CRANBERRY BLOWOUT
U.N. FINDS ‘CONVINCING EVIDENCE’
Oakland tops Bandon 49-6, B1
Inspectors confirm chemical attack, A7
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2013
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State test results called a disappointment PORTLAND (AP) — The results of Oregon’s standardized tests tumbled this year, and were down markedly in high school writing. State education leaders blamed the poor performance on budget cuts that have resulted in fewer school days and larger classes, and on limiting the number of test do-overs, The Oregonian reported Thursday. In high school writing, the share of juniors who could write an acceptable essay dropped to 60 percent, down 7 percentage points from the previous year. Those students, now seniors, are members of the second class in Oregon that must pass
the writing test or an equivalent to earn a diploma. The test asks students to choose from four topics and write up to 850 words with solid content and ideas, organization, sentence fluency and conventions such as grammar, spelling and punctuation. Among other outcomes of the testing: ■ Reading performance dropped in every grade from third through eighth. ■ Passing rates in mathematics fell in five of seven grades tested, including 3 points in third grade and 2 points in seventh grade. One bright spot was a 3 percentage point
increase in high school math, bringing the passing rate to 69 percent, a record. This year’s seniors will be the first required to pass the state math test, along with tests in reading and writing, to get a diploma. Oregon schools chief Rob Saxton said the broad decline in passing rates may primarily reflect that students took state tests fewer times, not that schools taught them less. But conceded that “overall the outcomes are disappointing.” Students were limited to one retake on the SEE TESTS | A8
Test results – writing All high school juniors must pass the standardized writing test to graduate. Passing rates 2012-13 2011-12 School District Bandon 57.3 74.5 33.7 65.4 Coos Bay Coquille 56.9 53.2 63.6 52.1 Myrtle Point North Bend 40.6 66.4 Powers 55.6 70.0 Reedsport 39.5 50 Source: Oregon Department of Education
Police: 2 more possible suspects at Navy Yard BY ERIC TUCKER AND BRETT ZONGKER The Associated Press
He said the presence of the bridge has resulted in increased erosion along the riverbanks and the development of a massive gravel bar in the center of the river. “This much material has negative impacts all the way up the estuary,” Claire said. “The river can’t process sediments above natural levels.” Claire said the section of river is largely a stronghold for fall Chinook and steelhead, but coho use it as well. “This river system used to produce as
WASHINGTON — At least one gunman opened fire inside a building at the Washington Navy Yard on Monday morning, and officials said six people were killed and at least four were wounded, including a law enforcement officer. Police were looking for two other potential gunmen wearing military-style uniforms, including one who had on a beret, chief Cathy Lanier said. One had a long gun and the other was also armed, she said. One of the three gunmen had died, though Lanier didn’t say how. Witnesses described a gunman opening fire from the fourth floor, aiming down on people in the firstfloor cafeteria. Others said a gunman fired at them in a third-floor hallway. It wasn’t clear whether the witnesses on different floors were describing the same gunman. As witnesses emerged from the building, a helicopter hovered over it, schools were on lockdown and airplanes at nearby Reagan National Airport were briefly grounded so they wouldn’t interfere with law enforcement helicopters. Less than 2 miles away, security was beefed up at the Capitol, but officials said there was no known threat there. President Barack Obama was getting frequent briefings on the shooting. Two Navy officials confirmed at least six people had died. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the situation publicly. About 3,000 people work at the Naval Sea Systems Command headquarters, which builds, buys and maintains the Navy’s ships and submarines and combat systems. Todd Brundidge, an executive assistant with Navy Sea Systems Command, said he and other co-workers encountered a gunman in a long hallway of their building on the third floor. The gunman was wearing all blue, he said. “He just turned and started firing,” Brundidge said. Terrie Durham, an executive assistant with the same agency, said she also saw the gunman firing toward her and Brundidge. “He aimed high and missed,” she said. “He said nothing. As soon as I realized he was shooting, we just said, ‘Get out of the building.”’ Rick Mason, a program management analyst who is a civilian with the U.S. Navy, said a gunman was shooting from a fourth floor overlook in the hallway outside his office. He said the gunman was aiming down at people in the building’s cafeteria. Mason said
SEE RIVER | A8
SEE SHOOTER | A8
By Alysha Beck, The World
Chris Claire, with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, examines the pebbles on a gravel bar that was created when the South Fork Coquille River was diverted around an old logging mill pier. The Coquille Watershed Association is working with ODFW to remove the pier so that the river will resume its natural path over the bar, helping salmon swim upstream to spawn.
River project nears finish BY THOMAS MORIARTY The World
COOS BAY — The South Coast conservation community was devastated in 2013 when it lost one of its brightest young minds. Coquille Watershed Association Program Manager Kristle Volin was only 25 when she drowned in January while working on streambank restoration projects on the South Fork Coquille River with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. Now, one of those projects is almost finished.
A massive concrete pier supporting an aging logging railroad crossing had built up significant erosion over the years, threatening habitat for local salmonids. The watershed association and ODFW wanted it removed. Association Director Kelly Miles said the project wouldn’t have been possible without Volin’s help. State biologist Chris Claire, who worked with Volin at the beginning of the project, agreed. “She would be doing all the work in conjunction with ODFW,” Claire said. “This is her project.”
Salmon Celebration sees 10th year
INSIDE
NORTH BEND — The Salmon Celebration at the Mill Casino went swimmingly Saturday and Sunday. There were vendors, canoe racing, dancing, music, demonstrations and food from local Native American tribes during the 10th annual event, which celebrates the return of the salmon to rivers. One of the biggest attractions was the salmon bake — the traditional style of cooking the fish, after it was splayed open, on wooden poles over open flame. Other popular events were the many demonstrations, many of which also were opportunities to learn how to make traditional items. Heidi Helms was demonstrating how to weave tule, or bulrush, into items such as headbands, mats, canoe seats, toy ducks,
decoy ducks and dolls. She said children liked making the toy ducks because they were relatively easy. “If they make a toy duck, they can take it home finished,” Helms said. Tule, pronounced “too-lee,” was something children used to gather, she said. “Us tribal kids always went out and harvested tule,” Helms said. Helms said she is about a sixteenth Miluk. Most tribal members are a sixteenth Native American, said Doug Barnett, who was in charge of the tule table. Barnett, one-sixteenth of the Confederated Tribes of the Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw has manned the table for ten years. He said tule was very useful in duck hunting. “The most popular way to hunt was to drown them,” Barnett said.
By Lou Sennick, The World
One of the canoes with youth racers paddled on Coos Bay Saturday morning offshore from the Mill Casino and Hotel. SEE MILL-LUCK | A8
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Salmon return The fall Chinook salmon run on the Columbia River is the largest ever since construction of the Bonneville Dam.
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Partly cloudy 74/48 Weather | A8