The Umpqua Post
Weekly news from the Heart of the Dunes AN EDITION OF
Wednesday, May 28, 2014 | Serving the Reedsport area since 1996 | theworldlink.com/reedsport | $1.00
Memorable Memorial Day in Reedsport
U.S. Army Ranger Command Sgt. Maj. Daryl Thies and his wife Charlene Nehl Thies wave at the crowd along the parade route Monday afternoon.
Thomas among four finalists for superintendent BY STEVE LINDSLEY The Umpqua Post
The public is invited to quiz candidates for Reedsport School District superintendent Thursday, May 29. The board picked four finalists after an executive session Wednesday, May 21. The board is seeking to replace Superintendent Jim Thomas, whose two-year contract expires June 30. Thomas is one of the four finalists. Other finalists: Patrick Gross is a former Reedsport teacher and principal
who currently works for Department of Defense schools. He is currently a principal in Bitburg, Germany. Kathleen Ryan Jackson works at the Center for Teaching and Learning at the University of Oregon and is a former principal in Albany. Cathy Chenail-Hurowitz is an education consultant and former curriculum director in the Coos Bay and South Umpqua School Districts. Reedsport School Board Chair Kerrie Palermo says Thursday will be an intense day for the candi-
SEE SEARCH, PAGE B4
State programs leave rural schools behind BY CHELSEA DAVIS The Umpqua Post
Photos by Lou Sennick, The Umpqua Post
Shriners from Lincoln City parade down U.S. Highway 101 in Reedsport on Monday afternoon all dressed up for the community’s annual Memorial Day Parade. For the first time in many years, a large portion of the route was on the highway.
COQUILLE — Oregon’s education system is inefficient, say local educators, especially burdening rural school districts with more mandates, less funding, fewer resources and more paperwork. Nancy Golden, Oregon Education Investment Board’s chief education officer, swung down to the South Coast on Wednesday, meeting with Coquille, Myrtle Point, Coos Bay, Reedsport and Powers school officials. Golden has held the position since former chief education officer Rudy Crew resigned last year. OEIB launched in 2012, and requires “achievement compacts” with all school districts, education service districts, community colleges and public universities — asking them to set specific student
achievement goals that align with Gov. John Kitzhaber’s “40-40-20” goal. OEIB began distributing grants through its Strategic Initiatives program last fall. The problem with Strategic Initiatives, said Coquille schools Superintendent Tim Sweeney, is it leaves out rural districts. The program is designed to match funds with community partners to support teacher development, early literacy, STEM and CTE programs, and college readiness. But rural school districts typically don’t have grant writers, and their communities don’t have the partners metro areas have. “Calling for partners unintentionally disadvantages some school districts,” Golden said. “We can’t keep coming up with urban solutions for rural communities.”
SEE PROGRAMS, PAGE A7
Freeman wins Douglas County commission seat
By Steve Lindsley, The Umpqua Post
A veterans dinner, held at the Reedsport United Presbyterian Church, was well attended on Sunday afternoon. The dinner was organized by Diane Essig. See Page A7 for more Memorial Day weekend photos.
State Rep. Tim Freeman is on the way to being the next Douglas County commissioner. Freeman had 52.17 percent of the vote with the final unofficial returns, released after midnight in Tuesday’s election. If a candidate gets 50 percent, plus one vote, that candidate can avoid a runoff in November. “Nobody wins a campaign alone,” Freeman said from his election-watching post at his home in Roseburg. “It takes a great team of people that helped me, from around the county, and I’m very appreciative.” There were seven candidates to replace Joe Laurance, who decided against running for a third term.
Monte K. Smith, of Roseburg, ran second with 18.77 percent of the vote. “It’s been an incredible experience,” Freeman said of his county commission run, “meeting and visiting the citizens of Douglas County.” Freeman made several stops around the county, including Reedsport, during his campaign. Freeman is giving up an Oregon House seat he’s held since 2009. During the 2011 legislative session Freeman served as co-chair of the budget-writing Ways and Means Subcommittee on Human Services as well as a member of the full
SEE FREEMAN, PAGE B4
Midday fire completely destroys interior of Reedsport residence
Photo by Steve Lindsley, The Umpqua Post
A fire destroyed the interior of a house on Greenwood Avenue on Friday.
Crews responded to a fire at a residence in the 500 block of Greenwood Avenue on Friday, across from the Eagles’ Lodge. It was called in about 4 p.m. Reedsport, Winchester Bay and Gardiner fire departments all responded to the blaze. It appears to have started in a bedroom at the rear of the small house, completely destroying the
inside of the structure. The cause is still under investigation. The state fire marshal’s office was called to assist. Nobody was hurt in the fire. The American Red Cross, Cascades Region assisted one adult after that fire. There was a delay in the individual calling Red Cross for assistance. Red Cross provided lodging, food,
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