon in Soc. Security fraud case
Ellaphare Larkins, North Bend Ellen Cole, Coos Bay Wayne Hammar, North Bend LovVonne Nelson, Winston Cmdr. Johnnie Hari, North Bend
Meda Moore, Grants Pass Roger Berry, Coos Bay Michael Plapp, North Bend Mark Miller, Coos Bay Gary Britt, Coos Bay
Florence Allender, Coos Bay Allan Miller, Myrtle Point
Obituaries | A5