AN EDITION OF
Bandon
WESTERN WORLD Thursday, June 19, 2014
theworldlink.com/bandon ♦ $1.00
Being good:
Fundraiser:
Inside this edition:
Ocean Crest students honored, see page A2 for the full story
Patriotic afghan to be raffled, see page A9 for the full story
Education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A2 Bandon Police Log. . . . . . . . A3 Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A4
Arts and Entertainment . . . A5 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A7-8 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A10
Bandon man is target of fed searches By Thomas Moriarty Bandon Western World
By Alysha Beck, The Western World
Troy Russell, Pacific Gales project manager, surveys the proposed site for the golf course’s clubhouse, which would feature views of Cape Blanco to the north.
Committed to golf project By John Gunther Bandon Western World
PORT ORFORD — Developers of the proposed Pacific Gales golf course near Port Orford remain committed to the project that has been delayed by an appeal from Oregon Coast Alliance. The Curry County Planning Commission approved a conditional use permit to allow the golf course on a portion of the Knapp Ranch between Port Orford and the Elk River and the Curry County Board of Commissioners affirmed that decision after ORCA appealed it. Now ORCA has taken the case to the Oregon Land Use Board of Appeals, which eventually will rule on the matter, either agreeing with the commissioners or ruling that the
county was wrong with all or part of its decision and sending the matter back to Curry County. Meanwhile, the developers are confident they will be able to build a scenic golf course that will provide a boost for the local economy. “I’ve been (working on) this project for 15 years,” said Jim Haley, one of the partners in Elk River Property Development LLC. “I’m not going away.” During the hearing process in Curry County, the project received widespread support from community leaders and residents. The golf course could benefit the community both by providing jobs and spurring other development. Haley said he recently talked with a developer who hopes to put in 18
duplexes near Garrison Lake and said other development also is likely. One of the claims Oregon Coast Alliance has made while opposing the project from its inception is that it won’t provide sustained economic growth for the area. “These comments about no economic development are comedy,” Haley said. “The city manager is excited we’re coming there.” ORCA also has claimed that it doesn’t want to see prime farmland taken out of production for a golf course, though the developers say Knapp Ranch is far from prime farmland. ORCA’s appeals to LUBA likely will hinge on a few technicalities. Among the points in their appeal to
■ See Gales, A10
Alive After Five returns on Friday
Laparoscopic procedure is now available in Bandon
Free event: Wine walk added to festivities
Bandon Western World
BANDON — A new laparoscopic procedure now available at Southern Coos Hospital assures that no stone shall be left behind during surgery for gall bladder removal. At the request of the hospital’s board-certified surgeon Enrique Montana, MD and hospital leadership, the Southern Coos Health Foundation Board recently approved buying a flexible fiberoptic choledochoscope for the surgery department. Dr. Montana now uses the specialized endoscope while performing laparoscopic gallbladder removal surgery. The choledochoscope projects a clear view of the bile duct on a large screen, which allows the surgeon to see any stones or sludge that might remain in the duct and remove them, assuring that the ducts are clear before closure. Previously, before this visual inspection was possible, post-surgery stone removal required the patient to go to Eugene for a second procedure. “Buying state-of-the-art equipment for our medical professionals in
BANDON — Authorities say a wave of rumors surrounding federal agents in Bandon last week was sparked by a multiagency investigation into alleged Social Security fraud. Police say the U.S. Marshals Service executed three search warrants Tuesday, June 10, at properties connected to Bandon resident Dan Stadelman. The properties included Stadelman’s home; Bandon Supply, which Stadelman’s brother owns; and a property on state Highway 42S. Supervisory Deputy Eric Wahlstrom said the marshals were involved at the request of the Social Security Administration’s Office of the Inspector General. Deputy marshals in Oregon are based out offices in Portland, Eugene and Medford. They act as the law enforcement arm of the federal court system and are involved in a broad range of criminal investigative work. Wahlstrom said while other federal law enforcement agencies typically make their own arrests, the Marshals Service often acts as the enforcement arm of federal regulatory agencies. “For pretty much anybody else, if there’s an enforcement action or something like that, they’ll ask us to help,” he said. Bandon Police Chief Bob Webb said he wasn’t aware of the investigation until the federal agents arrived Tuesday. Bandon police, along with Coos County sheriff’s deputies, assisted with the warrant investigations Tuesday, which Webb said stemmed from alleged fraud. Despite rumors, the FBI’s Portland office says its Oregon-based agents were not involved. “As best I can tell, we weren’t there,” said spokeswoman Beth Anne Steele. Reporter Thomas Moriarty can be reached at 541-269-1222, ext. 240, or by email at thomas.moriarty@theworldlink.com. Follow him on Twitter: @ThomasDMoriarty. Reporter Amy Moss Strong also contributed to this report.
Credit
Employees retiring from the school district include, from left: Adrienne Smith, Larry Levrets, Cindy Edson, Gary Chrismon, Terry Rivas, Debbie Greenfield, Paul Doyle, Liz Olive and Diane Buche. Not pictured: Linda Sack and Dove DoVale.
11 educators retiring By Amy Moss Strong Bandon Western World
BANDON — The retirement of 11 Bandon School District employees has left the district scrambling to fill positions, while recognizing the many years those employees dedicated to local school children. Six teachers, three administrators and two classified staff members will retire as of June 30. They include Superintendent Diane Buche, Harbor Lights Middle School Principal Debbie Greenfield, Ocean Crest Principal Liz
Olive, Bandon High School English teacher Cindy Edson, BHS alternative education/PE/personal finance teacher Gary Chrismon, Ocean Crest teacher Linda Sack, Ocean Crest teacher Adrienne Smith, HLMS English teacher Terry Rivas, custodian Larry Levrets, Ocean Crest teaching assistant Dove DoVale and HLMS teacher Paul Doyle. Collectively, the educators represent 200 years total with the Bandon School District and 327 years total
BANDON — Alive After Five returns to Bandon on Friday, June 20. This event is free and will take place every third Friday of the month from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Like last year, Alive After Five will feature art, music, food, refreshments and other activities. A wine walk has been added to Alive After Five in 2014. To participate in the wine walk, commemorative glasses and walking maps are on sale for $10 at the Bandon Historical Museum, 270 Fillmore Ave. SE, on the corner of U.S. Highway 101. Parking is available behind Face Rock Creamery and along Fillmore. Proceeds will benefit upcoming local public events in Bandon. There are 11 wine stops for the event. Pacific Blues will be pouring three Oregon Wines as well as being open for food service. The Loft Wine and Deli is offering tastes of a wide variety of specialty wines as well as samples of their assorted food products. Those into the arts may want to check out Second Street Gallery, which
■ See Retiring, A6
■ See Surgery, A6
■ See Alive, A8
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