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MONDAY, JUNE 16, 2014
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SCCF scrutiny stalls County, CEP work group discussions pushed back BY CHELSEA DAVIS The World
COOS BAY — The Waterfront Development Partnership work group met Thursday, the first new action any part of the Community Enhancement Plan has seen in nearly a month.
The proposed Community Enhancement Plan would funnel community service fees paid by Jordan Cove Energy Project — in lieu of property taxes — into several coffers. Before the CEP can launch, the four Bay Area Enterprise Zone sponsors — Oregon International Port of Coos
Bay, Coos County, and the cities of Coos Bay and North Bend — have to sign on. Half of the fee payments would go to the South Coast Community Foundation, a proposed nonprofit dedicated to funding education infrastructure and technology in school districts in Coos, western
Douglas and northern Curry counties. A quarter of the payments would go to an economic development agency, previously referred to as the Bayfront Investment Corporation. On Thursday, that organization’s work group changed its name to Waterfront
Development Partnership. The last quarter of payments would go to seven North Spit taxing districts. This spring, backers of the plan pushed for SCCF to solidify its board as fast as possible in order to SEE SCCF | A8
SWAT standoff ends in Brookings
Reedsport seniors celebrate
Suspect suffered self-inflicted wounds in 12-hour ordeal ■
BY THOMAS MORIARTY The World
By Lou Sennick, The World
See the photo gallery at theworldlink.com/gallery
Arnulfo Diaz raises his diploma in the air Sunday afternoon as he joins the Class of 2014 at Reedsport Community Charter School graduation. About 35 students graduated and received their diplomas during ceremonies in the school’s gym.
Tree-vandalizing trend spreads to Oregon BY ZACH URNESS The Statesman Journal
“California took
Damage to old-growth redwoods from “burl poaching,” a serious problem in California, is starting to hurt groves of the world’s tallest-growing trees in southwest Oregon. Redwood burls are prized for their beautiful swirling pattern and can be sold for thousands of dollars for use creating ornamental furniture, veneer and souvenirs. But poaching them involves cutting off knotty growths that are key to the tree’s ability to reproduce and protect itself from disease. According to the environmental group Oregon Wild, the practice has moved north from California’s Redwood National and State Park system and is now affecting one of the last remaining old-growth redwood groves on Oregon soil, southeast of Brookings in the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest. Many Southern Oregon counties already are cash-strapped and have limited law-enforcement resources. Wendell Wood, a biologist for Oregon Wild, said he found a vandalized tree near the well-known Oregon Redwoods Trail on a rarely-used spur off Peavine Ridge Road. “By no means did I spend a lot of
action against redwood burl poaching, but now the problem is spreading to Oregon.” Steve Pedery Conservation Director for Oregon Wild
The Associated Press
This 2013 photo provided by the National Park Service shows wildlife biologist Terry Hines standing next to a massive scar where a burl has been cut by poachers from an old growth redwood tree in the Redwood National and State Parks near Klamath, Calif. Poaching has spread to national forests in Northern California and Oregon, prompting the conservation group Oregon Wild to call on the U.S. Forest Service to close old logging roads to protect the trees. The Forest Service says it is investigating. time looking — it was pretty easy to find — and that makes you worry that more trees have been damaged,” Wood said. “The Forest Service needs to take action before it becomes worse than it is right now.” Oregon Wild sent a letter to the Rogue-Siskiyou National Forest on
June 5 informing them of the damage. Officials at Gold Beach Ranger District said they would investigate. “California took action against redwood burl poaching, but now the problem is spreading to Oregon,” said Steve Pedery, Conservation Director for Oregon
Wild. “Vandalizing these rare trees is not only a despicable act, it is a theft of Oregon’s natural heritage.” The Oregon Redwoods Trail is one of two trails in Oregon showcasing old-growth redwoods — most are found in Northern California. The other is the Redwoods Nature Loop, located on the Chetco River east of Brookings. Pedery also found a vandalized tree in the Six Rivers National Forest, in the Smith River National Recreation Area, just south of the Oregon and California border. “The National Park Service took decisive action to protect their redwoods,” Pedery said. “The Forest Service needs to step up and take action now before redwood burl poaching becomes an epidemic in Oregon.”
BROOKINGS — A 12-hour police standoff in Brookings ended early Sunday morning when SWAT personnel stormed the building and found the suspect suffering from self-inflicted injuries. Lorenzo Ignacio King, 42, was flown to Bay Area Hospital by a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter for treatment after being taken into custody by Oregon State Police SWAT members. Police say he had suffered severe blood loss. King had barricaded himself at the home on Heather Lane Saturday evening when Brookings police, Curry County sheriff's deputies and state troopers attempted to serve a search warrant in a sexual assault case. King allegedly threatened to kill anyone who entered the room, prompting officers to back out of the residence and set up a perimeter. When attempts to negotiate with King proved unsuccessful, police closed U.S. Highway 101 and evacuated neighbors while waiting for SWAT. Curry County law enforcement agencies have no tactical team of their own. State police SWAT members are typically troopers from the patrol division and are based at OSP area commands throughout the state. Some troopers from the Coos Bay office were dispatched to Brookings as part of the callout. Troopers deployed a robot in an attempt to reach King inside the home, but he still refused to obey their commands. After deploying tear gas inside the building, SWAT members forced their way into the room shortly after 4 a.m. when they heard King gasping. Police say he was shot with Tasers several times before he could be detained.
Library begins planning for next chapter in its history
The World
INSIDE
COOS BAY — The current location of the Coos Bay Public Library, at 525 Anderson Ave., is still open for business. However, a quick look around shows the obvious reasons why the library’s leadership is
Police reports . . . . A2 What’s Up. . . . . . . . A3 South Coast. . . . . . A3 Opinion. . . . . . . . . . A4
Sami Pierson, library director
starting to plan for a future move. Books are not the only things getting cracked inside the building these days. Sections of wall, some wooden support beams, and areas of the floor serve as an ever-present reminder that a change will be needed at some point. While there is currently no funding for a new building to be
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built or purchased, Library Director Sami Pierson says they want to be as ready as possible when that time comes. “The thing is if we don’t start now, I mean the building is safe, but we can’t wait another 10 years to start the process,” she said. So they are getting started this coming week, with two public
forums Wednesday at 3 p.m. and 6 p.m., in the Myrtlewood Room at the library. “We want to start getting the initial things done like, for instance, if the money becomes available, this would answer the question of where it should be located,” Pierson says. “Then the next step, obviously, if they want it
National champions The University of Oregon men’s team won its first NCAA outdoor track and field championship since 1984. Page B2
FORECAST
BY TIM NOVOTNY
“... We can’t wait another 10 years to start the process.”
SPORTS
The first step in getting ready for a new building requires input ■
in place X, is what around place X is available? What’s affordable? We will have those criteria then to look at and decide.” Library users, and non-users, are encouraged to attend the public discussions. The board of trustees is asking the citizens of Coos Bay to tell them what they would like to be considered when determining a new location. Pierson stressed that they are looking for the “where” in the most
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