AN EDITION OF
Bandon
WESTERN WORLD Thursday, January 9, 2014
theworldlink.com/bandon ♦ $1.00
The Kingfishers:
Holiday Invite:
Inside this edition:
Duo will play for hospital art show opening. See A5.
Bandon finishes second, see page A8.
Education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A2 Bandon Police Log. . . . . . . . A3 Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A4
Arts and Entertainment . . . A5 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A8 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A6
The ravages of Huntington’s Disease: Is a genetic neurodegenerative disorder By Amy Moss Strong
“Alive & Well” Documentary about Huntington’s Disease 7 p.m., Monday, Jan. 20 Pony Village Cinemas, North Bend Tickets: $10, pre-sold, at www.gathr.us/screenings/6506
Bandon Western World
SOUTH COAST — Sometimes not knowing you have a target on your back is better than knowing. But when you have a 50-percent chance of developing a fatal disease, not knowing if the odds are in your favor can be too much of a burden.
A pre-symptomatic test is a lifechanging event and a very personal decision for family members affected by Huntington’s Disease, a neurodegenerative genetic disorder that affects muscle coordination and leads to cognitive decline and psychiatric problems and,
eventually, death. Knowing her great-grandmother, grandfather and mother all carried the dominant mutated gene prompted Coos Bay resident Rebecca Ambrose to get tested. “My family is devastated by Huntington’s Disease,” Ambrose said. “My mother, three uncles and two aunts have Huntington’s Disease. They have lost all ability to perform activities of daily living and are for the most part unable to speak, walk or communicate in any way.” Ambrose, 29, is hoping to raise
■ See Huntington’s, A7
Contributed photo
Rebecca Ambrose, right, is pictured with her mother, sister and niece.
City Park upgrades continue
Photo by Amy Moss Strong
Blaze of glory A young woman runs on the beach near the South Jetty with her dog. Dramatic Bandon sunsets have been enjoyed by many in the past few weeks. Showers and high temperatures in the low 50s are expected through Saturday.
Keiser’s newest golf project will provide ‘overwhelming benefit’ By John Gunther Bandon Western World
BANDON — Now that the Oregon Parks Commission has approved the concept of a land swap that could clear the way for the Bandon Links golf complex, Mike Keiser’s vision for the gorsechoked area is closer to reality. Keiser owns the renowned Bandon Dunes Golf Resort, but has proposed the land swap through a separate company he started in Coos County, Bandon Biota LLC. The process took longer than Keiser hoped and will cost more than he initially expected, but, in an interview with The World recently, he said he’s delighted it appears headed toward final approval. “Frankly, I give a lot of credit to Tim Wood, who was really tough,” Keiser said of the State Parks director. Under state rules, a transfer like this one requires “overwhelming public benefit.” “My initial offer, I thought, was extremely generous, and he made me double my offer, to go from beneficial to the public to
overwhelming public benefit,” Keiser said. “I was gratified the board agreed with Tim Wood and supported the idea.” In the land exchange, Bandon Biota would transfer 208 acres in the Bandon area into the state parks system, provide $450,000 in matching funds to help the state purchase property at Whale Cove near Depoe Bay and $2.5 million to buy a portion of a ranch in Grant County, and give the state $300,000 for gorse control in Coos and Curry counties. Bandon Biota would receive 280 acres in the Bandon State Natural Area south of town. While giving conditional approval for the swap last month, the commission asked parks staff for additional documentation on the various aspects of the exchange. A public comment period ended Friday. If the commission approves the swap at its February meeting, the project still needs to go through the local permitting process. But Keiser hopes to be able to start working on specifics of the project.
Links will continue to build caddie program BANDON — Since the original Bandon Dunes course opened, Mike Keiser has insisted all his resort courses will be walking only. The resort owner has the same plan for the proposed Bandon Links. The philosophy fits both with his love of traditional golf and his desire to rebuild the caddie tradition in the United States. “It used to be quite prevalent in the America and then the golf cart took it away,” Keiser said. “That’s where future golfers come from.” Keiser himself was a caddie as a youth in New York. One of his fondest memories is being caddie for Buster Ramsey, the first coach of the Buffalo Bills. Ramsey was a large man and brought a lot of items to the golf course. “His golf bag must have weighed 40 pounds,” Keiser said. Bandon Dunes has a large caddie program, especially in the busy summer months, but it doesn’t necessarily cater to student caddies. “We don’t have a robust junior caddie program, it’s all adults,” Keiser said. “Everything at Bandon Links would be slanted toward employing youth.” Keiser envisions students learning to caddie at
■ See Links, A7 ■ See Keiser, A7
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BANDON — The Parks and Recreation Commission has been working hard to make substantial improvements within the City Park, according to City Manager Matt Winkel. The commission, with volunteer support, has over the last few years: ■ Installed walking paths ■ Planted more than 200 trees, shrubs; ■ Installed a disc golf course ■ Renovated the existing public rooms ■ Installed entrance signs ■ Renovated the south ballfield ■ Expanded the dog park ■ Improved the drainage and replaced the ground covering in the children’s play area ■ Revamped the public library parking lot ■ Added extruded curbs and new streetlights in the parking lot adjacent to The Barn and the Sprague Community Theater ■ Installed a new gazebo at the west end of the park ■ Installed high-definition security cameras ■ Recently completed the preliminary plans for the South Jetty Park and a new bicycle “pump track” in City Park. In addition, the commission spearheaded the construction of two school bus shelters, one near the ballfields at Bandon Heights and one adjacent to the convergence of Harlem Avenue, Harvard Street and Bills Creek Road. In addition to the upcoming installation of a new merry-go-round and replacement or repair of the playground equipment, the commission has identified three other projects to hopefully complete in the near future, Winkel said. These include realigning the center ballfields and creating a sports plaza with concession stand, continuing to improve and create pathways throughout the park, and building a new stage. To help fund these projects and complete them as soon as possible, the commission has been selling sponsorship bricks — 4-inch x 8-inch bricks can be purchased for $50 each, and 8-inch x 8inch bricks can be purchased for $75 each. This cost includes placing a personalized message or name(s) on each brick, which can be up to three lines with 17 characters (including letters, numbers, spaces, and punctuation). Personalized logos are available on the larger bricks for an additional $20. Those who purchase the bricks also can indicate their preference as to which of these upcoming projects they want their contribution allocated and their bricks displayed. Additional information can be obtained at City Hall or by contacting City Planner Michelle Hampton at 541347-2437, ext. 231, or e-mail mhampton@ci.bandon.or.us.
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