AN EDITION OF
Bandon
WESTERN WORLD Thursday, May 29, 2014
theworldlink.com/bandon ♦ $1.00
Poetry winners:
State Track:
Inside this edition:
Kids win poetry contest, see page A2 for the full story
A weekend of medals, see page A10 for the story
Education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A2 Bandon Police Log. . . . . . . . A3 Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A4
Youth Center asks director to step down By Amy Moss Strong Bandon Western World
BANDON — The Bandon Community Youth Center board of directors asked Executive Director Ollie Jones to step down, effective June 30. According to Board Chairman Chris Powell, Jones was sent a letter last week telling her the board wants to “pursue new leadership for the Youth Center.” Jones has been executive director of the Youth Center since August 2011. She replaced former director Harv Schubothe, who retired after working in that capacity for several years. In addition, the terms of two board members of the
■ See Director, A7
Arts and Entertainment . . . A5 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A8-9 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A10
Electric rates to increase Bandon Western World
BANDON — Residents may want to do more permanent energy saving measures this summer. The city of Bandon Budget Committee has approved a proposed 5.83 percent retail electric rate increase. The increase is expected to become effective with electric bills issued on or after Aug. 1. According to City Manager Matt Winkel, the rate increase would mean an approximate additional cost of $5.99 per month —from $102.72 to $108.71 — plus 10 percent tax, for an inside-city residential
customer using 1,400 kilowatt hours per month. Outside-city rates are higher, although the 10 percent tax is not applied. The rates for other customer classifications would be adjusted proportionately. Winkel explained that the city of Bandon purchases all of its electric power from the Bonneville Power Administration. Those wholesale rates, including both power and transmission costs, increased by an estimated 12.32 percent — from $35.47/MWh to $39.84/MWh — on Oct. 1, 2013. “Electric Fund balances have continued to be monitored to
determine whether a retail rate increase would be necessary,” Winkel said. “Although there was no rate increase last year, a retail rate increase of 5.83 percent has been included in the proposed fiscal year 2014-2015 budget to offset the BPA wholesale rate increase.” The last retail electric rate increase was a 5 percent increase in 2011. Since the proposed retail rate increase is intended only to offset the latest BPA wholesale rate increase, it would be allowed by the City Charter without requiring voter approval.
Bill aims to secure funding for port dredging
We will always remember
HR 3080: Passes votes in House and Senate By Amy Moss Strong Bandon Western World
Photos by Amy Moss Strong
The VFW Post No. 3440’s flag display along the waterfront inspired many people to stop and take photos Monday. The VFW, along with Veterans Flag Project organizers raise flags on patriotic holidays throughout the year in Bandon. See Page A7 for more Memorial Day weekend photos.
Bandon’s Memorial Day events
Holy Trinity Catholic, GAR and the Averill Pioneer cemeteries all were decorated with flags in memory of those who lost their lives in service.
The Bandon Ministerial Association leads community members in prayer at the annual Blessing of the Fleet on Saturday morning at the Port of Bandon’s Lost at Sea Memorial in the boat launch parking lot. From left, the Rev. Charles Moore, the Rev. John Hubbard, The Rev. Bobbi Neason, the Rev. Beth Hoffmann, the Rev. Robin Haruna and the Rev. Tim Moore.
BANDON — Small ports on the South Coast are a step closer to millions of dollars in new dredging funds, after the U.S. Senate overwhelmingly approved the conference report for the Water Resources Reform & Development Act of 2014 on May 22. The bill, which authorizes funding for Army Corps of Engineers navigation, flood control and environmental restoration projects, now just needs to be signed into law. Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Springfield, successfully fought for a provision that guarantees the nation’s small ports, including those in Southwest Oregon, will receive annual funding for dredging for the next eight years. In recent years, the budget for small ports was zeroed out due to a lack of funding. Ports ranging from BrookingsHarbor to Gold Beach, Port Orford, Bandon and the Port of Siuslaw also have been affected by the lack of maintenance dredging. According to Port Commissioner Robert S. Miller III, the Port of Bandon seems to require, for normal, adequate bar channel dredging, about three to four days of dredging per year. A day of dredging costs about $90,000 per day, per Army Corps of Engineers accounting protocols. “If there were no federal funding for dredging, we would have to find another $300,000 to $400,000 in our budget to do normal levels of dredging,” Miller explained. “To put that sum in perspective, we would have to double our tax base, or double the taxation on our
■ See Dredging, A7
Punchbowl is the newest ODOT moves Langlois speed offering at Bandon Dunes posts back to original location By John Gunther Bandon Western World
BANDON — Festive music marked the opening of the newest addition to Bandon Dunes Golf Resort on May 20 as the Langlois Mountain Scottish Fiddlers played outside the clubhouse at the Pacific Dunes course while the first guests enjoyed the Punchbowl, the resort’s new putting course. In the future, the late-afternoon sounds will come in the form of hoots and hollers as groups of golfers make their way around the 3-acre putting facility.
The Punchbowl isn’t your average putting green. With a combination of dramatic slopes and subtle contours, it is more like a playground to entertain and challenge even the best golfers who visit the resort. “It’s fabulous,” said Christopher Smith, a golf pro at Pumpkin Ridge near Portland, who was in town for the festivities. “It’s got a little Augusta National. Sometimes you are going 90 degrees from where you want to end up. “What a great concept.”
■ See Punchbowl, A7
By Amy Moss Strong Bandon Western World
LANGLOIS — Residents here are relieved to learn that the Oregon Department of Transportation has agreed to move the town’s 40 mph zone back to its original location. ODOT moved the 40 mph zone April 9 after a resident requested they lower the speed through town to 30 mph for the safety of children at the preschool and other residents who walk along the U.S. Highway 101 there. The 40 mph zone was moved from Floras Creek Road to in front of Piercy
Suites, about a quarter-mile north. ODOT’s one-day study in January revealed that 78 percent of the vehicles in that area were exceeding the 40 mph speed, so they recommended rescinding the zone. ODOT’s report referred to the “absence of roadside culture,” a phrase that rang hollow with residents. The uproar from residents prompted a standing-room only meeting with ODOT May 1, then another meeting May 22. “We provided options and one was to
■ See Langlois, A7