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Saturday, December 6, 2014
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County energy ordinance in the works CARLY MAYBERRY The World
COQUILLE — A Bill of Rights calling for a new municipal governance controlling the transportation of fossil fuels through and into Coos County may land on the May voting ballot thanks to a group of local residents. Mary Geddry and Patricia Gouveia are the chief petitioners behind the initiative that
declares the current municipal system of governance illegitimate and wants the creation of a new system recognizing a selfgoverning authority that, as they state in their petition, “ensures and protects rights to a sustainable energy future.” I f pa sse d , t h e i n i t i a t ive would effectively put a halt to the transportation of fossil fuels through and into Coos County except fuels intended
for residential, commercial or industrial on-site use for power, heat and vehicle refueling. It also would ban any land acquisition for construction of a nonsustainable energy system. “We thought we’d take it to the constitutional realm and establish a Bill of Rights that basically says we have a right to a sustainable energy future and that any development that infringes on those rights isn’t
acceptable,” Geddry said. The petition, which was filed with the county clerk on Nov. 4, was just granted authorization for signature collection last week through the county clerk’s office. Geddry said that she, Gouveia and the extended group behind the initiative have about a third of the 1,521 valid signatures needed. “This provides community rights to self-govern and that’s
the most powerful part of this,” Gouveia said. She referred specifically to the Jordan Cove Energy Project and accompanying pipeline. She said she believes that a lot of decisions and meetings regarding the proposed liquefied natural gas terminal have occurred outside the public purview. “The whole concept is based See Energy, A10
ILWU is not backing down KURTIS HAIR The World
Amanda Loman
Freshman Jessica Baimbridge, right, practices band music on her clarinet alongside sister Katie, a sophomore, on flute during Pirate Underground, an afterschool program at Marshfield High School that meets in the library.
Pirate Underground a space for Marshfield’s creative crowd CHELSEA DAVIS The World
COOS BAY — In a place where belonging to something is so important, Marshfield High librarian Peggy Christensen noticed several students on the outskirts. That’s why she applied for an Oregon Association of School Libraries grant last year. In her application, Christensen asked for funding to hire extra help to start an afterschool program for these kids. She received a $500 Connie Hull grant.
Christensen and former teacher Jeff Van Vickle launched The Pirate Underground. “One of the things I wanted to improve upon was getting the library open after school hours,” she said. The library closes shortly after school gets out every day. Kids who don’t participate in sports or other clubs hang around the school or just go home. Now, PUG meets for an hour after school Tuesdays and Thursdays. “ The readers today are typically not
‘groupers,’” Christensen said. “They kind of stand out. “Sports is king around here. And our school does promote art, music, theatre ... but there are still so many kids who don’t fit anywhere.” Attendance varies, but a core group of seven to eight kids keep coming back. “ It’s a nice break from doing school work,” said student Jessica Baimbridge, who brought her clarinet to the group to practice. See Creative, A10
Oregon enrollment dips after health website switch
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DEATHS
INSIDE
signed up for private health care i nsurance through the state health insurance exchange have re-enrolled through the federal portal, officials said. The state abandoned the troubled Cover Oregon health care site in the spring and switched to the federal site, HealthCare.gov. GOSIA WOZNIACKA Associated Press Open enrollment on the federal site runs through mid-February. PORTLAND — Only about one But all those who bought coverin 10 Oregonians who previously a ge through the now-defunct
state exchange must re-enroll via the federal site by Dec. 15 or face a break in coverage in January. Cover Oregon officials say just 7,200 Oregonians had selected a private health insurance plan through the federal portal by the end of November. About 77,000 Oregonians were enrolled through Cover Oregon in 2014. A total of 105,000 actually enrolled but some dropped o ff due to cancellations and
Rada Danforth, North Bend Virginia Falk, Coos Bay William Cummings, Coos Bay Jim Heaney Jr, North Bend
terminations. “People tend to wait until the last minute, but it’s important t hat you don’t wait too long,” Oregon Insurance Commissioner Laura Cali said in a statement. O regon and Nevada, which also switched to the federal portal, are the only two states where all residents previously enrolled through the state exchanges must
Victoria Klink, Coquille George Davis, Braodbent
Obituaries | A5
See Health, A10
FORECAST
After switching to federal health exchange, Oregon shows low reenrollment for coverage
Chance of rain 57/46 Weather | A10
NORTH BEND — Members of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union are continuing the fight against Southport Lumber Co. Members of the union gathered on Thursday morning, set up pickets outside the gates of Southport and had members picketing in boats on the bay. Jill Jacobson, the secretary/treasurer for the union in North Bend, said this is about the fourth time members have picketed the lumber company, and they are not about to stop. “We just hope to settle this as soon as possible so everybody can go back to work,” Jacobson said. In 2004, the Oregon International Port of Coos Bay sold its barge slip on the North Spit to Southport. Before the slip was sold, the union was contracted for the barge work. Southport and the port then received a $500,000 grant to fix up the slip so it would be able to handle several types of cargo. Jacobson said the union and Southport had an agreement in 2012 that union members would be able to obtain work, but the company ended up using outside workers. “They said they would employ 360 people,” Jacobson said. “We think they employed less than 60.” The picket didn’t go as smoothly as the union had hoped. Jacobson said Southport called the Coos County Sheriff’s Office, and the Coast Guard was called for picketers out in boats. Jacobson said the reaction “was a little dramatic.” An employee of Southport said the company did not want to comment on the picket. “We believe it’s our jurisdiction, and it’s longshore jobs,” Jacobson said. “It’s our jobs.” eporter Kurtis Hair can be R reached at 541-269-1222, ext. 240, or by email at kurtis. hair@theworldlink.com. Follow him on Twitter: @KurtisHair.