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The Curry Coastal Pilot
CCSO's Search and Rescue team assists 2 missing hikers
Monday, July 1st, 2024 at about 9:54pm, the Curry County Sheriff’s Dispatch 911 center received a 911 call from Jason Gaudio, reporting that his friend, twenty-three-year-old Rayse Kawamoto, from Hawaii, was missing after walking down the trail to Natural Bridges, about twelve miles north of Brookings. Gaudio reported that there was another male subject they had met on the same trail and that he has not returned to the parking lot as well. That subject was later identified as twenty-seven-year-old Austin Dewart from Pasadena, California....
Fireworks issues beyond Independence Day
The use of fireworks, both legal and illegal goes beyond celebrations during Independence Day. The fireworks are dangerous and have led to injuries and fires. The law Oregon law prohibits the possession, use or sale of any firework that flies into the air, explodes, or travels more than 12 feet horizontally on the ground without...
U.S. Supreme Court sides with Oregon city, allows ban on homeless people sleeping outdoors
The U.S. Supreme Court Friday sided with a local ordinance in Oregon that effectively bans homeless people from sleeping outdoors, and local governments will be allowed to enforce those laws. In a 6-3 decision, Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote in the opinion that the enforcement of those local laws that regulate camping on public property does not constitute the Eighth Amendment’s prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment. “Homelessness is complex. Its...
Governor Kotek urged to embrace the “Oregon Way” in offshore wind energy development
In a recent letter, Oregon’s state seafood commodity commissions have expressed concerns to Governor Kotek over offshore wind energy plans proposed for the southern Oregon coast, emphasizing its adverse effects on the ocean environment and Oregon’s sustainable seafood industry. Oregon Trawl, Oregon Dungeness Crab, Oregon Albacore and Oregon Salmon Commissions urged Governor Kotek to prioritize Oregon’s own planning process under the auspices of the state official “Roadmap” initiative, intended to guide responsible offshore wind energy development in Oregon. The alternative would be to follow the...
Letter: Saving my family member from the drugs in Brookings
I never would have imagined typing this when we chose to buy a house here 3 years ago. We need psychiatrists available in person to treat patients. I can’t believe this hasn’t become a state of emergency. Psychiatric disorders should be treated as medical emergencies the same as broken limbs or cancer. My family member has been mistreated and learned that her health does not count. All she had to do was take a walk-in town and she was offered meth just like that. She...
Brookings’ Yards of the Month for June
The City of Brookings is continuing to highlight both residential homes and commercial spaces that go above and beyond to make the City an even more beautiful place to live. A well-maintained yard or garden is symbol of hard-work, a point of personal pride for the residents, and an inspiring sight for neighbors. Winners are rewarded with a commemorative certificate, a yard-sign declaring their award to the community, and a $50 credit on their water bill. ...
South Coast razor clam harvesting expanded
The Oregon Department of Agriculture and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife announce a new shellfish opening. Razor clam harvesting is being opened on the south coast from between Cape Blanco to the North Jetty of Coos Bay. Levels of the marine biotoxin Paralytic Shellfish Toxin (PSP) have continued to test below the closure limit. Razor clamming is now open from the North Jetty of Coos Bay to the California border and remains open from the Washington border to Yachats River. ...
Letter: Celebrations come with safety
Americans sport the red, white and blue in summer at parks, beaches, and ball games. Keep festivities fun and safe. Notice the increase of DUI arrests in the last two years of the Fourth of July weekend: for 2022, the California Highway Patrol made 998 DUI arrests on the Fourth of July weekend. In 2023, ABC10 News in Sacramento reported 1,224 DUI arrests were made California that weekend. I am...
New Brookings City Manager brings 23 years of experience
A longtime city manager in Northern California and the Midwest has been hired to lead the City of Brookings. New City Manager Timothy Rundel, who brings more than 23 years of experience in public administration, community development and economic development, begins work in Brookings on July 22nd. The Brookings City Council voted unanimously to hire Rundel during a special meeting June 13th. Rundel currently serves as the City Manager of Weed, California where he has worked since March 2020. Under his leadership, Weed recovered from...
Fire season increases to moderate on Saturday
The fire danger level on lands protected by Coos Forest Protective Association (CFPA) District will increase to Moderate (Blue) Saturday, June 29th, at 12:01 a.m. Industrial Fire Precaution Level (IFPL) will remain at 1(one) district wide. Lands affected by this declaration include state, private, county, city and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) forestlands in Coos, Curry and Western Douglas counties. Beginning Saturday June 29th at 12:01 AM, the following public fire restrictions will be adjusted: ...
Letter: Service providers need to know the dangers of problem gambling
In a county where two casinos are within a very short driving distance, there is no excuse for service providers, law enforcement and circuit court judges to be uninformed about problem gambling or the high rate of incidents of domestic violence among those who have gambling disorders…and yet many of you are uninformed. By the way, it’s your job to be informed. It’s time that y’all do your homework. See cheat sheet below. ...
Anti-windmills protestors sprayed during demonstration
An anti-windmill protest in Brookings was disrupted by local business owners after they decided to ‘wash their sign’ in the middle of their gathering, spraying multiple protesters with cold water. The group Oregonians Against Wind Turbines have been hosting demonstrations over BOEM’s decision to lease Wind Energy Areas off the coast of Coos Bay and Brookings Oregon. They clashed with the owners of the local boutique A.ell Atelier and Design over Memorial Day weekend. ...
Gold Beach Visitor’s Center increasing beach mobility
The Gold Beach Visitor’s Center is making strides to ensure everyone has the opportunity to enjoy the beach on Oregon’s South Coast – no matter what their age or physical ability. The visitor’s center is one of the latest locations on the Oregon Coast to receive a ‘David’s Chair.’ Both David’s original Action Trackchair and their newer youth-sized Trackchair have been used by people with mobility challenges to go places...
Merkley Monthly: Tackling the housing affordability crisis
June is National Homeownership Month, but the housing affordability crisis is putting home ownership farther and farther out of reach for too many working families in Oregon and across America. When I was growing up, my parents, like many of their generation, were able to save enough money to buy a modest home for our family in Oregon. I still live in that same blue-collar neighborhood. But it’s a different story for my children’s generation. As prices to rent and buy skyrocket, young people are...
Operation Dry Water to be launched through July 4th holiday
The Oregon Marine Board, Sheriff’s Offices across the state and the Oregon State Police will be participating in Operation Dry Water, July 4-6. The enforcement effort is part of a nationally coordinated effort to reduce the number of accidents and fatalities related to boating under the influence of intoxicants (BUII). Leading factor The US Coast...
Fire season on CFPA protected lands begins
Fire season on lands protected by the Coos Forest Protective Association (CFPA) District began Friday, June 14, at 12:01 a.m. The fire danger level will be “low” (green) and the Industrial Fire Precaution Level (IFPL) will be 1 (one) district-wide. Lands affected by this declaration include state, private, county, city, and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) forestlands in Coos, Curry, and Western Douglas counties. Beginning Friday, the burning of debris...
Police Blotter
The police blotter is an excerpt of a public record of incidents as reported by law-enforcement agencies. All individuals arrested or charged with a crime are innocent until proven guilty. The information printed is preliminary and subject to change. For a list of missing items found in the Brookings area, you can visit the police services page of the city of Brookings website at www.brookings.or.us/134/police-services and follow the link near the bottom of the page. ...
Drowning at Two-Mile Rapids on the Rogue River
On Saturday, 06-22-24 at about 12:41pm, the Curry County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch 911 Center, received a Text to 911, from Agness resident, Martin Gillette, reporting a drowning of a woman at Two-Mile Rapids, upriver from Agness. The information provided was that the female victim was on a rafting excursion with three others and a dog on a raft that started at Foster Bar. Shortly after being on the water, the two females on the raft and a dog got flipped out at the Two-Mile Rapids. ...
OSAA appoints new Championship Thresholds Task Force at May meeting
A new task force for the Oregon School Activities Association will look at the amount of teams and individuals who compete in state championships for sports and activities. The OSAA Executive Board appointed the Championship Thresholds Task Force at its May meeting. The 12-member committee includes representatives from each of the six classifications, as well as three additional at-large members (one each for Class 6A/5A, 4A/3A and 2A/1A), two representatives...
Latest Oregon economic forecast shows steady growth, uncertain future
Oregon’s economy continues to grow steadily, if at a slower pace than it has in recent years, state economists told lawmakers on Wednesday. That includes April personal income tax collections coming in higher than expected, leaving a “fifty-fifty proposition” that Oregonians will receive a $582 million kicker tax credit in 2026, two years after the state paid out the largest kicker in state history. The credit kicks in whenever income tax payments are 2% higher than lawmakers planned for when crafting their two-year budget. ...
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The Curry Coastal Pilot is a general interest newspaper serving the Brookings-Harbor and Curry County areas at the southwestern corner of Oregon. We focus on local breaking news, general news, community news, sports, and opinions.
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