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WEDNESDAY, JULY 23, 2014
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Goodbye, Bruno North Bend’s K-9 diagnosed with cancer ■
BY THOMAS MORIARTY The World
NORTH BEND — Dogs that bite are, traditionally, “bad.” Coos County Animal Control officers spend hours each week tracking down wayward animals that have escaped their owners’ yards, and local police regularly take calls from people bitten by their neighbors’ pets. But for more than seven years, Bruno, a German shepherd, has
been called upon to do just that on command as a patrol K-9 with the North Bend Police Department. At Tuesday’s City Council meeting, the community said goodbye to a dog officers say has helped keep countless criminals off the streets. Bruno, who was imported from Europe, has been with the department since 2006 and helped kick-start its current K-9 program. Most recently partnered with Officer Jason Griggs, he’s received training in handler protection, patrol and narcotics. Chief Rob Kappelman said Bruno’s exploits range from tracking down a missing Alzheimer’s patient to cornering a burglary suspect who
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gave up as soon as he heard the dog coming. He attributed much of the dog’s success to his human partner. “What I’ve learned in police service is a K-9 is only as good as his handler is willing to spend time with him,” Kappelman said. “We definitely intend to put Jason to good use in the near future.” The pair has had some close calls over the years. In November 2013, Oregon State Police requested the K-9 unit’s help after a suspect hid inside the Industrial Source welding supply store in Coos Bay following a police purSEE BRUNO | A8
By Thomas Moriarty, The World
North Bend Police Department K-9 Bruno sits next to his handler, Officer Jason Griggs, during a City Council meeting Tuesday night. Bruno, who has been diagnosed with cancer, is retiring after more than seven years of service.
Tractor Wheels and Piggy Squeals
102nd Coos County Fair and Rodeo opens gates
Group submitted some 88,500 signatures for state ballot measure ■
SALEM (AP) — Oregon voters will decide whether to legalize marijuana for recreational use after state elections officials said Tuesday the measure qualified for the November ballot. The measure would allow adults 21 and older to buy and possess marijuana and would give the Oregon Liquor Control Commission the job of regulating and taxing the drug. Voters rejected a legalization measure two years ago, but little money was spent promoting it. By contrast, New Approach Oregon, the group behind the initiative, has received contributions from some of the same donors who backed successful marijuana initiatives in Washington and Colorado. The group submitted roughly 88,500 valid signatures — about 1,400 more than required, election workers said. “We will ensure that all voters are aware that this is a completely different measure than the measure in 2012,” said Anthony Johnson, director of New Approach Oregon. “This measure is much more regulated and restrictive, and we’ve taken the best from Colorado and Washington and believe that Oregonians are ready to pass a well-regulated measure such as this one.” Law enforcement officials, including sheriffs and district attorneys, oppose the measure. Clatsop County District Attorney Josh Marquis said it makes no sense to increase access to intoxicants.
BY TIM NOVOTNY The World
By Lou Sennick, The World
Oregon National Guard has their rock climbing tower at the Coos County Fair this year, near the llama arena and the horse barns. Tuesday afternoon, three youngsters tried their hand at climbing. From the left is Zach Holt, Tanner Smith, top right, and Keenen Smith.
MYRTLE POINT — It’s a rare Coos County Fair that opens under cloudy skies, but such was the case Tuesday. Nobody was letting that dampen their enthusiasm though, as the fair board once again pulled out all the stops for the official opening ceremony. The Coquille and Myrtle Point Veterans of Foreign Wars lent a helping hand with the raising of the flag and a gun salute. Kaitlyn Dixon sang a beautiful rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner.” And plenty of royalty were on hand to cut the official ribbon, including Fair Queen Jasmine Barker, Miss Coos County Rande Jones, and Miss Mt. Hood Outstanding Teen Allie West. Robin Harkins, with the Coos County Fair board, said the opening caps a long year of work leading up to this event. A lot of people have played a role, she adds, in making sure things run smoothly. There is the seven-member board, volunteer superintendents for every department, and each of those volunteers has an additional team of about five to 10 volunteers working for them. Running a county fair is also a year-round event Harkins says, noting that the plans are already underway for next year. Perhaps surprising to some, the biggest task facing the fair board each year is not finding enough manual labor to pull it off, it is making sure the funding is there to pay for the event. “The fair does receive about $45,000 to $50,000 in state lottery funds each year,” she said. “That’s approved by the Legislature. The rest of SEE FAIR | A8
SEE MARIJUANA | A8
US: Russia ‘created the conditions’ for shoot-down
OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — Wetter, cooler weather has helped firefighters make progress in their efforts to get the largest wildfire in Washington state’s history under control. With more rain in the forecast, they just hope too much moisture doesn’t lead to flash floods after so much ground vegetation has been burned away.
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SEE WILDFIRE | A8
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Intelligence officials’ assessment based on unverified photos, video and social media posts BY KEN DILANIAN The Associated Press WASHINGTON — Senior U.S. intelligence officials said Tuesday that Russia was responsible for
Chris DeSpain, Linn Creek, Mo. Aldon Lee, North Bend Wallace Robbins, North Bend Sara Hunter, North Bend Michael Benson, The Dalles
“creating the conditions” that led to the shooting down of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17, but they offered no evidence of direct Russian government involvement. The intelligence officials were
Lois Annunzio, Albany Fred Nielsen, North Bend Helen Compton, Reedsport Glenn Glancey, Reedsport
Obituaries | A5
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The Carlton Complex of fires, which has burned nearly 400 square miles in the north-central part of the state, was 16 percent contained as of Tuesday, fire spokeswoman Jessica Payne said. A day earlier, the fire was just 2 percent contained. The National Weather Service
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Crews make gains on Washington wildfire
cautious in their assessment, noting that while the Russians have been arming separatists in eastern Ukraine, the U.S. had no direct evidence that the missile used to shoot down the passenger jet came from Russia. The officials briefed reporters Tuesday under ground rules that
Rain 63/52 Weather | A8
SEE RUSSIA | A8