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Students settle into revamped high school BY CHELSEA DAVIS The World
MYRTLE POINT — After a semester of chaotic construction, Myrtle Point students have finally returned to a normal schedule. Myrtle Point schools superintendent Bruce Shull said students completely moved in to the juniorsenior high school on Nov. 12. The goal was to be moved in by Oct. 30, but scheduling, clean up
By Alysha Beck, The World
Carrie Carden teaches a seventh-grade science class in one of the newly renovated classrooms at Myrtle Point High School on Thursday.
Military pension cuts now unsure
and back-ordered furniture and equipment caused another twoweek delay after the first day of school had already been pushed to mid-September. “It’s huge,” said Principal Jennifer Sweeney. “Compared to the other third (of the school), the difference is insane.” The oldest section of the school is 88 years old and wasn’t touched during construction on the “newer” section, which is nearly 50
years old. Upgrades included the main office, 13 classrooms, computer labs, the gym, locker rooms and the stadium. One of the biggest delays was getting approval from the state fire marshal, who came by the week of Nov. 4 and said the new fire alarms weren’t loud enough. The project was bid at $3.11 SEE SCHOOL | A8
Stay safe
BY PAULINE JELINEK The Associated Press
WASHINGTON — The Pentagon’s top civilian says it’s time to tame burgeoning military personnel costs, but he’s facing a test of wills with the nation’s powerful veterans groups, which want no cut in their benefits. Veterans groups are fighting curbs in annual pension increases for military retirees under age 62 that are part of the new budget deal passed by Congress last week and awaiting President Barack Obama’s signature. After a barrage of protests from the military community, lawmakers said they’ll review the cut next year and possibly reverse it. But Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said Thursday that reform of military compensation can’t be avoided. “We all know that we need to slow cost growth in military compensation,” Hagel told a Pentagon press conference. “We know that many proposals will be controversial and unpopular. ... Tough decisions will have to be made.” Retirees want the belt-tightening done elsewhere. Here’s a look at what members of the U.S. armed forces get now and the debate:
By Thomas Moriarty, The World
Stenciled signs identify different species of Christmas trees at Hannah’s Christmas Tree lot in North Bend. According to owner Hurricane Hannah, choosing a species with a longer life span will help prevent the tree from drying out over the holidays, reducing fire danger.
Ways to avoid holiday accidents BY THOMAS MORIARTY
What troops earn
Tree pickup
Due to pay and benefit boosts in recent war years, officials and military analysts say compensation is competitive with the civilian sector — and well above it when comparing people with similar education and experience. For example, an Army private with fewer than two years of service and no dependents earns on average about $40,400 annually, said Navy Lt. Cmdr. Nathan Christensen, a
Coos Bay and North Bend residents who want their Christmas trees picked up for disposal need only place the trees on the curb on Jan. 4. Coos Bay residents will need to have trees at the curb by 8 a.m. North Bend will have an additional pickup day on Jan. 11.
The World
SEE BENEFITS | A8
As South Coast residents deck the halls with boughs of holly, local fire departments are urging homeowners to take care to minimize fire danger over Christmas. According to the Coos Bay Fire Department, dried-out Christmas trees are the cause of more than 1,000 home fires every year. Data collected by the National Fire Protection
Association shows that an average six people die in Christmas tree fires annually. Hurricane Hannah, operator of Hannah’s Christmas Tree Lot on Virginia Avenue in North Bend, says the lifespan of the tree once it’s cut depends heavily on what species it is. Douglas firs, the most traditional choice for Christmas trees, also have the shortest lifespan. Noble firs — one of the most expensive options — last signifi-
cantly longer. Hannah said that shoppers wanting a Douglas fir should buy their tree as close to Christmas as possible to minimize the chances of it drying out over the holiday week. Firefighters also warn not to overload outlets or use lights with worn or exposed wiring. Both the Coos Bay and North Bend fire departments are planning free Christmas tree pickup programs on Jan. 4.
Anatomy of a fiasco: How Cover Oregon went awry
Police reports . . . . A3 What’s Up. . . . . . . . A2 South Coast. . . . . . A3 Opinion. . . . . . . . . . A4
Comics . . . . . . . . . . A6 Puzzles . . . . . . . . . . A6 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . B1 Classifieds . . . . . . . B6
Mark Smith, Coos Bay Arthur Manoly, Bandon Thomas Wharaton, Coos Bay Annette Brewer, Myrtle Point
other states would emulate. Today Oregon trails them all. Nearly three months after it was supposed to go live, the online enrollment system is the only one in the nation that still hasn’t launched, and the state has had to rely exclusively on paper applications. Officials lay much of the blame
Feeling SAD Portland bar tries to bring a little brightness to its customers during this part of the year when there is little sunshine.
Page A5
Obituaries | A5
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on technology contractor Oracle Corp. But the fiasco also was fueled by state officials’ own actions, according to interviews with state officials and a review of public records by The Associated Press. Among them: a refusal to back SEE FIASCO | A8
Rain likely 53/41 Weather | A8
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PORTLAND — With independent consultants warning Oregon’s health insurance exchange faced serious risks, the state official in charge of delivering the technology
we’re easily nine months ahead of any other state. We have multiple states that are asking if they can participate with us.” It was the fall of 2012, and Oregon was one of a handful of states that had received huge payouts from the federal government to be an “early innovator” building a model that
STATE
The Associated Press
strode into a legislative committee to address questions from nervous lawmakers. “The state of Oregon is leading the nation,” declared Carolyn Lawson, chief information officer for the Oregon Health Authority and the Department of Human Services. “According to the feds,
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