As I See It

by Mary Schamehorn

Mary Schamehorn

February 24, 2016


The first picture I am sharing this week has two of my very favorite places in it: The Style Shop and Gerry's Ice Cream.

The Style Shop and Gerry's Ice Cream, 1975
The Style Shop and Gerry's Ice Cream, 1975

The Style Shop and Marv's Men & Boys Wear was owned by Marvin and Carol Manes, and it was on the southeast corner of Tenth Street and Highway 101. It is now a video store. Across the highway was Gerry and Trudy Fraser's popular restaurant, and behind it you can see Ocean Crest School. This picture was taken in November of 1975.

I love the second picture because it shows how far we've come in 50 years. This was taken in 1965 at the West Coast Telephone Co. facility, which is still there today across from the mortuary on the corner of Eighth and Oregon Avenue. The telephone employee is introducing their new phones to the public.

West Coast Telephone Co, 1965
West Coast Telephone Co, 1965

The third picture was taken in June of 1980 from the hill near Holy Trinity Catholic Church (about where Bandon Inn now sits). The white building on the harbor side of First Street is the Bandon Bait building. On Alabama, you can see the Arcade Tavern , and the real estate office, with the Masonic Building at right. Also visible at right, along the waterfront, is the original port office, which is now Tony's Crab Shack.

Bandon waterfront, 1980
Bandon waterfront, 1980

*           *           *

I recently saw an interesting article titled "Western governors need help in building water storage." Brian Vick gave it to me, and if I remember correctly, it came from the Capital Press, an agriculture publication.

Since the City of Bandon is hoping to eventually build a reservoir for water storage, this was a very timely article.

It explains that east of the Rocky Mountains, water is no less important but is far more abundant. "It reliably falls as rain in the spring and summer to water crops in the field, and as snow in the winter to recharge soil moisture. The biggest water problem most farmers there face is how to move water off their land, not pump it onto their land.

"Not so in the West.

"Without adequate water storage and the infrastructure to move it, many of the crops American consumers have grown to depend on could be in short supply."

The article goes on to talk about how many crops are grown in the West and the importance of water.

It adds: "What's needed is a comprehensive plan to increase water storage with dams, reservoirs and aquifer recharge. Only a few storage projects are in the works around the West."

No one knows the importance of projects like that than the City of Bandon. Our water, of course, is primarily for domestic use and fire protection. Things we all depend on.

The article goes on: "While money is a formidable hurdle, a greater obstacle in getting projects built is often regulatory paralysis and legal challenges from the environmental lobby.

"The governors say federal water policy needs to coordinate, streamline and provide flexibility to infrastructure planning and permitting guidelines, rules and regulations.

"And something needs to be done to stop environmentalists from running to the courts to resist any and all efforts to build more storage capacity. These challenges all but block any effort and drive up the cost."

Well said . . . .

*           *           *

I had just finished reading Sunday's Oregonian on line, which detailed graphically (both the written word and videos) what transpired at the state capitol Friday when a large group of protesters were trying to interrupt the legislative process in favor of the $15 minimum wage, instead of the three-tiered wage increase that the legislature finally adopted.

Senator Peter Courtney said that in all his years in government this was the first time that he really feared for his safety and the safety of the other legislators as state police officers were slow to arrive inside the capitol as they were busy with protesters outside the building.

One video showed protesters pounding on the outside walls of the chamber where the legislature was in session.

The headline in the Oregonian said: "Shaken senate leader wants more security at the Capitol."

In the same issue of the paper was an article about the Clackamas County commissioners pulling the plug on the Villages at Mt. Hood, a council representing about 4,500 residents living in the unincorporated areas of Clackamas County ... because the meetings were so raucous and the chairman was unable to control the crowds. One man said "The animosity was beyond ridiculous."

And then I turned the page and saw the headline "Ukrainians attack Russian banks," with a photo that looked eerily familiar to what had occurred at the Oregon State Capitol: a thug protesting inside a bank.

All in one issue of the paper ....

Makes one wonder if the protesters at the Capitol had watched one too many Republican presidential debates?

*           *           *

Both Bandon's boys and girls basketball teams are playing next weekend, with the girls playing in Monroe Friday night and the boys hosting Union here Saturday night in the playoffs.

The Tiger girls lost a close one Friday, which meant they are the No. 2 seed in the league, and will be on the road again. The boys, on the other hand, defeated Toledo handily at home Saturday to enter the tournament as a No. 1 seed and the right to host the next game.

I talked with a relative of one of the players and he's not sure if the game will be at 5 (as it was this weekend) or at 7, but either way expect to see some top-notch basketball. This is the third time the Tigers have defeated Toledo in the last couple of weeks, but none was as decisive as Saturday night where Bandon outplayed the Boomers at both ends of the court.

After leaving Western World in 2004 (where I covered sports for many decades), I had not been to many (if any) varsity games. But that's about to change ....

*           *           *

Speaking of basketball, the former long-time girls coach, Jeff Sutherlin, died suddenly last Sunday in the Seattle area where he was making his home with his daughter, Mandy, and her husband, Steve Pollin. Jeff, who was 58, was a member of the Bandon High School Class of 1975.

It was certainly a shock to his family and friends as he had not been ill.

*           *           *

I received two posts last week from proud grandfathers: Fred Gernandt and Chris Ray.

Fred posted a photo, taken at the girls all-star basketball game Feb. 13 in Mexico City, picturing his granddaughter Lizzie Gernandt with former President Felipe Calderon and Former First Lady Margarita Zavala. Lizzie is the 10-year-old daughter of Fred's son, David Gernandt.

Chris Ray shared a story of his two granddaughters and their contribution to two Oregon State 3A titles while playing for Dayton High School. His oldest granddaughter, Sierra Ray, is a freshman and playing college ball for St. Martin University, where she started at second base and hit a home run in her first game.

Her younger sister, Melina Ray, is a sophomore who plays basketball at Dayton High. At 22-3 they are ranked No. 2 in the state, and Chris says he expects to see them at "Pirate Palace" (Marshfield) later this spring.

"They won the state basketball championship last spring, with the starting line-up consisting of one senior and four freshmen. Then they turned around and won the State 3A fast pitch softball championships in June," said their proud grandfather.

The girls' father is supervisor in charge of the multi-agency narcotics task force for Northwest Oregon, and their mother is supervisor at Oregon Mutual Insurance's home office in McMinnville.

I am sure great-grandmother Phyllis Ray is equally as proud. Phyllis and her late husband, Bob, owned Ray's Pharmacy in Bandon for many years, and Chris (Class of l967) and his siblings, Martha ('66), Steve ('69) and Bob ('64) all graduated from Bandon High School. Phyllis lives near Martha and her husband in the Eugene area.

*           *           *

If you're a member of the Bandon Historical Society, or if you would like to be, you're invited to join us Friday from 4 to 6 for a Members' Social, featuring light refreshments and a chance to see some of the wonderful new exhibits that sprung up during our January closing.

I have recently joined the board, and we are all so proud of the museum, which receives rave reviews from people who are very impressed with the exhibits and the overall look of the museum.




As I See It

by Mary Schamehorn

Mary Schamehorn

February 17, 2016


Scenes like the first picture I am sharing were repeated year after year at Christmastime in front of the Bandon Theater where parents and kids gathered to meet Santa and, some years, view a free movie.

Bandon Theater, 1966
Bandon Theater, 1966

This picture was taken in 1966, and Lions in front include George Kronenberg, left, and Stuffy Hendrickson, and under the marquee, Max Howe, Eddie Waldrop and Dave Cox (with pipe), along with police officer Sid Dominy. Alda Mars is in the ticket booth, and at far right I can see Agnes Kronenberg, facing the camera.

The second photo, taken in May of 1963, shows workmen tearing down Chappell's Service Station.

Chappell's Service Station
Chappell's Service Station being torn down, 1963

In the background you can see the little houses along Creek Street (now the location of the city's sewage treatment plant) and in the back you get a good view of the old Moore Mill Truck Shop. I believe the old station was torn down to make way for what would become a new station, built by the owner, George Chappell, and later operated by his son, Jack.

It never hurts to throw in an occasional photo of the writer, so here I am pictured alongside the city's fire rescue truck, which they apparently got from the Willamina Fire Department. Or at least that is what it says behind me, in this picture taken in February of 1966.

Mary Schamehorn, 1966
Mary Schamehorn w/fire rescue truck, 1966

In the background, you can see the west wall of M&L Grocery (now the parking lot for The Minute Cafe), and at left you can see stacks of lumber on what is now the Alabama Street parking lot, which services Old Town. The rescue truck is in front of what is now Devon's. A member of the fire department brought it to Western World for a photo op, as the paper was located in the Masonic (old bank) building, which now houses The Cobbler's Bench. My uncle, the late L. L. Felsheim, probably took this picture,

*           *           *

I happened to see Robin Miller at Pacific Blues Sunday afternoon and he said that Cycle Oregon's stay in Bandon during their 2016 week-long ride will actually be on Monday night, rather than on Sunday night as I reported last week (which would have been the last day of the Cranberry Festival). He has ridden Cycle Oregon the last five years, and said that riders always spend the first night at the gathering place, which this year will be Myrtle Creek. The second night will be spent at Camas Valley and the third night will be in Bandon before they head south to spend two nights in Gold Beach. Then it will be over to Indian Mary campground, and on to Glendale before heading to Myrtle Creek to end the trip.

Also planning to ride this year are Angela Cardas Meredith and her husband, Josh, and another Cardas Audio employee, Brian Von Bork, as well as Bill Humphries.

In an email to me last week, Robin said that if I were interested in riding, he'd be delighted to be my host and guide, and he offered to make an appointment for me with Karl Maxon of South Coast Bicycles.

I am sure he said that with proverbial "tongue in cheek," because the only time I remember riding a bicycle was many years ago, and it ended badly.

I had been visiting Father Leonard Plocinski at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, which sits above the Oregon Avenue hill, heading down to First Street. I was so proud of my new bike and told him I was going to ride down the hill. He urged me not to try it, and I should have listened to him.

I ended up jamming on the brakes, which threw me over the handle bars and onto the pavement. I limped back up the hill, bleeding and battered ... and so ended my cycling career.

*           *           *

I learned this week that, effective March 21, PenAir will be offering daily flights between North Bend and Portland, with one flight leaving Portland at 10:20 a.m. and arriving in North Bend at 11:10. The other midday flight will leave North Bend at 11:40 a.m. and arrive in Portland at 12:30 p.m. Information at the bottom of the release said that effective March 21, flight departure and arrival times for Portland/North Bend routes will change to 20 minutes later than listed above. Since that is the first day of their service, not sure why they didn't just put the correct times on the proposed schedule.

PenAir put out a press release about the new schedule, which also includes adding service out of Portland to both Redding and Arcata/Eureka, Calif.

The release adds: "Coos Bay borders the City of North Bend, and is often referred to as Coos Bay-North Bend. It is the largest city on the Oregon Coast. 'Coos Bay is also home to the Bandon Dunes Golf Resort, a world-class venue comprised of four links-style courses and a par-3 golf course,' said Melissa Roberts, VP of Marketing."

Glad to hear PenAir is offering service to this area, but was not happy to learn that Bandon Dunes Golf Resort is in Coos Bay. Maybe she meant to say "Coos County is home ..." but we aren't going to let Coos Bay take credit for Bandon Dunes Golf Resort.

PenAir is one of the largest regional airlines in Alaska and the Northeast United States, and one of the largest operators of Saab 340 aircraft in the United States. The airline is a codeshare partner with Alaska Airlines and has electronic ticketing agreements with Alaska, Delta, United and several other carriers.

The press release mentioned nothing about the cost of this new service except to say that readers could learn more about schedules and fares by going to www.penair.com.

For quite a few years, it's simply been cheaper, but a lot less convenient, to fly out of Eugene or Portland and bypass North Bend. Hopefully we won't have to do that any longer.

*           *           *

I often watch both House Hunters and House Hunters International on Home & Garden TV. I especially love the international show where you get a first-hand look at the scenery and cultures of various countries. Each show features a different family or individual, who is leaving the United States to live abroad.

I never expected to know anyone, but that all changed one night last week. It featured a family from "Coos Bay, Oregon," who were heading to Wellington, New Zealand, to spend a year. And it turned out to be Dr. Steven Giss, his wife, Robyn, and their three children. I had met Dr. Giss a couple of years ago, and the minute I saw him, I recognized him, although it never did say that he was a doctor or what he was doing in New Zealand.

As soon as the program was over, I Googled Dr. Giss, and came up with the fact that he spent 2015 in an academic position with the Wellington, New Zealand, Breast Cancer and Trauma Surgery Group "and is particularly excited to bring his new breast cancer care expertise to the bay area."

He has now returned to his practice.

*           *           *

A recent issue of Pacific Northwest Golf Magazine said that the new course that Mike Keiser plans to build south of Bandon will be designed by architect Gil Hanse, who designed the course in Rio de Janeiro that will be the site of the golf competition for the 2016 Summer Olympics.

The article explained how "negotiations stalled on building a 27-hole golf course near the town of Bandon. Keiser had been in negotiations with the Oregon State Parks Department and the Bureau of Land Management for a land swap that would have given him more land and allowed him to build an additional nine or 18 holes, with at least nine of those holes being available to the locals at a discounted rate. On Sept. 30, 2015, however, Keiser walked away from those negotiations.

"Now, Keiser is moving on by going back to the original plan of just 18 holes, and Hanse would still be the architect."

The article adds that if the new course is built at Bandon, by 2018 Keiser will have built 11 courses in three countries.

*           *           *

I have only missed one of the Republican debates (and that was Saturday night because my DVR recorded the wrong program), but I continue to be appalled/amused/concerned about the tone of those debates.

I found a very good quote on last weekend's opinion page of the Wall Street Journal, written by Peggy Noonan, which asks some very basic questions about the party's leading contender.

Here is what she had to say;

"Mr. Trump is a clever man with his finger on the pulse, but his political future depends on two big questions. The first is: Is he at all a good man? Underneath the foul-mouthed flamboyance is he in it for America? The second: Is he fully stable? He acts like a nut, calling people bimbos, flying off the handle with grievances. Is he mature, reliable? Is he at all a steady hand?

"Political professionals think these are side questions. 'Let's accuse him of not being conservative!' But they are the issue. Because America doesn't deliberately elect people it thinks base, not to mention crazy."

She adds: "Connected to that, something I've noticed. In Washington, there used to be a widespread cliché: 'God protects drunks, children and the United States of America.' I'm in Washington a lot, and I've noticed no one says that anymore. They stopped 10 or 15 years ago. I wonder what that means."

*           *           *

And now for a little humor . . . well at least I think it's funny . . . maybe not so much for my sister.

Sister Maggie has moved back to town and the same "problem" that followed her when she lived here before . . . is back. She looks so much like me that everywhere she goes, people either smile and speak to her, or they start up a conversation with her ... generally about the city. Her expertise is the health care field ... not city government, as she works for Western Oregon Advanced Health.

In the last couple of weeks, it has happened over and over again. One day last week she was walking into the post office when a man yelled at her from across the street, wanting me (her) to come over and talk to him because he had a question about the city. If she didn't go over, he would have thought I was snubbing him. If she did, he would (hopefully) realize he had the wrong person. So she went over and said I think you want to talk to my sister, Mary Schamehorn. At first it was like he didn't believe her . . .that he still thought he was talking to me.

If people just smile and speak to her, and even call her Mary, she just smiles back. But one day recently she was in line at The Dollar Tree when the woman behind her struck up a conversation ... about the city. Maggie didn't know enough about the issue to respond. So she said, "I think you know my sister, Mary Schamehorn." And it was clear from the look on the woman's face that she really did think she had been talking to me.

Maggie's waiting for the day when someone mistakes me for her . . .and I promised to let her know when/if that happens.

In the meantime, I'm thinking of getting her a T-shirt which reads: "I'm not Mary."

So if you think you see me and wonder why I've not spoken to you . . .it's probably not really me.

A third sister lives here, and although people often say, "You must be Mary Schamehorn's sister," they don't get us mixed up.

Now all we need is Sister No. 4 to move here...


As I See It

by Mary Schamehorn

Mary Schamehorn

February 10, 2016


The first picture I am sharing this week shows the size of the Bandon High School band as they march in the Cranberry Festival parade ... probably in 1958, since the two majorettes, Bette Garoutte, left, and Lana Nettleton, right, graduated in 1959.

Bandon High School band, 1958
Bandon High School band, 1958

They are on Second Street in front of Capps Motor Co. (now Harbortown Events Center), Bandon Theater and Sadye's Confectionary (now Alloro). In the band I can see Joanne Fetterman, Frank Ross, Pat Morris, and a host of others. Standing in front of the shop door, just under the Ford sign, is Edgar L. Capps, dealership owner. It's fun to blow up the picture and see just how many people can be identified.

The second picture was taken during a flood in 1961 as city crews (including Bob Hiley, facing the camera) try to shore up First Street near Fillmore (Riverside Drive). In the background, on what was once known as Creek Street, you can see a group of small houses that were later torn down and eventually the land became the home of Bandon's sewage treatment (wastewater) plant.

1961 flood
1961 flood

The third picture, slugged Women's Civic Club travelling program, was taken in December 1957 and features sisters, June Korenko, left, and Barbara Dodrill, who were well known for their beautiful voices.

Women's Civic Club, 1957
Women's Civic Club, 1957

I sat with June, who will turn 90 in June, at Saturday's special service at the First Presbyterian Church, commemorating their 125th anniversary. Barbara, who is a couple of years younger than June, was in charge of the program. I lovingly refer to Barbara as "the energizer bunny." I really love this picture of the two of them.

*           *           *

It hit close to home when I read about a long-time Seaside city police officer, Sergeant Jason Goodding, being killed Friday night while trying to apprehend a man on an outstanding warrant.

Small coastal communities like ours generally don't hear of shootings like this as we like to think of these things happening in the bigger cities. It just points out how dangerous it is to be a police officer, even in a small town like ours. I am sure the anti-police movement in some larger cities has played a role in the disrespect that some people show to those who are sworn to protect us.

I shuddered a couple of weeks ago when Sgt. Larry Lynch told me it was necessary for him to use his taser (for the first time ever) to subdue a suspect. I certainly applaud the use of tasers instead of the obvious alternative, but when you read what happened in Seaside, you realize our officers can't afford to be too cautious.

In the case in Seaside, both the suspect and the officer died. Two police officers made contact with the suspect, 55-year-old Phillip Ferry of Seaside, as he was walking down Broadway. They knew he had a warrant for his arrest, and as they attempted to place him under arrest for the felony assault warrant, Ferry resisted arrest and the other officer deployed his taser. But Ferry fired a shot, while lying on the ground, that struck Sergeant Gooding, a 39-year-old married father with young children.

The other Seaside officer returned fire and shot Ferry.

Both died a short time later after being taken to the hospital.

Sergeant Goodding had a bachelor of science degree in psychology from Portland State University and had been with the Seaside department for more than 10 years.

We pray that something like this never happens in our community ....

*           *           *

I attended an informational tea Friday put on by the Bandon Swimming Pool Development Corporation at the beautiful Ocean Drive home of Ann King and her husband Rick Toth.

There were probably 15 or 20 people there, including Mary Capps and her daughter, Maud.

On a table containing information about the pool and pledge cards for those wishing to contribute there was a copy of an old Debenture bond, which people signed to help Bandon rebuild after the disastrous Fire of 1936.

The reason I mention the Cappses is because the committee spearheading the Debenture bonds in 1936 was comprised of three men: including Ed Capps (Maud's grandfather) and L. D. Felsheim (my grandfather). Capps was the mayor of Bandon and my grandfather owned the Western World. Talk about a "small world."

Myra Lawson spoke for the pool committee, and urged us to sign pledge cards (which I think most of us did) that would be "called in" once the pool construction is underway.

They are determined to build and operate the pool, which will be supported by a co-op of people who use it.

The group has purchased 10 acres of land adjacent to the south end of City Park. They have 350 pool supporters in LOOP (Lovers of Our Pool) who volunteer services and provide funding, ideas and encouragement.

They can be contacted by writing to BCSPDC, P.O. Box 1398, Bandon. They also have a Facebook page: Bandon Community Pool, and a website: www.bandonpool.com.

I love to swim and I surely hope they are successful.

*           *           *

I heard something interesting about a Bandon woman's recent problems at the pharmacy in Rite Aid.

She had been standing in line at the pharmacy counter when she was handed her prescriptions for asthma, took care of the payment and went home. But later that day, she received a call from the pharmacist (not Steve Wilson) to say that she needed to bring her prescription back to the pharmacy because they had filled it out of order.

She refused.

The only thing they can think of is that a person who was ahead of her in line was obtaining the same medicine, and it is possible they had run out of the meds, which should have technically gone to the person ahead of her in line.

She was so furious that she contacted Rite Aid headquarters and spent a great deal of time talking to someone at corporate, who seemed interested in everything she had to say.

When asked what she would suggest needed to happen up there, she praised Steve Wilson and said that snafus like that never occurred when he operated Shindler Drug Store.

Personally, I have never had a problem while shopping at Rite Aid, but since I take no prescriptions, I have not encountered the kinds of problems I have been hearing about . . . with the pharmacy.

I cannot imagine that it would be legal to ask someone to return a prescription once it had been taken from the store ...unless they had prescribed the wrong medicine, but that was apparently not the case.

My guess is that corporate will be checking into what happened, but it's doubtful that they will contact my friend to tell her the outcome.

*           *           *

The headline said it best: "Driver walks away from 'weird' wreck."

It seems that a 92-year-old guy was driving his vintage 1958 Thunderbird on Highway 101 near Brookings last week when his car was hit by a vehicle driven by an 89-year-old woman. The collision spun the Thunderbird around and over the curb of one corner and into the parking lot of a nearby motel. With its engine revving at high speed, possibly stuck in reverse, the Thunderbird shot backwards across the parking lot, missing several vehicles and a utility pole, and crashing into a motel room, taking out the door and front window.

Fortunately the people who had rented the motel room were on the beach. A witness ran to the scene and found the Thunderbird driver unconscious with his car still running, filling the room with exhaust. The witness turned off the car motor, and since the man was unconscious and there appeared to be no danger of fire, he waited for firefighters to arrive on scene and tend to the driver, who had come to and was not injured. The driver of the other car was taken to the hospital with minor injuries.

Not sure if age had anything to do with this accident, but certainly it could have been a lot worse . . . had someone been in the parking lot or the motel room.

According to the preliminary investigation, the woman was at fault as she entered the intersection as the light was turning from yellow to red.

How often do we all see that???

*           *           *

Bicyclists learned last week that Bandon would be on the route for the Sept. 10-17 week-long Cycle Oregon 2016 event, which begins and ends in Myrtle Creek.

Unlike 2011 when riders spent two nights in Bandon, this year they will be here only one night (Sunday, Sept. 11 which also happens to be the weekend of Cranberry Festival). Their two-day layover will be in Gold Beach. Riders will stay in Camas Valley the first night, Bandon the second night, Gold Beach third and fourth (after lunch at Humbug Mountain State Park), Indian Mary Park the fifth, Glendale the sixth night (after a stop at the historic Wolf Creek Inn), and then back to Myrtle Creek.

By the time the week-long ride is complete, riders will have traveled somewhere between 365 and 457 miles (depending on which route they choose with offered options), with elevations reaching 7,000 feet at Indian Mary Park on the Umpqua River.

Not sure how many Bandon people will register for this event, but I have heard that Robin Miller will be one of them.

Cycle Oregon 2011 will be remembered for at least one sad event: the disappearance of Portland rider Mark Bosworth, 54, who apparently suffered a recurrence of his cancer (non-Hodgkin's lymphoma), which caused him to become disoriented. He had been acting strangely when he was in Bandon, and was found asleep in a pizza delivery car at the shopping center. In a phone conversation with his wife he told her that 1,000 riders had been flown to the East Coast and that he was in Canada. When she told him that could not be possible, he assured her he had just had a bad dream. But the last time anyone saw Mark Bosworth was the night the riders spent in Riddle. The family has offered a $10,000 reward for information about him, but so far there has been no clue as to his whereabouts. One person did say that they saw a person matching his description walking along the highway outside of Riddle, but no one knows if that was Mark Bosworth, who left his wallet, clothes, tent and bicycle behind ... and his grieving wife and daughters and a host of fellow riders.




As I See It

by Mary Schamehorn

Mary Schamehorn

February 03, 2016


Not sure how many of you remember Dr. Donald Crane, who practiced here back in the '60s, but I remember doing a feature on his wonderful collection of vintage cars, and here he is, in March of 1966, with two of his cars.

Dr. Donald Crane 1966
Dr. Donald Crane, 1966

The second picture is titled "old city dock" and it was taken in February of 1960. This would have been the walkway out to the end of the Chicago Street dock (through where the Loft building now stands). That is probably the Port of Bandon tug at the dock, but I'm not actually sure.

Old city dock, 1960
Old city dock, 1960

The third picture, taken in October of 1961, was introducing long-time police officer Sid Dominy to the community after he and his wife, Janice, and their three children, Debbie, Nina Lou and George Leamon, moved to Bandon. I still hear regularly from Debbie (Siebert) and George (who married classmate Suzanne Dornath). Nina died some years ago.

Officer Sid Dominy, 1961
Officer Sid Dominy, 1961

*           *           *

As I prepare for a very long and complicated city council meeting tomorrow night, my column probably won't be as long as usual. Besides I think I have been a bit wordy lately, and so may try to shorten it . . . and maybe start sharing a fourth picture.

*           *           *

Actually I do have another picture to share, but it's not historic, fun or attractive. There is no doubt that the garbage that we often find in our yards, ranging from dog food sacks to food wrappers, is not just being casually thrown out by someone.

No, it is coming from our garbage cans. And the big problem, as exhibited by the picture below, is that people fill their garbage cans to the point that the lid won't go down ... and as soon as the crows get the first sight of (what is in) tasty plastic sticking out from under the lid, they go into a feeding frenzy.

Overflowing garbage can attacked by crows
Overflowing garbage can attacked by crows

When I spotted this garbage can, there were six or seven crows tearing at the plastic, and spreading the garbage all over the area. This was just part of it. I tried knocking on the people's door, but no one was home. I knew where the woman worked so I stopped by, and although I wasn't able to talk with her, I mentioned what had happened to a co-worker. I'm sure the woman was as horrified as I was because this happened just before lunch, and she cleaned up the entire area in just a short time.

But had it been a particularly windy day, by the time she spotted it, it may well have been on neighboring properties all over the area.

I understand, from reading our codes, that the responsibility lies with the garbage company to notify people who are overfilling their cans, but I am not sure that is happening.

Besides, by the time the crows have ripped the sacks apart and spread garbage all over, the lid probably shuts, the garbage has blown away and the driver may not even know there was a problem.

I know this doesn't sound like a very large problem, unless the garbage ends up in your yard.

Then it becomes your problem.

I just hope that people will make sure the lid is down when they haul their can to the curb at night. Also this can was put out on Wednesday morning for a Thursday morning pickup ... which gave the crows plenty of time to feed. If you put it out after dark, and it's picked up around 4 or 4:30 a.m., the crows may not spot it.

Or maybe, better yet, they will leave the neighborhood.

*           *           *

Jimi Pruitt posted on Facebook Sunday morning offering a $100 reward for the return of a sign stolen off Whiskey Run. His grandfather, John Batson, passed away a couple of months ago and that day, or the previous night, someone had stolen the "Drunken Devils Road" street sign. "He master-minded, loved and had the sign made," said Pruitt. "Our family not only owned but cherished this sign as part of his love for beer and our love for an amazing man. We just want the sign back and will not ask any questions. Please share and spread this post. If you know who took it I would be more than happy to go get it and pay you the $100," said Pruitt. People can also contact his grandmother, Nita Batson, about the sign.

They just want it back.

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A former Bandon man was one of the crew members of the second commercial fishing boat to capsize in recent weeks. Last Tuesday, Jan. 26, the Sara Jo capsized near the entrance of the Coos Bay bar after losing power.

One of the crewmen rescued was David Schellong, 42, who went to school in Bandon. His parents were Glenna Schellong and Bob Schellong, and his sister, Kelly, who also attended school here, is the former mayor of Crescent City, Calif.

Schellong and the other crew member, David Williams, were picked up by Coast Guard rescue boats. The third crew member, Raymundo Cardoso, was air-lifted to Bay Area Hospital where he died from his injuries.

That brought the death toll to four crabbers, after three people died a week earlier when a boat out of Port Orford capsized. The captain, Glenn Burkhow, survived, and was the subject of an in-depth and well-written interview by Amy Moss Strong, in Saturday's World.

Unfortunately, Schellong made the news again on Thursday when he failed to pay a taxi driver. When the driver went up to his door, Schellong allegedly struck him in the face several times. The taxi driver called the police, and Schellong was taken into custody for assault ... even though he finally did pay the taxi driver.

Sounds like the stress just got to him ...

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I mentioned last week that someone named Carson had apparently bought the local Chevron gas station. A reader said that Carson-Davis is the jobber (fuel supplier/station chain owner) in question. They apparently own the Shell stations in Coos Bay-North Bend, as well.

It will be interesting to see what happens to gas prices . . .

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I mentioned last week that Steven Leskin, who was being groomed to take Gina's job at the port, had been hired by the Port of Siuslaw in Florence.

Gina sent me a letter that she received from Leskin as his time in Bandon came to a close.

"When you offered me a position on your staff, I swallowed hard at the cut in salary. It has been well worth it. These last few months have been a great introduction to both port work and work in a government office. My time here was well spent, and I am feeling well prepared for the adventure which lay ahead.

"We both know when you encouraged me to apply to Port of Siuslaw that it would be a sacrifice to you. It sets back our plan to find a successor. I am grateful for the opportunities you created for me at some cost to you. Your willingness to help me along in my career speaks volumes about who you are as a person. I men that in a good way, actually.

"I feel fortunate in a way that few people do: the best part of coming to work has been my boss. I have enjoyed my time with you and with Bob (Shammot) and with Trudy (Spanier). I have also enjoyed my time with the members of the Commission and appreciate their encouragement. This has been a great place to work, even as the serious work of the Port got one. I will certainly look forward to continuing to deepen my relationship with you and the many fine people of Bandon."

With a smile on his face, he signed it: "without guilt or regret, Steven 'The Traitor' Leskin."

Leskin was an attorney for more than 20 years before he finally decided to change career paths. He had been in Bandon since August.

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I can't help sharing a quote from the Register-Guard, which was in response to an editorial about how to counter extreme and abusive comments on social media:

Joshua Welch: "Barring anonymous users from social media, newspaper commenting sections, etc., would go a long way in decreasing abuse and creating a more welcoming safe environment for political 'moderates' and others . . The fact is when you have to stand by your words, you put more thought into your comments and are much more likely to engage in thoughtful intelligent respectful commentary."

Amen . . .

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I can't help but wonder what will happen to Pony Village Mall with the pending closure of Macy's. The J.C. Penney store closed in the mall last year... and now Macy's.

It doesn't bode well . . . . but it appears that more and more people are turning to the Internet to make their purchases, and this appears to be a downside of that trend.


Previous columns by Mary Schamehorn