AN EDITION OF
Bandon
WESTERN WORLD Thursday, November 6, 2014
theworldlink.com/bandon ♦ $1.00
All-state choir:
State meet:
Inside this edition:
HLMS students honored, see page A9 for the full story
Hutton leads Tigers, see page A10 for full story
Honoring our Veterans . . . .A2 Bandon Police Log. . . . . . . . A3 Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A4
Voters reject ratesetting authority
Veteran never forgot touching gesture By Jim Proehl Contributing writer
By Amy Moss Strong Bandon Western World
BANDON — Bandon voters rejected a measure Tuesday that would have returned authority to set utility rates to the city council. Measure 6-150 was being rejected by more than 60 percent of Bandon voters, with 513 in favor and 766 against the measure. Voters also elected Peter Braun, Madeline Seymour and incumbent Chris Powell to fill the three positions on the Bandon City Council to serve fourPeter Braun year terms. Incumbent Mike Claassen was not re-elected. As of 2 a.m., Wednesday, official results from the Coos Election County Department indicated that Braun received the most votes, with 776, followed by Madeline Madeline Seymour Seymour with 670 and incumbent Chris Powell with 666. Claassen received 572 votes. Mayor Mary Schamehorn, who was running unopposed, was re-elected to her sixth 2-year Chris Powell term. She received 811 votes, representing 88 percent. There were 110 write-in votes. Measure 6-150 was placed on the ballot by the city council and would have allowed the council limited authority to increase water, sewer and electric rates up to 5 percent per year. Bandon’s utility rates cannot be increased without a vote of the people, based on a charter amendment passed by voters in 1995, put on the ballot by resident and longtime businessman Francis Stadelman and the Committee for Fiscal Responsibility. “Nineteen years ago, we sent a message to our councilors that they needed to be more responsible,” said Stadelman Tuesday evening after learning the measure had failed. The measure originated with the Water Resource Committee, a standing committee appointed to plan for and advise the mayor, council and city manager on water quality, supply, resources and watershed protection issues. After several months of meetings, the committee concluded that the city cannot maintain its utilities without having control over rate increases. Then all seven members of the committee resigned their positions so they could advocate for Measure 6-150, citing Oregon election laws that prohibited them from doing so. They campaigned under the political action committee Secure Bandon’s Future. Proponents argued that without any rate increases, expenditures in the water, sewer and electric utilities will eventually exceed revenues. Opponents said the measure was too open-ended and took control away from the voters and into the hands of councilors. “If there’s a real, compelling need, then do a bond and put the chips on the table, it’s that simple,” Stadelman added. “Don’t do the things like fancy sidewalks or the turnaround at the (Face Rock Creamery). Those things are an absolute waste of the taxpayers’ money. If you’ve got problems, fix them first. The council needs to get its priorities straight.” While the ballot measure would not have increased utility rates, it would give the council authority to do so. “It’s a disappointment that the electorate didn’t understand the importance of this issue,” said Peter Hughes, former chairman of the Water Resource Committee. “It was really about giving authority back to the people who are
Contributed photo
Second Lieutenant Pete Goodbrod served in Korea right after the conclusion of the Korean War.
BANDON — A doll may seem like an odd gift to give to a young man in his twenties. But Second Lieutenant Pete Goodbrod had learned enough about the culture of the country he was serving in to understand the significance of the gift and be honored by the sincerity of the gesture. The Goodbrods recently donated the Korean doll, the letter that accompanied it, and other memorabilia of Pete’s time in the service to the Bandon Historical
Society Museum. Those items are currently on special display and later will be incorporated into the section of the museum dedicated to the community’s veterans. Goodbrod admitted that he did not choose the military as a career and was not eager to go to Korea. He said, “I got that letter with Harry Truman’s name on it,” answered his country’s call and went where the service sent him. He took ROTC at Oregon State and
■ See Goodbrod, A6
Photo by Amy Moss Strong
Just a little poke Southern Coos Hospital nurse Gabrielle O’Donoghue administers a flu vaccine to Sandy Sowers Monday morning.
Drive in, get a shot Grin and bear it Connie Thrush flashes a wide grin as nurse Lori Straley gives her a flu shot Monday morning during Southern Coos Hospital & Health Center’s annual drive-through flu shot clinic. The hospital administered more than 500 shots under rainy skies. The event doubles as an emergency preparedness exercise. Photo by Amy Moss Strong
Coquille Point stairs closed indefinitely Bandon Western World
BANDON — The south staircase at Coquille Point has once again been closed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service due to public safety concerns. USFWS closed the stairs indefinitely Monday, Nov. 3, citing structural damage the staircase has suffered as a result of geologic shifting on the point. A path and second set of stairs on Coquille Point, 800 feet to the north at the end of Eighth Street will remain open, allowing Coquille Point SEE STAIRS | A6
■ See Election, A6
Arts and Entertainment . . . A5 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A7-8 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A10
Photo by Amy Moss Strong
Safety concerns The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has closed the stairs at Coquille Point due to safety concerns. It is unclear when the stairs will re-open, but the Eighth Street stairs remain open.