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Umpqua Post
Weekly news from the Heart of the Dunes AN EDITION OF
WEST
Wednesday, January 8, 2014 | Serving the Reedsport area since 1996 | theworldlink.com/reedsport | $1.00
Discovery Center gets new attractions BY STEVE LINDSLEY The Umpqua Post
Two sculptures from last summer’s Oregon Divisional Chainsaw Sculpting Championships in Reedsport were given prominent positioning at the Umpqua Discovery Center. Diane Novak is the director of UDC. “The chamber purchases one or two of the carvings and has a committee that decides where the placements will be,” she said. “We ... are proud to be able to display these wonderful carvings.” Photo by Steve Lindsley, The Umpqua Post The carvings are “Swan,” done by Chris Umpqua Discovery Center Director Diane Novak is interviewed by KCBY’s Angelica Carrillo Foltz of North Bend and “Jumping Salmon,” by on Friday, as the center received two chainsaw carvings from the Reedsport/Winchester George Kenney of Allyn, Wash. Bay Chamber of Commerce. Kenney serves a dual purpose during the
Hundreds of dollars stolen from Gardiner Fire Dept.
championships, doing carving and he is also the auctioneer for the event. Novak said the sculptures, like others around Reedsport will get a lot of eyes. “We have visitors that come from all over the world,” she said. “This will really enhance their experience and they’ll be able to enjoy these wonderful works of art.” Some Reedsport/Winchester Bay Chamber of Commerce board members and the cochairs of the 2013 championships were on hand for the placement on Friday, Jan. 3. Bob del Re is one of the co-chairs. “We just go around and ask different businesses which ones they would like to have,” he
SEE DISCOVERY, PAGE A6
Crabbing from the dock at dusk
BY STEVE LINDSLEY The Umpqua Post
Hundreds of dollars were, apparently, stolen from the office of the Gardiner Volunteer Fire Department. Chief John Swann says it was money used for weekend pancake breakfasts, the annual Fourth of July fireworks display and other events. The theft may have occurred on Sun., Dec. 29. “Sometime Sunday morning, apparantly,” Swann said. He says the money was kept in a filing cabinet at the fire hall. “We’ve kept the money there for the last two years,” Swann said. The office is one shared with the Gardiner Sanitary District. Swann says it’s a big hit to the district. “There was probably $200 to $300 that we take in on our breakfasts,” he said. “We have a breakfast once a month. It pays for our food for the next month. It pays, if we want T-shirts, instead of bothering the board for money for T-shirts and stuff, we take it out of there.” He says it puts the fundraising breakfasts at risk. “I don’t know what to do about our breakfast,” he said, “because our breakfasts are the second Saturday of the month. I’m going to ask the board if they’ll loan me the money to get the things I need, but I hate doing it.” The breakfast is slated to be held on Saturday, Jan. 11. He said, in another bag, there were stickers that read “Support Your Local Fire Department” that were also taken. Swann said they received those stickers three weeks ago. “Now,” he said, “I have to come up with $99 to pay for them.” He said there was also $50 in that bag. Some of the funds were donations at Sugar Shack bakery for fireworks. “I imagine,” Swann said, “over $400 there.” Swann says they would appreciate community donations to help replenish the department’s funds. Donations can be sent to the fire department at P.O. Box 272, Gardiner, OR, 97441 or contact Chief Swann at 541981-0139. Swann says anyone with information regarding the break-in contact the Douglas County Sheriff’s office.
By Steve Lindsley, The Umpqua Post
Two crabbers on the Crabbing Dock use the remaining sunshine at Salmon Harbor on Sunday.
Hospital launches walk-in clinic BY STEVE LINDSLEY The Umpqua Post
After Lower Umpqua Hospital’s purchase of Dunes Family Health care last summer, the hospital will now open a walk-in clinic, next to Reedsport Medical Clinic. “We do know that 173 people in the Reedsport area have signed up for the CCO Oregon Health Plan,” hospital administrator Sandra Reese said. “We were concerned that that we wouldn’t have enough physicians if there was a big group of people that wanted health coverage all at once. We’re not sure if the people that are signed up have conditions that they haven’t sought health care for. Now, they’ll be trying to get into the system and we wanted to make sure that we had people available so that they
Freeman at Bedrock’s tonight BY STEVE LINDSLEY The Umpqua Post
State Rep. Tim Freeman, RRoseburg, now a candidate for Douglas County Commissioner, will host an informal meet and greet Contributed photo by Liz Adamo from 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 8 at Nurse Practitioner Tara Blohm (left) and Dr. Audrey Shank check supplies at Bedrock’s on the Bay, 105 Coho the new Lower Umpqua Hospital Walk-in Clinic, in the same building as Point Loop, in Winchester Bay. Freeman has been traveling the Reedsport Medical Clinic. county in his bid for commissioner in May. catch the people who either don’t can be seen and then help to get a “I would tell you that what peohave a primary care doctor right primary care physician in the ple are concerned about most, by a now,” Audrey Shank said, “or who area.” can’t get into seeing their primary large margin, is really the economy She also noted there may be care physician on the day that they and the availability to get a job,” some people in the area that don’t Freeman said in a phone interview. need to.” want a primary care physician but “Even those people who have jobs The new facility, named the still want health care when they are very nervous about the possiLower Umpqua Hospital Walk-in need it. Dr. Audrey Shank will help staff Clinic, will be on the north side of bility of losing that, whether the company that they’re working for the current Reedsport Medical the clinic. Currently, she works at is shutting down ... whether it’s Clinic where there is currently a a Eugene-area urgent care clinic, private sector, public sector, nonspecialty clinic. That specialty but she and her husband, Dr. profits, people are very nervous clinic will continue to operate Gregory Shank, live in Reedsport. while sharing the office space. He works for Lower Umpqua right now.” Reese said the walk-in clinic Hospital. He was asked with the county “The idea is pretty much to
SEE CLINIC, PAGE A6
SEE FREEMAN, PAGE A6
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