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The Curry Coastal Pilot
Letter: VA needs to deliver on transparency policies
Roseburg VA Director Patrick Hull has promised transparency. Just one of the problems I addressed in one of my emails to Mr. Hull last week was not posting or providing the Roseburg VA's "Patients Rights and Responsibilities" to Veterans to address grievances with their health care. I addressed this with Information Officer Richard Weber and Veterans Experience Officer Sarah Cranston a few years ago and was promised it would be posted. It was not. ...
DLCD releases wind energy timeline
The Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD) released information regarding their review of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Managements (BOEM), as part of its Oregon Coastal Management Program (OCMP). The newly proposed federally designated Wind Energy Areas (WEAs) have been established off the coast of Coos Bay and Brookings. The Coos Bay WEA is 32 miles offshore and amounts to 95 square miles of potentially leasable land for turbine construction. The Brookings WEA is larger, at 209 square miles, yet closer to shore,...
Oregon’s investment in ocean conservation celebrated
New efforts to increase the state’s investment in the Oregon Marine Reserves Program follow the signing ceremony for House Bill 4132, a bi-partisan bill sponsored by Oregon’s Coastal and Environmental Caucuses. Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek and Rep. David Gomberg (D-Dist. 10) hosted the ceremony at the state capital building in Salem on May 30. The Oregon Ocean Alliance celebrated this renewed commitment to ocean conservation established more than a decade...
Wyden Visits South Coast counties
Oregon's US Senator Ron Wyden (D) conducted his 1,083rd Town Hall, fulling his commitment to hold on-site public engagements in all 36 counties, annually. Last Tuesday’s Town Hall at the Gold Beach High Gymnasium was part of the senator’s southwest swing from Josephine, Curry, Coos and Douglas counties. The audience of about 40 was offered numbered tickets and when called upon, spoke with Wyden on a cross section of various...
Every Oregonian Killed in Viet Nam Read Aloud at Brookings City Hall
Since 1996, the Viet Nam Veterans Association, Chapter 757 of Brookings conducts a somber reading of every Oregonian who made the ultimate sacrifice during the Viet Nam / Cambodian War, during the 60s and 70s. This year’s reading took place this past Friday, May 24 at 6pm in front of the flagpole at City Hall. Chapter president John Banuat told The Pilot the list totaled 652 names including those Missing in Action. Chapter Vice president Howard Floor said, the first several names were read aloud...
Summer alert: blood and platelet donors needed now
The American Red Cross critically needs blood and platelet donors now following a concerning decrease in donations as the country has experienced an increase in severe weather systems and historic travel. In fact, over the past month about 20,000 fewer blood donations were collected than needed to maintain the Red Cross-national blood supply. According to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), five of the busiest travel days ever happened this month and more record-breaking travel is expected this summer — a busy time when many regular...
80 years later: Remembering D-Day and the fall of the Atlantic Wall
By the summer of 1944, the goose-stepping boot of Nazi Germany was squarely secured on the necks of the capitulating Western European nations. The Nazi war machine had rolled across the continent, blasting, and bombing its will on weaker foes. Not stopping until it claimed nation after nation in the name of the Fatherland. The Chancellor of Germany, Adolph Hitler, consciously, purposely, and effectively worked his way to Dictator of the National Socialist German Workers’ Party, otherwise known as the Nazi Party. His vision was...
Second Saturday Art Walk Expands
Ten venues will be participating in the June 8 Second Saturday Art Walk scheduled from 3 to 6 p.m. in downtown Brookings. “This is the largest number of venues taking part in this monthly event in several years,” said Bill Schlichting, Art Walk coordinator. “This month a new venue will be added, located inside a building that housed one of the original four when the Art Walk begin in 2004” ...
Column: Lack of staff, unsafe conditions threaten Oregon’s behavioral health workforce
Every year about this time, Oregon labor unions honor colleagues who have lost their lives on the job. This year is especially poignant for members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, or Oregon AFSCME, with the death late last year of Haley Rogers, a 26-year-old mental health worker. She was stabbed to death on the job by a resident while working an overnight shift alone at...
Firewood cutting areas begin to reopen in some locations on the Gasquet Ranger District
Personal firewood permit required The Smith River Complex Fire suppression repair team have been working to safely open firewood cutting areas along Highway 199, on the Gasquet Ranger District. Personal firewood cutting is now open along Highway 199 corridor, except two locations: milepost 19.64 (Waterfall) and milepost 24.65 (Dollar Sign Curve). These two locations will open once heavy equipment operations are completed. A firewood permit is required and can be...
U.S. Rep. Hoyle requests over $28 million in funding for 15 local projects
Recently, U.S. Representative Val Hoyle announced her selected community projects that were submitted to the U.S. House Appropriations Committee as candidates to receive funding for Fiscal Year 2025. “These 15 projects reflect the priorities of local communities who know their needs best,” said Rep. Hoyle. “If funded, these projects will support the construction of affordable housing, promote workforce development, advance public safety and more.” Each House Member was allowed to...
Second Annual Wild Rivers Film Festival Sneak Preview
Brookings, OR – The Second Annual Wild Rivers Film Festival (WRFF) in Brookings, Oregon is a few months away, Aug. 15 - 18, 2024, however, the community can get a sneak preview at the Curry Campus of Southwestern Oregon Community College on Thursday, June 13, 2024, from 12:00 to 1:00 pm. Sue Wright and Kat Lidell, board members of the WRFF will be the presenters for this lecture. Each brings a wealth of experience to the film festival. ...
Oregon Lottery officials issue scam alert
Following news of the $1.3 billion Powerball win in Portland this April, Oregon Lottery officials are urging the public to beware of scams and phishing attempts associated with jackpots. Over the weekend, a text message was circulating that falsely promised the Powerball winner was donating prize money to 10 citizens chosen at random, according to Oregon Lottery officials. The text asked those receiving the message to call a phone number to claim the winnings. ...
Merkley Announces June Town Halls
Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley announced today he will be holding six in-person town halls for Oregon communities in June: Coos and Curry counties on Friday, June 7; Klamath and Lake counties on Saturday, June 8; and Crook and Wheeler counties on Sunday, June 9. The events continue Merkley’s 2024 town hall tour of Oregon, where he is holding a community conversation for each of the state’s 36 counties. “I hold a town hall for every Oregon county every year because there...
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. ...
Merkley announces June town halls
Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley announced today he will be holding six in-person town halls for Oregon communities in June: Coos and Curry counties on Friday, June 7; Klamath and Lake counties on Saturday, June 8; and Crook and Wheeler counties on Sunday, June 9. The events continue Merkley’s 2024 town hall tour of Oregon, where he is holding a community conversation for each of the state’s 36 counties. “I hold a town hall for every Oregon county every year because there is simply no...
Brookings Harbor falls in baseball final
Brookings-Harbor’s baseball team just missed the state title for Class 3A on Saturday, when the Bruins were edged by Warrenton 6-5 at PK Park in Eugene. The Bruins had tied the game in the top of the seventh on a two-out single by Evan Orman but Warrenton won on a bases-loaded single by Odin Wilson in the bottom of the inning. Ethan and Evan Orman both had doubles for Brookings-Harbor,...
Rise in sea urchins impacts Oregon’s gray whales and their food
A recent boom in the purple sea urchin population off the southern Oregon coast appears to have had an indirect and negative impact on the gray whales that usually forage in the region, a new study shows. When urchin numbers rise, the spiky marine invertebrates can devour kelp forests that are a critical habitat for zooplankton, the tiny aquatic organisms that are the primary prey of many marine animals. Damaged kelp forests lead to reductions in zooplankton, and with fewer zooplankton to feed on, gray...
Oregon lawmakers seek community feedback as they plan a transportation package
Oregon lawmakers are mapping out a transportation package for the 2025 legislative session to address the state’s long-term needs, from sustainable funding to new projects so Oregonians can safely travel throughout the state. As an initial step, the Legislature’s Joint Committee on Transportation is planning a dozen meetings from June to September in communities throughout Oregon to get input about improving the state’s transportation system with stable funding to complete major projects and maintain what’s already in place. ...
Letter: We need to support initiatives to reintroduce sea otters
According to new research, our oceans are struggling. The study, in part published by Oregon State University researchers, reveals that the world’s largest marine protected areas (MPAs) are not delivering the biodiversity benefits they could. This is due to slow implementation of management strategies and failure to restrict impactful human activities. Many MPAs allow activities like oil and gas exploration and industrial fishing, which undermine conservation efforts. One-quarter of these areas lack implemented management plans, making it like these areas were unprotected. ...
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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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