SETTING RECORDS
HOUSE: OBAMA OUT OF BOUNDS
New mark comes in loss for Mariners’ ace, B4
GOP split on effort to sue president, A7
THURSDAY, JULY 31, 2014
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What is plan B if Jordan Cove CEP fails? BY CHELSEA DAVIS The World
Editor’s note: Wednesday, we looked at how the North Bay Urban Renewal District would impact Jordan Cove’s property tax dollars, and what would happen if the county disbanded the URD. COOS BAY — If Jordan Cove decides to back out of the Community Enhancement Plan
several years down the line, city, county and port officials will need to come up with Plan B. The proposed Jordan Cove Energy Project would be built in the Bay Area Enterprise Zone (waterfront commercial and industrial areas in North Bend, Coos Bay, Charleston and along the rail to Hauser). This rural enterprise zone is an economic development tool used to attract business to economically depressed areas, giving
companies property tax breaks for various periods of time. But Jordan Cove officials say the possibility of having more money in their pockets that would have otherwise gone toward property taxes was a non-factor in their choice to locate on the North Spit. It was the deep-water port that caught their eye. Before the Community Enhancement Plan can go into effect, the enterprise zone spon-
sors (Oregon International Port of Coos Bay, Coos County and the cities of Coos Bay and North Bend) each have to green light Jordan Cove’s long-term rural enterprise zone property tax exemption application. They would do so on one condition: In exchange for granting Jordan Cove a property tax break for 19 years, the company would instead have to pay an annual community service fee. The fee has been touted as a tool
to boost economic development, school infrastructure improvements and the North Spit taxing districts. The enterprise zone was created in 1986 by the four sponsor entities. Margaret Barber, Coos Curry Douglas Business Development Corporation’s community development director for Coos and Curry counties, said the zone will SEE PLAN | A8
Rooster tails fly at DuneFest
By Alysha Beck, The World
A rider races around the motocross track Wednesday at DuneFest, which features competitions and entertainment all weekend in Winchester Bay.
County public health appointee Boys & Girls Club doubles down to brings global experience The World
NORTH BEND — Florence Pourtal-Stevens landed at the helm of Coos County Public Health after years of working in health care and social services around the globe. Pourtal-Stevens grew up in Pau, the capital of the PyrénéesAtlantiques Département in France. Her father is a geologist, so for seven years of her childhood,
Florence Pourtal-Stevens
help kids’ futures
she lived in Gabon and Morocco. “The various experience I’ve had in various cultures and various contexts and settings, the fact that I lived for more than two-thirds of my life in a culture that is not my own has helped me develop pretty good adaptation skills,” she said. “It gave me a passion for traveling, discovering our planet and working at improving the lives, health and well-being of people.”
Local club joins national organization’s effort to engage kids during downtime ■
BY TIM NOVOTNY The World
COOS BAY — It is not a stretch to say that all children need help and resources in order to achieve greatness. That is why a nationwide organization, with a local presence, is redoubling its effort to make sure everyone knows that they are there to lend a hand. On Thursday, the Boys & Girls Club of Southwestern Oregon announced the launch of the Great Futures Campaign to mobilize the community in support of kids and to empower today’s youth to achieve great futures. It’s part of the national effort to stress the “critical” role that out-of-school time can play in a
SEE APPOINTEE | A8
Congress races to finish veterans, highway bills ahead of recess
INSIDE
WASHINGTON — Rushing toward the exits, Congress on Thursday scrambled to wrap up legislation addressing the problem-plagued Veterans Affairs Department and a looming shortfall in highway money. House
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Republicans sought to win over reluctant, tea party conservatives on a border security bill. On the final day before a fiveweek summer break, Congress was leaving a long list of unfinished business after 18 months of bitter partisanship. Democrats cast Republicans as the obstacle; Republicans said President Barack
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Obama has been missing in action. “We’ve not had a productive Congress,” said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev. Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said Obama has chosen to raise money in Hollywood rather than work with Congress. SEE CONGRESS | A8
Kerwin McLean, Medford Sadie Meyer, Salem Shirley Tacheron, Vancouver, Wash.
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The Associated Press
DEATHS
BY DONNA CASSATA
Firefighter killed Member of wildfire crew near Grants Pass falls to death while on break. Page A5
Obituaries | A5
FORECAST
BY CHELSEA DAVIS
child’s development. Cynthia Ball, board president of the Boys & Girls Club of Southwestern Oregon, says Great Futures is trying to ensure that every child and teen has a safe place to go after school to build knowledge, skills and behaviors that place them on the path to success. So, they want to make sure they are part of the discussion as kids head back to school in a few weeks. “We’re taking a leadership role with the Great Futures Campaign to elevate the impact of out-ofschool time, a critical, yet often overlooked, part of their day,” Ball says. “When school is out, no child should go unsafe or unguided. Through the campaign, we are advocating on behalf of kids and convening public, private and nonprofit partners around our goal of ensuring all kids have access to a safe, engaging and productive SEE CLUB | A8
Partly sunny 66/54 Weather | A8
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