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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2014
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City asks Coast Guard to remove barbed wire BY DEVAN PATEL The World
COOS BAY — As part of the Coos Bay Urban Renewal Agency’s efforts to improve curb appeal, the city has begun talking with the U.S. Coast Guard regarding its barbedwire fencing along U.S Highway 101. City Manager Rodger Craddock said the city is not forcing anyone to remove anything and that the
discussions are only preliminary at this point. “It was mentioned in an editorial that we should look more into curb appeal and that’s what we’re doing,” Craddock said. Urban Renewal Chair Mark Daily and councilor Tom Leahy first approached the Coast Guard about the barbed wire fencing. “The interesting comment we got was the reason they have the barbed wire is to keep the fence 8
feet high,” Leahy said. While local Coast Guard officials were sympathetic to the city’s inquiry, they lack the authority to enforce any changes. “Any change of military facility decisions cannot be made locally and has to go up with chain of command,” Craddock said. “They’re willing to discuss the matter and are waiting on proposed suggestions that meet Coast Guard regulations.”
Planners approve Pacific Gales
During the Oct. 7 urban renewal meeting, it was suggested that U.S. Highway 101 be added to an already existing city ordinance that prevents barbed wire from being placed in the downtown area. Municipal code 8.10.070 prevents barbed-wire fences along sidewalks, public ways, in residentially zoned districts, the historic district and the downtown/Empire core areas. Amending the ordinance, how-
ever, would not have affected the Coast Guard because it was already in compliance with past regulations. “If the city were to impose an ordinance, those that were already there would be grandfathered in,” Craddock said. In the event the city cannot make a change, there are options for concealment, including installing low landscaping, Daily said.
The heavy lifting takes place before crab season begins
BY JOHN GUNTHER The World
GOLD BEACH — The proposed Pacific Gales Golf Course near Port Orford has again earned the approval of the Curry County Planning Commission. The commission approved a second conditional use application for the project last week. The first conditional use application was withdrawn by developers after it was appealed to the Oregon Land Use Board of Appeals by a pair of environmental groups. The developers for the project, Elk River Property Development LLC, anticipate the project again will be appealed by Oregon Coast Alliance and Oregon Shores. Both groups submitted comments against the new conditional use application. But the developers also think the new proposal covers all possible areas of appeal by ORCA and Oregon Shores. “I’m excited,” said Jim Haley, one of the group’s leaders. “We’ve got an application we think is going to win this time, but we’ve got to go through the process.” If the groups do appeal the Planning Commission’s decision, the matter will be heard by the County Board of Curry Commissioners. If it also approves the project, the next appeal would go to LUBA again. The appeal deadline is Nov. 12. No appeals had been filed as of Thursday, though ORCA did
Photos by Lou Sennick, The World
Kent Frost works on one of 300 crab pots that he and Ty Applegarth (not shown) are getting ready for the upcoming season.They were preparing the pots for the fishing vessel Sleep Robber in Salmon Harbor of Winchester Bay on Wednesday.Top, several buoys are ready to be tied in pairs to each pot.
SEE GALES | A8
BY GOSIA WOZNIACKA The Associated Press
PORTLAND — As the start of the second open enrollment period for health insurance under the federal Affordable Care Act nears, Oregon officials say this time the state will avoid an enrollment disaster. When Oregon launched its insurance exchange portal last October, it turned into a technology fiasco. Cover Oregon was the only exchange in the nation that never fully launched and didn’t let the public enroll in coverage in one sitting. Instead, residents had to use a timepaper-online hybrid consuming application process to get health insurance. Six top officials connected to the Cover Oregon debacle resigned. The state abandoned its troubled exchange in April after determining it was cheaper to switch to the federal site than to fix Cover Oregon. Officials say they’ve taken steps to ensure a smooth new enrollment period, which starts Nov. 15. This summer, Oregon hired a tech firm, Deloitte Consulting LLC, to help transition Oregon to the federal exchange
Things to know as state’s health overhaul restarts BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS WHAT IS OPEN ENROLLMENT: Open enrollment is the period when those previously uninsured can sign up for insurance, and those who already have coverage can change plans or insurance companies. Open enrollment runs from Nov. 15, 2014 to Feb. 15, 2015. Individuals who experience a special life event, such as marriage or the birth of a child, can buy coverage or change plans outside of open enrollment. IF YOU ALREADY HAVE INSURANCE THROUGH COVER OREGON: All Oregon residents who previously enrolled in a private plan via Cover Oregon must re-enroll via HealthCare.gov. Those who do not want a break in coverage come January must re-enroll by Dec. 15 for coverage starting Jan. 1. Unlike people in other states that rely on the federal portal, Oregon residents with existing Cover Oregon plans will not be automatically reenrolled in their old plan if they do nothing. People already enrolled in Medicaid need not do anything, until the state sends them a renewal letter. IF YOU WANT PRIVATE INSURANCE: Residents buying private insurance for the first time who think they qualify for a tax credit must use SEE RESTART | A8
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BY JONATHAN J. COOPER The Associated Press
PORTLAND — Oregon’s statewide election campaigns have hauled in more than $43 million. That doesn’t include the U.S. Senate race or downballot contests for the state Legislature and local offices. The impact of all that money is everywhere — you can’t watch television, check your mail or even view a YouTube video without confronting political ads. But where’s the money coming from? The money in the governor’s race is largely coming from within Oregon, but the ballot measures are being showered with cash from out of state. Here’s a look at the top donors to Oregon’s campaigns for governor and the highest profile ballot measures, based on campaign finance records filed through Thursday:
John Kitzhaber (Total raised: $4.4 million) ■ Phil Knight, $250,000
The chairman of Nike Inc. is a big spender on Oregon elections. He opened his wallet for the Democratic after backing governor Kitzhaber’s rival in 2010, Chris Dudley, to the tune of $400,000. Nike itself separately gave Kitzhaber $90,000 this year. ■ Too Extreme For Oregon PAC, $199,000 A political action committee newly created to go after Kitzhaber’s Republican rival, Dennis Richardson, Too Extreme For Oregon counts labor unions, abortionrights groups and the Democratic Party of Oregon among its donors. The group paid for an advertising campaign criticizing Richardson.
Dennis Richardson (Total raised: $2.8 million) ■ Jones sisters, Seneca Jones Timber Company and Seneca Sustainable Energy, $591,000 Jody Jones, Rebecca Jones and Kathy Jones-McCann,
Death with dignity
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SEE TRANSITION | A8
Big donors open wallets for Oregon campaigns
California woman who moved to Portland to take advantage of state’s law ended her life Saturday. Page A5
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Health care transition to federal exchange on track
Rain 62/55 Weather | A8
along with the Seneca timber companies they own, gave Richardson a much-needed boost when he desperately needed cash. A big chunk of their money paid for massive, cryptic billboards in downtown Portland. ■ Freres Lumber Co., and Rob Freres, $205,000 Rob Freres and his Lyonsbased timber company provided Richardson another boost.
Yes on Measure 90 — Top-two primary (Total raised: $4.6 million) ■ Michael Bloomberg, $1.9 million The billionaire former mayor of New York has a history of bucking the major political parties and trying to diminish their influence. ■ John Arnold, $1.8 million Arnold, who lives in Texas, made his fortune as a natural gas trader, first at Enron and then as a hedge fund manag-
SEE DONORS | A8