As I See It

by Mary Schamehorn

Mary Schamehorn

June 18, 2025


The first photo I am sharing this week came from the May 1958 Western World as Chappell's Service Station owner George Chappell points to the place where his 800 pound safe had been stolen the previous night.

Safe stolen from Chappell's Service Station, 1958
Safe stolen from Chappell's Service Station, 1958


The station was located across the highway from what is now Face Rock Creamery and just east of today's Station Restaurant.

"The arrest of four men appeared to have solved all but one of the recent burglaries in Coos and Curry counties. Three of the men were from Four Mile and the fourth was from Coquille," reported the article.

"Their apprehension accounts for burglaries at the Bandon Airport, Pacific High School, Aldropp's Garage at Langlois, Woodworth Dairy near Port Orford, Bartol Domenighini dairy ranch at Bear Creek and a number of petty thefts in the area."

The burglary of Chappell's safe remains unsolved. The safe contained $600 in cash, $1000 in credit cards, invoices, savings bonds, checks and personal papers.

The story on the front page of the Nov. 1, 1956, Western World reports the first storm damage of the season which "hit Bandon Monday when rain-laden gusts of wind toppled metal framework (second photo) erected the day before at the Bandon Seventh-day Adventist Church and school site on Elmira avenue near 11th street.

Storm damage 1956
Storm damage 1956


"The framework is for a quonset structure which will be a new gymnasium for pupils of the school. Monday's wind also broke at least one window, according to a report from the Franklin Auto Court (third photo)."

Franklin Auto Court
Franklin Auto Court


*           *           *

Thousands of dollars worth of scholarships were awarded to members of the Bandon High School senior class at graduation last week. Bandon Community scholarships, renewable for four years, in the amount of $3,000 went to Cayleigh Holman, Nena Minkler, Sloane Moore, Maddie Pahls, Peyton Simonds, Jacob Weston, and $2,000 to Maya Tulles.

Bandon Dunes scholarships, renewable for four years, in the amount of $5,000, went to Camden Kappa, Felicia McMillen, Nena Minkler, Sloane Moore, Peyton Simonds and Mikeal Sisco-Esquibel; and for $2500 to Isaac Braithwaite, Alexandria Butler, Madeline Greenlee, Alea O'Neill, Makenna Vierck and Haley Williams.

Maya Tulles: Elks Most Valuable Student, $3,500; OSU Finley Academic Excellence, $4,500 renewable for four years; Al Forthan, $2,500; Burger King, $1,000; OSU Access Grant, $2,500; Rogue Community Credit Union, $2,500; Neil Faber Memorial; Jim Seeley, $25,000, 4-year renewable; $2,500 Bandon Rotary; VFW Stories from the Wall, $1,000; Bandon Lions, $1,000; Norman F. Sprague, $4,000; University Women, $1,000.

Nena Minkler: $2,500 Bandon Rotary; Grand Canyon University, $8,300; Norman F. Sprague scholarship in computers, science and math (2023), $4,000; Gaye Knapp Principal's Character award; Spirit of Aloha $1,000; Dorothy Zaddach Fetterman Health Care, $1,000.

Maddie Pahls: Coquille Valley Elks Scholarship, $2,500; Point Loma Nazarene University Trustee's Academic, $18,000; Point Loma Nazarene Music Department, $20,000; William Arnot Day, $4,000.

Haley Williams, Going Coastal, $1,000; Bill Magness scholarship, $1,500.

Griffin Smith: Todd Freitag Memorial, $1,500.

Camden Kappa: Al Forthan, $500; Cranberry Directors Award, $1,000; Coos Curry Electric, $1,000; Oregon Promise tuition coverage; Magness $1,500.

Alea O'Neill: four years of tuition and fees, U of Oregon; Oregon Opportunity Grant; $1,500; Magness scholarship; $1,000 Faber Memorial; $1,000 Nina Dominy memorial.

Madeline Greenlee: Oregon Opportunity and Promise grants; Martha Felton Memorial, $2,500 renewable.

Felicia McMillen: Oregon Promise Grant; Scottish Rite Foundation, $3,000; Magness scholarship, $1,500.

Cayleigh Holman, Finley Academic Excellence, $4,500; Cranberry Queen, $2,500; American Red Cross, $1,000; Alda Lowe Day scholarship, $4,000.

Jacob Weston: Dew Valley, $500; Coos Curry Electric, $1,000; Bushnell Honors, $26,000; John Fetterman Outdoorsman, $1,000; Bandon Lions, $1,000; Dew Valley, $500; Harvey S. Mudd in engineering and math, $4,000.

Peyton Simonds: Coquille Valley Elks, $3,500; VFW Voice of Democracy, $350; Rogue Community Credit Union, $2,500; Whitworth Merit, $32,000; Whitworth Music, $4,200; Mildred Estabrook Mudd in music, $4,000.

Sloane Moore: Summit scholarship in the amount of $5,000 renewable for four years; Bandon Lions, $1,000; Coos Curry Electric, $1,000; University Women, $1,000; Al Forthan, $2,000; Caryll Mudd in creative arts, $4,000.

McKenna Vierck: Linn Benton athletic, $5,853.60; Odd Fellows, $1,000; Shorty Dow, $2,500 renewable; Masonic Lodge, $1,500; Jan Freitag Memorial, $2,000; Eileen Fetterman compassion and kindness, $1,000; and Bill Magness scholarship, $1,500.

Tian Robertson: Masonic Lodge scholarship, $1,500.

Mikael Sisco-Esquibel: Reese Family $4,000; Bill Magness, $1500.

*           *           *

I have a few corrections from the list of band students who were on the state championship team. I was told to use the names on the program from the last band concert, but one band member, Luke Meredith, was part of the championship band but was not on the program. Three others, Liam Helgeson, Elliot Jannsen and River Lewis, did not participate, according to the band director, but were on the concert program.

*           *           *

A 45-year-old resident of Marple Lane, south of Bandon, Joshua Pittman, was arrested for menacing and unlawful use of a weapon following a chase in that area June 12 after reports of shots being fired.

According to the sheriff's office, a neighbor had confronted Pittman on his property. "After a brief dispute, Pittman was asked to leave and he walked further up the road. The neighbor checked later and saw Pittman in their driveway, pull a silver firearm from his waistband and fire a round into the ground," said the press release.

After a police dog sprang into action and flushed the man out of the woods, Bandon Police Chief Cory Dhillon located Pittman emerging from the brush, and the weapon was secured as evidence. He was taken to the Coos County Jail and on June 13, he appeared in court and was released on his own recognizance.

*           *           *

I was sorry to hear that long-time Bandon resident Bob Fisher died Tuesday, June 10, after a long illness. He was just shy of his 94th birthday. He is survived by his sons, Ben and Ralph, and Ralph's daughter, Bobbi Corcoran.

Bob operated and worked on tugboats for many years, and was honored for his part in several daring marine rescues.

*           *           *

A big crowd turned out for a recent Meet and Greet to hear retired Coquille attorney and Bandon resident Harry Slack talk about Bandon during World War 11. Several years ago he authored a book, Lost in the Surf, and has a new book recently published, titled Hugo Rising.

Lost in the Surf, described as a tale of four American boys, one Japanese Naval officer and a collision of duty, can be purchased at the Bandon History Museum, and they expect to have Hugo Rising for sale soon.

A long line of people had their books signed by the popular 95-year-old author. He was accompanied at the table by his daughter, Helen Slack Miller. Also in the crowd were his son, Joe Slack, of Coos Bay and an old friend, Jerry Lundholm.

*           *           *

I learned this week that Pablo's Corner in the building at Chicago and Second, owned by Bill and Louise Moore, was closing. Pablo posted on a video that he was forced to move because the building "is going to be condemned." He thanked people who had supported his restaurant in the past, but did not say if he was looking for another location.

The fire marshal and others recently inspected the building.

*           *           *

I have learned that contract negotiations between the Bandon Education Association and the school district have reached an impasse and are headed for mediation.

I have secured information as to what each side has offered, and at this point, they seem to be 10.3 percent apart, with the BEA seeking a three-year contract of 7, 5, 5 and one additional step each year, for a total of 26.9% over the three-year period.

The district has offered salary increases of 4, 3 and 3, with one step added the second (26-27) year and another step added the third year. Each step is worth approximately 3.3 percent.

There is no doubt that the Bandon teachers are some of the lowest paid in Coos and Curry counties, but school districts across the state are experiencing financial difficulties, and Bandon is no exception. Hopefully mediation will reach a fair conclusion before rhetoric and personal attacks heat up further.

*           *           *

The Meet and Greet set for Tuesday, June 17, will feature Jim Proehl of Bandon's History Museum telling the story of the first Bandon fire in June of 1914. Seating opens at 11:30, with the program starting at noon.

The program for June 24, will feature Bandon Police Chief Cory Dhillon and hopefully some of his officers.

*           *           *

ODOT has announced that Highway 101, six miles south of Bandon, will be closed the weekend of Sept. 19-21 to allow contractors to install a larger culvert. There are no local road connections. During this 48-hour closure, the only available detour is a lengthy drive along U.S 199 (Redwood highway), interstate 5, and Oregon 42.

This will impact Bandon businesses, who have employees living south of the closure, along with the Golf for Health golf tournament that weekend, sponsored by the Southern Coos Hospital Foundation. The total construction window will likely extend about 4-6 weeks, with about 2-3 weeks of single-lane closures before and after the weekend full closure of the highway.

*           *           *

Don't forget the ribbon cutting at the hospital's new pharmacy, Wednesday, June 18, at 4:30 p.m., with a chamber mixer in the hospital lobby at 5.

The GBA and the Chamber will host a wine and art walk Friday, June 20, from 5 to 7, with wine glasses to be purchased at the port picnic shelter.

The Coastal Memory Walk, a fundraiser for the Alzheimer's Foundation, is Saturday, June 28, from 9 a.m. to noon, with people gathering at City Park. Registration is $20. For info call Mary Evans at 541-347-7502.

The Bandon Fringe Festival is a relatively new concept for Bandon, and will offer 14 performances over three days, June 27-29, sponsored by the Sprague Theater and Bandon Playhouse. Visit BandonEvents.org for show details and ticket information.

Audience members can experience several original one act plays, such as "The Footbridge," a dramatic piece written by award-winning playwright Jeanmarie Simpson for the Bandon festival, and the comedy "A Pirate Named Shirley," written and directed by Bandon student Tyler Eickoff, who has been elected as Bandon's new associated student body president.

Well known local photographer Susan Dimock will be a presenter, as will Bubble Man Louis Pearl, who has toured the globe making bubble magic on stage.



As I See It

by Mary Schamehorn

Mary Schamehorn

June 11, 2025


Although I can't find the article about the first picture, I know it was taken sometime in the late 1970s or early '80s.

Platform collapses over Ferry Creek
Platform collapses over Ferry Creek


Jim Franks, owner of the garbage franchise at the time, and standing near the truck, had attempted to drive across my platform (across from the present Face Rock Creamery) with the weight of the truck dropping it part way into Ferry Creek. I remember like it was yesterday because I could not drive into my house for weeks until it was repaired. Bandon Police Officer Marc Johnson, back of the truck, was off-duty that day but came to lend a hand.

The second photo of potholes in the area across from Bandon Fisheries Warehouse was taken in December of 1983, which gives you an indication of what things looked like in that area over 40 years ago.

Potholes 1983
Potholes 1983


The third picture is the Bandon High School vault, which was all that remained of the high school after the arson fire in January of 1974.

Bandon High School vault after arson fire of 1974
Bandon High School vault after arson fire of 1974


Recently, the Bandon History Museum was given a card file of students, who attended school here in the 1920s and '30s, saved from the vault. It was interesting to thumb through the files and see the school records of my mother and my father, both of whom were born here.

*           *           *

The Bandon High School Class of 2025 graduation ceremony was held Saturday afternoon in Otis K. Murray Court. Top scholars were valedictorians Cayleigh Holman*, Nena Minkler*, Sloane Moore*, Madeleine Pahls*, Peyton Simonds*, Jacob Weston* and the salutatorian Maya Tulles*.

Other members of the class were Keanan Anderson, Emma Bemetz, Isaac Braithwaite, Alex Butler, Jarrett Butler, Kefrin Clampitt, Owen Donovan, Madeline Greenlee, Brynn Hindman, Theo Hernandez, Jason Huerta, Wyatt James, Jacob Jindra, Camden Kappa, C.J. Kilcoyne, Michael Mallory*, Felicia McMillen, Teagan Montgomery; Sydni Napier, Tanner Norris, Alea O'Neill, Angel Ramer, Tian Robertson*, Tyler Saechao, Donald Scott, Mikeal Sisco-Esquibel*, Danica Smith, Griff Smith, Hunter Smith, Jovan Taylor, Kaniyah Turner, Makenna Vierck, Payton Vining, Haley Williams and Brooke Zumwalt.

Those with stars by their names were recognized as National Honor Society members for achievements in four areas: scholarship, service, character and leadership.

A list of the honors and scholarships awarded to the class will appear in a future column.

*           *           *

Although local physician Dr. Hank Holmes recently prevailed in his unlawful termination suit against Coast Community Health Center, he is urging community members to continue to support the clinic, which faced potential closure several months ago.

Dr. Holmes won a settlement of $418,750 from Coast, which was founded in 2009 by 65 volunteers who wanted to ensure locals had access to primary care. Adapt Integrated Health Care of Roseburg is working to keep the local clinic operating. He said he was fired on a pretext immediately after raising concerns about the quality of patient care and potential illegalities.

Holmes said that it really was the community's clinic, but "the town lost its clinic because of a lack of oversight."

In speaking with him about the suit, Holmes said that people could Google thelundreport.org and go to "Doctor Urges Community to Engage with Troubled Bandon Safety Net Clinic," to read the article.

Holmes told me he was "a spokesman representing the most senior, capable and committed staff in each discipline. Emily Reinig DO, Hal Lowry MD and myself were the providers in our group. Others were Leesa Cobb, Rosemary Bean RN, Ivy Wagner LCSW, DSW and Lena Hawthorne RN, who was manager of the school-based health programs. All are very respected, mature, proven and deeply committed to career work addressing the community's severe medical challenges," said Holmes.

*           *           *

At last week's council meeting, I presented a proclamation claiming June 2 Bandon High School Band Day, in honor of the band winning the state 1A/2A band championship for the third straight year.

Members of the band, under direction of Dave Weston, include Jacob Bowman, Theodore Brooks, Georgie Brown, Jonah Brown, Noah Brown, Jessica Burg, Oliver Burg, Brooklin Butts, Brodey Cassoday, Jobe Castro, Bradley Cook, Tyler Eickhoff, Hailey Felton, Angela Ford, Max Forrester, Giada Gaughan; Liam Helgeson, Elliot Jannsen, Rylen LaPlante, Uriah Legutki, River Lewis, Michael Mallory, Shane McGuire-Korp, Felicia McMillen, Nena Minkler, Sloane Moore, Sebastian Newby, Madeleine Pahls, Beckett Pahls, Cody Robison, Mariah Rodgers; Bridger Schwenninger, Noah Schwenninger, Tyler Senn, Jackson Simonds, Peyton Simonds, Willow Stuberg, Jack Taylor, Zoe Thomas, Josie Thompson, Sunny Thompson, Reggie Turner, Eli Vineyard, Xzavier Wales, Aiden Wallace, and Jacob Weston.

*           *           *

Bandon native Will Shindler, 69, died from a heart attack in Eugene June 2. The sixth child of Franz O. and Patricia D. Shindler, he was predeceased by his parents, brother Mickey, and sisters Catie and Sarah. He is survived by his brother Bo Shindler, and two sisters, Mary Shindler and Rachel Hernandez.

Active in sports, he was fullback for the Tigers his senior year under Coach Dick Sutherland. He played the piano and enjoyed entertaining. A talented actor, his performance in the role of King Herod in Jesus Christ Superstar for a Little Theatre on the Bay production in the 1970s was memorable.

*           *           *

At a recent city planning commission meeting, questions were asked about the state of the permits for Grocery Outlet and the Gravel Point development. Planning director Dana Nichols, who has resigned effective this month, said that if the permit for Grocery Outlet were not pulled by mid-May (which it wasn't), the project would expire.

As far as Gravel Point is concerned, entitlement phases are complete, and the developer has begun submitting preliminary utility plans for staff review.

*           *           *

Now is the time to clean out your garage and home and bring your unwanted household hazardous waste chemicals to the free collection event at Beaver Hill Transfer Site, Saturday, June 21, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. No industrial or commercial wastes will be accepted.

*           *           *

I've learned that the cement building under construction next to the hot dog stand, and north of the Loft, on Bandon's boardwalk is the new Port of Bandon offices, with public restrooms and facilities for transient boaters.

*           *           *

The Bandon Fringe Festival will offer 14 performances over three days, June 27-29, sponsored by the Sprague Community Theater and Bandon Playhouse.

The festival features 14 events, including drama, music, storytelling, mixed-media, dance and performance art by local and touring performers. Among the performers will be Corrie Gant, presenting a one-woman, one-act play "Tales from the Kitchen Table." Other presenters include a mixed-media staged reading from the new book by photographer Susan Dimock, and a show with Bubble Man Louis Pearl, who has toured the globe making bubble magic on stage. Enjoy local and touring musicians and dancers, such as singer-songwriter Lindsey Bellefeuille, and world music ensemble Malinka, and a comedy "A Pirate Named Shirley," written and directed by BHS student Tyler Eickhoff.

Tickets are available for individual performances or you can purchase a fringe festival pass for all shows. Visit BandonEvents.org for details.

The festival offers live entertainment with the option to attend one, or multiple events, allowing for varying ticket prices and scheduling.

*           *           *

Having obtained extensive salary information from the Bandon school district concerning salary negotiations between the Bandon Education and the District, I will be sharing it next week.

In the meantime, I received a statement from Kara Layman, about the local schools. She has lived in Bandon for two years and spent 14 years in public education, specifically finance and human resources.

"I want to shine a light on something truly remarkable happening right here in our community - the incredible work of the Bandon School District. In a time when many school systems across the country are grappling with tough financial decisions, our district has to create a positive educational experience for our students while working within a very limited budget. I was truly amazed when I did my own research and looked at the numbers, that they have accomplished what they have.

Based on cutting corners, they've leaned in - with creativity, dedication and determination. The schools remain safe and welcoming, and most importantly, the district has worked to ensure that not a single person has been laid off. That's not easy. It's not just budgeting -- it's a moral commitment to the people who make our schools function every single day. Of course, there's a long road ahead. The district wants to pay teachers more, they are the heart and soul of schools. That goal is difficult to reach -- not because of a lack of will, but a lack of resources. The Bandon School District does more with less, finding ways to stretch every dollar without sacrificing quality or people. That takes leadership. That takes heart. So let's give credit where it's due. And let's keep working together -- as a community -- to advocate for the funding our schools need and our educators deserve."

*           *           *

At the Meet and Greet Tuesday, June 10, at noon, the guest speaker will be Jeremy Brown, PharmD, Director of Pharmacy for Southern Coos Hospital and Health Center. A Coos Bay native, and most recently a pharmacist and clinic operations supervisor at Bay Area Hospital, Brown will serve the community at the new retail pharmacy with Pharmacist David Zelman and Pharmacy Tech Christina Harner.

The June 17 program will feature the 1914 Bandon Fire, presented by Jim Proehl, representing the Bandon History Museum.

Bandon Police Chief Cory Dhillon will be the speaker at the June 24 Meet and Greet, and is expected to be accompanied by several of his officers.

Meets and Greets are held at Bandon Fisheries Warehouse, with seating opening at 11:30, food available, and the program starting at noon.

Don't forget the ribbon cutting at the hospital's new retail pharmacy on Wednesday, June 18, at 4:30 p.m., at the clinic, followed by the chamber mixer at 5 p.m. in the lobby of the adjacent hospital.

The GBA and the chamber will host the wine and art walk on June 20.

The Coastal Memory Walk, a fundraiser for the Alzheimer's Foundation, is Saturday, June 28, from 9 a.m. to noon, with people gathering at City Park. Registration fee is $20. For information call Mary Evans at 541-347-7502.



As I See It

by Mary Schamehorn

Mary Schamehorn

June 04, 2025


The first photo I am sharing this week is the repair of the old wooden stairway leading to the upstairs of the Masonic building, taken in July of 1981.

Masonic building stairway, 1981
Masonic building stairway, 1981


The stairway was repaired by members of the Bandon Masonic Lodge. Much of the wood was deteriorated, and it was necessary to build new underpinnings. Masons helping were Russ Conn, Bill Palmer, George MacDonald, Earl Kinard, Murray Gardiner, Bill Janis, Floyd Gohn, John Grove, John Gerber, Bob Bartholomew, Roy Colander and Manny Balcon.

The headline of the next story, from April 22, 1943, reads: "World Publisher Appointed Judge for Coos County."

Judge L.D. Felsheim , 1943
Judge L.D. Felsheim , 1943


"Governor Earl Snell last Friday announced the appointment of L.D. Felsheim, publisher of Western World (and my grandfather), as Coos County judge to succeed Judge E.L.Peterson who is to become director of the Oregon State Department of Agriculture. Felsheim's appointment to the county court is the first time in many years that anyone from the Bandon end of the county has been put in the court house.

Real discipline -- the kind that often spells life or death in time of extreme emergency -- was demonstrated by Bandon grade school pupils (186 third, fourth and fifth graders) in their first air raid drill (third photo) May 28, according to an article in the June 6, 1957, Western World.

Elementary school air raid drill, 1957
Elementary school air raid drill, 1957


Ocean Crest students knelt in the hallway, head to wall, and their heads covered with their arms until the "all clear" was sounded. The drill was under supervision of Bandon Civil Defense Director G.W. Nida, who said it took approximately 10 seconds for the students to evacuate classrooms after the alarm was sounded.

Elsewhere in the building, fifth, sixth and seventh graders were timed by Principal Albert Martin at 25 seconds. Altogether, 421 children took part. At Bandon Heights school the day before, 185 primary grade children executed the drill in about 12 seconds. Weekly drills at unannounced times are planned for the next school year.

*           *           *

People are reminded that the Fourth of July fireworks display will be shot off from the northwest corner of the Moore Mill property, fronting on Riverside Drive. The City and Moore Mill have entered into an agreement to use the old mill site for the staging and launching of the fireworks.

For years, the city-sponsored fireworks display has been launched from Port of Bandon property on the north side of the Coquille River, but restrictions outlined in the multi-page document from the Port have precipitated the move.

Police Chief Cory Dhillon announced earlier that there will be an increased presence on the Fourth, with additional manpower and patrols to police illegal fireworks.

*           *           *

Posts on numerous Facebook accounts, including the Bandon School District, are urging a student walkout and a protest by students and community members who are concerned about the involuntary transfer of a number of teachers in the Bandon district. The protest is being led by a junior student, Sam Dockery, who told me she has been a student in the local district since Fourth grade.

Dockery calls the involuntary transfer of teachers a punitive punishment, saying that several of the teachers being transferred to another building are active in the union, including Ashley Pearson, a high school English teacher, who is president of the Bandon Education Association (teachers union). Another transfer involves a high school history teacher, who will exchange positions with the middle school history teacher.

Dockery is urging people to join them in a protest in front of the district office on Wednesday, June 4, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Among those urging people to join the protest is Amber Nicolle Berg, who has also posted a number of concerns on Facebook after she and her daughter, Jessica, attended the May 29 negotiations meeting between the BEA and the district.

I mentioned this proposed strike/protect to a board member and he said he was unaware of the event. Hopefully someone will have called their attention to the planned walkout since it appears on their Facebook page. If anyone recorded the May 29 meeting with their phone, I would love to see it.

*           *           *

Negotiations between the teachers union and district continue after months of meetings. With the knowledge that the Bandon teachers are lowest, and nearly the lowest, in beginning salary and the top salary categories of 10 districts in Coos and Curry counties, they originally sought a 15 percent raise the first year of a three-year contract, with a COLA (cost of living) increase for both years two and three. After several months, the district has offered a 4 percent increase for year one; and 3 percent each of the next two years. They also proposed adding a 15th step the first year and a 16th step, year two.

On May 7, the BEA's counterproposal included an 8 percent increase the first year, with a 5 percent increase for years two and three.

The district office earlier announced that if the teachers were to receive the 15 percent increase, the financial implications would be substantial. The additional cost would come at a time when the district has already made $1.6 million in budget cuts for the 2024-25 fiscal year and is expected to reduce an additional $1 million in the 2025-26 budget.

One board member said the raises would mean substantial layoffs.

*           *           *

Although this is now old news, because it occurred two days after last week's column came out, the Bandon Police Dept. arrested 52-year-old Brian Tenney of West Coast Game Park in connection with the SCINT investigation and a PC warrant issued by the Sheriff's Office. Tenney was transported to the Coos County Jail on charge of meth possession, manufacturing and attempted distribution. An earlier press release indicated that during the execution of multiple search warrants at the West Coast Game Park, SCINT members discovered 80 grams of meth. The operation also yielded 44 firearms, including one modified into a machine gun, approximately 8 grams of cocaine, and roughly $1.6 million in cash, cashier's checks, bonds and certificates.

Sheriff Gabe Fabrizio confirmed that Tenney is not in jail, and said that it was necessary to test the drugs. He also referred to SB48, pretrial release, which says that most defendants in Oregon are eligible for pretrial release. The very few exceptions are for those most serious offenses.

*           *           *

The Bandon High School girls have clinched the 2A state track and field championships for the third straight year. The Tigers dominated the competition, finishing with an impressive 91 points, led by Makenna Vierck, a senior, being named Athlete of the Meet. Makenna won both the 100 and the 200 meter dashes, and set a new state record in the 200 preliminaries. She finished 2nd in both the high jump and the long jump.

Caitlyn Michalek set a new state record in the javelin with a tremendous throw of 141'1", and was 8th in the high jump.

Marley Petrey won the 300 meter hurdles, was 2nd in both the 100 and the 200 meter dashes and 3rd in the long jump.

Giada Moore placed 3rd in the 300 meter hurdles, 5th in the pole vault and 7th in the long jump.

In the boys event, junior Tyler Senn earned three personal bests and placed 6th in the state with a jump of 40'4.25" in the triple jump.

*           *           *

I've learned that Ivan Gene Schrader, 94, died in Roseburg recently. He was a graduate of Bandon High School and was married for 70 years to the late Helen Wehner, who died recently. His survivors include three children and his brother-in-law and wife, Bill and Lora Wehner of Bandon.

Don Campbell called me last week to say that Bandon native and 1955 BHS grad Walt Ashton, 88, died at his home in Toledo.

*           *           *

Bandon Pool held its annual meeting May 13. It was announced by Brett Perkins of PERK Development (asset manager of Gravel Point) that PERK Development and Bandon Pool are pursuing a partnership to build a pool and recreation area. The proposed plan is that Gravel Point Phase 2 will include a pool and recreation center, and Bandon Pool will assume operation of the pool when it is completed, according to Helen Slack Miller, Bandon Pool president. She said the City of Bandon has no financial exposure, and the project will need to meet all jurisdictional requirements.

*           *           *

The Coastal Memory Walk, a fundraiser for the Alzheimer's Foundation, will take place Saturday, June 28, from 9 a.m. to noon at the Bandon City Park. The registration fee is $20, and if you want a free T-shirt it would be $35 the day of the event.

Proceeds benefit the Alzheimer's Association "The Longest Day" and Alzheimer's research. "Come celebrate with us! Food and three beach walks", said Mary Evans, who spearheads the Bandon event. For more information, call 541-347-7502.

*           *           *

"Kids can pan for gold on a Free Summer Sunday at Bandon's Museum Sunday, June 8, between noon and 3 p.m. Join Steve Gant and Jeff and Sharon Haga in the museum parking lot on Fillmore and you will strike gold," said museum spokesman Jim Proehl.

*           *           *

Don't miss the Meet and Greet Tuesday, June 3, which will feature retired attorney and author Harry Slack, who will talk about his new book at the noon event at Bandon Fisheries Warehouse. Seating opens at 11:30 a.m.

Southern Coos Hospital and Health Center will sponsor the June 10 Meet and Greet, featuring Jeremy Brown, pharmacy director.

The program for June 17, sponsored by the Bandon History Museum, will tell the story of the June 1914 Bandon fire.

*           *           *

Other events: BHS graduation is Saturday, June 7, at 4 p.m. at the gym.

A Gem and Mineral show will be held at the Barn June 7 and 8th.

Art By The Sea will hold an artist's reception June 7 from 2 to 4 for its new show, "All About the Ocean," with Cindy Pinnock as the featured artist.

On June 14, from 1 to 2:30 p.m. BHS alumni are invited to share cake and coffee at Theresa Hall (Episcopal Church), with a charge of $7 at the door. RSVP to Sharon Ward Moy at moy_seaglass@msn.com.

Wednesday, June 18, the chamber will hold a ribbon cutting at 4:30 p.m. at the hospital's pharmacy, which is expected to open soon in the Southern Coos clinic. It will be followed by a chamber mixer at 5 p.m. in the lobby of the hospital, sponsored by the hospital and the chamber.

The GBA and the chamber will host the wine and art walk on Friday evening, June 20.




Previous columns by Mary Schamehorn


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