Bandon
AN EDITION OF
WESTERN WORLD Thursday, April 3, 2014
theworldlink.com/bandon ♦ $1.00
Battle champs:
Washed Ashore:
Inside this edition:
Teams hit the books, see page A2 for the full story
New displays begin, see page A9 for the full story
Education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A2 Bandon Police Log. . . . . . . . A3 Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A4
Arts and Entertainment . . . A5 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A10 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A8
Bandon boy has rare disorder By Amy Moss Strong
How to help Gabe
Bandon Western World
Contributed photo
BANDON — Gabe Guerin is a sweet and funny 7-year-old boy. He is the second oldest of four brothers to parents Sabrina and Josh and loves to read, draw, ride his bike and play basketball. His mom says he’s a smart kid and the “best snuggler in the whole world.” But this small boy is facing a big challenge. In February 2013, when Gabe was 6 years old, he was diagnosed with nystagmus — an involuntary, rapid and repetitive movement of the eyes. He was sent to see a neurological opthamologist at Oregon Health and Sciences University in Portland. At this initial appoint-
Go Fund Me account: https://funds.gofundme.com/index.php?route=donate2/d onate&url=7vbfw0 Goal: $10,000 Raised: $1,635 An account also has been set up at Umpqua Bank to help pay for Gabe’s surgery and the family’s travel expenses. Anyone wishing to donate can make checks out to Joshua and Sabrina Guerin: Surgery Account.
ment it was determined that his nystagmus was congenital and did not need any treatment at that time, explained his mother. However, at his check-up this past January
■ See Gabe, A6
Contributed photo
Facing surgery Gabe Guerin will undergo surgery April 10 at OHSU to relieve pressure on his brain.
Nurse Practitioner Laura Bye has joined the staff at Bandon Community Health Center.
BCHC welcomes new nurse practitioner Bandon Western World
BANDON — Bandon Community Health Center welcomes Family Nurse Practitioner Laura Bye to the clinic staff. Bye began serving patients at the BCHC Bandon clinic April 1. For more than 10 years, Bye has worked with patients in varied medical settings, including hospitals, clinics and home health locations throughout the Pacific Northwest. Bye considered a move to the Oregon Coast for some time. She chose Bandon after meeting the BCHC staff. “The staff they have are amazing,” said Bye, who noted how refreshing it is to find such a cohesive group of professionals. Her depth of training, coupled with special expertise in pain management and geriatric care, benefit the health center and the community, said Executive Director Linda Maxon. “We’re really fortunate to have a practitioner come to us with such a strong background in caring for Medicare patients, and she’s especially knowledgeable of in-home services,” said Maxon. “Clinically, Laura is very sound and grounded. And she will do very well with patients managing long term pain, with many tools and a team approach to helping
■ See Bye, A6
Photo by Amy Moss Strong
Tiffany’s to Rite Aid Tiffany’s Drugs, one of the original tenants when the Bandon Shopping Center was built 20 years ago, is now a Rite Aid.
Shopping center changes begin By Amy Moss Strong Bandon Western World
BANDON — The Bandon Shopping Center is undergoing major changes, the first of which began Friday with the closure of longtime tenant Tiffany’s Drugs. The pharmacy re-opened Saturday morning with a new sign: Rite Aid. The shopping center was purchased by Dickerhoof Properties of Corvallis on Feb. 14, for just over $4 million. Darren Dickerhoof said that his company intends to put $500,000 to $600,000 into remodeling the complex, including new facades and building improvements. In addition to the Rite Aid changeover, the next major change will take place beginning in May, when Bandon Golf
Wampler prepping for Miss Oregon Pageant By Amy Moss Strong Bandon Western World
Bandon Cranberry Festival Queen 2013 Emma Wampler will represent Bandon at the Miss Oregon Scholarship Pageant in July and is busily preparing for her trip. Preparing will first involve raising the money necessary to attend the pageant camp May 2-4 and the pageant itself, set for the week of June 22-28 in Seaside. According to Chamber Executive Director Julie Miller,it costs approximately $5,000 to
send a representative to the Miss Oregon pageant. Wampler’s platform is disaster preparedness and her project has been to organize a Teen Community Emergency Response Team training at Bandon High School. Wampler’s CERT involvement was featured in a recent issue of The Ford Family Foundation’s Community Vitality newsletter, and she is taking the class along with the other BHS members. “We’re off to a good start. Being able to get the word out is
Supply will move from its current location at the north end of the center, to a new location next door to Rite Aid to make room for a Dollar Tree store, expected in late summer. The golf shop will utilize three existing spaces: Bandon Pizza, Pet Wash Plus and a vacant store. Bandon Pizza owner Bev Wordan is looking for a new location for the store, which has been in the shopping center for 20 years. In addition, Bree’s Upscale Resale will be moving to a new location uptown, next to Juul Insurance and Edward Jones Investments and across from the former Bandon Pharmacy (which will soon house the Bandon Liquor Store). Bree’s store manager is excited about the change.
■ See Rite Aid, A8
Crim named state youth volunteer of the year By Amy Moss Strong Bandon Western World
Photo by Angela Cardas
Miss Bandon Cranberry Festival ■ See Emma, A6 Emma Wampler.
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COQUILLE — Coquille teen Grant Crim has been named state Youth Volunteer of the Year by Gov. John Kitzhaber for his ongoing work with the American Cancer Society, raising cancer awareness and speaking about his own experience battling cancer. A team of judges awarded eight state-level awards and 24 regional awards this year, for a total of 32 awards. They went to 22 individuals or duos and 10 volunteer programs. Presenting sponsor Wells Fargo will make a cash grant to a nonprofit organization selected by each winner. Grants of $600 will be made on behalf of state-level winners, and grants of $425 will be made on behalf of regional winners. Award winners and nominees will be recognized at the annual Governor’s Volunteer Awards Luncheon on Thursday,
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■ See Grant, A6