Bandon
AN EDITION OF
WESTERN WORLD Thursday, October 9, 2014
theworldlink.com/bandon ♦ $1.00
Art show:
League opener:
Inside this edition:
Overtones will perform, see page A2 for the full story
Tigers’ miscues costly, see A10 for the full story
Education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A2 Bandon Police Log. . . . . . . . A3 Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A4
Arts and Entertainment . . . A5 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A7-8 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A10
Bandon’s Water Resource Committee resigns By Amy Moss Strong Bandon Western World
BANDON — All seven members of the city’s Water Resource Committee resigned after being told they could not campaign for a measure they urged the City Council to put on the ballot. Members had prepared material for an upcoming forum on Ballot Measure 6-150, which would give rate-setting authority back to the council, and were told by
deputy City Attorney Shala Kudlac at their meeting last Tuesday that their material wasn’t neutral enough. Kudlac told the committee, which reformed in July to study water issues facing Bandon, that state law prohibits public employees from advocating for or against candidates, measures or petitions during work time. According to Oregon Revised Statue 260.432, Oregon election law allows elected officials to communicate with
their constituents about election issues but must not involve a public employee’s work time in any activities that could be construed as supporting or aiding an advocacy campaign effort. Unpaid public officials, such as members of appointed boards and commissions, are considered to be public employees subject to the statute. The overriding principle is that public employees may not use their work time to support or oppose measures, candidates
or petitions, regardless of the time of day or location. If they are working to prepare an official publication that is to be distributed using public agency resources, the publication must be impartial, or a violation would occur. “I want to make sure everybody understands that what was done was not done in any way to upset anybody,” said commit-
■ See Resigns, A9
Contributed photo
A technician tests the new echocardiogram equipment at Southern Coos Hospital and Health Center.
Echocardiogram services at SCH BANDON — Southern Coos Hospital & Health Center will begin offering echocardiogram services to the Bandon community this month. Beginning on Oct. 21, echocardiogram appointments are available from 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. every Tuesday. To make an appointment, patients and doctors’ offices are encouraged to call the hospital’s medical imagat ing department 541-329-1034. The new echocardiogram unit was purchased recently through the support of the Southern Coos Health Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Southern Coos Hospital & Center. Health Echocardiogram tests will be performed one day per week in the ultrasound suite of the hospital. Bay Area Hospital in Coos Bay has been contracted to provide specially-trained echocardiogram technologists on-site at Southern Coos.
“The new echocardiogram raises the bar in terms of services available to the Bandon community,” said Bill Taylor, head of Southern Coos Hospital & Health Center’s medical imaging services. An echocardiogram is a noninvasive imaging test that uses ultrasound waves to examine the heart. Echocardiograms are one of the most popular diagnostic tests of the heart because there are no known risks or side effects from the ultrasound waves. The new echocardiogram unit will offer the following major benefits to patients and their doctors: ■ Important information about the heart’s structure and blood flow; ■ Help physicians accurately diagnosis common heart issues, such as congestive heart disease, coronary artery disease, arrhythmia and narrowed blood vessels; and ■ Help doctors map out
Contributed photo
Brian Vorwaller excels at chainsaw carving of life-like animals. See more photos of Vorwaller and his work at theworldlink.com/bandon/gallery.
Following a dream
By Mary Ellen Schesser Contributing writer
BANDON — “In 2008, Brian installed a wood-burning stove,” said his wife, Zada Vorwaller.“And he said, ‘If you buy me a chainsaw, I will carve you a bear.’ So, I bought him (us) a cheap chainsaw, he chopped some wood, then he carved my bear, and the chain saw promptly broke.” Brian Vorwaller’s mother was an artist who passed her love of art onto her son before she tragically died. He was only 13 years old. In high school he took every art, pottery and wood shop class available. Realizing that artists’ dreams rarely come true, he became a glazier working his way up the trade. When the economy dropped, so did his hours. With a house, three cats, three dogs, a
goat and two children to support, it was scary. “We lost our home so we took the kids, dogs, and two chainsaws and moved into a 36-foot motor home. My sister took the cats and goat,” said Vorwaller. “It has been an emotional ride.” In the 2011 Oregon Divisional Chainsaw Sculpting Championships, Vorwaller’s first competition, he was placed in the pro division. “I was thrilled at the honor to compete with the other carvers,” said Vorwaller, “my goal was to complete a piece. Imagine my surprise at placing fourth! This spurred us on to continue our dreams. Being an artist and paying bills is daunting. When (we’re) discouraged, our children, Sydney, 11-years-old, and Roman, 12years-old, spontaneously hug us, and tell us how proud they are of us for ‘following our dreams’.”
“Brian is self taught,” said Zada, “and he’s furthered his gift from observing other carvers. His carvings of people and pets are so look-alike that we see tears upon recognition. He studies photographs and compassionately inserts intricate expressions and personalities into the wood.” One customer surprised her father by commissioning pieces of his two deceased bull mastiff’s. “We planned the surprise unveiling at an outside event,” Vorwaller recalled. “The minute he saw ‘his’ dogs he recognized them and exclaimed, ‘My girls!’ It was emotional for everyone. Another gentleman teared up upon seeing his carved companion of 17 years, a dachshund.” Vorwaller also excels at carving wildlife.
■ See Dream, A9
■ See SCH, A9
Holmes fitting in well at CCHC
New doctor Dr. Ronny Santosa, a doctor of internal medicine at Southern Coos Health Clinic, is accepting new patients. Call the clinic at 541-329-0154 to make an appointment.
By Amy Moss Strong Bandon Western World
New physician at Southern Coos By Amy Moss Strong Bandon Western World
Dr. Ronny Santosa has joined Southern Coos Hospital & Health Center as its newest doctor of internal medicine. He and Dr. Megan Holland, the hospital’s chief of staff, are currently working out of
a temporary facility next to the hospital while the Southern Coos Health District builds a new clinic on hospital grounds, with an expected opening date of February, 2015.
■ See Santosa, A9
BANDON — Moving to Bandon was like coming home for Dr. Hank Holmes. Holmes joined Coast Community Health Center’s staff full time Oct. 1 as its medical director in the clinic’s new facility in the Bandon Professional Center, but he has been seeing patients there since midAugust.
Holmes, 66, replaces former director and founder of the clinic, Dr. Gail McClave, who has started a private practice in the former facility. Holmes and his family, including three nowgrown children, have visited Bandon regularly over the past 35 years, even building two homes on the South Jetty. After obtain- Family practitioner Dr. Hank ing his undergraduate Holmes is accepting new degree at UC Berkeley and patients. Call 541-347-2529 ■ See Holmes, A9 to schedule an appointment.
Sprague Theater Bandon, Oregon General Admission: $15.00 www.OregonCoastFilmFestival.org