I love the history associated with this first story, which I found in the Feb. 10, 1982, Western World, with the headline "Coast Guard Building Plans Revealed."
"Although the plans are still in the tentative stages, the Bandon Historical Society's museum could be moving -- a couple of blocks. Now that the Port of Bandon has acquired the old Coast Guard building (first photo), located along the waterfront on First Street, there is a good possibility that it will someday house the museum, in addition to providing much-needed boat repair and maintenance facilities for the Port of Bandon."
At the time this article was written, the museum was in the Masonic Building, and later did move to the Coast Guard building, before ending up in his present home at 101 and Fillmore.
"Port President Jim Hanna told Western World that the Coast Guard building will be maintained as a historic site, and will be open to the public at certain times.
"The Port will utilize the large boat room as its maintenance shop. 'The port has a lot of equipment, and it's nice to have some place to store it and to be able to maintain it,' said Port Commissioner Hugh McNeil.
"Hanna also indicated that the port would probably be putting some tables and benches along the waterfront, in back of the station, with the area to be maintained for use by the public.
"The Port of Bandon traded its 290-acre salt marsh, located southeast of Bullards Bridge, to the Fish and Wildlife Service for the Coast Guard station.
"Port officials worked nearly five years with federal and private agencies to complete the complicated negotiations, said Hanna.
"The old Coast Guard station, built in 1939 on the site of a lifesaving station (second photo), is eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places. Restoration work is expected to begin this summer with workers starting to repaint the outside of the building.
"The salt marsh has been designated by Congress as a national wildlife refuge and is one of the largest remaining salt marsh ecosystems -- and the last undeveloped one -- along the Oregon Coast.
"Cost of acquisition of the Port of Bandon's property was estimated at $270,000."
An item in the Nov. 3, 1927, Western World told about the new "El Patio" Ballroom opening on Second Street in the former Dreamland building. After the Fire of 1936, Erdman's City Market (third photo) built on the site, later it was the long-time home of Lloyd's Cafe, and today it is the Old Town Tap and Grill and Sunnyside Cafe.
"George McMurphy and his Kellege Knights, a 10-piece orchestra which has just completed a successful engagement at the Broadway theater in Portland, is announced as the opening attraction. Regular dances will commence the following Saturday. Spanish motifs have been used in the decorating scheme to transfer the old hall into a replica of the 'El Patio' ballroom in Los Angeles. One of the largest orders of hand dyed batiks ever undertaken in the west was filled here to provide ceiling and wall decorations. And a novel indirect lighting system has been installed."
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A big crowd turned out Sunday afternoon and evening to celebrate the life of Anthony Zunino, a much loved community member who died recently after a courageous battle with cancer.
Anthony was a longtime member of the Bandon fire department, and the department's huge American flag waved over the Bandon Fisheries Warehouse where the event was held, and family members rode to the event in fire trucks. Owner of Freedom Graphics, Anthony was a member of the Bandon School Board and he volunteered throughout the community, wherever anyone needed him.
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Four people with ties to Bandon died within the last couple of weeks, including Kaunner Jackson, Kenny McCurdy, Mary Stewart and Bob Harlukowicz.
Kaunner, 31, was the son of Lacey and Tom Jackson, and the father of Charles Kaunner Jackson, Jr. His survivors include his grandfather, Jim Jackson; grandmother, Nellie Harmon; brother, Coleton; and sister, Seana Stevenson. A celebration of life will be held Saturday, April 27, at 1 p.m. at Bullards Park east pavilion.
Kenny McCurdy and his wife, the former Patty Turner, are long time residents of Bandon, and started Sweets & Treats in Old Town Bandon, now operated by their daughter, Meghan Butts, and her family. Kenny is survived by his wife, daughter and three grandchildren.
Mary Stewart died April 4 at the age of 78. She and her late husband, Tex Buskirk, moved to Bandon more than 25 years ago and were active in the community. After his death, she married the late Russ Stewart, and the two operated the Bandon Boatworks for several years. Mary was a long-time volunteer and member of the board of the Bandon History Museum.
Bob Harlukowicz of Coos Bay died February 24 in the VA Hospital in Portland at the age of 82. For a number of years Bob operated a car repair shop in Bandon.
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In another sad bit of news, I've learned that the body of 27-year-old Rachel Merchant-Ly of Idleyld Park was found April 19 in the North Umpqua River where her pickup ended up Feb. 29th when she apparently skidded off the rain-slickened highway as she was enroute to Glide Elementary School where she taught kindergarten. Her body was found seven and a half miles down the river from where her pickup had been located the day of the accident.
She was the granddaughter of Bandon native Stuart Merchant.
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And the news just keeps getting sadder. I saw on a Facebook post that long-time local area beautician, Regina Weckmann Kincheloe, has been diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma, and although it is not curable, she is hoping to become eligible for a stem cell transfer. She and her husband Jeff Kincheloe live in Myrtle Point.
Regina went to school in Bandon and is the daughter of Rick and the late Kathy Weckmann.
A go fund me page has been started by Courtney Shammot Whitehouse, and I hope you will join me in donating to help Regina.
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Coos County has announced that the jail capacity will be doubling to 98 beds on April 27. "This expansion is a significant milestone, which will enable us to better serve our community and contribute to a safer Coos County," said the press release. Since the beginning of 2023, the Sheriff's Office has rehired 27 percent of overall staff, and these deputies have been fully trained, allowing the jail to double its capacity from 49 to 98 beds.
As pointed out in the information about the county's Safety Levy on the May ballot, this is only the beginning of the jail beds needed to keep criminals in jail. "With your help, we can increase the jail bed space from 98 to 147 beds," said Sheriff Gabe Fabrizio.
Additionally the levy will fund two new deputy District Attorney positions. Once hired, additional staff will allow for prosecution of backlogged cases, as well as timely prosecution of new cases.
The tax for the five-year levy will be 98 cents a thousand of assessed value. A home with an assessed value of $200,000 will pay $196 a year ($16.33 a month) to support the levy.
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Don't forget that the city park playground, on west 11th Street, will be closed from April 24 to May 6 for the installation of new playground equipment.
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Three events are going on in Bandon on Wednesday, April 24.
Bandon Showcase is sponsoring a wonderful vocal trio, singing the songs of Kenny Rogers, Lionel Richie and Smokey Robinson. The show begins at 7:30 p.m., at the Sprague Theater, and tickets, which are $35, are available at the door or at bandonshowcase.org. Refreshments will be served during intermission, courtesy of Coastal Mist and Sheila and Larry Langenberg. A free student outreach program will be held earlier on the day of the concert, which has received local support from the Inn at Face Rock.
The Bandon Planning Department will hold an open house April 24 from 4 to 6 at City Hall to share the Bandon Transportation System Plan, which will help guide the City's future transportation system.
The League of Women Voters is hosting a candidate forum for State Senate and State Representative seats, including incumbents David Brock Smith and Court Boice, from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Barn in City Park, also on April 24.
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Bandon people are reminded that one of the events for the World Jet Boat Championships, being held on the Rogue River and sponsored by the Southern Oregon Power Boat Association, will be held on the Coquille River.
On Monday, May 6, boats will race between Bandon and Coquille, with the first boats leaving Bandon at 10 a.m. and the second race starting at 1:30 p.m. Each team will bring two boats, one to put in the water and one for back up. The back-up boats will be on the gravel lot across the street from the Bandon Fisheries Warehouse.
This is an event you won't want to miss as it's not often that these boats are seen racing on the Coquille River.
For more information about the events being held in Curry County, visit the website at southernoregonpba.org.
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Sheriff Gabe Fabrizio will be at this Tuesday's Meet and Greet (April 23) at Bandon Fisheries Warehouse, with seating opening at 11:30 and the program to start at noon. He will tell people how to be prepared, as well as talk about the need for the public safety levy. Lunch and drinks are available for purchase, but the talk is free. This is a great community service offered by Lori Osborne.
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