AN EDITION OF
Bandon
WESTERN WORLD Thursday, September 4, 2014
theworldlink.com/bandon ♦ $1.00
Raising funds:
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Inside this edition:
Feeding the hungry, see page A3 for the full story
Tigers warm up with jamboree, see A10 for story
Education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A2 Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A4 Arts and Entertainment . . . A5
Fisheries drive the economy
First-day jitters
By Steve Lindsley and Amy Moss Strong
Langlois moving forward with sign
Bandon Western World
By Amy Moss Strong Bandon Western World
LANGLOIS — A tentative design and location for a community welcome sign has been chosen by the Langlois Welcome Sign ad hoc committee. The committee met Aug. 27 and decided they wanted a sign with a “traditional historical” feel, 6-feet wide by 5-feet tall, made out of aluminum and framed in wood. Proposed colors will be white or cream with simple, dark green lettering. The “L” in the sign will be in the same script that was used for the former Langlois Cheese Factory, which is now owned by Dennis Bowman and used as an event venue. Bowman also is a member of the sign committee. Resident Janet Hubel drew the sign rendition, using the “L” which was designed by local artist Jim Shite. “We are excited about the location,” said Anne Redding, who acts as the committee’s liaison with the Oregon Department of Transportation, the agency that has final approval of both the sign’s design and location. Curry County must apply for the permit on behalf of the committee. “We’re getting lots of support from the community, including offers of lumber donations by Dennis Bowman and George Fleming and more,” Redding said. “We hope to locate it at the south end of town because that’s where the kerskuffle started.” The “kerskuffle” Redding refers to is the protest residents had when ODOT decided, after a highway speed study, to move the 40 mph sign closer in to town, thus shortening the safety corridor. ODOT cited a “lack of roadside culture” in the town, among other reasons for the change. After loud objections by residents, ODOT decided to move the signs back to their original location and study the issue further. Redding said ODOT has been back in the community this summer doing more studies, as promised. Meanwhile, ODOT also suggested the community come up with ways to slow traffic and encourage drivers to stop.
Photo by Amy Moss Strong
Getting settled First grade teacher Anna Polamalu helps new student Bridger Schwenninger get settled at his desk next to classmates Alessandria Lalicata, left, Alivia Housego (next to Polamalu) and Matthew Whitney. Polamalu, who taught kindergarten last year, was hired to replace retired longtime teacher Adrienne Smith at Ocean Crest Elementary.
SOUTH COAST — The state’s wildlife chief says fisheries are one of the top economic drivers on the Oregon Coast. “One of the most key things that make the Oregon Coast the Oregon Coast are fisheries,” Roy Elicker, director of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife told a group gathered for an economic conference in Florence last week. “The ocean fishery and recreational fishery both ... you can look at them individually and together. In the coastal counties up to 20 percent of the total net earnings in those counties come from fisheries ... commercial fisheries, in particular.” Elicker made his remarks during the Oregon Coast Economic Summit Aug. 20 and Aug. 21 at the Three Rivers Casino Event Center in Florence. U.S. Sens. Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden participated in panel discussions, and Reps. Peter DeFazio, Kurt Schrader and Suzanne Bonamici spoke both days. During a panel discussion called “Ocean and Natural Resource Policy Implementation: Challenges and Opportunities,” Elicker said fisheries and tourism rule on the coast, among the top economic industries. “That’s how big (fisheries) are,” he continued. “It’s one of the top two economic drivers of this area we refer to as the Oregon coast. It provides, perhaps, 15,000 to 20,000 jobs. Now, that’s a total statewide.” He said, as expected, most of those fishing jobs are on the Oregon coast, and there are also related industries. “We have seafood processors in Brookings, Coos Bay, Newport, Port Orford and Astoria,” Elicker ticked off. “When you get right down to it, the
■ See Economy, A7
Photo by Amy Moss Strong
Exciting milestone Rowan Reed, right, with her father Dave and baby sister Ferryn, was excited to start first grade Tuesday morning, while her sister Olwyn began fifth grade at Harbor Lights. Left, Christopher Kilcoyne walks with his dad Rick Kilcoyne into Ocean Crest. Superintendent Diane Buche greeted students and parents in front of the school. All three schools started classes Tuesday except Bandon High, which held freshman orientation. Regular classes for grades 9-12 started Wednesday.
Bandon Western World
■ See Clean, A7
■ See Dredging, A7
Contributed photo
Port receives Clean Marina designation BANDON — The Oregon State Marine Board has announced that the Port of Bandon is its 62nd officiallydesignated statewide Clean Marina. “The Port of Bandon’s general manager Gina Dearth and her staff have been hard at work maintaining the port facility in an environmentally-responsible manner,” said Now they get the official recognition that goes along with it,” said Italo Lenta of the OSMB. Clean Marina is a voluntary program
By Amy Moss Strong
administered by the Marine Board. Any marina, boatyard or floating home moorage in Oregon can choose to participate in this program. Membership is restricted to those who have chosen to join and who have also demonstrated their commitment to clean water by meeting at least 85 percent of the applicable Clean Marina Program’s requirements. These may include such
Port of Bandon General manager Gina Dearth and new Harbormaster Bob Shammot hold up the Clean Marina flag that now flies next to the boat basin, indicating its official OSMB designation.
Forum to discuss next city manager
Dredging promotes growth BANDON — An economic summit held in Florence last month emphasized the importance of the fishing industry to local economies. That’s nothing new to Port of Bandon General Manager Gina Dearth, who, along with port commissioners and employees, have worked at local, state and national levels to maintain the marine-related activities here. Dearth also was a key organizer of the South Coast Small Ports Coalition that comprises ports from Reedsport to Brookings who joined to provide a united front to legislators on the importance of the fishing industry to small coastal communities and the need for continued dredging dollars. Key findings in a 2013 study the port had commissioned to list the economic benefits of dredging indicates that tourism is estimated to be 80 percent of the regional gross domestic product, measured by the value of the private sector produced goods and labor within Coos and Curry counties. Visitors to the area come for the beaches, shops, restaurants, cleanliness and general charm of the area, but also are attracted by the many marine recreational activities provided at the Bandon marina, including boating, fishing, crabbing and cruising. According to a business survey conducted by the port in 2011, maintaining proper dredging depths of the Coquille bay channel is vital to the retention and growth of approximately 54 existing business establishments in the Bandon area that depend upon tourism and
Squeaky clean
■ See Sign, A7
BANDON — Anyone interested is invited and encouraged to attend a public forum being held to solicit input into the desired qualifications and characteristics for a new city manager to replace retiring longtime City Manager Matt Winkel. The forum will be facilitated by a representative from the Prothman Company, a consulting firm under contract with the city to assist in recruiting applicants for this position. The public forum will be conducted during the regular City Council meeting at 7 p.m. Monday, Sept. 8, in the Bandon City Council Chambers at City Hall, 555 Highway 101.
Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A8 Bandon Police Log. . . . . . . . A9 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A10