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Umpqua Post
Weekly news from the Heart of the Dunes AN EDITION OF
WEST
Wednesday, January 1, 2014 | Serving the Reedsport area since 1996 | theworldlink.com/reedsport | $1.00
The Umpqua Post’s top 3 stories from 2013 BY STEVE LINDSLEY The Umpqua Post
The death of the city’s police chief was the top story in Reedsport. Here are the top three stories, as determined by Umpqua Post Editor Steve Lindsley, who began March 18, 2013,
Death of the police chief
By Steve Lindsley, The Umpqua Post
Dozens of law enforcement vehicles were part of the processional, July 14, after the “Celebration of Life” for Reedsport Police Chief Mark Fandrey. There were police cars from Reedsport, Douglas County, Lincoln County and Newport and Toledo, where Fandrey used to work. The chief died of a heart attack July 6. A memorial service was held at Pacific Auditorium in Reedsport.
Chief Fandrey died suddenly July 6, 2013. According to a news release from the city, “relatives found Fandrey, 50, unresponsive a short time after laying down while vacationing with family at the Big K Ranch in Elkton. Fandrey had reported not feeling well earlier.” Fandrey had been with the city for three years, coming to Reedsport from Toledo, where he spent 13 years, three of those as chief.
WHALE SPOKEN AT UMPQUA LIGHTHOUSE
In Reedsport, Fandrey oversaw several major incidents, including a standoff at a local motel in September 2012, which lasted for 8 1⁄2 hours and ended in the gunman’s suicide after opening fire on police. He also presided over a decision to put shotguns back in patrol cars, after an officer had to shoot a bear with an assault rifle. “Mark Fandrey was a consummate professional,” Reedsport Mayor Keith Tymchuk wrote in an email. “As a chief, he held himself to the highest ethical and moral standards and expected the same from his officers. He was a credit to his chosen profession and to the Reedsport community.” Sgt. Tom Beck was named as interim chief almost immediately after Fandrey’s death. The city began a recruitment process a month after Fandrey’s
The Umpqua Post
Should the Reedsport School District keep the four-day school week it has been operating with for the past two school years? The school board discussed the issue at it's Dec. 17 meeting. The principals, Laura Davis and Jim Thomas, conducted a poll among district employees to gauge whether they supported the fourday week. Thomas, who also serves as the district’s superintendent, said, “I handed out a sheet and said, ‘Were you for the four-day week or opposed to it and, if so, why? And if not, why not?’” Certified staff at Highland Elementary were six for and eight By Steve Lindsley, The Umpqua Post against the four-day week. Visitors take pictures at Umpqua Lighthouse State Park during Whale Watching Week. Volunteers staff whale Comments for included: watching sites in the spring and winter, when gray whales migrate. The winter watch ended Tuesday. “Prefer four-day week because I feel more prepared and planned for the week. Also enjoy professional development time”; “Prefer fourday week so that we have ongoing professional development.” Comments against at Highland include: “I believe students would benefit more with a five-day week.” “Would prefer five days of actual teaching. That is the only timber communities, so it’s a relief that counties way that scores will go up.” ■ hanging on by a thread won’t have to worry about “Students are hurt by the four-day even more funding slipping away this year,” Wyden week. Three-day break is too long. said. “At the same time, I’m committed to getting Students need more time in people back to work in the woods, and taking comschool.” And, “Kids don’t get betmunities off of the roller coaster of renewing these ter unless they practice. They need Washington, D.C. — Rural communities are in line payments every year. I’m going to keep working with more time to work on skills. If kids Rep. DeFazio and the rest of the Oregon delegation to aren’t in school it won't change to receive millions in additional Secure Rural Schools pass a long-term solution for jobs and vital public anything.” funding, after the White House determined that Classified comments at mandatory budget cuts known as “sequestration” will services.” Highland showed six in favor of the “When the Department of Agriculture not apply to the program for payments going out early four-day week and three against. this year, Oregon Democrats Sen. Ron Wyden and announced earlier this year they intended to Comments for included: “Made Rep. Peter DeFazio have announced. sequester county payments, I pushed back and adjustment to four-day week. Wyden, who chairs the Senate Energy and Natural argued that their decision didn’t make sense,” Don’t change back to a five-day Resources Committee, and DeFazio, top Democrat on DeFazio said. “This is obviously good news for rural week.” the House Natural Resources Committee, had pressed Oregon counties struggling to keep deputies on the Comments against included: the administration for months to prevent cuts to sup- roads and criminals in jail, and I urge the Department port for rural Oregon counties. of Agriculture to reexamine the decision to sequester “Our kids need to be here.” And, “I “These timber payments are a lifeline for rural don’t think that is good for kids..” SEE SCHOOLS, PAGE A6 Commenters on both sides
Sequestration will not apply to Secure Rural Schools money Rural Oregon counties to receive millions in additional funding; payments go out in early 2014
Kaufmann celebrates 30 years with Reedsport She’s been with the city of Reedsport for 30 years but, surprisingly, is not planning to retire just yet. Caryn Kaufmann is currently the city’s payroll clerk and accounts payable clerk. “I’m not retiring,” she said. “At the Christmas holiday ... we celebrate years of service with everybody. For every five years you get a certificate and this is my 30 years. I’ve been with the city since 1983.” Her explanation to her longevity is simple. “I love my job,” she said, “so I stayed here.” Kaufmann started with the city in a tough job. “I started as a police dispatcher,” she said. “I was in dispatch for four years. Then I transferred over
to city hall in 1987.” She worked with the utilities department and was the planning secretary for a number of years before taking over payroll 20 years ago. She added accounts payable to her resume seven years ago. She said she also assists the fire department with some of the department’s paperwork. Kaufmann estimates she’s worked under seven city managers. “I’ve been through lots of changes,” she said. “Lots of city managers. A lot of personnel changes with other people retiring.” She is still enthusiastic about her work with the city. “I like the people I work with,” she admits. “It’s nice to come to work in the morning and know that you’re supported by the other staff members.”
American Bridge closure The Coraopolis, Pa.-based company sent out a WARN (Worker Adjustment an Retraining Notification) on Oct. 8. The company announced its intent to close the Reedsport plant and layoff all 51 employees. Since that time, the company has not spoken about the closure. It still has not responded to numerous requests for an interview. The plant was slated to close Dec. 9. The company also closed a plant in Coraopolis, idling 77 workers. The company has given
SEE TOP 3, PAGE A6
School board meets to discuss four-day school feedback BY STEVE LINDSLEY
THE UMPQUA POST
death. City Manager Jonathan Wright announced the hiring of Duane Wisehart as chief. Wisehart has spent the last 27 years with the Hemet, Calif. Police Department. Wisehart is expected to start in Reedsport in January.
She also admits she enjoys working with the public. Her enthusiasm is noticed. “Caryn is a great person to work with,” said Reedsport Administrative Assistant and City Recorder Deanna Schafer. “I have always been impressed by her dedication and loyalty to the city and its employees.” Kaufmann also says she ended up in the job she trained for. “Right now my current job,payroll and accounts payable,I love it,” she said.“My degree was in accounting so I feel like I’m where I should be.” She admits the police dispatcher position was tough, but she enjoyed it. Contributed photo “It’s very stressful but, you know, Caryn Kaufmann has been with the I did like being a dispatcher,” she city of Reedsport for more than 30 remembered. The rotating shifts
years. She says she has no plans to SEE KAUFMANN, PAGE A6 retire just yet.
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mentioned taking Monday off, instead of the current Friday. Thomas said, “What I found interesting was that those that were against it believed students would benefit more with a fiveday week ... prefer five days of actual teaching. One of them felt that was the only way scores were going to go up.” Laura Davis, principal of Roseburg Community Charter School also received a list of comments. She said classified staff indicated eight for the four-day week and one wanting to return to the fiveday week. Comments for the fourday week included: “I really like the three-day weekends, but we do get a lot of time off in November and December.” “Getting through more curriculum with a four-day week.” And, “Four days are long, but Fridays are valuable to both students and teachers. Fridays provide students with an opportunity to get extra help. Fridays also give teachers time for professional development and work time for prep.” Certified staff at RCCS polled 7-4 in favor of the four-day week. The board received a financial report from outgoing business manager Leann Stuller, which showed the district saved $90,762 in the transition from a five-day week to a four-day week. She said a reduction in the use of substitute teachers saved $24,314 and a 5 percent utility costs saved the district $22,962 “We need to look at more than just dollars and cents,” board member Brian Thornton said. “We know the test scores,” board chairwoman Kerrie Palermo said, “so I don’t know at what point we need to make a decision to say it is or isn’t working from a test-score standpoint, from the teacher collaboration during the time.”