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Trying to find balance before troop intervention, A7
Newport defeats North Bend, B1
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Workforce camp approval stands Simpson Heights resident appeals planning commission’s decision on Jordan Cove housing permits BY CHELSEA DAVIS The World
NORTH BEND — The North Bend City Council dismissed Simpson Heights residents’ concerns over the proposed Jordan Cove workforce camp. Residents of North Bend’s Simpson Heights neighborhood turned out in protest at Tuesday
night’s city council meeting. They say the Jordan Cove E n e r g y Project workforce camp proposed for See the full story the Al Pierce online at property theworldlink.com under the McCullough Bridge will have a negative impact on their neigh-
Clamming area closed to remove a sunken boat
borhood just a mile away, affecting access to U.S. Highway 101 and the nearby wooded areas and trails. They also say the city didn’t give them notice of recent planning commission hearings regarding the camp’s permits. The council voted unanimously Tuesday to dismiss Simpson Heights resident Jan Dilley’s appeal of the planning commis-
sion’s approval of the workforce camp permits. The commission first met regarding these permits March 17, but the commissioners tabled their decision after Jody McCaffree asked for the record to be left open, and for North Bend residents to be notified and given time to respond. The city notified the nine prop-
erty owners within 100 feet of the proposed site Feb. 25, as was required. The city also provided legal notice of the March 17 meeting beforehand at oregontoday.net. The commission left the record open for seven days following McCaffree’s request. The comSEE NORTH BEND | A8
The spirit of Charleston
BY THOMAS MORIARTY The World
CHARLESTON — The owner of a popular recreational access point on the Charleston waterfront says he has to close the property to remove a longtime eyesore. Clammers who have for years used the lot next to the Fisherman’s Grotto restaurant as an access point have recently been greeted by signs declaring it off limits. While the mudflats themselves are public property, the empty lot isn’t. Marvin Warman, who owns the restaurant and the surrounding property, said the closure is necessary to remove a partially sunken fishing boat next to his dock. He said the owners of the boat, which sank stern-first several years ago, can’t afford to pay for its removal. So he’s going to do it himself. “We’re going to try to float it this summer,” Warman said. Concerns about safety risks from construction equipment and debris are one of the main reasons for the temporary closure. The other, he said, is unwelcome guests. “We have transients that are sleeping out there, people that are leaving their trash,” he said. Still Warman says he’s happy to let people use the property for recreation. He will be reopening the lot for clamming access in the future, but may require a hold-harmless waiver for liability purpose. Reporter Thomas Moriarty can be reached at 541-269-1222, ext. 240, or by email at thomas.moriarty@theworldlink.com. Follow him on Twitter: @ThomasDMoriarty.
Photos by Alysha Beck, The World
Karen Stillwagon pours samples of The Devil’s Own Rum at Stillwagon Distillery’s grand opening in Charleston on Tuesday. The distillery will be open for tastings from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekends or by appointment. The Devil’s Own Rum is also for sale in local liquor stores.
Funding fosters excellence in area health care Bay Area Hospital’s Community Foundation awards almost a quarter of a million dollars to local nonprofits ■
BY TIM NOVOTNY The World
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The Associated Press
WASHINGTON — The chief of an Army medical center has been relieved of his command because of problems with patient care, and the Pentagon has ordered a review of its health care system, defense officials said. The commander was replaced
Terry Rooke, Casa Grande, Ariz. Mary Metcalf, Coquille Roger Karr, Coos Bay Edward Bretzel
Obituaries | A5
Tuesday at Womack Army Medical Center at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and three deputies were suspended, the Army said in a statement. The shake-up comes after two deaths this month of patients in their 20s and problems with infection control at the facility that were pointed out in March by a hospital accreditation group, according to two defense officials. They
Bus crash Two students are injured when a school bus crashes into a guardrail along state Highway 38. Page A5
FORECAST
Police reports . . . . A2 What’s Up. . . . . . . . A2 Opinion. . . . . . . . . . A4 South Coast. . . . . . A5
BY PAULINE JELINEK
REEDSPORT
INSIDE
SEE HEALTH | A8
Stillwagon Distillery in Charleston is officially open for tastings of The Devil’s Own Gold, Wicked and Spiced Rum.
Army hospital chief relieved of command
DEATHS
COOS BAY — For the fifth year now, the Bay Area Hospital Community Foundation put its money where its mouth is by funding local groups to help them keep the community in good health. The foundation is the charitable arm of the publicly owned hospital. Barbara Bauder, the hospital’s director of community relations, says they are proud to help local organizations promote healthy living. “As the largest employer on the South Coast, we believe in giving back to our community and support the good work that our local nonprofits perform daily,” she said, as she started off the grant award luncheon Wednesday. Paul Janke, president and CEO of Bay Area Hospital, echoed that sentiment as he wrapped up the distribution of $244,487 in grant checks; which is almost $30,000
Dena Freed samples The Devil’s Own Rum at the grand opening of Stillwagon Distillery in Charleston on Tuesday.
spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly. Also, the Pentagon announced late Tuesday that Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel had ordered a 90-day review of the entire military health care system. He was spurred by the investigation SEE MILITARY | A8
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