SECOND HALF RALLY
SHOVELING OUT
Steelers overcome 11-point deficit, B1
N.Y. hammered by lake-effect snow, A9
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2014
Serving Oregon’s South Coast Since 1878
theworldlink.com
■
$1
Obama firm, but vague on immigration BY ALICIA A. CALDWELL The Associated Press
By Amanda Loman, The World
Bernie Swenson, a member of Holy Redeemer Catholic Church in North Bend, sits at one of the sewing machines the church's crafts group has used to sew Hats for Heroes over the past seven years, making over 4,000 hats to be sent overseas to a military hospital in Germany for injured U.S. soldiers.
Sewing the seeds of love BY TIM NOVOTNY The World
NORTH BEND — They meet each week in a parish hall, but they are not bound by religious designation. Those who gather at the Holy Redeemer Catholic Church every Thursday morning, most of them women, share one common thread — a desire to help others. Bernie Swenson has been a constant presence at the helm of the group’s efforts since the beginning, noting that it started with a fairly modest goal. “Jim Wiley was stationed in Germany and, as wounded people were coming in to the hospital, they didn’t have anything except what they wore in combat,” Swenson recalled this week. “He asked (his mom) Ruth, ‘Do you suppose your ladies at the church could make us some hats?’” The original goal, she said, was just to do 500 hats. It soon became another 500, and then another 500. She estimates that they have since topped 4,000. The group continues to meet, year round at 10 a.m., every Thursday, with
Weekly sewing circle, gathering since 2007, has added a new cause to its Christmas list the doors open to anyone who would like to come chat and create. Last week, there were 10 women, including two local young women from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints, women from Holy Name Catholic Church in Coquille, St. Monica Catholic Church in Coos Bay, and Holy Redeemer, along with some who do not belong to any church. All enjoy the opportunity to gather and work on things like hats, slippers, scarves and Christmas ornaments. Over the years, the group has joined whatever cause needed help at the time. “In the hospital in Landstuhl, Germany, they have a closet called the
chaplains’ closet, and the closet is kept full of articles of clothes the soldiers can come and use at no charge,” Swenson said. “It’s supported by different people throughout the United States.” They have also made tiny little hats for babies at Doernbecher Children’s Hospital in Portland, and stockings for troops in Afghanistan as part of Operation Santa. The latter program was not undertaken this year, but someone forgot to tell Swenson’s mighty knitters, who suddenly found themselves with 461 holiday stockings with nowhere to go. Newspaper stories don’t often get to have an immediate impact that is so positive, but one such story appeared on the front page of The World newspaper in October. As Swenson was wondering what she was going to do with all of those stockings, she came across the story about a new effort from the North Bend Police Department to brighten some young lives for the holidays. Police Chief Robert Kappelman had
WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama says he plans to help immigrants living illegally in the United States “get legal” without any action from Congress. And he promises to curb a system that he describes as deporting immigrants improperly. But the White House is vague about the changes the president is expected to announce soon. What can Obama actually do without the cooperation of Capitol Hill? Under current law, the president can direct immigration authorities to temporarily shield particular immigrants from deportation and give them permission to work in the country legally. But the president cannot give immigrants living in the country illegally green cards, visas or just about any other path to a permanent legal immigration status. Only Congress has that authority, and so far lawmakers have shown little interest in remodeling the country’s complex legal immigration system. Still, Obama’s hands are not tied. Two years ago, he launched the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, program that lets young immigrants who came to the U.S. as children stay in the country without fear of deportation for two years. So far, more than 610,000 have benefited from that program. The president can also allow some people living in the country illegally to “parole in place,” during which time they can apply to live in the country legally. Once they receive permission to stay, they can later apply to change their immigration status and possibly win a green card. An immigrant who holds a green card is a legal permanent resident and can eventually apply to become a U.S. citizen. In the past, the “parole in place” designation has been limited to helping very small numbers of immigrants stay in the United States, including spouses, parents and children of U.S. military personnel. A U.S. official who has been briefed on parts of the president’s executive action plan said the administration estimates that as many as 7 million immigrants currently living in the country illegally could benefit. That group includes parents of U.S. citizens and those young immigrants already protected from deportation. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the official was not authorized to discuss the plan before the president’s announcement. Obama’s descriptions of what he plans came in a news conference and separate television interview in September as the White House announced that he would not roll out any executive immigration actions until after the midterm elections. The White House has declined to say what Obama meant by “be legal” or “get legal.” The president earlier this month, on CBS’ Face the Nation, said that he intended to “do what I can do
SEE SEWING | A10 SEE OBAMA | A10
House GOP delays votes Man who died from Ebola on committee chairmen endured treatment delays
Police reports . . . . A2 What’s Up. . . . . . . . A3 South Coast. . . . . . A3 Opinion. . . . . . . . . . A4
Comics . . . . . . . . . . A8 Puzzles . . . . . . . . . . A8 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . B1 Classifieds . . . . . . . C3
BY JOSH FUNK AND NELSON LAMPE The Associated Press
OMAHA, Neb.— A surgeon who contracted Ebola in his native Sierra Leone did not receive aggressive treatment until nearly two weeks after he first started showing symptoms — a delay that doctors said probably made it impossible for anyone to save his life. Dr. Martin Salia was in the 13th day of his illness when he reached Omaha on Saturday. It took three days for him to be formally diagnosed after an initial test for Ebola came back negative and then another five days to be flown to the United States. By the time the 44-year-old Maryland man got to the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, the deadly virus had done too much damage, shutting down Salia’s kidneys and making breathing difficult, doctors said. He died Monday. “In the very advanced stages, even the
Sea star virus Alan Henrickson, Coos Bay Nan Lecci, Coquille Nellie Watson, Coquille
Obituaries | A5
Need to sell your vehicle?
Researchers now believe they know what is the cause of massive sea star wasting on the Pacific coast. Page A5
FORECAST
INSIDE
WASHINGTON — House Republicans are choosing new leaders for several important congressional committees, but the process is taking a little longer than expected. A House leadership panel was scheduled to vote on committee chairmen Monday, but some members experienced weather delays returning to the capitol. A spokesman for House Speaker John Boehner said the panel will instead vote on committee chairmen Tuesday. Former Republican vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan is aiming to head the powerful House Ways and Means Committee. The post could give Ryan, a Wisconsin Republican, a high-profile platform if he decides to run for president in 2016 or beyond.
Ryan faces competition from Rep. Kevin Brady, R-Texas, though the two have waged a friendly campaign. Republicans also are choosing a new chairman for the House Oversight Committee. The head of the panel traditionally acts as a chief antagonist for a president from the opposing party. Four Republicans are vying for the post: Rep. Jason Chaffetz of Utah, Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio, Rep. John Mica of Florida, and Rep. Mike Turner, also from Ohio. The current Oversight chairman, Republican Darrell Issa of California,is stepping down because Republicans impose term limits on committee chairmen. Led by Boehner, the House GOP steering committee chooses most committee chairmen. The entire House Republican conference later approves the panel’s choices, though the vote is usually a formality.
STATE
The Associated Press
DEATHS
BY STEPHEN OHLEMACHER
modern techniques we have at our disposal are not enough to help these patients once they reach a critical threshold,” said Dr. Jeffrey Gold, chancellor of the medical center. Sierra Leone’s government said it was shocked to learn that Salia was dead and questioned whether “the strain of the 16hour trip could have had a negative impact on his recovery.” The virus has already killed more than 5,000 people in West Africa. Salia, who chose to work in his homeland despite more lucrative opportunities elsewhere, was first tested for Ebola on Nov. 7, but the test was negative, and he was discharged from a treatment center in Sierra Leone. It’s not unusual to see false negative tests for Ebola in the early stages because the amount of the virus in the bloodstream is still low, said Dr. Phil Smith, the infectiousdisease expert who leads the Nebraska SEE EBOLA | A10
Partly sunny 57/40 Weather | A10
WE CAN DELIVER YOUR MESSAGE OVER 71,000 TIMES!
Call Kirk Today! 541-267-6278