The Umpqua Post
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Ethics inquiry of school board member BY STEVE LINDSLEY The Umpqua Post
The Oregon Government Ethics Commission is in the initial stages of investigating ethics charges against Reedsport school board member Brian Thornton. The commission is acting on a complaint filed by former Reedsport athletic director James Hixenbaugh in February. The commission considered the case at its Aug. 8 meeting. The commission’s 19-page preliminary review said Thornton may have participated as a board member “in a manner prohibited by Oregon government ethics law, in discussion concerning the initial employment of his wife as a coach with the district and the duties of his mother, a district employee.
Editor’s note Transcripts of Reedsport school board member Brian Thornton’s emails and responses to the Oregon Government Ethics Commission are unedited. Information also indicates he may have taken prohibited officials actions as to the appointment of his father to a position on the board.” The review, signed by OGEC investigator Diane Gould, OGEC Executive Director Ronald Bursin and Assistant Oregon Attorney General Lynn Rosik, says “it appears that the information available is sufficient to constitute a substantial, objective bases for the belief that Mr. Thornton may have
committed violations of Oregon government ethics laws and that an investigation is warranted.” Thornton has been provided information received in the complaint. He did not comment to The Umpqua Post after the initial complaint was filed. He wrote to The Umpqua Post on Monday, Aug. 18, that he had no comment. At issue is whether Thornton used his elected position to gain favors for family members. The first incident occurred in fall of 2012 when members of Thornton’s family were accused of failing to pay for admission to a school football game where Thornton was working as a volunteer. Thornton himself was
Coach hiring issue Brian Thornton’s emails to Reedsport then-Superintendent Jim Thomas concerning the selection of a varsity track coach and Reedsport athletic director James Hixenbaugh: “The fact that you have to go to such measures to have a overqualified person get the opportunity to even have an interview tells me all that I need to know and have known about the athletic director, the history of coaches hire and athletic program in general, we should have had a new one years ago,” Thornton wrote, from his board email account. “I can tell you that because of how the AD has handled this common process is finding a coach for a Track Program, m wife wants nothing to do with the Coaching position at the High School on the sure fact of how the dealing a will continue with our Athletic Director.” Thornton wrote to Thomas on Feb. 18 about the way Fitzgerald’s interview was arranged and again demanded the athletic director be replaced: “I move for immediate action in a replacement AD and will be motioning for on Wednesday.”
SEE RESPONSES, PAGE A6
SEE INQUIRY, PAGE A6
Paving positive direction for schools
Tymchuk won’t seek re-election BY STEVE LINDSLEY The Umpqua Post
THE UMPQUA POST Reedsport’s interim school superintendent is gearing toward a positive year and hopes to set a tone for a new, permanent superintendent scheduled to be hired next year. Dennis Friedrich came to Reedsport from the Fern Ridge School District, where he spent four years as superintendent. Friedrich says he’s spent his first 45 days on the job meeting with the community, and he and the board had a workshop earlier this month to discuss goals. He says he’s impressed with what he’s seen. “What I see is quality people on all spectrums,” he said. “Whether it’s from the board or to staff, I’ve met some really quality people. Are there issues? Absolutely. There are issues like there are everywhere. Are they more pronounced? I’ll be honest with you and say I don’t think so.” Friedrich said, in an interview at district headquarters he wants to create a good “culture” in the district. “A culture and a mutual respect,” he said. “How do we establish ... what are our behaviors, what do we exhibit ... that would establish a culture of mutual respect? It’s not easy.” At the work session with the board, Friedrich says he has a good idea of where he should go in the year he’s here. “Number one,” he said, “is some direction and assessment. I have an assessment background. How do we use assessment for successful education?” Friedrich admits there are a lot of standards to meet. “Now, we have the local test, we have the national test, we have the international test, we have all these comparisons that we’re all measured against,” he said. “We are on a search for data, student-learning data. “Accountability is based on data. So, where do we get that? How do you use assessment? One of things we want to be careful about is making sure that assessment is used. One of the things, I think, you’re going to hear from me is that, if the target is clear and it doesn’t move, kids will hit. It’s when we move the target that kids are confused about what it is we want from them.”
Fourth District Congressman covered a wide range of topics during a town hall on Tuesday, Aug.12 at the Reedsport Community Center. He touched on issues close to Reedsport: dredging, a veteran’s bill, O&C forest lands, fishing and even heard about Reedsport’s effort to federally certify its levee. Reedsport City Manager By Steve Lindsley, The Umpqua Post Jonathan Wright educated the Fourth District Congressman Peter DeFazio addresses the crowd at a town Democrat on the city’s efforts to
SEE POSITIVE, PAGE A7
hall at the community center in Reedsport on Tuesday, Aug. 12. It was the SEE DEFAZIO, PAGE A7 first of 20 town halls in the district during the summer recess for Congress.
By Steve Lindsley, The Umpqua Post
Crew install a pedestrian bridge at the Hinsdale Garden on Spruce Reach Island, east of Reedsport. The bridge will allow visitors to cross the slough and see the entire garden. The Bureau of Land Management has jurisdiction for the garden and got funding for the bridge this year.
Hinsdale property gets footbridge Visitors to the iconic Hinsdale Garden, east of Reedsport, will have a new feature to enjoy next blooming season. The Bureau of Land Management, which has jurisdiction of the Hinsdale property on Spruce Reach Island, has installed a pedestrian bridge. The bridge has been waiting to be moved from BLM property at the east end of the Dean Creek ELK Viewing Area for more than 18 months. “Basically, we’ve been just been waiting for the funding to do the install,” Michael Kelly, outdoor recreation planner with the BLM’s Coos Bay District, said. “The contract was put together earlier this spring and was awarded this year. “They’re finishing it up as we speak. The bridge has been placed and they’re putting in the wings to connect it to the trails that we’ve been putting in at the garden.” The bridge opens a new area for visitors during the garden’s open days in the spring and summer. “It will allow people to view to view the garden to the east of main garden,” Kelly said. “They can get across that slough.”
In past years, the garden has only been open to visitors one or two days a season. This year, with training from the BLM, the Friends of Reedsport’s Hinsdale Garden staffed three “open days” and also conducted a tour for a group from British Columbia, which made the garden a stop on an Oregon tour. Kelly said the bridge may increase the numbers of visitors. “It’s an added attraction,” he said. “Of course, our goal is to continue to have more open days. “We’re looking at other options for parking. As you know, it’s a difficult site for parking. We’re still working on that.” During the 2013 and 2014 open days, visitors parked at the Dean Creek Elk Viewing Area parking lot and were shuttled by busses or taxis to the Hinsdale property. Kelly said the plan is to continue fixing up the trails. The BLM has also been improving trails
SEE HINSDALE, PAGE A7
DeFazio addresses dredging issues THE UMPQUA POST
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The mayor of Reedsport, Keith Tymchuk, says he will not run for a seventh, two-year term. He made the announcement in an email to The Umpqua Post. “After much soul searching,” he wrote, “I have finally decided to not run for re-election in 2014.” Tymchuk says he was honored to serve as the city’s mayor. “I have always considered a privilege and tried to treat is such every day,” he wrote. “I am deeply appreciative of the trust the voters of Reedsport have so often shown in me. This is a wonderful community in which to serve and live.” Tymchuk’s father, Tom, served as Reedsport mayor from 1969 to 1977. Keith Tymchuk said it was time to step down. “But there comes a time when it is appropriate for an elected official to just step away,” he wrote. “That time has come for me. This is a decision that has not come easily.” Tymchuk said he understood that the job of mayor was not his, but something with which he had been temporarily entrusted. “I am simply trying to respect that philosophy,” he wrote. “I am not stepping aside to run for any other office. I am simply hanging up my gavel with the knowledge that I always gave the job my utmost effort and the sincere belief that I have represented Reedsport well, often in very tough times and situations.” Tymchuk has been a Port of Umpqua commissioner since he was first elected in 1994. He did not indicate whether he would also step away from that position. He also recently served on an advisory panel to select finalists for the interim Douglas County commissioner post to replace Doug Robertson for four months. Robertson retired from the commission after 33 years. The remaining two commissioners selected former commissioner Mike Winters to the interim position. Tymchuk is also a teacher in the Reedsport School District. He has been very active in regional issues. “I have always tried to carry the city’s message to county, state and federal officials and to work with them (as opposed to against them) in solving problems as they come,” He
SEE MAYOR, PAGE A7