As I See It
by Mary Schamehorn
April 27, 2022
This week I am running three photos about the same story, several of which were taken in 1897, as work progressed on the building of the South Jetty.
Construction of the South Jetty, 1897
Construction of the South Jetty, 1897
The third was taken during work on the North Jetty. I am not sure the date of the third photo, but on the back it says the trolley is headed out to the end of the North Jetty. The trolley carried rock in making the jetties. In the foreground you can see the United States Life Savings crew possibly on a training mission in the river.
Construction of the North Jetty, United States Life Savings crew
A headline in the Dec. 16, 1915, Western World spanned the width of the front page: "$300,000 Has Been Spent to Give Coquille River a Good Harbor.
"Some thirty or forty years ago the Coquille River, a stream then navigable only a few miles, poured its waters into the Pacific Ocean over a shallow and very dangerous bar which was close to the high point where the Coast Guard lookout now stands."
The point that the article refers to is what we now know as Coquille Point, a good deal south of the present channel.
"Only small sailing schooners, of the type long since passed from the census of coast shipping, made port at Bandon and those only at rare intervals. Twenty to fifty days were consumed in the passage to San Francisco, from whence they came with supplies and return with the product of the one small mill on the river. One hundred thousand feet of lumber made up a big load for the tiny ships and a round trip every two months was above the average.
"What a fuss we would make today had we to depend on a row boat to take us to any of the points on the upper river, from Bullards to Myrtle Point! Yet, there are many still living who remember the initial trip of the first steamboat on the river and who have pulled a skiff from the old Bandon Ferry slip to Beaver Slough or Coquille City, rather than walk or ride through the unbroken wilderness.
"It is different now (1915). The mouth of the river has shifted a quarter of a mile northward and the tides flow in and out through a confined channel, giving a depth of water on the bar of about 12 to 16 feet at mean low tide. Steamers carrying upwards of 1,000,000 feet of lumber and making round trips to San Francisco every five days can cross in and out without the slightest danger, while vessels two to four times as large as the old sailing schooners can dock at Coquille City, 22 miles inland.
"Private enterprise furnished the funds for the first work done on the river, way back in 1880 when the river followed the bluff and had its outlet between Table Rock and the point upon which the Lookout now stands. During the next four years approximately $4,000 was raised for harbor work and expended under the direction of Captain Judah Parker, founder of Parkersburg. Close onto $1500 of this fund was the result of a grand barbecue and dance held in Bandon, attended by everyone up and down the river and throughout the country around.
"Large crates were built, filled with rock and sunk on either side of the mouth of the river in hopes of confining the ever-shifting channel."
The article goes on to explain that in 1884 Congress appropriated $10,000 for the work aimed at containing the channel, where it is today.
The second picture represents the first rock for the new jetty, built in 1898.
Before the rock could be hauled to the jetty, the Tupper rock quarry, which had been closed and the equipment dismantled following the completion of the north jetty, had to be reopened."
"Between the quarry and the receiving wharf 3,000 feet of trestle had to be built and the wharf reconstructed, while the part of the project on the north side of the river called for an entirely new dock and 2500 feet of trestle.
"Reopening the quarry presented some difficulties in itself and in order to understand the problem one must know that the quarry is nearly a hole in the side of a bluff or hill, into which the cars enter and are loaded from above by derricks. During the previous work all the rock within a safe reach of the derrick boom had been cleared away, so that either the derrick must be placed deeper in the pit and a less secure foundation used, or a monster derrick built."
They compromised by building two 90 foot line boom derricks, one on each side of the quarry, which is the area where Pacific View assisted living center sits today.
"Removing thousands of tons of rock from the pit was the first work of these derricks."
It is hard to imagine how much work went into mining the rock, building the railroad trestles and moving the rock to build the jetties that we take for granted today.
* * *
Megan Lawrence posted some good news on Facebook Sunday about her husband, Kyle, who had been critically injured in a vehicle crash two weeks earlier south of Bandon, during a hail storm. Their three-year-old daughter Ella was in the back seat and thankfully was not injured.
He was life-flighted to OHSU in Portland, where he has been receiving the care he needs.
"Kyle is to be discharged from OHSU tomorrow (Monday, April 25). He will continue therapies and wound care locally/at home and will continue to use a walker for the next several weeks while his ankle heals, but he continues to beat the odds and gets stronger every day. We're beyond grateful for the medical care Kyle has received in Portland, but there really is no place like home," Megan said.
* * *
What could only be said to be a crime spree of serious incidents in Bandon continued last week with the arrest of a 26-year-old Bandon man, Torin Mourey, for second degree murder in the shooting death of his 15-year-old half-brother, Finnian Lewis, at their Harvard Street Apartments home shortly before 11 a.m. on April 20.
After being taken to Southern Coos Hospital for a blood-alcohol test, he was taken to Coquille where he remains lodged in jail.
* * *
People reading this on Monday are reminded that the chamber is hosting a candidates forum for county commissioner candidates Tuesday, April 26, beginning at 6:30 at The Barn.
* * *
I was sorry to learn of the death of Curry County native, author and former long-time Coquille City Manager Patti Boice Strain, who died April 16 at the age of 87. She made her home in Myrtle Point.
She and her late husband Hal Strain, who died in 2017, were instrumental in founding the Coquille Valley Historical Society. Several years ago she authored a 766-page book titled "Floras Creek Precinct and the Boice Family of Curry County," a copy of which I was fortunate to have been gifted by her because she knew of my love of history.
I also heard that a former resident Mary Matney Bray (formerly Pettitt) died April 15 in Corvallis at the age of 79. While in Bandon, she served on the Bandon school board and was mother to nine children.
Graveside services were held April 23 at Lawn Memorial in Corvallis.
* * *
It's been announced that the theme for the 76th Bandon Cranberry Festival, set for Sept. 9-11, is Cranberry Country Jubilee. The primary sponsor is Rogue Credit Union.
Another event guaranteed to bring a number of people into the community is the All-School Reunion set for Saturday, Aug. 6, from noon to 4 at the high school gym. Other classes, including my class (1957), plan to get together that weekend, as well.
* * *
Fabulous is the only way to describe the Bandon Showcase concert featuring pianist Tien Hsieh, at the Sprague theater Friday night. Her long standing ovation expressed how much the audience loved her performance and unless you were there, like I was, it would be hard to describe. Not only was the concert wonderful, but it was so great to mingle with friends after a two-year Covid hiatus.
The next thing we have to look forward to is MarLo Dance Studio's spring production of "Anastasia" set for May 13-15 and 20-22 at the Sprague, with tickets at marlodance.com.
* * *
I learned this week that a house, overlooking Old Town and the River, recently sold for $2,175,000 after being listed for $1.9 million. It is unbelievable what is happening to housing prices in Bandon.
* * *
This Saturday (April 30) is the Earth Day Tree K event, sponsored by city parks and recreation commissioners, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at City Park, with entertainment, food and speakers.
* * *
Don't forget that the annual brush and yard debris removal starts Monday, June 13. People are allowed a maximum of 5 cubic yards (approximately two pickup loads) at no cost. Place your yard debris in the right of way along the street before June 13.
* * *
A person who lives in the Two Mile area posted this week that someone had attempted to break in to their property, and at some point had broken the motion detector light and removed it. But the message was that someone had been on their property who was not supposed to be there and people in that area need to be vigilant.
As I See It
by Mary Schamehorn
April 20, 2022
The first picture I am sharing tells a very different story about the community of Prosper, which was a thriving town over 100 years ago as evidenced by a story in the Dec. 16, 1915, Western World.
Prosper
"Prosper, on the Coquille River two miles and one-half above Bandon, is one of the busiest towns in the lower valley. Unlike the majority of the river towns, it derives little support from the surrounding farm lands and depends almost entirely for support upon the lumber mills, a shingle mill and two salmon canneries located there. The population is about 400.
"Each year 50,000,000 feet of lumber is loaded on vessels at the wharves of the two Prosper mills, while 5,000,000 shingles and 20,000 cases of salmon fill out the cargoes of these ships. Supplying logs for the mills is another occupation which many of the residents follow. Connected with Bandon by jitney lines maintaining hourly service, most of the town's marketing and shipping is done in that city.
"The mills, docks and other industrial plants are located on a long, narrow strip of land between a high bluff and the river. On top of the bluff are several pretty homes and the attractive $10,000 grade and high school building. Modern in every particular, Prosper's school building would be a credit to any community and very few districts are getting more for their money in the way of results, than are these people."
The second picture is a street scene of Prosper taken in 1913. Today there are still a number of homes along the river.
Prosper, 1913
I've always wondered about this third picture, of the Racket Store, as although it looked like they must have sold clothing, I wasn't sure until I came across an ad in the Christmas section of the 1916 Western World. This picture was taken a few years earlier, as it appears they are advertising the 1913 White Cedar Festival.
The Racket Store
The ad read: "The Old Reliable Racket Store is the Only Place to Buy Your Christmas Presents. Our large assortment of TOYS including Dressed Kid body and the latest Unbreakable Dolls, Games, Books, Xmas Cards, Sewing Sets, Erectors, Electric Motors, Balls, Tops, Marbles and other things too numerous to mention, now on display. Our Hand Painted China is worthy of your consideration. Our Notion Department is extensive. Also a complete line of Groceries, Graniteware, Earthenware and Glassware at bedrock prices. Courteous treatment guaranteed. We solicit your patronage and will strive to please you. D. W. Carpenter, Manager."
In spite of the racks of clothing that can be seen through the window, there is no mention of it being a clothing store.
To the right, under the Racket Store sign, you can see the door to the Emergency Hospital. While going through my hundreds of pages of history stuff, I found some information about the Emergency hospital in the spring of 1919. An ad in the March 20 issue reads: "For Sale. Emergency Hospital, Bandon, fully equipped, seven patient rooms, operating room, kitchen, etc. A Good opening. $500 will take it. Want to sell before April 1. Address: K.E. McKenzie, Bandon, Ore."
The Racket Store was in the Oaks Building, on the corner of Alabama and Wall streets, in the area where Devon's Boutique is now located.
In those days, Wall Street ran east and west in front of the old Bank building (now Masonic building), which housed Western World, and ran below the hill over to Oregon Avenue and First Street.
* * *
A 29-year-old Langlois man, Kyle Lawrence, was life-flighted to OHSU in Portland last Monday morning after a pickup truck he was driving skidded on a hail-slickened Highway 101 near West Coast Game Park and struck a logging truck. The Jaws of Life were need to free Lawrence from the vehicle.
His three-year-old daughter Ella was in the back seat and was not injured.
Kyle is married to Megan Lawrence, who formerly worked as a planner for the City of Bandon. He is the son of Jackie Lawrence of Bandon, and works for the Port of Bandon.
Kyle was listed in critical condition, and five days later was moved off the ICU floor, and "continues to make a little progress in the right direction each day, but its unclear how long we will be in Portland at this point," his wife posted on Facebook Saturday.
"Kyle has started physical therapy, but requires a lot of assistance and has a long way to go before we can think about going home and getting back to normal life. Being apart from our daughter is difficult for both of us," she said.
Thirteen years ago, while a senior at Bandon High School and a member of the Pacific High School soccer team, Kyle almost lost his life when he was struck by a vehicle on the highway in front of the Port Orford-area school. Kyle, who along with his brother Cody were both Eagle Scouts, was in a coma for several months as he recovered from his injuries, with his mother at his bedside.
Facebook has erupted with an outpouring of love and support for Kyle and Megan as they continue together on his journey of healing.
* * *
I had not heard about this until I read it on Facebook, but in mid-March, a man climbed over the fence into the back yard of a home at Fourth and Garfield and broke into the home through the sliding glass door shortly after 1:30 in the morning.
The homeowners Jennifer Myrick Young and her partner Bob Vile had heard a noise and checked out the house and their vehicles when they heard the sound of the sliding glass door breaking. Bob started to the back of the house and yelled "who are you?"
Jennifer said she heard scuffling as she was trying to dial 9-1-1 for help, frightened for the safety of her partner, who is 70 years old. The man came at Bob, so he hit him twice in the head with the flashlight, and held him until police got there, she said.
The couple had high praise for the actions of the Bandon Police Department who arrived immediately on the scene and arrested a 30-year-old Tigard man, Henry Jordan Wiidanen.
The man has not yet gone to court, but a check of the jail log shows that he is not in the Coos County Jail. He was charged with one count of criminal trespass in the first degree and criminal mischief in the second degree, both misdemeanors.
Jennifer said originally he was charged with trespass and breaking and entry, but apparently the DA reduced the charges to trespass and criminal mischief.
A check of his background indicates that this is not his first brush with the law as he had twice been charged with possession of cocaine, twice cited for oxycodone use, as well as second degree forgery, possession of a forged instrument and third degree theft.
This is the second incident in the last 30 days involving forced entry into a Bandon area home, with the other involving the use of a weapon.
* * *
Governor Kate Brown was in Bandon Friday visiting the Bandon State Fish Hatchery in a trip hosted by the Coquille Indian Tribe.
In Bandon, the governor "learned about the tribe's salmon restoration partnership with ODFW, and heard about Oregon's increasingly rundown hatchery system, particularly the aging Bandon Hatchery at Ferry Creek," said a press release from the Tribe.
"It was a wakeup call ... like this place needs to be upgraded fast," the governor is quoted as saying.
Coquille Tribal Chairman Brenda Meade, who accompanied the governor along with Tribal executive Mark Johnston of Bandon, said her tribe and others want to help state and local authorities when resources for such projects are scarce. The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission is now considering a proposal from the tribe for co-management of the Coquille River watershed.
While in Bandon, the Governor and her entourage spent about 45 minutes visiting the Bandon waterfront, including time with Chamber president and Farm & Sea owner Lori Osborne.
* * *
People are reminded that the Southern Coos Hospital & Health Center is hosting an in-person reception for its new Art Show "Music of Life," featuring artist Jardin Kazaar of Coos Bay, who owns Black Market Gourmet, from 1 to 3 Sunday, April 24. Masks are required.
* * *
The annual Bandon Chamber dinner and election of officers was held last week at the Bandon Community Center, with the dinner catered by Wilson's market, Edgewaters, Farm & Sea, Coastal Mist and others. Speakers were Travel Southern Oregon Coast Executive Director Julie Miller, City Manager Dan Chandler, Bandon Dunes General Manager Don Crowe, Marie Simonds of Wild Rivers Coast Alliance, Mark Johnston of the Coquille Indian Tribe and Reg Pullen, chairman of the Port of Bandon. Chamber president Lori Osborne and the slate of officers were re-elected, and chamber executive Margaret Pounder was given a standing ovation for her work on behalf of the chamber and Bandon businesses.
As I See It
by Mary Schamehorn
April 13, 2022
It was 64 years ago this week when we first learned that the old abandoned lighthouse and property surrounding it might someday be turned into a state park.
Today that park is Bullards Beach State Park.
The headline in the April 10, 1958, issue of Western World screamed "Abandoned Lighthouse May Bring State Park." And here's the story, with a photo of the lighthouse, which was built in 1895.
Coquille River Lighthouse
"The abandoned Coquille River Lighthouse, opposite Bandon, together with an adjacent area of land may be made into a state recreational park.
"Since the U.S. Coast Guard has announced that the lighthouse together with some 11 acres of land is to be assigned to the surplus property list and offered for public sale, it has been learned through Congressman Charles O. Porter that the federal government may withhold the property from sale if it will be accepted by the state or a local government for park purposes."
And, as we all know, the state did accept it.
"The matter has been referred to C.H. Armstrong, state park superintendent, who in turn has discussed it with the State Highway Commission. Western World has furnished the park superintendent with copies of all correspondence, and under date of April 4, has received the following reply:
"I am pleased to inform you that the State Highway Commission, at its meeting on April 3, 1958, approved the recommendation of the State Park Superintendent to make a study of the area surrounding the old abandoned U.S. Lighthouse opposite the City of Bandon on the Coquille River, together with the area north of the Coquille River and east as far as Bullards bridge."
That together with property purchased from the Bullard family has resulted in one of Oregon's premier parks. The late Marjorie Bullard Stephenson recalled that the Bullard property was deeded to her ancestors in the 1850s by President Lincoln.
The second photo shows the Pacific Barge No. 2 of the Oliver J. Olson Company in March of 1958 as it prepares to leave Moore Mill & Lumber Co. with the largest cargo to ever cross the Bandon bar.
Pacific Barge No. 2 of the Oliver J. Olson Company, 1958
The cutline says the lumber is stacked up like a 10-story building, as it gets ready to leave for San Francisco ... "whenever the local bar smoothes down and there is enough water in the channel.
"The biggest lumber cargo ever to leave the Bandon harbor is aboard this barge; it is reported to be more than 4,200,000 board feet, and is equal to between three and four times the average cargo taken out by the Olson Co. steamships. Reason is that the steamers draw more water and can take only partial cargoes. The barge in this photo is said to be drawing between 14 and 15 feet.
"On the left is the Red Stack tug Sea Lion from San Francisco, prepared to tow the barge south. On the right, alongside the piling of the Moore Mill dock, is the Red Stack tug Fearless, which does local towing.
"The cargo is made up of shipments from the Moore Mill and from other mills that ship over the Port of Bandon public dock."
For my third photo, I am using this cute picture of the Easter Egg hunt winners of April 1963 to let people know that this year's Bandon Lions Easter Egg hunt, for children ages 1-10, will be held Saturday, April 16, at City Park, rain or shine. Children are to bring their own baskets. For more information, go to bandonegghunt@gmail.com.
Easter Egg hunt winners of April 1963
Pictured in back, from left, are John Coville, Larry Duval, Doneen Potterf, Judy Jones, Arlene Moore. In front, from left, Doug Duval, John Michael McGinty, Deborah Brittain and Barbara Prahar. In the back, on the porch of the barn, I can see Lion Carroll Nettleton, in the photo which I took during my cub reporter days...and still at it nearly 60 years later.
* * *
Last Tuesday evening a horrific armed robbery took place in the Seven Devils area of Stock Still Lane at the home of an older Bandon couple. Two people wearing white hard hits, reflective vests and black masks knocked on the couple's door shortly before 8:40 a.m., and after a short exchange, the homeowner attempted to shut the door when the pair burst in, and a man, estimated to be 6 feet tall and 200 pounds, held a gun to the homeowner's head and demanded cash, and the police report said the homeowner complied. The gun used in the incident was described as a blue-colored .45 automatic pistol.
Before they left on foot, to a car a short distance away, they took the couple's phone so they could not call for help.
The couple was seriously traumatized and asked that their names not be released. The suspects have reportedly not been apprehended.
* * *
Last Thursday City of Bandon power was off for durations ranging from a few minutes to quite a few hours after a vehicle struck a power pole at Highway 101 and Beach Loop in the area of Beach Junction shortly before 8 a.m.
The identity of the driver has not been released, but City of Bandon hydro supervisor Jim Wickstrom posted that no one was injured and the driver walked away. The vehicle in the photos posted by Wickstrom appeared to be an older model navy or black SUV.
The city's hydro crew pretty much worked all day restoring power to its customers.
* * *
The City's parks and recreation commission is organizing an event to celebrate Arbor Day, set for Saturday, April 30, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in City Park.
The event will include a "Tree-K," a 2-mile educational walk to learn about the City's trees and natural environment. The activity is family-friendly and will include a scavenger hunt.
A spokesman said that in recent years, City Park has lost 25 percent of its tree cover to disease and damage, a loss that is expected to continue as many of the existing trees reach the end of their normal lifespan.
The release adds: "During the event, community members are welcome to gather at the amphitheater for presentations from a few speakers, as well as a reading of the Arbor Day proclamation by Mayor Mary Schamehorn."
Bandon has been a recognized Tree City USA member for the past 13 years and recently received its first Growth Award for reforestation work.
* * *
"History Minutes Live" is the title of a program to be presented at the Bandon Museum Saturday, April 23, at 2 p.m. by Jim Proehl with music by Bob Shaffar.
Admission is free, courtesy of Chas. Waldrop Real Estate, and people are advised to come early to get a good seat.
The program will center around a series of one-minute radio spots, narrated by Proehl, which end "A little history from the museum in Bandon."
* * *
Coos and Curry County residents are reminded of a free household hazardous waste collection event Saturday, April 23, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Beaver Hill transfer site. People are asked to call 541-396-7624 to make an appointment to drop off their household hazardous waste so that long lines do not back up toward Highway 101. The best time to call is Tuesday through Friday between 9 and 1. The transfer site is 1/4 mile south of Milepost 253 on Highway 101 between Coos Bay and Bandon.
* * *
The Newport Police Department recently sent out a release urging people to be on the lookout for fake prop/movie money, which was stolen in a car break-in recently in Newport. The owner of the vehicle said that approximately a million dollars in fake money was taken, in $10, $20 and $100 denominations. Although the "money" is clearly marked "For Motion Picture Use Only" and "Copy" the money is very similar to US currency and similar prop money has created issues for local businesses in the past. They said it will also feel different than authentic US currency, but people need to be on the lookout.
* * *
The rainfall for the month of March was not much more encouraging than similar amounts for January and February with a total of 5.53 inches. The rainfall for the three-month period was 13.01 inches, with the only total in the last 18 years with less rain was 11.44 inches in 2013.
The year with the most three-month rainfall was 2017 with 43.14 inches recorded. The total for the same period last year was 30.83 inches.
* * *
I probably mentioned this recently, but if you have been getting emails from me, telling you that I am in a meeting and need you to do a favor for me. Please don't respond. If you do, someone posing to be me, with an email address kifd7675@gmail.com, will ask you to buy "me" gift cards. Believe me, I am not asking anyone to buy gift cards or anything for me. Please don't fall for this scam, or if you get a hurtful email from me or a Facebook personal message, it's not me!
* * *
It appears that the State is nearing completion of their extensive project of enhancing disabled access along the highway through Bandon, as well as installing the new protected pedestrian crossing at Ninth Street near the high school. We've been waiting for this new crossing for a couple of years, and will be glad when it is operable and providing a safe way for people to cross the highway without having to wave an orange flag.
As I See It
by Mary Schamehorn
April 06, 2022
For the first picture, I've chosen a shot of locals fighting a fire in 1914 that destroyed quite a few buildings in the business section of Bandon, and was often referred to as the First Bandon Fire.
Bandon Fire of 1914
In the lower left corner you can see the Hotel Gallier, which was located just east of the present Coast Guard building, so you will get an idea of the area of town that burned.
I was looking for a picture that would depict a fire department to go along with an article in the July 11, 1929, Western World that talked about organizing Bandon's first real fire department.
If you look closely you will see reels of hose, which is pretty much all the equipment that they had in those days. Here is a bit about that first fire department.
"C.L. Barnum, proprietor of Barney's Service Station, an experienced fireman and one time platoon leader in the Marshfield department, was elected chief of the Bandon volunteer department at an organizational meeting held at the city hall last night. Other elections were C.S. (Curly) Woomer, assistant chief; Fred Moore, F.E. Drane and Elmer Gant, delegates."
At the time of the big Bandon Fire in 1936, Curly Woomer was fire chief and Forrest Norton was his assistant.
"It was decided to organize five companies, one each for pumper, chemical, boom and ladder, tug and salvage. Lute Henry has been engaged temporarily to sleep at the fire hall for the purpose of driving the truck in the event of a night fire."
The guest speaker for the meeting was State Fire Marshal Geo. W. Stokes, who said, "A volunteer fire department is a public service organization and merits the whole-hearted support of everyone in the community.
"It is essential to proper protection and without it the very best of equipment is practically useless."
He complimented Bandon upon its splendid purchase in a fire truck and its water system.
"Ten men who take an interest in the work and who turn out regularly to drill are more efficient than 50 who are only half-hearted. The most important things in connection with a department are attendance at drills and the willingness of the men to obey orders.
"Mayor Herbert Brown explained that the city has purchased an up-to-date truck with a 500-gallon pumper and has ample hose and a chemical and that now it wants a volunteer department. Much enthusiasm was displayed by the more than 80 people present," continued the article.
I chose the second picture of the Silver Spray Gardens band to illustrate the Fourth of July Celebration program, which appeared on the front page of the July 4, 1929, Western World.
Silver Spray Gardens Band, 1929
Here's what it was like in Bandon on the Fourth nearly a century ago.
The day started off with foot races for boys and girls on First Street near the Gallier hotel. Water sports in the river were slated, with outboard motor races and a U.S. Coast Guard drill. The program continued:
"Swimming starts at Wecoma Baths at 11 a.m., to continue all day and evening. A picnic lunch will be held at noon at city park; bring baskets. Coffee, cream and sugar furnished free. At 2 p.m. a matinee, 'Speak Easy,' an all-talking picture, will be at the Hartman Theatre. A baseball game will be played between Coquille and the Coos County All-Star team, representing Bandon. At 3 p.m., dancing starts at the Silver Spray Gardens, and again the Hartman theatre will present 'Speak Easy.'
"Throughout the day, the Bandon Concert Band will present concerts, and people can spend the day golfing at Westmost Golf Links."
The third picture was taken last week during the demolition of the motel on Coquille Point, built in the mid-1980s by Ed and Margaret Gorman, and more recently owned by Mike Keiser.
Demolition of Bandon Beach Motel, 2022
Although the property has been completely cleared off, a city official told me last week that the Keiser family is "holding off for a year (to build its new hotel) because of the uncertainty with the war in Ukraine and fuel prices." He did say, however, that they had just submitted their final plans for review.
As part of the demolition process, Wild Rivers Coast Alliance -- the grant- making department of Bandon Dunes Golf Resort -- reached out to local organizations that serve people to donate hotel items, which went to Salvation Army, Ruth's Closet, Devereux Center and South Coast Hospice.
So it appears that we will have to wait another year to see what the Keisers have in store for their beautiful new hotel and that historic piece of property, which is just east of the site of the old natatorium (Wecoma Baths), which burned in the fire of 1936.
In the meantime, the Linke family, who own Table Rock Motel, has torn down the original section and are already beginning construction on new units.
* * *
City of Bandon utility customers probably noticed that their power blinked at least once Sunday morning, which probably meant at least resetting the clocks on their appliances.
Our utility supervisor, Jim Wickstrom, told me the blink seemed to be system wide involving all substations. He believed it was a Bonneville Power Administration issue. At least one person reported that the blinking continued throughout the morning, and Wickstrom said he contacted BPA, who indicated it was a relay issue.
For customers who do have problems, they can call city hall 24 hours a day (541-347-2437), and, if at night, just press 5 to report a utility problem.
* * *
I mentioned recently that there had been reports of gas thefts in the East Bandon area, and it was confirmed when a friend of mine who lives in that area sent me a photo of his pickup, with its two gas caps lying on the ground and a short length of hose alongside. It appears that someone was in the process of siphoning his gas when something or someone scared them away.
Later on Facebook, the Bandon Police Department reported that they had caught and charged someone they said was involved in gas thefts and breaking into vehicles. They thanked citizens who had called in with tips and information.
* * *
I recently read that long-time Coquille School Superintendent Tim Sweeney has accepted a similar position at Grants Pass, and will assume his new job on July 1.
Sweeney, whose wife Jennifer is also an educator, was named Superintendent of the Year in 2019 by the Oregon Association of School Executives and the Coalition of Oregon School Superintendents.
Before spending 12 years as Coquille superintendent, he was superintendent of Butte Falls School District.
The Coquille School District, which also operates Winter Lakes School, has seen a great deal of growth under Sweeney's leadership, and he will be missed.
* * *
Mother's Natural Grocery closed Sunday for a couple of months while Sheri and Randy make repairs and plans for the future of the very popular deli and mini-mart.
In the last 6 months I have been a regular customer of the deli, which has some of the greatest vegetarian food that I have ever eaten. It now appears that I will once aain have to start cooking, and I'm not necessarily looking forward to it. They will be missed by a lot of us.
* * *
I learned this week, when I read John Canzano's latest column, that Pete Ward, former Chicago White Sox star and husband of Margaret Huntington, who spent her early years in Bandon, had died March 16 at the age of 84.
Pete and Margaret had lived much of their married life in Lake Oswego after he retired from nine seasons in the Major Leagues. Pete had suffered from dementia the last few years, and they lost their son, Steven, to Covid a year ago.
The Huntington family were neighbors of mine when we were in grade school and I spent several summer vacations in Vida where Margaret's father, Ben C. Huntington, was then superintendent of the McKenzie River School District, the same position he held here.
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I found out last week that the time for Barbara Dodrill's funeral service, on Saturday, April 23, at the First Presbyterian Church, is 2 p.m.
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Fred Gernandt posted on Facebook about an encounter he had with a stranger one day last week in front of the post office. Just as he was beginning to enter the post office, a blue newer BMW SUV "zoomed up to me against traffic and the driver introduced himself as from Saudi Arabia. He appeared to have family in the car. He took off his ring and tried to sell it to me, indicating it was gold. I shooed him away. The car had diffusers on the license plate, and it was from Florida."
Another poster had a similar experience when they encountered a car with Florida plates on their road, and at the highway he pulled up alongside of them and yelled that he needed money and would sell them a gold ring.
This sounds like some kind of a scam that people need to be aware of.
Speaking of scams, many of my email contacts have received strange requests from someone pretending to be me in recent weeks. And if they respond to the first request, they will learn that I need an apple card or EBay cards of $500. Believe me it's not me! I've already changed my password but it appears they already have my contact list, so there's really not much I can do.
Previous columns by Mary Schamehorn
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