Bandon
AN EDITION OF
WESTERN WORLD Thursday, January 30, 2014
theworldlink.com/bandon ♦ $1.00
Grass fire:
Tall order:
Inside this edition:
Arrest made in 8-acre fire, see page A6 for story
Tigers suffer first league loss, see A10 for the story
Education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A2 Bandon Police Log. . . . . . . . A3 Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A4
Arts and Entertainment . . . A5 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A10 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A8
Recalculation could cost schools $38K By Amy Moss Strong Bandon Western World
BANDON — The Bandon School District could lose as much as $38,000 in state funding next year due to a reconfiguration in the way the state calculates the student poverty level. Last week, the state Board of Education approved a new way to calculate student poverty, which is one factor the state uses in its formula to fund
schools. The School Board was updated at its meeting last week. In Oregon, each district receives the same amount per student, but extra funding is given for the number of students living on or below the state poverty level. That funding is used for programs to help those students succeed in school. The state used to calculate the number using national Census data, but now will use information based on several
factors, including Census numbers and surveys, Internal Revenue Service data, along with the number of children on the Free and Reduced Meals program in any given district. The good news is Bandon’s student poverty has decreased slightly, though student poverty levels are on the rise statewide. Some districts will receive more funding based on the new calculations,while others,including Bandon, will receive less.
“It’s a scary time for small school districts,” said Bandon Schools Superintendent Diane Buche. The actual numbers won’t be known until March. Six South Coast districts will lose funding: Bandon, Central Curry, Coos Bay, Coquille, Port Orford-Langlois and Powers. Amounts range from an estimated $12,000 (Port OrfordLanglois) to $106,000 (Coos Bay School District). Four South Coast school dis-
tricts will receive additional funding, including BrookingsHarbor, Myrtle Point, North Bend and Reedsport. Reedsport will gain the most, more than $180,000. Bandon is one of 17 districts losing funding simply because poverty decreased. But Central Curry, Coos Bay, Coquille and Port OrfordLanglois are four of 45 districts losing funding even though
■ See Schools, A7
Curry Co. golf course proposal delayed By John Gunther Bandon Western World
GOLD BEACH — The proposed Pacific Gales Golf Course meets all the requirements for a conditional use permit that would allow it to be built on a portion of the Knapp Ranch between Cape Blanco and Port Orford. That was the message developers argued to the Curry County Planning Commission when a public hearing on the proposal was held last week. The commission delayed a decision on the conditional use application, extending the public comment period two weeks at the request of the Oregon Shores Conservation Coalition and the Oregon Coast Alliance. Both groups submitted concerns about the course to the county planning department a few hours before the hearing. A third group, the Kalmiopsis Audubon Society, also expressed concerns, which representatives presented during the hearing. The commission now is scheduled to
■ See Delay, A7
Photo by Amy Moss Strong
Field trip Members of the city’s Water Resource Committee visit the Ferry Creek dam last Thursday to learn more about a leak.
Dam leak will be a costly fix By Amy Moss Strong
BANDON — The Little Dutch Boy could be called for this one. But Bandon city officials likely will take a more prudent approach to fixing a leak in the Ferry Creek dam that, if left untouched, could compromise water flow to the city. The dam is one of two, along with the Geiger Creek dam, that provides for the collection of water to supply both the residents of the city of Bandon as well as the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
McLauchlin trial will not have a jury
fish hatchery east of the city on Fish Hatchery Road off state Highway 42S. The earthen dams themselves are owned by the state of Oregon, but much of the land on which the reservoirs are located is owned by the city of Bandon, according to City Manager Matt Winkel. An earthen dam, as opposed to a rock-filled dam, has a embankment made of compacted earth to stop water from seeping through. In this case, however, there is a small leak that is allowing seepage. Although there is an adequate supply
of water at this time, the city and ODFW staff and engineers are working together to develop a plan for how to fix the leak and to pay for those repairs as soon as possible, Winkel said. The cost has not been determined yet, but could be as much as $500,000 to $1 million. A field trip with members of the Bandon Water Resource Committee was held Jan. 23 to see the problem first-
■ See Fix, A7
By Amy Moss Strong Bandon Western World
COQUILLE — A trial was scheduled to be held Wednesday for a former Bandon teacher and coach who has been charged with sexually abusing a student. Charles Eugene McLauchlin Jr., 55, waived his right to a jury trial, so the trial will be held without a jury, according to Coos County Assistant District Attorney Mark Monson. McLauchlin is charged with 25 counts of second-degree sex abuse and 10 counts of online sexual corruption of a minor. A former science teacher at Harbor Lights Middle School for many years, McLauchlin had also worked as a cross country and track coach in the Bandon School District. The charges stem from an alleged incident involving a student who also was a runner. The Bandon Police Department began investigating McLauchlin in
Birders in their element on the South Coast Historic: First-ever sighting of brown thrasher in county Bandon Western World
BANDON — Forty-eight birders came from near and far for the 16th Coquille Valley Christmas Bird Count. They came Contributed photo from as far as Illinois Valley, Portland, Salem, Eugene, Roseburg and Gold Beach to a chilly morning and sunny day on the Harv Schubothe, right, and Alan Contreras keep their scopes focused Southern Oregon coast. They were assisted to view and count birds on the Bandon Marsh during the annual by eight observers at feeders throughout the Coquille Valley Bird Count, held earlier this month. ■ See Birds, A7
Bird’s eye view
■ See Trial, A7
and would like to extend a warm welcome to our two newest team members Art Art B Brewer r e w e r and JJudy udy T Tree ree
Stop & see Art in our Myrtle Point store & Judy in our Bandon store! Like Us! www.facebook.com/mckaysmarket
WELCOME ABOARD!
Follow Us!
www.mckaysmarkets.com
@McKaysMarkets