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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2013
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State board OKs Elliott forestland sale BY JONATHAN J. COOPER
“... natural resources
The Associated Press
are invaluable, but the fact is that even a Picasso has some value on occasion when it changes hands.”
SALEM — Top state officials on Tuesday agreed to move forward with the sale of scattered tracts of the Elliott State Forest, despite objections from conservation groups that they include nesting trees for a protected bird. Gov. John Kitzhaber, Secretary of State Kate Brown and State Treasurer Ted Wheeler — who make up the State Land Board — unanimously backed the plan. They said they’re not trying to
John Kitzhaber Oregon governor
Report: CB school officials cleared
privatize the forest but need to balance conservation concerns against a constitutional requirement that the land generate money for public schools. Kitzhaber said the state needs to go forward with accepting bids to determine the value of the 2,700 acres, whether the land is sold to timber companies or conservation groups. The Land Board is responsible for managing the Elliott, on the southern coast near Coos Bay, and other state forests to generate money for the Common School Fund, which supports public
schools. Officials say the fund lost money in fiscal-year 2013 because litigation over habitat for the marbled murrelet, a threatened seabird, has all but halted timber sales. Kitzhaber said the state is likely to face a separate lawsuit from education groups if the Common School Fund doesn’t turn a profit. Critics of the plan said the state should be working harder to ensure the land falls into the hands of environmental groups rather than private industry. “If you sold it to the timber
industry at a cut-rate price, Oregonians would lose the remarkable, rare wildlife habitat, recreational opportunities that can only persist on public lands,” said Francis Eatherington, conservation director for Cascadia Wildlands. Kitzhaber responded that the sale would help establish a fair market value for the land, which would open up more options for divesting land in the future. Without knowing the value of the land, he said, the state can’t negoSEE ELLIOTT | A8
Still a chill in the air
Investigation found teachers felt threat of being transferred, not losing jobs completely ■
BY CHELSEA DAVIS The World
COOS BAY — A probe into a Coos Bay teacher’s complaint found a disconnect in communication between school staff and administration — but nobody’s going to the principal’s office. Peggy Stock, Oregon School Boards Association’s legal, labor and PACE services consultant, returned her investigation report to the Coos Bay school board Monday night. The investigation followed Madison Elementary teacher Michelle Newsum’s comments at the October school board meeting about the “Walk to Read” and “March to Math” intervention programs. She spoke out against them, saying they are ineffective and time-consuming. The programs consist of forming groups of students with similar skills in a particular subject for more focused attention. Newsum said teachers were “afraid to speak for fear of retribution.” “The teachers ... follow through with the mandate because their jobs have been repeatedly threatened if they don’t,” she said. Newsum has since said she did not want the investigation to occur, since she was speaking against the intervention model rather than alleged threats. According to Stock’s report, in February the district decided the intervention models would be implemented in Madison and Blossom Gulch elementary schools. SEE REPORT | A8
By Lou Sennick, The World
Ice forms on sticks and branches in the cold weather the past few days.This stream is near Sumner along Coos-Sumner Lane near the base of Blue Ridge.This cold snap may get a reprieve, with daytime temperatures forecast for the upper 40s and low 50s for the rest of the week, with low temperatures closer to 40 starting Thursday.
Cover Oregon not promising Jan. coverage BY EMILY THORNTON The World
It’s missed all of its deadlines and still isn’t working properly. And, it still likely won’t be up and running in January. Even so, officials are confident there could be more than 100,000 Oregonians with health insurance by Jan. 1, 2014, thanks to Cover Oregon. In a teleconference Tuesday, Bruce Goldberg, acting executive director, provided updates on the state’s exchange for health insurance. Goldberg took over Cover Oregon responsibilities this month after the former executive director, Rocky King, stepped down for
medical reasons. Goldberg also is a family medicine physician. Prior to Cover Oregon, Goldberg was the head of the Oregon Health Authority since its creation in 2009. He said even if folks filled out a paper application by the deadline, they may not have coverage by Jan. 1. “If you want a 100 percent guarantee, go buy commercial insurance,” Goldberg said. Cover Oregon employees were working non-stop to process 28,189 paper applications and call or mail sign-up packets to individuals, in hopes they’d complete enrollment by this Sunday. “If you hear from us, get back to us,” he said. Local community partners and
agents were scrambling to complete and mail applications. “I sent as many as I could get in,” said Kim Rollins, community partner at Oregon Coast Community Action. Some weren’t filled out completely because she just wanted to get them in the system. “I figured at least they’d have it,” she said. “I’m sure I’m not the only one.” She wasn’t. Goldberg said about half of the applications received weren’t complete. He said it hindered processing. Rollins has helped people fill out applications since October. So far, she’s done about 70 and shows no signs of stopping.
“I’ll continue until they tell me to stop,” she said. Even with the deadline gone, Rollins said folks could get insurance later in the year if they turned in applications. “The simple fact is it doesn’t matter what time of year you get coverage, you won’t get fined,” Rollins said. Goldberg said those who enrolled later would have coverage beginning Feb. 1. About 9,900 have enrolled in coverage: 730 are with private insurance and 9,219 are with Oregon Health Plan. However, Oregon Health Plan and health SEE COVER | A8
Judge decides stolen artifacts will go to preservation office
Police reports . . . . A2 What’s Up. . . . . . . . A2 South Coast. . . . . . A2 Opinion. . . . . . . . . . A4
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ologist used in Gieselman’s criminal trial, determined all the items If they weren’t seized from Gieselman’s home of the same location and era lawfully collected, they were as artifacts he was found stealing, couldn’t be lawfully said Patrick Flanagan, prosecutor for the department of justice. possessed. “We can’t prove exactly when or they were taken from,” where Patrick Flanagan Prosecutor Flanagan said. “They were consistent with items found at that site and other sites within the region.” The items included blades, arrowheads and rock chippings, archaeological site and unlawful Flanagan said. removal of an archeological object. “If they weren’t lawfully colHe received five years probation lected, they couldn’t be lawfully and was fined $2,000. possessed,” Flanagan said. Nancy Nelson, the same archaeThe decision last week was par-
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Anna Blake, Coos Bay Charles Dickson, Coos Bay Barbara Seeger, Coos Bay
Obituaries | A5
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Pond patrol Klamath group has been relocating beavers for the past two years, sometimes to places where their dams can benefit farmers.
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NORTH BEND — A two-hour hearing last week determined the fate of 134 Native American artifacts recovered more than three years ago. Circuit Court Judge Paula Bechtold ruled in favor of an expedited petition filed in November by the Oregon Department of Justice, asking the artifacts go to the Oregon State Historic Preservation Office. From there, they could return to local tribes, remain with the state or be shared, said David Petrie, activist and member of the
Confederated Tribes of the Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians. The artifacts originate from various tribes, he said. Oregon State Police seized the items from David Gieselman’s home following his arrest in 2010 for stealing other artifacts from an undisclosed state park. Petrie said he found Gieselman taking artifacts from the park in 2010. He said the artifacts were from his tribe and reported the theft to authorities, who arrested Gieselman. They are unsure how he discovered the site. Gieselman was found guilty in January 2013 of unlawful destruction or alteration of an
STATE
The World
DEATHS
BY EMILY THORNTON
ticularly important, tribal members said. “The case sets a precedent in looting,” Petrie said. The prosecution wasn’t sure it was a precedent yet. “I’m not aware of other cases that have been before the court under those statutes,” Flanagan said. “I’m not in a position to answer whether it’s a precedent or not, but I can say it’s a unique case.” Reporter Emily Thornton can be reached at 541-269-1222, ext. 249 or emily.thornton@theworldlink.com or on Twitter: @EmilyK_Thornton.
Mostly sunny 48/35 Weather | A8