As I See It
by Mary Schamehorn
Jul 31, 2019
The huge headline blared across the front of the April 1, 1954, Western World: Traffic Crossing Bullards Bridge Today. And it was no April Fool's joke. It was the long-awaited opening of the Bullards Bridge, which replaced the Bullards Ferry (at right), which had been in operation for 63 years.
Bullards Bridge & Bullards Ferry, 1954
The first small ferry scow was propelled by hand-operated windlass across the Coquille River in September 1891, by the builder, Robert W. Bullard, pioneer rancher, storekeeper and postmaster. I will mention later in my column about Marjorie Bullard Stephenson, who was honored Saturday at the dedication of a beautiful bench overlooking the beach. She and her late sister, Betty Bullard Baird, were the granddaughters of Robert W. Bullard.
On to the story about the ferry. When the first ferry crossing was effected, James Morrison was on hand to help Bullard set the passengers across; then on the final day the ferry was in operation, Morrison was one of the last passengers to be set across the river by Chief Operator F. S. Younce, whose wife Dora, can be seen in front of the Ferry. Bullard operated the ferry as a private enterprise until the county took over in 1909. An average of 4,000 vehicles, including 1,000 trucks, crossed the ferry each month, with 13,000 to 14,000 passengers.
I remember crossing on the ferry with my grandmother, Grace Felsheim, when I was probably in the 8th grade. The ferry got stuck in the middle of the river and the drama queen I was in those days feared for our lives. But, of course, we made it safely to the other side.
Bill Smith, grandson of Dora and F.S. Younce, the chief operator, shared a copy of the photo with me.
First work on the bridge was started Jan. 5, 1953, at which time clearing and grading for the approaches was begun. It was not until Sept. 26 that the first section of the steel structure was put into place.
The Bullards Store, started by Robert W. Bullard and later operated by his sister Emily's son, Lester Bundy, was torn down to make way for the Bullards Bridge.
The second photo was taken in March of 1965 to herald the new parking lot which opened at the lighthouse on the North Jetty in Bullards Beach State Park. Note plants of grass in the middle of the picture, which was taken looking north from the lighthouse.
North Jetty parking lot, 1965
Today, the parking lot has been battered by winter storms, and although it is now open to the public, it is not nearly as large as the area in this photo.
I love the third picture of the late Dr. Del Remy, taken in 1980 as he teaches youngsters at Ocean Crest School how to open their mouths during an examination.
Dr. Del Remy, 1980
* * *
I was among those who were invited to the unveiling of the bench at the end of Eighth Street, overlooking the ocean, which Marjorie Stephenson's daughter and son-law, Tom and Carol Fugere, put there in her honor and in the memory of her sister, Betty Bullard Baird, who died a year and a half ago at the age of 99. Marjorie celebrated her 105th birthday in February, and while she is now living in an assisted living facility in Coquille, she was on hand for the dedication, which was attended by family members and friends of the sisters, including Marjorie's son, Fred Hultin, and Betty's daughters, Sally and Suzy Baird.
She is such a special lady and it was great to see her out and looking well after she took a bad fall several months ago.
* * *
My rain guy, Gerry Terp, recorded 0.36 inches of rain for the month of June, compared to 0.79 for the previous year and 2.82 inches for 2016/17.
* * *
I recently learned that Jerene Albertson Whitney (Class of 1959) had died June 13 at her home in Klamath Falls. Her husband, Butch Whitney (Class of 1958) had died earlier. Graveside services were held for her July 20 at Myrtle Crest Memorial Gardens in Coquille.
I saw many of Jerene's classmates this weekend as they held their 60-year class reunion at Lord Bennett's. A few that I saw were Jean Kronenberg, Nancy Sheckler, Peggy Hunt, Jim Yager, Larry Davison and his sister, Shirley, Ken Butler, Bob Ellis, Judy Howard, Mary Armstrong, Karen Allen, Warren Thompson, Bob Bowman, Sally Myers, Emelie Martin, Juanice Sprague, and Dayton Turner.
I also learned that Donna Barnekoff Britt (Class of 1963) died last week.
* * *
It's great to see the Bandon Playhouse is rejuvenated and ready to entertain us once again. It's been two years since its last show, Wizard of Oz, but they are presenting a Broadway Sing-along on Saturday, Aug. 10, at 7 p.m. and Sunday afternoon, Aug. 11, at 2, at the Sprague Theater. Serving as masters of ceremonies are Mike Dempsey and Cathy Underdown, both of whom have been involved in local theater for many years.
Admission is $10 for all ages at the door, or in advance at Bandon Mercantile.
For more information visit their website at www.bandonplayhouse.org.
* * *
If you like the photos that I share in my column each week (well at least the more recent ones) you might enjoy the program at the Bandon History Museum on Saturday, Aug. 17, with one at 11 a.m. and the same program again at 2 p.m.
I will be sharing photos from my collection of the '50s, '60s and '70s, and there is no admission to the museum that day.
* * *
Getting ready to "celebrate" my 80th birthday Monday night (Aug. 5) .... at a city council meeting. But dinner Saturday night at Alloro with my three sisters and friends should be fun.
As I See It
by Mary Schamehorn
Jul 24, 2019
The first picture I am sharing was taken over 50 years ago (1965) during the building of what is now a Mexican restaurant at the intersection of Highways 101 and 42S.
Construction of the Snack Shack, 1965
I found the picture in Western World, and under the caption it says: "Construction work is progressing rapidly on a new 'hand-out' restaurant being built ... by Ernie Wehner (right) and Ernest Tiegs (center). Other carpenter pictured is John Dornath, at left.
"The restaurant, which will specialize in sandwiches and ice cream, will be leased by the Gordon Texley family, and is to be operated by Mrs. Texley (Ann) and their three daughters, Donna, Linda and Marcia. Texley is the Williams Bread distributor and the family has lived in Bandon for two years."
The original building is considerably smaller than the building that is there today, which I believe is owned by the Pullen family.
I had to search through the back issues of the paper to find out what happened to this clearly wrecked school bus, taken in May of 1965.
School bus wreck, 1965
And it was quite a story. The bus was carrying members of the Class of 1965 (including my sister Molly), who were en route to LaVerne Park for their annual Senior Skip day. They were accompanied by teacher Ruth Prahar and principal Jerry Judy.
The accident occurred on Highway 42S near Lampa Creek, resulting in minor injuries (cuts and bruises) to 10 students and Mrs. Prahar. The bus went out of control when the right front wheel went off onto the shoulder of the road, which gave way and the driver was unable to pull the bus back onto the highway before it crashed into a telephone pole and came to rest right side up in a gully on the right side of the highway.
Mrs. Prahar, who was sitting in the front of the bus, was thrown to the floor, as was Mike Erdman who was sitting in the same seat. Others who suffered bruises, bumps or cuts, were April Thompson, Rosalie Welch, Jerome Lester, Diana McAllister, Jerry Calame, Nancy Goddard, Tia Carmichael, Marvin Robertson and Mary Lou Burgher. Most of the injuries resulted from picnic supplies (including a large ice chest) which were hurled around inside the bus.
All, but Miss Carmichael, continued on to the picnic in another bus. She was taken into Bandon after suffering a severe bump on the forehead.
The third picture is of long-time Port commissioners Jim Hanna, left, and Jim Weber, who were attending a meeting at the port office during a visit of Oregon Governor Vic Atiyeh in March of 1981.
Port commissioners Jim Hanna, and Jim Weber, 1981
Jim Hanna was long-time manager of the Coquille Valley Dairy Co-op, and Jim Weber and his wife, Betty, bought the Bandon Theater from Jack and Shirley Ward. Weber's Pier at the boat basin is named after him.
* * *
Wow, I was sorry to learn that Scott Vierck, a Bandon native (Class of 1977), had suffered a heart attack and is now in Riverbend Hospital in Springfield awaiting open heart surgery for a double bypass. His daughter, Katy Gonzales, posted on Facebook to say that he was resting comfortably and was stable awaiting surgery.
Best of wishes to Scott and his family.
* * *
There has been a lot of information circulating about a general obligation bond that the city plans to put before the voters in the November election to do much-needed work on its sewage treatment plant.
As there are people in the community who do not have sewer service, they are questioning why they would have to help pay for the bond.
At a recent planning commission meeting, Chairman David Kimes explained that he and others often pay for school bonds even though they have no children attending the schools. He explained that part of living in a community is supporting the infrastructure, whether you use it or not. He added that the city is willing to extend sewer service if a neighborhood comes to the council willing to form an LID (Local Improvement District) to pay the cost, which is commonly how sewer infrastructure is paid for. Although admitting he wasn't sure, he thought the sewer plant was able to support 3,000 homes, and now serves 1,300 to 1,400 of the estimated 1,700 homes in the City.
Commissioner Sheryl Bremmer added that even people who live in neighborhoods that are not served by city sewer probably end up using the service when they shop, eat or visit other parts of town.
She suggested that infrastructure improvements, such as extending sewer lines, could be brought up for discussion once the City is in a better financial position, but she emphasized the City is currently functioning under an emergency action due to its budget shortfall in the water and sewer enterprise funds.
* * *
A special program of jazz, swing band, solos and overall delightful entertainment is scheduled for Sunday, Aug. 4, at 2 p.m. at the Sprague Theater, with all funds going to support the annual memorial scholarship given in memory of Dr. Nina Dominy (Class of 1977), who died suddenly in 2006 at the age of 47. Bay City Swing is a group of very talented musicians with a fabulous stage presence.
A Doctor of Psychology, Nina had helped many people, especially abused children. At the time of her death, Nina's family and friends began an annual $1,000 scholarship, which is given to a deserving BHS graduate.
Nina's sister, Debbie Dominy Siebert, (Class of 1975), who lives in Montana, will be at the concert to answer questions and to visit with people.
Tickets can be purchased at the door and are $15 for adults and $10 for children.
* * *
The elected official who was taken to task in a letter to the editor in last week's Western World obviously referred to me after I said I admired the Republicans who walked out of the Capitol because the Democrats refused to refer HB 2020 (the Cap and Trade bill) to the people.
But unlike the letter writer, who admitted she knows nothing about the Cap and Trade bill or what it would do to our economy, I do know!
If passed it would have raised Oregon's gas tax by 22.9 cents a gallon, and was estimated to raise it by 73 cents in the future. We currently have the seventh highest gas tax in the nation; HB 2020 would have put us just below the highest gas tax state in the US: Pennsylvania, which has a tax of 57.6 cents. Ours would be 56.9 cents a gallon. (Per the 2019 Oregon Public Finance: Basic Facts put out by the Oregon Legislative Revenue Office).
This particularly hurts rural areas where people often have to drive many miles to work, school, etc., and many lower income people do not have the benefit of electric or fuel-efficient vehicles.
Oregon is already No. 2 of the top 10 most environmentally friendly states, just behind Vermont. Pennsylvania, on the other hand, is No. 9 on the list of the most polluted states in the nation.
Yes, Carolyn, I do understand the rules of Democracy, but I also understand the dangers of one-party rule, particularly when the majority party is unwilling to let the people of the state vote on a bill that would have such far-reaching serious economic consequences.
That's democracy ...
As I See It
by Mary Schamehorn
Jul 17, 2019
The first picture I am sharing was taken almost exactly 50 years ago (July of 1969) as Perry Bros. new sawmill began operating on a five-day week, single-shift basis.
Unloading logs at Perry Bros. Sawmill, 1969
The new mill was built on East 11th Street (Rosa Road), the site of the former mill which was completely destroyed by fire in August of 1966. Work on the new plant began in early spring, and owners, Sid Perry and his brother, Bub, expected to cut an estimated 20-to 30,000 board feet a day. The Perry brothers were sawing for Moore Mill and were receiving an average of 20 to 25 loads of logs a day from Moore Mill's contract haulers. Under the picture, the caption in Western World read: "Unloading of logs is done by the use of this Caterpillar unloader which can lift half of a long load of logs in one lift. Logs are stacked in the yard and are transferred from there to the barker and on into the mill by use of a roll-way."
Perry Bros. also owned and operated Perry's Veneer Plant a short distance from the mill, and were in business in Bandon since buying out the veneer interests of their father, Frank Perry, in 1946. They built their first sawmill in 1952.
The second picture I am sharing was taken a little over 60 years ago, in February of 1959, and shows the building of the overpass, which eventually carried Fahy Avenue traffic, from Riverside Drive over the new highway (101), under construction north of Bandon.
Construction of Fahy Avenue overpass, 1959
An article in the paper said that by the fall of 1960 "the cut-off between Davis Slough (six miles south of Coos Bay) and Bandon a distance of 17.4 miles is to be completed. It will shorten the distance between Bandon and Coos Bay by 12 miles."
Us old-timers remember having to go through Coquille to get to Coos Bay before the new highway was opened.
We are looking at the center of the right of way, which was to become part of the new US 101 highway between Bullards Bridge and the existing highway in East Bandon. The camera was looking north, and the photographer (probably my Uncle Lou) said the white posts were recently poured concrete supports for the overpass.
The overpass has long since been removed, but prior to that, people could go out Riverside Drive, head east on Fahy Avenue, and cross over the highway to get to North Ohio Avenue.
I know I have shared this third picture before, but I have a special reason for running it again. Officer Harry Franson, left, and Police Chief D. S. "Big Mac" MacDonald are removing the parking meters from downtown Bandon in February of 1962 near the old bank building (now Masonic building).
Removing parking meters, 1962
Across Second Street you can see M&L Grocery, which was on the corner of Alabama and Second, now the parking lot for The Minute Cafe, which is just east of the grocery store in this picture.
While preparing for my program at the museum last Saturday abut the arson fire that destroyed Bandon High School in 1974, I ran across a letter to the editor written by Harry Franson, which seemed to be so out of character for the stoic, serious man that I knew.
He talks about seeing firemen, school faculty members, school board members, former students, parents and current students all digging through the rubble of the high school trying to see if they could find something of value or a scrap of something they could at least identify.
He closed by saying: "This high school was no ordinary building of nail and pipe and board and metal and mortar and cement. For each of these people this school was a part of life itself in the past, the present or future, and it will rise again from the ashes, or in a new location, both Bigger and Better."
Which it did ....
* * *
For the life of me I cannot understand the decision of the state legislature to allow development of public assets (hospitals, etc.) in Oregon's tsunami inundation zone, which one Oregonian letter writer more appropriately labeled 'the death zone.' He points out that the risk of death in the inundation zone is virtually 100 percent.
He adds: "Four years ago, I worked on a blueprint for reducing development and financing evacuation infrastructure in tsunami risk areas, preparing for a Cascadia Subduction Zone tsunami. But few if any coastal cities have adopted the recommendations, largely because the lure of attracting new high value development to one of the most beautiful natural wonders on the earth ... the Oregon coast ... trumps common sense.
"The debate we should be having is what steps can we take to shift people out of the 'death zone'? Clearly we should not make matters worse by building critical infrastructure there.
"The arguments the Legislature used to pass HB 3309 and put schools, hospitals, fire stations, prisons and other essential public assets in 'the death zone' are shameful," said the writer.
* * *
While I am sitting here writing my column Sunday evening, a rather large black rabbit just wandered into my yard from the wooded area behind me. He's been here 10 or 15 minutes and now he appears to be lying down alongside my car. I am wondering if he is someone's pet because I even went out onto the lawn to take pictures of him, and he didn't run away. I just pray that a dog doesn't come by . . . because lately I've had two piles of dog waste in my yard, which would indicate someone's dog is off leash, and I doubt that this little guy could outrun a dog.
Update: I just looked out and he's gone, so I guess I can get back to writing my column.
* * *
A group of guys were overheard talking rather loudly in The Station restaurant the other day .... about a couple of old rumors and a new one.
One guy said the City had shut down the new owners of Lloyd's because bones were found when they were digging out a tree. Actually, even if that were true, the City would have had nothing to do with a stop-work order involving Indian artifacts. I immediately called the new owner of Lloyd's and he confirmed that while they were digging they found some clamshells and what turned out to be parts of an animal skeleton. They did stop working for a short time while someone from the Coquille Indian Tribe came to the scene, looked at the stuff, and said it was fine to continue digging. He added that he's been treated fine by the City.
The second rumor, which is getting tiresome, involves the lie that the City won't allow anyone to develop a fast-food restaurant in Bandon because of some imagined tie with the owner of Dairy Queen. Fast food service can be built anywhere along Highway 101, but I believe our ordinance says you can't have a drive-up window in Old Town. But that leaves a lot of land available for Taco Bell, Wendy's, or anyone else who wants to buy land and open here.
The third rumor is that the City kept BiMart from developing here. That is patently untrue. Matt and I met with BiMart and encouraged them to develop here ... after they had toyed with Coquille for a couple of years. But, with nary a word, they began meeting with Brookings officials, and that is where they ended up building their new store, which makes sense since there is already a BiMart in Coos Bay and another one in North Bend.
It's always easier to blame the City than to seek out the truth.
As I See It
by Mary Schamehorn
Jul 10, 2019
I just love this first picture and when I first saw it I couldn't believe that it was taken in Bandon.
Construction of the jetty
I found a similar photo in a December 1915 issue of Western World about shoring up the jetties. After years of having the mouth of the river shift toward the south, the first efforts made to confine the channel occurred in 1884 when Congress appropriated $10,000 for the work, and the government engineers started construction of a jetty on the south side of the river. The first jetty had its inland end at the foot of the bluff near what is now (1915) Second and Edison Avenue. The north jetty was built in 1907.
During the winter and spring of 1913 the high tides and heavy storms aided by the ever-present tendency of the channel to shift northward, cut a gap between the river and the ocean inside of the north jetty and behind the lighthouse, causing the ship channel to shoal to such an extent as to make it dangerous. (It is important to remember that the river was the lifeblood of communities like Bandon in those days). The government then appropriated $102,000 for the north jetty work that was occurring when this picture was taken. The article refers to the locomotive, which is running on the trestle built to haul rock (which had been mined from the Tupper Rock quarry) out to the jetty. Here's how the article explained it: "A battery of drills sunk hole after hole in the rock to be filled with powder for the blasts that brought down as much as 1500 tons of rock to the shot. Swung from the pit to the cars (rail) the rock started its journey, an average of 25 tons to the car load. Arriving at the dock it was swung onto the waiting barge and ferried across the river, where it was reloaded on cars, hauled out over the trestle and dumped into place. As much as 400 tons in a single day and nearly 7,000 tons for the banner month, were the record runs on the job. Up to the first of December, 35,000 tons of rock were placed in constructing the 2,000 feet of jetty."
It wasn't without problems as one time a 10-ton rock broke from the derrick on the receiving dock and crashed through the only barge available at that time for ferrying the rock across the river, but that did not stop the work in the quarry. I believe the receiving dock was about where Cleveland Street meets the river, behind the marketplace building.
It appears that the rock had already been dumped when this picture was taken. The men of the life-saving station are probably out on a drill.
The second photo was taken in February of 1970 of six band students who had been chosen to represent BHS in the annual Honor Band.
BHS Honor Band, 1970
From left are Robert O'Dell, Eve Clausen, Susan McGinty (front), Peggy Howard (behind her), Doug Kranick and Darla Bowman.
Dennis Lindahl, who was the band director at the time, was in Bandon Saturday for the program about the high school arson fire of 1974 which I presented at the Bandon History Museum.
The third picture, taken in December of 1966, featured Hazel Colgrove sweeping up the old Carr's Variety Store, which had closed a year earlier, as she prepared to open an antique business at the location. Today that is the home of Bandon Baking Company.
Hazel Colgrove, 1966
* * *
I absolutely love going through the old issues of Western World and often I print out articles or tidbits to share with my readers.
In the Dec. 21, 1916, paper I found a column titled "From Morris Heights" written by J.J. Morris, grandfather of Barry Albertson and the late Karin Albertson Prewitt, who apparently paid for a little space in each week's paper where he could say anything he wanted to. J.J. raised dairy, prize-winning pigs and registered Berkshires on his Dew Valley farm.
"The Western World will not be responsible for anything I say under this heading. The right is reserved to exhaust my grouches, expand my appreciation or tell about my Berkshires. I even reserve the right to abuse my neighbors."
For a minute I thought I was reading an early-day Facebook post ...
* * *
Another interesting item appeared in the Dec. 12, 1916, Western World describing the small communities around Bandon, including Parkersburg, Prosper, Lampa, Bullards and Riverton.
Here's what it said about Prosper, which had a population of about 400 in those days.
"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.
"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 those ships.
"On top of the bluff are several pretty homes and the attractive $10,000 grade and high school building ... modern in every particular."
* * *
In case you have sent me an email in the last couple of weeks and did not receive a reply, there is a reason. It took four important missed emails (that I knew about) before I began trying to figure out what was happening. I contacted Comp-U-Talk in North Bend and after a little investigating, Janet said there were 500 spam emails in my folder which they had filtered out. She did release about 20 of them, which included several that I had no idea had been sent to me.
I expressed my frustration and said I would prefer to decide which ones I wanted to keep and which ones I didn't, but I guess that is not possible. They said they would try to adjust the filter a bit so hopefully I will be receiving everything that is sent to me legitimately. Of course, I don't want the filth, but then again I don't want people to think that I am simply choosing not to answer them, which is not the case.
I have two email addresses, so for now, while I try to figure out if this has been rectified, just send email to me at both addresses: marys@coosnet.com and marys@mycomspan.com. I should be assured of getting one of them, or do as some people do, request a receipt to show I've received it.
* * *
I was sorry to learn that Chas Waldrop. local real estate agent and Bandon native, had undergone heart bypass surgery at River Bend Hospital in Springfield. When I talked to a friend last week, he was still in intensive care. There are few people who are as fit as Chas, which is worrisome for the rest of us. I hear that he is now on the mend and probably will be home by the time you read this.
* * *
Several weeks ago I was invited by Grace and Dick Horning to visit the Coos County Radio Club's field day in Coquille's Sturdivant Park where ham radio operators, like the Hornings, interact with the public, instruct children and demonstrate emergency skills of radio communication, part of a nationwide event involving more than 35,000 amateur radio operators throughout the United States and Canada.
During my visit I also spoke with Tom Noel of Bandon and Dan Bissell.
These people provide a much-needed service, and are prepared for any emergency. I was impressed with the scope of their equipment ... and their enthusiasm.
As I See It
by Mary Schamehorn
Jul 03, 2019
The first picture I am sharing was taken in December of 1973 at the dock as divers from Coos Bay attempt to right the fishing vessel Lou Rita, which had sunk at the dock where it was moored behind the tug Active.
Bandon dock, 1973
The vessel was towed out of the water and onto the parking lot area awaiting a trip to Coos Bay for repairs. The owner, Alonza Allman of Bandon, said outside of a little hole in the side where it apparently rubbed against a piece of floating driftwood, it really wasn't damaged very much.
As you can see looking west, this was before the Port of Bandon's fisheries building (now the Old Town Marketplace) was built.
The second picture was taken after a fire at The Golden Rule (now the Continuum Center) in July of 1970 caused extensive damage, necessitating a proverbial fire sale.
Fire sale at The Golden Rule, 1970
I can identify three people in the picture including Gloria Gant (now Haga) in the foreground, and her mother, Grace Gant, back right, and Florence Anthony, with back to the camera, who worked at the Golden Rule.
I chose this picture because the Gant siblings are having a reunion this week in Bandon, with youngest sister Susan (class of 1962) here from Alabama with her family to visit oldest brother Tom and sister Gloria (class of 1954), both of whom live in Bandon. Also here is their brother Jim Gant and sister Glenda Gant (class of 1952). Tom and Jim were members of the BHS Class of 1948. Their father, Elmer Gant, owned a clothing store in Bandon both before and after the Fire of 1936 and was a long-time pillar in the community. Susan said that she had only recently learned that the reason that Tom and Jim ended up in the same grade, back in the second grade, was because Tom suffered from smoke damage caused by the '36 Fire and was unable to go to school for the remainder of that year.
The third picture was taken in December of 1974 as the Seafair Ford owner, right, gives the keys to a 1975 Granada he sold to P.R. and Carol Vaughn. For the life of me I can't remember the Seafair owner's name, but I believe it was Smith, just not sure.
Seafair Ford, 1974
This is now the Napa Auto Parts Store along Highway 101 behind McKay's Market.
I believe I had a black Granada at the time of the high school fire (in January of 1974) because I remember parking it in front of the high school after arriving on scene to take pictures, only to see that it was in harm's way when I realized that it wasn't just the industrial arts and music room that were burning ... it was the high school, too. I quickly drove it to an area near the football field.
Just a reminder, I will be sharing the story and my photos of the burning of the high school at a special program Saturday, July 6, with one program at 11 a.m. and the same program at 2 p.m. at the Bandon History Museum.
* * *
The 30-year celebration of the restoration of the Coquille Indian Tribe was a glorious event, which brought many tribal members and locals to the marketplace lot Saturday for a full-day of festivities, dancing and special ceremonies. The weather was absolutely gorgeous (until the fog rolled in and then back out mid-afternoon), but it was so unusual to be at that location along the river, the Tribe's ancestral lands, without any wind.
* * *
I heard that a third business was burglarized in the last few weeks. The latest was the Asian Garden, which was entered sometime after 2 a.m. This is believed to be connected to a burglary at Bain Insurance a week or so earlier. We understand that as soon as Sarah Lakey returns from emergency gallbladder surgery (probably this week), a photo will be posted on the Police Department's Facebook page, after the guy was caught on a surveillance camera.
People are urged to be super vigilant about locking their doors and windows, and to report anything suspicious.
* * *
Long-time Bandon resident Joye Van Leuven Olson is now residing at Pacific View in apartment number 309, and would love a note from her friends, according to daughter Jodie.
Jodie said her sister, Michelle Van Leuven McWhorter, 59, of Springfield recently underwent triple by-pass surgery at River Bend Hospital, and is doing great.
* * *
I've learned the former Bandon resident Matt DePaolo, who was critically injured in a 4-wheel ATV accident in October, is getting better and is back at his home in Glendale, Ariz., according to family friend Barry Winters. His future father-in-law died in the accident.
After basically being in and out of consciousness for the first four and a half months, Matt was transferred to a rehab center, where he received wonderful treatment. He then went to Vancouver, Wash., to live with his brother, Nick, where he also continued to make great strides, so that he was able to return home.
Barry says Matt's right arm still needs physical therapy, but his cognitive skills are "coming back each day" after he suffered a severe brain injury. "He's back to working on 4-wheelers again. It's a very positive story," Barry said.
* * *
I continue to be amazed at all the ways that scammers can hack into your phone and computer. This week I looked at my phone and it said " you have a message from Margaret Ann Huston." I looked through messages and messenger and there was nothing, nor do I have a number for Margaret Ann (who lives around the corner from me) in my phone. So I went to the good ole phone book and called her. She assured me she had not tried to contact me, and since I could find no message from her on my phone ...except the alert ... it's hard to figure out how that occurred ... or why?
* * *
Last Tuesday, shortly before 6:30 a.m., BPA lost power on a 115 KV line that feeds the City of Bandon, Coos-Curry Electric and others. Limited power was restored to Bandon about 15 minutes later. The outage affected customers all along the south coast, form Bandon south to Brookings.
BPA traced the problem to the Fairview Substation, where a breaker on the Fairview-Bandon line had tripped.
During the process of bringing everyone back on line, the southern portion of the city's customer base was turned off momentarily, then re-energized.
Previous columns by Mary Schamehorn
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