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PAC-12 FOOTBALL
GUILTY PLEA
Ducks are favored again, B1
Castro makes plea to avoid death penalty, A7
SATURDAY, JULY 27, 2013
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Who is counting the owls? BY THOMAS MORIARTY The World
Contributed photo by ODFW
New experiment would ‘remove’ the barred owl.
COOS BAY — Wildlife officials are uncertain whether a controversial owl management experiment will be expanded to the South Coast. Jody Caicco of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Oregon office, said a plan to remove barred owls — primarily by lethal means — within certain areas of spotted owl habitat would only be expanded to include Coos
Jordan Cove meeting delayed
County if researchers had the data to justify such action. “Not that we can say emphatically no or emphatically yes,” Caicco said. Under the finalized environmental impact statement released Tuesday, the USFWS would remove barred owls in four northern spotted owl study areas, including sections of the Oregon Coast Range bordering the Coos Bay BLM district. Biologists suspect the larger species, which has been moving
westward in recent years, has been driving spotted owls from their nest sites. “To get a sense of where spotted owls are, we have study protocols we have to utilize,” Caicco said. If the agency did decide to expand the barred owl removal program to Coos County, it would have to follow those study protocols for both spotted owl and barred owl populations. Megan Harper, public affairs officer for the Coos Bay District, said the local district has never
formally been part of the demographic study areas. The Oregon Coast Study Area, which includes sections of the Coast Range mountains between Yachats and Florence, barely crosses into the district boundaries just east of Reedsport. “We’ve kind of done our own owl surveys in conjunction with specific programs,” Harper said. “In terms of the larger demographic studies done by U.S. Fish SEE OWLS | A7
McLauchlin investigation Charles McLauchlin Jr. stands next to his lawyer as he is arraigned on 25 counts of seconddegree sexual abuse on Thursday in Judge Michael Gillespie’s courtroom at the Coos County Courthouse. McLauchlin is a former Bandon teacher and cross country coach.
BY EMILY THORNTON The World
COOS BAY — Those wishing to voice concerns about the Jordan Cove Energy Project now have more time. Landowners and businesses have until 3:30 p.m. Aug. 20 to file appeals to the Coos County Planning Commission. Submissions should be specific to the county’s ordinances in order to be considered. Jody McCaffree, director of Citizens Against LNG, said whether Jordan Cove’s application was approved depended on citizens voicing their opinions now. “I hope that people will look and address these issues at the local level,” McCaffree said. “Now’s the time to raise the issues.” Jill Rolfe, Planning Director at the Coos County Planning
By Alysha Beck, The World
Bandon PD opened case 11 months ago BY GEORGE ARTSITAS The World
SEE LNG | A7
Meeting Aug. 20 A notice of continuance for appeals to the Coos County Planning Commission has been delayed until 3:30 p.m. Aug. 20 at the Owen Building, located at 201 North Adams St., in Coquille. Appeals must be made to the commission to have a voice on the Jordan Cove Project, which plans to build a plant at the north spit of North Bend to export liquefied natural gas.
BANDON — Over the last quarter century, Charles Eugene McLauchlin Jr. — known as “Mr. M” to his students — has been part of the Bandon School District. Thursday he was arraigned on 25 counts of second-degree sex abuse for an alleged relationship he had with one of those students. McLauchlin's investigation has been ongoing since last August. While he was put on paid administrative leave as a teacher last fall, McLauchlin remained as an
employee for Harbor Lights Middle School as a computer repairman and troubleshooter. The school district says it followed proper procedure during the time of a sex abuse investigation surrounding the former science teacher and running coach at Harbor Lights Middle School. Bandon Police Department first began investigating McLauchlin Aug. 30, 2012. That investigation didn’t yield an arrest because no victim came forward on the record. Still, police stayed open to any new information in the case. “We always leave cases open,”
said Police Chief Bob Webb on Thursday. Prior to the investigation, McLauchlin had stepped down from his duties as cross country coach at Bandon High School for “reasons including recent time in the hospital,” The World reported Aug. 23. McLauchlin, 55, was put on paid administrative leave shortly after the police began their investigation. Schools Superintendent Diane Buche declined to comment whether McLauchlin’s administrative leave was the result of medical issues or the pending
investigation at that time. “Due to the fact that we are dealing with a confidential, internal personnel issue, we cannot offer further comment,” Buche said in an email Friday. School board member Francis Stadelman said the decision to put McLauchlin on leave came solely from Buche, though she kept school board members in the loop about the process. “Many public employees — and in other venues — are put on administrative leave sometimes
Fair’s final day
From stick horses to future rodeo queens
INSIDE
MYRTLE POINT — Poised and ready, the competitors race around the obstacle course in the hot sun Thursday afternoon at the Coos County fairgrounds. Astride their horses and amid cheers from the spectators, they wait for their times to be announced.
Fair photos . . . . . . . A2 What’s Up. . . . . . . GO! South Coast. . . . . . A3 Opinion. . . . . . . . . . A4
Devrie Crochetiere, 4, practices riding and waving to the crowd during the stick horse queen tryouts at the Coos County Fair on Thursday.
Next, the competitors are interviewed. “What’s your name? What’s your horse’s name? Why do you want to be the stick horse queen?” Another round of competition and the queen is announced. She’s 6-year-old Chesney Laney from North Bend. Her prize? The honor to ride her
Sports . . . . . . . . . . . B1 Comics . . . . . . . . . . C5 Puzzles . . . . . . . . . . C5 Classifieds . . . . . . . C6
By Alysha Beck, The World
VIDEO Find photo gallery and video: theworldlink.com
SEE FAIR | A10
Edward Jenkins, Coos Bay John Stapert, Coos Bay Judith Peper, Coos Bay Joseph Wales, North Bend Gilbert Pickett Sr., North Bend
Felix Schneider Jr., Coos Bay Mable Boots, Elgin Wilma Leach, Reedsport
Obituaries | A5
FORECAST
The World
DEATHS
BY AMY MOSS STRONG
SEE INVESTIGATION | A10
Mostly sunny 68/52 Weather | A10
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