Oregon Coast News - February 9, 2010
Daily news and sports coverage for the Oregon coast plus a variety of guides and directories useful to Oregon residents and visitors.
Offshore drilling
An extension of a ban on offshore drilling in Oregon’s three-miles of territorial waters for another ten years passed the Oregon House on Monday in Salem. The moratorium first adopted in the early 1990s and readopted in 2007, expired on January 2nd. HB 3613 now moves to the Senate for consideration. Twenty-eight groups, from commercial fishing organizations and businesses that depend on tourist dollars to conservation groups have signed on to support the bill.
Teen death
An autopsy performed Sunday on a deceased 17-year old North Bend female showed no signs of obvious injuries. Jenna Bowling, a senior at NBHS, was taken by private car to Bay Area Hospital’s Emergency Room Saturday morning from a residence on Ocean Blvd. Coos Co. District Attorney R. Paul Frasier says she had some health problems and that drug use may have been a factor. Investigators will have to wait six to eight weeks for a complete toxicology report.
Fatal shooting
A 37-year old male was fatally shot at a Reedsport residence early Saturday morning. According to police reports, officers responded to a rental home on the 2000 block of Elm Street at 2:04 a.m. where they found Apollo E. Rohkohl, Reedsport, dead. Investigators have identified the shooter as 64-year old Garry I. Dawson a tenant at the address. He was taken to the police station for questioning. The Douglas County Major Crime Team was called in to conduct the investigation. Reedsport Police Chief John Smart says the case is being investigated as an accident or self-defense.
Body found
An Elkton area rancher, checking a fence line in Northern Douglas County Friday, Feb. 5th, discovered a body near the high water line of the Umpqua River. According to a news release from the Sheriff’s Office, the gender could not be determined because of the advanced level of decomposition. However, the subject had long black hair with grey streaks and was wearing an Oregon State Beavers sweatshirt. An autopsy was scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 9th. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Douglas Co. Sheriff’s Office in Roseburg (541) 440-4471.
Sewage
The City of Coos Bay has cleaned up the area around a manhole where an overflow occurred Sunday morning. A sewer line in the wastewater collection system was plugged Sunday morning causing 650 gallons of sewer water overflow into a storm drain that drains to Isthmus Slough. Staff responded immediately after a citizen called the Police Department to report a manhole overflowing at the corner of Market Avenue and Bayshore Drive, River Mile 13.85. The line was cleared of the plug, and the street and storm catch basin have been hosed down and cleaned of the spill. The overflow was reported to the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality in accordance with established regulations. There was no impact to water quality in Isthmus Slough. If anyone has any questions or concerns, please call CH2M Hill OMI at 541-267-3966.
Crosswalk sting
The Coos Bay Police Dept. will conduct a crosswalk pedestrian safety sting Tuesday in the Empire District from 8 a.m. to noon at the intersection of Newmark Ave. and Cammann St. An out of uniform officer will enter the crosswalk while a nearby patrol car waits for a violator of Oregon’s Crosswalk law.
Cape Meares
Specialists, who work with historic lighthouse lenses and on historic structures responded recently to the January 9-10 vandalism that caused an estimated $50,000 in damage to the Cape Meares Lighthouse on the North Oregon Coast. Gunfire damaged portions of the 1890 Fresnel lens as well as to the outside windows and other parts of the historic structure west of Tillamook. The team, that also included technical experts from Lighthouse Lamp Shop, Inc. of Florida, the U.S. Coast Guard and the Oregon Parks and Recreation Dept. recovered salvageable pieces of lens glass, reinforced loose or hanging pieces of lense, and temporarily sealed bullet holes in the exterior glass window panes. The Friends of Cape Meares Lighthouse and Wildlife Refuge are collecting donations to help pay for the repairs. The Lighthouse Lamp Shop team donated their time and expertise. A $5,000 reward has been offered leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the vandalism.
Hwy. 101
Flaggers will direct traffic on Hwy. 101 south of Port Orford for the next several weeks as a contractor works on stabilizing a hillside near Humbug Mountain. Laskey-Clifton of Reedsport holds the $1.2 million contract with work expected to continue into May. Motorists can expect minor delays.
Immunizations
Public health officials are advising parents that children won't be able to go to school or child care starting Feb. 17 if their records on file show missing immunizations. State law requires that all children in public and private schools, preschools, Head Start and certified child care facilities be up-to-date on their immunizations, or have a religious or medical exemption. If a child's immunization record shows that he or she has not received the required immunizations, parents or guardians will be sent a letter. Last year, local health departments sent 36,784 letters to parents and guardians informing them their children needed immunizations to stay in school. A total of 4,667 children were kept out of school or child care until the necessary immunization information was turned in to the schools or child care facilities. Parents seeking immunizations for their children should contact their health care provider or local health department, or call Oregon SafeNet at 1-800-SAFENET or 1-800-723-3638. No one can be turned away from a local health department because of the inability to pay for required vaccines. Contributions toward administration costs are always welcome. Additional information on school immunizations can be found at www.oregon.gov/DHS/ph/imm/school.
NBHS Debate team
The North Bend High School Speech and Debate Team did well at the Linfield Tournament this past weekend. More than half of the small group who went made it to finals rounds and brought home trophies: Devon Carter in Prose, Devon Carter and his partner Matthew Dirk in Dual Interpretation, Kyleray Katherman in Radio Commentary, and Emily Carter in Poetry.
CB Urban Renewal Agency
The City of Coos Bay Urban Renewal Agency will meet in a special work session Tuesday, February 9, 2010 – 6:00 P.M., Coos Bay Public Library’s Myrtle Room – 525 Anderson Avenue, Coos Bay, Oregon. Agenda: 1. Flag Salute; 2. Presentation on the Downtown Traffic Study Preliminary Results; 3. Adjourn.
NB City Council
The North Bend City Council will meet on Tuesday, February 9, 2010 at 7:30 p.m. in the council chambers of City Hall, 835 California Street, North Bend. The meeting will include a US Census Report, and a Coos Bay – North Bend Visitors and Convention Bureau update. The North Bend City Council will convene to an EXECUTIVE SESSION: Pursuant to ORS 192.660 (2)(h) to consult with legal counsel concerning the legal rights and duties of a public body with regard to current litigation or likely to be filed.
CB Planning Commission
The City of Coos Bay Planning Commission will meet on Tuesday, February 9, 2010,
6:00 PM - CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS, 500 CENTRAL AVENUE, COOS BAY. Agenda: 1. APROVAL OF MINUTES: Approval of Planning Commission minutes of January 12, 2010. 2. CCI/PUBLIC COMMENTS: Time for comments that do not directly relate to the public hearing item. 3. PUBLIC HEARING: ITEM A: COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AMENDMENT #ZON2009-00091: The City of Coos Bay, 500 Central Avenue, Coos Bay, as applicant, is proposing an amendment to Coos Bay Comprehensive Plan Volume III, Coos Bay Estuary Management Plan, Chapter 5, Shoreland Segment 27-UW, to add language that would allow existing dwellings to be replaced if destroyed by natural causes. 4. ADMINISTRATIVE: At the request of the landowner, an open discussion of possible development on 1.5 acres of property in Eastside located west of 6th Avenue. 5. COMMISSION COMMENTS: 6. STAFF COMMENTS: 7. ADJOURNMENT: JOINT WORK SESSION - A joint work session between the Planning Commission and Historic Design Review Committee is scheduled to follow the regular Commission meeting. The work session will begin at approximately 7 p.m. in the same location. The purpose of the work session is to discuss the proposed zoning district for the Hollering Place property located on Newmark Avenue and Empire Boulevard. The property extends west to the mean high water line of the bay. If you have questions please contact the Public Works and Development Department at (541) 269-8918.
Resource Link Public Charter School Public Hearing
The public is invited to a public hearing sponsored by Coos Bay Public Schools to consider the renewal of the charter for Resource Link Public Charter School. The hearing will be Tuesday, February 9, 2010 at 6:00 PM in the Community Room at Milner Crest Education Center, 1255 Hemlock Ave., Coos Bay, OR. For more information, please contact Linda Vickrey at lindav@coos-bay.k12.or.us or 541-267-1480.
CBPS Facilities Committee Meeting
The Facilities Committee of Coos Bay Public Schools will be meeting on Tuesday, February 9, 2010 at 5:00 PM in the Community Room at Milner Crest Education Center, 1255 Hemlock Ave., Coos Bay, OR. This is the organizational meeting for the Facilities Committee and the public is encouraged to participate. It is scheduled to be over at 5:45 PM. For more information, please contact Rocky Place at rockyp@coos-bay.k12.or.us or 541-266-8581.
Films putting OSU’s Marine Mammal Institute on the map
The work of scientists at Oregon State University’s Marine Mammal Institute has long been of interest to the public, but recent exposure of their whale research through a pair of award-winning documentaries has brought even more attention to the program. This month, “ The Cove” was nominated for an Academy Award in the documentary category. This eco-thriller, which lifts the veil on dolphin exploitation in a small Japanese fishing village, prominently features the work of OSU’s Scott Baker, associate director of the Marine Mammal Institute. A cetacean geneticist, Baker covertly conducts genetic tests on “meat” samples purchased in Japanese grocery stores in the film to identify the species of dolphins, porpoises and whales sold for human consumption. Since it first aired last year, The Cove, which was produced by the Ocean Preservation Society, has won more than 40 awards, including prizes from prestigious film festivals at Sundance, the Director’s Guild, the Screenwriters Guild, the National Board of Review and more. The film follows another documentary that also aired early in 2009 and featured another OSU whale expert, Bruce Mate, who directs the Marine Mammal Institute. “Kingdom of the Blue Whale,” produced by the National Geographic Channel, was narrated by Tom Selleck, and went on to become the most widely viewed documentary ever seen on the National Geographic Channel. The film followed 15 blue whales off the coasts of California and Central America tagged by Mate, a pioneer in the use of satellites to monitor threatened and endangered marine mammals. Much of the activity took place aboard the R/V Pacific Storm, an OSU research vessel. The goal of the research, documented by National Geographic Channel filmmakers, was to discover whether the ocean waters near Acapulco, Mexico and Costa Rica serve as a feeding, breeding and calving area, and whether the whales that congregate there come exclusively from the California population. Despite its enormity and vocal strengths, the blue whale remains one of the most mysterious animals in the sea. It is rare, it spends most of its time beneath the water, and its dives are deep. There once were nearly 10,000 blues along the Pacific coastline, but a century of whaling took its toll and that number has been reduced by some 75 percent. “It was quite an adventure,” Mate said of the project, “but the more we learn about these great animals the better chance we have to protect them.” Filming The Cove also was an adventure, Baker says. His science-based scenes of the DNA identification and his comments on the threat of mercury contamination in the dolphin meat are a counterpoint to the movie’s main storyline: An intrepid team of cinematographers and activists (including the dolphin trainer of the 1960s TV series Flipper), wearing camouflage and night-vision goggles, risk arrest and even death to capture video and underwater acoustics during the slaughter of dolphins. As the world’s first scientist to use DNA to identify the species of whales being butchered and sold as meat, Baker appears in the movie both as an expert “talking head” and as a DNA detective, hunkered over a portable genetic laboratory in a cramped Tokyo hotel room. “We spent days filming in that hotel room – a room not much bigger than my office,” recalled Baker, a leader in international efforts to uncover black-market trade in marine mammals. He describes director Louie Psihoyos as “visionary, but meticulous,” shooting “tons of film” to tell the story of the annual killing of 2,300 dolphins in the seaside town of Taiji. The Marine Mammal Institute, located at OSU’s Hatfield Marine Science Center, is becoming widely recognized for the importance and impact of its science. In addition to Mate, Baker and their colleague, pinniped expert Markus Horning, a team of 20 research and administrative staff and graduate students have made Newport, Ore., a hotbed of scientific activity around whales, sea lions, dolphins, seals and other mammals of the sea.
Urinating
According to an entry on the North Bend Police log for Sunday, 8:10 p.m., 1100 block Winsor Ave., “officer out with subject urinating on side of residence at location.” A 39-year old male and a 29-year old female were contacted about possible Disorderly Conduct charges.
Warrant
According to an entry on the North Bend Police log for Sunday, 2:06 p.m., 4th & Johnson, “Hampel” arrested on a Douglas Co. Sheriff’s Office warrant for Failure To Appear, Open Container and PCS Schedule III. Transported to the Coos Co. Jail at Coquille.
Egged
According to an entry on the North Bend Police log for Sunday, 12:49 p.m., 1600 block of Hayes St., “house egged.” Report taken for Criminal Mischief III.
Dispute
Millington Emergency personnel were dispatched to a residence on Lost Lane Sunday, 3 p.m. after the Coos Co. Sheriff’s Office received a call at 3 p.m. from a “hysterical juvenile requesting ambulance for dad, possible broken leg. Lot of noise in background, male yelling not to make call.” Millington EMS and Bay Cities Ambulance both cancelled on arrival. “Subject refused medical. Verbal argument, accidental injury. Female referred to Women’s Safety & Resources. Female and daughter returned to residence. At 3:37 p.m., same residence, observed “child came running out of residence to advise problem between father and mother. Situation resolved for now.” Forty-three year old female and 14-year old female involved.
Church burglary
According to an entry on the Coos Bay Police log for Monday, 8:23 a.m., 1290 Thompson Road, a 38-year old male reported a burglary to the Gloria Dei Lutheran Church.
Assault
According to an entry on the Coos Bay Police log for Monday, 7:55 a.m., 200 block No. Broadway, a 44-year old female reported “boyfriend just locked her and her caregiver in her apartment and padlocked the door. He left the area on foot. She is not injured and declining an ambulance at this time.” Same female reported a “domestic fight at location,” Sunday night, 7:38 p.m.
Vehicle
An unlocked vehicle was entered sometime during the night and items taken, according to a report from a 26-year old male on the 300 block of Radar Road at 7:35 a.m., Monday, according to an entry on the police log.
Hit mailbox
According to an entry on the Coos Bay Police log for Sunday, 5:55 p.m., 1000 block Blanco, 43-year old female “reports a red truck just hit her mailbox. Windows are tinted and she cannot see if anyone is inside at this time. Truck is still running. RP does not want to see if anyone is still inside.”
DUII
According to an entry on the Coos Bay Police log for Sunday, 3:14 p.m., Cape Arago Hwy. & Windy, 45-year old Darlene Campbell arrested on a charge of DUII and transported to the Coos Co. Jail at Coquille.
Tires
According to an entry on the Coos Bay Police log for Sunday, 2:02 p.m., 200 block S. Schoneman, 46-year old female reports “two of her tires slashed sometime during the night.”
Child
According to an entry on the Coos Bay Police log for Sunday, 12:48 p.m., 200 block So. Schoneman, 35-year old female reported, “for 20-30 minutes people have been trying to get a car unlocked that has a child locked inside.”
WX
Mostly cloudy with isolated showers along the Oregon Coast today. Highs in the mid 40s to mid 50s and north winds 5-10 mph. Mostly cloudy tonight, patchy fog after midnight, lows in the mid 30s to lower 40s and winds from the north at 5-10 mph, but shifting to the southeast after midnight.
Oregon Coast News Archives Contact
OREGON COAST SPORTS
MHS wr
Marshfield brought home a fourth place trophy from the 24-team Cottage Grove Tournament Saturday, Feb. 6. However, the Pirates also lost one of their top wrestlers in Jacob Browning who suffered a dislocated elbow during the tournament. Browning placed second at 215-pounds, while Cody Shipp (189) was also a runner-up. The Pirates Tyler Nixon (125), Kody Campbell (171) and Johnny Castro (285) came in third. The 5A Midwestern League district championships are this Friday and Saturday at Churchill High School in west Eugene. Pirate seeding: District 1 seeds- 171- Kody Campbell, 189- Cody Shipp; 2 seeds- 119- Tyler Nixon, 152- Jesse Moore; 3 seeds- 103- Skyler Harvey, 112- Nick Roderick, 160- Steven Mayer, 215- Jake Browning; 4 Seeds- 125- Josh Osborne; 5 Seeds- 135- Austin Smallwood, 140- Will Hargis, 145- Trenton Hunter, 285- Johnny Castro.
MHS bxb
Marshfield plays Thurston tonight in east Springfield in a boy’s 5A Midwestern League basketball game. The Pirates are tied with North Eugene for first place with two games remaining in the regular season. The Highlanders visit Marshfield in Coos Bay on Friday. The boy’s game will be broadcast back to the Bay Area on FM 91.3, Pirate Radio, with the varsity tip-off about 7 p.m. The Lady Pirates host Thurston tonight. The Colts are unbeaten in league play and alone in first place. The JV teams play at 5:30 p.m., followed by the varsity game about 7 p.m.
NBHS bxb
The “Blue Dogs” play at the “Brown Dogs” tonight in 4A Far West League basketball. Sutherlin, which beat North Bend’s boys and girls the first time they played over in the Umpqua Valley, come to the South Coast tonight. North Bend’s boys are alone in first place, and the girls are alone in second place, one game back of Sutherlin. The girls play at 6 p.m. and the boys at 7:30 p.m.
UO tr
Seven high school stars, including the national leader in the javelin, have signed National Letters of Intent to join the Men of Oregon’s track and field team next season, Associate Athletic Director Vin Lananna announced. The seven are throwers Sam Crouser of Gresham, Ore., and Jacob Budwig of Fowler, Calif., decathlon state record-holder Dakotah Keys of Sweet Home, Ore., distance runners Parker Stinson of Austin, Texas, and Colby Alexander from Strongsville, Ohio, and middle distance standouts Cole Watson of Rogue River, Ore., and Brian Shrader of Flagstaff, Ariz. Eight high school stars, including the 2009 Pan American Junior Games champion at 5,000 meters and a pair of indoor national 800 meters champions, have signed National Letters of Intent to join the Women of Oregon next season. Among the eight are two New Yorkers in Phyllis Francis (Middle Distance) and Megan Patrignelli (Middle Distance) and three Californians, Lauryn Newson (Sprints/Jumps), Chizoba Okodogbe (Sprints) and Kortney Ross (Pole Vault). The class is rounded out by Sarah Andrews (Distance) from The Woodlands, Texas, English Gardner (Sprints) of Voorhees, N.J., and Laura Roesler (Middle Distance) from Fargo, N.D.
OSU bb
The Oregon State baseball team received quite the honor Thursday when Baseball America put its annual College Preview section on its Web site. The Beavers were named the second-best program of the 2000s. Additionally, Pat Casey was named the best collegiate head coach of the decade and former Oregon State outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury was named one of the three-best collegiate outfielders. The Beavers won two national titles, went to Omaha three times and made the postseason four times during the decade. Those are outstanding numbers for a program playing in the best collegiate conferences in the nation.
easyfuncandlebiz.com homeandcareers.com walking101.com wicksworks.com wordwooze.net