AN EDITION OF
Bandon
WESTERN WORLD theworldlink.com/bandon ♦ $1.00
Inside this edition:
Thursday, September 26, 2013
Education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A2 Bandon Police Log. . . . . . . . A3 Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A4
Serving the Bandon community since 1912
Arts and Entertainment . . . A5 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B1 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B2
DeFazio gives D.C. update By Amy Moss Strong Bandon Western World
Fire baby Ralph “Sparky” Adams was born during the 1936 Bandon fire. This picture of him was taken in 1942. The Bandon Historical Society celebrates Sparky’s birthday and commemorates the 1936 fire with an annual open house and program. This year’s program will be held at 1 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 29. Admission is free.
Contributed photos courtesy of Bandon Historical Museum
Survivor The First National Bank building was heavily damaged in the 1936 fire. It was one of the few fire-damaged buildings to be salvaged and reopened.
The fire of all fires Bandon fire survivors to gather for the 77th anniversary of blaze
BANDON — He’s working on the issues, but it’s sometimes an uphill battle, said U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio, DSpringfield, in a town hall gathering Monday afternoon at the Bandon Public Library. The Sprague Room at the library was at capacity for DeFazio’s visit and residents had plenty of questions and comments for him. DeFazio, however, first gave a legislative update that included his own frustrations at how slow things move in Washington. “We’re not in a good place,” DeFazio told the audience. “We have no budget in place for the fiscal year.” DeFazio, who will soon head back for the next legislative session, is now a senior member on the House Natural Resources Committee. Though he said the head of that committee and he often don’t agree, he feels hopeful with the
■ See DeFazio, A3
Be prepared, go to the Faire
Bandon Western World
By Amy Moss Strong Bandon Western World
BANDON — Before he reached his second birthday, Ralph Adams of Bandon had become something of celebrity. A front-page article in the Coos Bay Times gave this account of his travels in its September 7, 1938 edition: “Preparing for his second birthday party, Ralph ‘Sparky’ Adams, who was born at Bandon during that city’s fire Sept. 26, 1936, visited Marshfield Saturday afternoon with his father, Ralph W. Adams and brother, John Arthur.” “‘Sparky,’ christened by newspaper reporters, was more interested in sucking his thumb than in giving his impressions on reaching the ripe old age of two, when he called here Saturday, but did prick up his ears at mention of his party,” reported the Times. Sharing the stories of fire survivors like “Sparky” Adams will be the focus of the program at the Bandon Historical Society Museum Sunday, Sept. 29. The fire anniversary program is an annual event at the museum. The free event will begin at 1 p.m. The museum is located at the corner of U.S. Highway 101 and Fillmore. Adams is one of several fire survivors who have attended fire anniversary programs at the museum in the past. The book “Bandon Burns,” which made its debut at last year’s fire anniversary program, includes Sparky’s mother’s account of his birth and her account of the fire.
Forest of chimneys A forest of chimneys was left in the residential areas of Bandon after a forest fire swept through Bandon in 1936. Bandon’s Historical Society Museum is located at the corner of Fillmore and U.S. Highway 101. The 1938 Coos Bay Times account continued: “Birthday celebrations for ‘Sparky’ take on special significance in the Adams household as the family recalls the night of terror amidst the blazing buildings in Bandon. ‘Sparky’ is a bright, attractive child, blue-eyed and fair-haired. He is none the worse for the unusual circumstances of his arrival. “His father reported ‘Sparky’s’ life has not been without excitement, either. Last June 10 the child received a 4-inch cut on his head when the Adams car figured in an accident south of Bandon. The cut healed, and the long scar is nearly hidden by ‘Sparky’s’ hair,” concluded the Coos Bay Times.
■ See Faire, A7
Volunteers ready for beach cleanup day
Bandon Community Health Center expands services
By Heather Cyrus Contributing writer
Bandon Western World
BANDON — Healthy individuals build strong communities, according to public and private research. To that end, Bandon Community Health Center partners with southwestern Oregon businesses, schools and public health providers to ensure the South Coast region is a stable, productive place to live. This year, BCHC has expanded primary health care services with the help of local community and corporate donations and grants from The Ford Family Foundation and Meyer Memorial Trust Foundation. With three full-time providers, BCHC now offers patient-focused primary health care in south Coos and north Curry counties. Nurse practitioner Debra Guzman joined Dr. Gail McClave and Ingrid Tyson, NP, at BCHC earlier this year. Guzman serves clients at the Bandon clinic and meets students and families in the Port OrfordLanglois School District at the Pacific High School Pirate Wellness Center. Health center practitioners also support Bandon
BANDON — BandonPrepares urges residents to remember that when disaster strikes, it is too late to prepare. The organization was founded to encourage all the people of Bandon to come together and plan to support each other when the professional first responders are overwhelmed. To help the community understand the issues and needs, BandonPrepares is hosting a Preparedness Faire from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28, at The Barn, 1200 11th St. S.W. in City Park. George Priest of the Oregon Department of Geology and Minerals will be the keynote speaker, joined by city and county emergency preparedness speakers. “This Preparedness Faire offers the opportunity to learn more of how we can help ourselves and the opportunity
School District families with health and immunization programs. And BCHC offers evening clinic hours. The health center board of directors recognizes significant support from The Ford Family and Meyer Memorial Trust foundations. The MMT Foundation contributes through grants and program investments to nonprofit organizations serving Oregon and Clark
BANDON — On Saturday, Sept. 28, thousands of Oregonians will mobilize all over the state to scour beaches, rivers and parks before the fall rains wash debris into storm drains and out to sea. As part of the International Coastal Cleanup program, more than 100 cleanup and watershed restoration projects are happening across Oregon. Stephanie Miller, an interpretive park ranger at Sunset Bay State Park, and this year’s zone captain for the Bandon area, has participated in 12 beach cleanups, six with SOLVE. “The natural world has influenced me since I was little. It has led me to where I am now, working as a park ranger along the Oregon Coast and enjoying everything the coast brings, from brief summer sun to winter storms. I don’t think it gets much better than this,” Miller said in a recent interview. Miller explained that SOLVE’s approach in providing education about debris in addition to holding volunteer cleanup events resonates with her. “We get a lot of volunteers for the Fall Beach Cleanup
■ See Services, A7
■ See Volunteers, A7
Contributed photo by Angela Cardas
Check-up Dr. Gail McClave examines Rachelle Maxon at the Bandon Community Health Center clinic. The clinic is expanding its services in Coos and Curry counties through recently received grants.
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