MIDTERMS
RALLY TO WIN
How will this election test play out? A6
49ers score 24 points in second half, B1
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2014
Serving Oregon’s South Coast Since 1878
theworldlink.com
■
$1
NB to Coos Bay, North Bend see spike in fraud ’Tis the season to be careful discuss pot tax issue BY DEVAN PATEL The World
With the holiday season rapidly approaching, a recent string of fraudulent activity may leave community members feeling a little lighter in the wallet than expected. In the past two weeks, there have been more than 50 forms of fraud reported to the Coos Bay Police Department, the North Bend Police Department and the Coos County Sheriff’s Office. The reported forms of fraud include phone scams, stolen financial information, forgeries, counterfeit currencies, identity thefts and mail thefts. Stolen financial information was
BY KURTIS HAIR The World
NORTH BEND — The North Bend City Council will discuss establishing a tax on the sale of marijuana and marijuana-related products at Tuesday’s meeting. On Nov. 4 Oregon voters will get the chance to weigh in on Measure 91, which, if approved, would legalize recreational marijuana use in the state. Before it comes time for voters to decide, some local governments want to establish a sales tax if the measure is approved. For North Bend, the ordinance presented for council discussion would put a gross receipts tax on the sale of marijuana, medical marijuana and marijuana related products. The tax would be levied on the seller’s total gross taxable revenues of his or her business, according to the agenda. The council stated in the agenda that though it does not condone the use of marijuana, it “believes there will be social impacts if Measure 91 passes, which will directly impact the community.” In other council business, the council will take a tour around the nearly finished Grant Circle Project. Construction on the project began last May, and city Administrator Terence O’Connor said he expected the project to be finished this week. The council will meet at 835 California St. at 7:30 p.m. For more information about the city council meeting, visit northbendcity.org.
the most reported fraudulent activity between the law enforcement agencies, with phone scams being the second most prevalent. “We have seen a rise in the last couple of weeks, but for this type of activity, it goes in waves,” Coos Bay police Capt. Chris Chapanar said. With financial fraud, many of the crimes are often avoidable or can be limited by putting a greater emphasis on monitoring account activity. “It surprises me how many people give out their account information,” Wells Fargo bank manager Debbie Williams said. “It’s
almost like you’re opening up your wallet, because the bank is obligated to complete the transactions.” Community members can also take a more proactive approach by monitoring all of their financial activities. “I’d advise checking your account activities on a frequent basis,” Chapanar said. “The quicker you notice the fraudulent activity, the quicker you can expect a resolution.” Both Chapanar and Williams’ comments echo the findings of 2014 AARP Fraud Watch Network survey, which found that many
Americans don’t utilize the available resources to protect themselves from fraud. Of the most underutilized resources in the survey, which included 2,250 participants, 59 percent of Americans don’t use a locking mailbox, 52 percent of Americans do not check their credit report annually and 42 percent of Americans don’t set up online access for bank and credit accounts. While most people may avoid reporting small inaccuracies, Chapanar said all reports are important, especially for tracking patterns of fraudulent activity. SEE FRAUD | A8
Wrongful death lawsuit filed against county
Photos by Lou Sennick, The World
Attorney Benjamin Haile, center, leads a press conference in front of the Coos County Jail on Monday morning to announce a federal lawsuit against the facility in the death last fall of Donnie Brown. He is joined by family and friends in the announcement including Brown’s mother Linda Paris just to the left.
Two suits filed claiming jail medical negligence
Obama reviews response to Ebola
BY CHELSEA DAVIS
could have prevented the ulcers from becoming life threatening until less than a day before his COQUILLE — The family of death,” according to the lawsuit. “As symptoms of seriDonnie Ray Brown has ous illness became filed a lawsuit against more and more obviand County Coos ous, Mr. Brown Conmed, alleging jail repeatedly asked to staff’s ignorance of see a doctor or go to Brown’s medical probthe hospital. Other lems led to his death last inmates tried to get fall. More online: medical help for him. Brown was 43 when Watch the video Their efforts failed. he died at Coquille and see the photo Mr. Brown died one Valley Hospital on Nov. gallery at day before he would 21 from an untreated theworldlink.com. have completed his ulcer, the lawsuit (30-day) sentence.” claims. The Coos Bay His mother, Linda man was serving a 30Paris, spoke for the day sentence in Coos first time at a news County Jail for fourth conference outside degree assault and harassment and possession of a the jail Monday morning alongside Brown’s family and her controlled substance. Portland Law “Routine medical procedures attorney, The World
BY JIM KUHNHENN The Associated Press WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama urged his top national security and public health officials on Monday to incorporate lessons from the most recent Texas Ebola infection into the U.S.’s response plans to the deadly virus. He also called on the international community to deliver assistance more quickly to the countries of West Africa that are struggling against the disease. Obama huddled with senior advisers in the Oval Office and placed calls to United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
Linda Paris stops briefly to regain her composure as she talks briefly about the wrongful death lawsuit brought in federal court over the death of her son, Donnie Brown, last fall.
“Why? Why didn’t anybody take care of my brother?” Melissa Brown-Corcoran Donnie Brown’s sister
Online Read complaints for both lawsuits at theworldlink.com.
Collective’s Benjamin Haile. “Why did they drop him off at the hospital and no phone calls or anything until he was almost gone?” she said. The lawsuit was filed Monday in U.S. District Court in Eugene, alleging wrongful death, deliberate indifference to medical need, professional negligence and negligence by Coos County, Conmed Healthcare Management Inc. (a corporation that provides health care to prisoners), two Conmed emergency medical technicians, nurse Marjory Hausler, nurse practitioner Judith Stensland and SEE LAWSUIT | A8
Sports . . . . . . . . . . . B1 Comics . . . . . . . . . . C4 Puzzles . . . . . . . . . . C4 Classifieds . . . . . . . C5
Dr. Earl Meyers, Coos Bay Louise Richmond, Albany Warner Burton, Coos Bay Patricia Muller, North Bend
Larmie Robison, Coquille Sandra Grey-Ebright, Bandon
Obituaries | A5
Need to sell something?
FORECAST
Police reports . . . . A2 What’s Up. . . . . . . . A3 South Coast. . . . . . A3 Opinion. . . . . . . . . . A4
DEATHS
INSIDE
SEE EBOLA | A8
Rain 59/53 Weather | A8
WE CAN DELIVER YOUR MESSAGE OVER 100,000 TIMES!
Call Kirk Today! 541-267-6278