As I See It

by Mary Schamehorn

Mary Schamehorn

October 28, 2015


While scanning negatives over the weekend, I came across a series titled "sewer project work," and was blown away by the number of businesses which were clearly shown in the background. The pictures were taken in September of 1962 . . . over 50 years ago.

The first one was shot from Fillmore looking north. You can see Bob Schultz' Bandon Plumbing & Heating Co. shop (where Truffles and the parking lot for the Station Restaurant are now located). We don't have many good pictures of that building.

Sewer project work 1962
Sewer project work 1962

I remember when I was young and used to walk to town, I would walk by Ed Gallier's plumbing shop, on the next block west where Bandon Mercantile is now, so I am not sure when Bob built the one in the picture. Also note the Coast Lumber Yard at left and Moore Mill in the background.

The second photo was taken the same day, but from the highway looking east. On the left are the Shell Station (adjacent to the plumbing shop) and the sign for Chappell's Chevron Station. Across the highway is the Coquille Valley Dairy Co-op, and next to it the building (which is now a quilt shop), that was the home of Bandon Beauty Shoppe and Lindvall Real Estate and Insurance. West of that building was the Mobil service station (later Ray Hallinan's Bandon Book & Stationery and most recently where Gibson Graphics was located). Also note the bridge construction on Ferry Creek, which had closed at least one lane of traffic going up the hill.

Sewer project work 1962
Sewer project work 1962

The third picture came out of an envelope, dated April of 1961, titled "first and second graders entertain." A group of students, some of whom I can identify, are pictured with their teacher Darlene Terp.

First and second graders entertain 1961
First and second graders entertain 1961

In the back row, beginning third from left, are Chas. Waldrop, Johnny Felsheim, Pam Kemp, and two in from the teacher, Kathy Schultz, and next to her, I think is Tom Fraser. In the second row, I can see Loren Leach (third in) and next to him, Gary Ellis. At the end, next to the teacher, is Paul Strader (who is/or has) recently moved back to Bandon with his wife Vicki. In front, at right, are Bruce Capps and Gordy Groshong. Ernie Moore is the one whose face you can see in the foreground as one of the performers. Others look familiar to me, but I just can't put a name to the face (even though I had assistance from the 1972 annual, as that was their class.

*           *           *

People are reminded that if they are at all concerned about the spread of gorse around Bandon, they should attend a meeting of the GAG (Gorse Action Group) Wednesday night (Oct. 28) at the Bandon Library meeting room from 6 to 8 p.m.

This is spearheaded by Wild Rivers Coast Alliance, an environmental group funded by Mike Keiser through revenues from his Preserve course. The eradication of gorse is a goal of Keiser and WRCA executive Jim Seeley. And they are willing to help financially and in every way possible.

*           *           *

More as a joke than anything else, I stopped at Chevron to get gas this week ... after making sure that my six-day late payment of over $80 had reached them. It had . . . I only owed $27, which turned out to be the $25 late fee, which was my reward for having a flawless payment record with them for 43 years. But I immediately sent that amount in, even though it wasn't yet due. So I figured there would be no problem with my credit card, which had been denied the previous week for the bill I hadn't realized I owed until I found it on my desk.

I jokingly asked the attendant to check my credit card to make sure they had entered my payment. She turned to me and said: "no, this card expired in September." I could not believe it . . . again paid cash and tried to figure out what had happened.

Mind you, I pay my bills on time and open every envelope which could possibly contain a new credit card . . . but a customer service person said one had been sent to me in August. I looked every conceivable place I could think of and found nothing.

Now I am waiting for a new credit card, with a new number, and until I have it in my hot little hand, I will be paying cash for gas . . . or I might just quit driving.

*           *           *

I got involved in this whole issue of when does Daylight Savings Time end, but in the process of posting the incorrect information on my Facebook timeline, I learned a lot.

I saw a very authentic-looking post from my old friend Jean Albrich, indicating the DST started this Sunday, which is the last Sunday in October. It's the first I'd heard about it, so I immediately called two of my sisters and posted it to my own timeline.

Then the "other side of the story" began pouring in. Others said DST does not end until Sunday, Nov. 1. I immediately deleted the post from my timeline and called my sisters.

Sunday, Susan Deets said that while the DST date was changed a few years ago (from the last Sunday in October to the first Sunday in November), "even the automatic changing clocks are changing this weekend. Some VCRs, too. Then you have to change them back and remember to change them again next weekend." She added with a smile: "It's a government conspiracy to keep us in a confused state of mind . . . and I'm half serious about that, too."

She then sent me a link to more information. It seems that under legislation enacted in 1986, DST in the U.S. began at 2 a.m. on the first Sunday of April and ended at 2 a.m. on the last Sunday of October.

"The Energy Police Act of 2005 extended DST beginning in 2007, though Congress retained the right to revert to the 1986 law should the change prove unpopular or if energy savings were not significant. Going from 2007 forward, DST in the U.S. begins at 2 a.m. on the second Sunday of March and ends at 2 a.m. on the first Sunday of November."

In most of the countries of Western Europe, including the countries that are members of the EU, DST begins at 1 a.m. GMT on the last Sunday of March and ends at 1 a.m. GMT on the last Sunday of October."

And now we know ...

*           *           *

Again, I will tell you that I am relying on a Facebook post Saturday that indicated that the Bandon High School volleyball team took second at league playoffs over the weekend and will be going to state.

I am pretty sure it's true ... but I wasn't able to verify it.

*           *           *

I've been having trouble lately, not only streaming videos to my computer via Amazon Prime, but just clicking on short videos or news reports on line. They keep cutting out. And Sunday when I tried to open my daily Oregonian, a message popped up saying: "We have detected a very slow network connection and the application may not function." It did work, but I am beginning to think this is the cause of my other problems.

But I have also done a couple of "Speakeasy speed tests" from both Seattle and San Francisco, and in both instances, it indicates download speeds of around 49 mbps and upload speeds ranging from 43 to 46, which are great. But maybe download speeds and a slow network connection are not the same thing. So if anyone who is reading this has an answer, please let me know what is going on. My network connection is through Comspan, and since there is no one to call, I will have to wait until their new Comspan Mail Platform is up and running.

I guess this new email platform is supposed to make up for the two customer service representatives that were recently laid off, but I seriously doubt that will be the case.

Speaking of Comspan, I decided to go on line and see if they had a speed test, and I clicked on testimonials to see what people have to say about them.

You can imagine my surprise when I noticed that the third testimonial, attributed to me, was written some years ago.

I apparently said (I think it was in an editorial for the Herald) "Not only is it faster than I could ever have dreamed, it's only $21.95 a month."

Boy, that must have been some kind of introductory offer, because I have been paying $54 a month (and even higher before Sandi worked on my bill) for quite a few years.

I am going to request that they remove my "testimonial" or at least update the service-cost information, which is patently untrue.

The testimonial below mine came from Richard Rahmlow when he owned 2nd Street Gallery, and that has been quite a few years ago.

They really need to date, update or delete these things . . .

*           *           *

Bandon has a superb seventh- and eight-grade football team, led by quarterback Braydon Freitag. Last week they trounced the only undefeated team on the coast, Reedsport, 38-12. The previous week, when Braydon was out with an injury, they lost their only game of the season to Reedsport 24-12, so were happy to have the opportunity to play them again.

I've attended several of their games this season because I am a big fan of Coby Smith (son of Amanda and Jay and grandson of Bill and Carla), who is a great young man.

One fan said, "While Braydon really stood out, it was a total team effort, and it was obvious that the spirits of the entire team were lifted with Braydon's presence." Bo Pickett has done a great job coaching the combined team.

Now it is on to basketball after Christmas, with Gary Remy once again coaching. They should have an excellent team.

This is really a great group of kids ....

*           *           *

While looking through a list of videos that are available through Amazon Prime, I downloaded a 30-minute one to my computer titled "The Book and the Rose."

The theme is based around the concept: "tell me who you love and I'll tell you who you are."

It has a very touching ending, and if you do have Amazon Prime, I am urging you to watch it.

It's short, but it carries a very powerful message.

Yes, guys, even you, too, could learn something from it.




As I See It

by Mary Schamehorn

Mary Schamehorn

October 21, 2015


The first picture I am sharing this week was taken in May 1961 when a group of hospital board members and civic leaders gathered in front of the then new hospital (overlooking the lighthouse on the bluff) to celebrate National Hospital Week.

Hospital board members 1961
Hospital board members 1961

From left are Carl Lorenz, co-owner of M&L Grocery and long-time hospital board member; Edgar L. Capps, of Capps Motor Co., who also served on the hospital board for many years; and Margaret Dean, also a board member, who died last year shortly before her 104th birthday. At right is John Fasnacht, who was not only the long-time manager of utilities for the City of Bandon (now called city manager), but he also served as superintendent of schools earlier.

Who can forget the Pickle Family Circus, which came to Bandon in April of 1980 and entertained hundreds of adoring children and adults in City Park?

Pickle Family Circus 1980
Pickle Family Circus 1980

The third picture was taken in August of 1958 when a group of Moore Mill employees gathered at the Union Hall to do some maintenance work. The location of the building is now a vacant lot just east of the Bandon Veterinary Hospital on the south side of Highway 101.

Union Hall work party 1958
Union Hall work party 1958

Some of the people that I can identify are Tom Conn, the lower one on the ladder; Roy Mallory, far left; Joe Williams and Chuck Hiley (I think) just to the left of the ladder, and George Norduft, third from the right.

*           *           *

Saw a Facebook post Sunday from Stan Goodell, a graduate of Bandon High School, star athlete, and a former long-time cross country coach. His daughter Chelsea had presented him with a certificate celebrating the fact that he successfully completed the 119th B.A.A. Boston Marathon on April 20, 2015 (Patriot's Day). His time was 3:48.51 He finished 263rd in the 60-64-year-old division, and 16,023rd overall (just to give you an idea of how many people competed in the prestigious race).

At the top of the certificate is a quote from Coos County's most famous runner, the late Steve Prefontaine: "To give ANYTHING less than your best is to SACRIFICE the gift."

I have a number of photos that I shot of Pre for the World when he was a running sensation at the University of Oregon, and I will share one of them with this item. Steve died at the age of 24 on May 30, 1975, in a single-vehicle crash in Eugene.

Steve Prefontaine
Steve Prefontaine

*           *           *

Ordinarily I would wait until I had cooled down to write something, but I don't want to forget the humiliation that I felt tonight. I have had a Chevron credit card for 42 years (since 1963) and have never missed a payment or even been late. I have a credit score of somewhere between 820 and 827, which probably means I pay my bills on time.

Unfortunately, as I was cleaning off my desk on Oct. 10, I found my Chevron bill, which was due Oct. 6. It was just one month's bill for about $80. I immediately wrote a check, but I knew it would not go out until Tuesday since Monday was a holiday.

Tonight, I went to the Chevron station to get gas, and my credit card was declined. I looked at the bill when I got home, and the closing date was Sept. 13, which meant that I did not even have a month to pay the bill ... before they would not allow me to use it.

So much for being a faithful customer for over four decades ...

On the statement, there is a number to call for credit counseling ... maybe that's what I need ... or a cleaner desk!

*           *           *

Late last week I met with Mike Keiser, Hank Hickox, Mike's son and Bill Wardrop from Chicago. I was sad to learn that Mike has decided to develop his Bandon Muni-type course in Wisconsin, where he has received a big welcome from people who are enthusiastic about the opportunity for their young people to have jobs and the chance to earn college scholarships.

Mike said he appreciates the support he did receive from Bandon residents, but the road blocks and the negativity from Cameron LaFollette, the Bureau of Land Management and some members of the Oregon Parks Commission made him rethink trying to develop the gorse-covered property south of Bandon into a course for the locals.

And to think that such a gift would have not only cleared a huge swath of gorse from the coastal area, provided jobs and scholarships for young people, but would have come with no increase in property taxes or other costs to the locals.

Our loss will be someone else's gain . . . and that's sad.

*           *           *

I waited for over a week for a reply from Shutterfly after sending an email to their customer service department ... wondering about the note cards which I reordered on Sept. 2. That's the same place I have gotten all of my photo books, and have always found them to be very dependable. But when I ordered my notecards, I heard nothing from them for six weeks.

This week I received a reply from someone who signed her name "Naveen Raj," and it didn't take long to determine why it took so long to reach me: it probably originated at a "call center" in India.

She says: "We are sorry to inform that mix and match stationery cards is temporarily hided in our website. It will be visible as soon as stocks replenishment done."

I interpreted that to mean that the cards are temporarily hidden (or are no longer available for purchase) on their website.

I hope it doesn't take as long to get the refund as it did to get their response. I can't figure out why it is so hard to buy the card stock necessary to complete the order of 20 small 4x6 cards with "Mary" stamped across the front of them.

But I guess I'll just have to keep looking at their website to see if the cards have come out of hiding!

*           *           *

I was all prepared to head to the Sprague Theater Sunday for the matinee performance of Always ... Patsy Cline, but the wonderful, windless weather made me rethink spending the afternoon indoors, and I decided to go this coming weekend.

I have heard that the show is absolutely wonderful and has drawn big crowds. Having seen it four times previously, I can guarantee that you will love it. And you have two more weekends (Friday and Saturday at 7 and Sunday at 2).

*           *           *

My pal Carol Acklin, a retired teacher and a member of the Southern Coos Hospital board of directors, sent me an email this week so I can alert people to a possible increase in the cost of their meds.

"If you were a Medicare prescription customer of Shindler's Pharmacy and your meds have been transferred to Rite Aid, I want you to know that I have not yet found a Medicare Part D plan that lists Rite Aid as a 'preferred pharmacy.' Most still list Shindler's. So you may find that your meds have jumped in price when you pick up your next refill.

"Since enrollment started Oct. 15 for the next year, you will need to do some checking to find:

"1) a list of plans that Oregon allows (check Oregon's Medicare website)

"2) a plan that covers your meds (check formulations)

"3) whether the plan you are checking lists the pharmacy as a 'preferred pharmacy,' which will cost less than a 'standard pharmacy' (this will be listed on each plan's website somewhere)

"4) whether the deductible has changed (my current plan now has a huge deductible for tier 3 meds, which is new to me)

"5) the cost increase for your plan (the old one you may want to keep or the new one you are considering).

"Just be aware: I found NO plan that lists Rite Aid as a 'preferred pharmacy.' If you have just one or two meds, it probably won't bother you to pay more. If you have some higher end meds, it very well might.

"I am angered by the fact that we now have no local choice, and I'm planning to drive to Fred Meyer for my prescriptions," Acklin said ... adding "good hunting."

*           *           *

Everett Johnston, who has been a baker for 30 years, retired last week after working many years with Chris and Kim Powell at Bandon Baking Co. The bakery is well known for their made-from-scratch pastries, and Chris has assured me that Everett taught him all his secrets long before he retired. (Love those apricot scones that are available only on Saturdays).

Everett and his wife, Lynn, plan to do some traveling ... and he will spend more time in his garden.

*           *           *

If you, like me, are concerned about the fact that many properties in Bandon are ringed/covered with Irish Gorse (Furze), you may want to attend a public meeting of GAG (Gorse Action Group) next Wednesday evening, Oct. 28, from 6 to 8 at the Bandon Public Library meeting room.

The effort to attack the gorse problem is spearheaded by the Wild Rivers Coast Alliance, which is funded largely by Mike Keiser's Preserve golf course, which last year gave WRCA $650,000 for Coos and Curry projects.

And control of gorse is just one of those projects.




As I See It

by Mary Schamehorn

Mary Schamehorn

October 14, 2015


The first picture I am sharing this week is of a much younger (local real estate agent) Chas. Waldrop, taken in 1959 when he was visiting Santa (Bob Hiley) at Erdman's Grocery. Erdman's is now Lloyd's Cafe. I often have a hard time identifying the little ones, but there was no mistaking Chas. in this picture. I'll bet that was a bright yellow slicker ...

Chas. Waldrop visiting Santa, 1959
Chas. Waldrop visiting Santa, 1959

The second picture was taken out at Bradley Lake, near the former Millard School, in July of 1966.

Bradley Lake, 1966
Bradley Lake, 1966

Apparently one of the Millard School boys had climbed a tree, but could not figure out how to get down. Helping him were Bob Schultz, with ladder, who I think was fire chief at that time, and local police officer Sid Dominy, at right. I can only imagine how sheepish the student must have felt about having to be rescued from a tree. Young men, who were headed to the military academies, came from all parts of the country and beyond for intense classes in math and English taught by Colonel Homer B. Millard and his wife, Esther, who was my high school English teacher. She is the reason I have a strong background in grammar. Some of the classmates I have talked to over the years said they did not like her, but I thought she was absolutely the best! Maybe they weren't into spelling and sentence structures like I was.

The third picture, taken in September of 1974, shows Harvey Construction, just one of a number of businesses which occupied the old city jail over the years. It remains just west of the old city hall, which is now the Bandon Historical Society museum. In 1974 the city hall building was a fish and chips restaurant as you can see by the signs.

Harvery Construction, 1974
Harvery Construction, 1974

*           *           *

I realize that more people than ever have health insurance, but for the middle class that often means being required by ObamaCare to insure for a lot more issues and skyrocketing costs.

A friend of mine, who has insurance for him, his wife and his early '20s daughter, was just notified by Blue Cross/Blue Shield that his bill will increase from $402 a month to $1122.68 a month, which is nearly a 300 percent increase.

And that is not even the Cadillac plan. My friend, who will be turning 50 next month, previously had a $5,000 deductible plan, and if he decides to pay over $1,100 a month, his deductible will increase to $6,528, which is pretty much a catastrophic plan, not health insurance.

He is actually considering just dropping his insurance and paying the penalty to the government or looking into Oregon Health Plan.

I remember when my pal Brian used to tell me a similar story about Blue Cross, but now he's finally reached the Medicare age and can afford to go to a doctor. But that doesn't do any good for people who aren't even close to the magic age of 65.

*           *           *

Since not many buildings survived the Bandon Fire of 1936, it is always interesting to read about one that did: and that is the old Stephan Hotel building (now home to Cranberry Sweets), which was built in April of 1915 at the corner of First Street and Chicago Avenue (across from the Wheelhouse).

An article in the April 13, 1915, issue of the Bandon Recorder has this to say: "Paul Stephen will soon drive the foundation piling and place the caps and joists for a new bakery on the 50x150 lot on the corner of 1st Street and Chicago Avenue. He expects to have the building completed before the rains commence in the fall. The new structure will constitute a bakery that is modern in every sense of the word. $1,000 will be spent on the oven for it. Mr. Stephan paid $3,000 for the lot about a year ago."

I believe the upstairs later became a hotel as is evidenced by a sign on the south side of the two story building. I am not sure but I believe there may still be apartments upstairs.

*           *           *

A friend posted on Facebook this morning that the Oregon Coast Film Festival, held over the weekend at the Sprague Theater, "was just wonderful." She said she went both nights and to the Saturday matinee. "I was wowed by the quality of the still photos and videos. If you didn't go, you missed two special nights."

My niece, that I hadn't seen in nearly three years, was here with her family, so I didn't make the film festival, but it's good to hear that it was as great as I knew it would be.

*           *           *

I've learned that the two customer-service representatives, including long-time employee Sandi Young, have been let go by Comspan as the company plans to go to an automated system. They just recently moved back to their former office on the south side of City Hall, after a stint in the McNair Building downtown. But there is a sign on the door which says they are closed for remodeling, adding "Comspan Experience Center - Coming soon. For assistance, please contact 541-229-0229."

Sandi has always been extremely helpful for anyone with problems. Unfortunately, it has been weekends and nights when people begin calling for help, and they have been getting little satisfaction. It generally involves the TV part of Comspan's offerings. I remember a few weeks ago, when both the Oregon and the Oregon State games were on ABC, and Comspan lost that network for a couple of days. People were furious.

I understand that people will go into the office, where there will be a computer set up that they can log onto and interact with a person (probably at their Roseburg office) when they have a problem. And there will be a drop box for payments.

I am just not sure how that will work on weekends and nights, but Sandi was the best thing going for Comspan, and it's a shame to see that she is out of a job. I think she has been with them since they opened their office here in Bandon some years ago.

I will say that their Internet service is fast and reliable. But I hear the opposite reports from people who are signed up for their TV service. Not sure why they can't get that figured out, or at least give customers a reasonable explanation.

*           *           *

Long-time Bandon residents, Graydon and Phyllis Stinnett, have sold their home and will be moving to Albany later this month to be near daughter Lisa. Phyllis has been battling health problems the last couple of years, and Graydon just felt it would be better to be closer to family. I know it was a hard decision for them to make, but sometimes there are circumstances beyond our control. They will be sorely missed. Graydon was the long-time owner of Bandon Fisheries and provided many jobs for the locals over the years.

Another of my favorite Bandon couples, Helen and Robert (Robin) Stewart, are also leaving Bandon. Helen tells me they have already purchased a home in Texas, to be near family.

Bandon is so fortunate to have people like the Stewarts, who move here after retirement and become such a valuable part of our community. But as they get older, it often times becomes necessary to move closer to family. It's definitely our loss.

*           *           *

I've learned that Face Rock Creamery entered four cheeses at the Los Angeles International Dairy Competition recently, and won gold medals on all four: two-year extra aged cheddar (my all time favorite cheese), Smokey cheddar, In Your Face Spicy 3 Pepper cheddar and Vampire Slayer garlic cheddar (another of my favorites).

What a great way to start October and American Cheese Month!!

*           *           *

Anyone who had forgotten what winter . . . and rain . . . is like was probably jolted into reality about mid-day Saturday when the heavens erupted in a huge downpour of sideways rain.

It was pretty much goodbye dahlias and beautiful gardens, even though I know how much we need the rain.

But in smaller doses, please.

*           *           *

Most of my faithful readers know the happy ending for my sister's cat, Catman, who was missing for two months until Gleneda Borton alerted us to the fact that she had seen him back in the Sunset City addition near Molly's former home, miles away from where Molly now lives on Indiana Avenue.

Unfortunately, Molly had befriended one of the neutered males that was there the night Catman took off, and he soon became a loving household pet. But now that Catman is back, Molly can't have more than one cat because that is probably the reason he left in the first place. So we need to find a good home for him.

He is very affectionate and would love to be someone's lap cat, although I'm sure he wouldn't mind being outside some, too. So if you would like to have a very neat cat, just let me know. I can even send you a picture of him, and I will personally deliver him ... providing you don't live too far out of town.

*           *           *

Another of my three sisters recently moved back to Bandon. She and I went to dinner at The Edge (Edgewaters) the other night, and she had no sooner gotten home than I received a frantic call from her. She had gone into her house (which wasn't locked) and discovered a black key fob for a Toyota lying very prominently on the living room floor. It had not been there when she left several hours earlier.

We searched her house thoroughly, under every bed and in all the closets and found nothing ... nor could we find anything missing. Later when she went to bed, still shaken by what she had found on her floor, her little cat grabbed her ankle from under the bed ... and she started screaming thinking someone had grabbed her from under the bed. Yes, our minds play tricks on us.

Two appliance men had been in her house a couple of days earlier, and I immediately called to see if the key fob belonged to them. It didn't. Another sister has a Toyota, but she assured us it was not hers either. We then had a couple more ideas, but learned the people we thought might have dropped it don't own a Toyota.

Then it dawned on us. Her little cat is very playful and must have found the key fob underneath the couch or in a chair and was batting it around in her living room while she was away at dinner.

Sure enough, a call to her son the next day confirmed it. He had lost his key fob when he was helping her move the previous week.

But one thing is for sure: she will not be leaving her house unlocked.




As I See It

by Mary Schamehorn

Mary Schamehorn

October 07, 2015


The first picture I am sharing this week is the Mobil station on the corner of Highway 101 and Fillmore, taken in September of 1974. You can see the building in the background that housed a beauty parlor, and is now Forget Me Knots quilt shop. The station building later became Ray Hallinan's Bandon Book & Stationery shop and recently was the site of Gibson Graphics.

Mobil station 1974
Mobil station 1974

The second picture is Franklin's (Auto) Court on Ocean Drive, just above what is now Pacific View (Heritage Place). The office, center of the picture, still stands and is a private home. I am not sure when this picture was taken, but I do know that the cottages are long gone. The complex was owned by K.I. Franklin and his wife, Iva,, and in 1938 it was known as Franklin's Ocean Drive Cottages. Franklin was mayor from 1935 until 1947, when Rudy Backlund was elected.

Franklin's Auto Court

I love the third picture, taken in April of 1975 at a Bandon Aero Club crab feed of Mike Peters (son of Nancy and Mick), left, and Fred Gernandt's son, David.

Bandon Aero Club crab feed 1975
Bandon Aero Club crab feed 1975

*           *           *

It is difficult to comprehend, or write about, the terrible tragedy that occurred at Umpqua Community College in Roseburg Thursday morning when a man opened fire killing nine students and injuring seven others.

Bandon resident Ann Foland posted an open message to all 1,125 members of the Bandon, Oregon Facebook page shortly after 11 o'clock the night of the shooting.

She just retired from UCC. "I know the faculty. They are my friends. I know the students. Please do not turn this tragedy into a gun debate. I have talked to my colleagues; students were running and screaming through the halls; others that the faculty could find were huddled down in classrooms, offices and labs where most of the doors do not lock; everyone was just praying to come out alive; just praying that their friends were still alive.

"Full armored police were marching down hallways with guns drawn. The scene was panic and terror; no one knowing if their friends were dead; if they were going to die next. There was nothing anyone with or without a gun could have done to stop this, except the police. UCC is a gun free zone. And to its own fault, no one on the faculty has ever been trained to deal with something like this happening; there were never any drills. It was terror. Don't demean the death of my friend Larry who was the teacher or his students. Just don't." Ann was referring to Larry Levine, the teacher who was shot.

An article in Sunday's Oregonian explained that while UCC is a gun-free zone, those with concealed weapon permits were still allowed to carry guns, and were armed that day, but in other buildings on the campus. On good advice from their teachers, they did not try to intervene, fearing that the police would not know the "good guys from the bad guy."

An article on the front page of the weekend Wall Street Journal is titled "Shootings put focus on campus security."

"The shootings . . . are focusing attention on security measures on U.S. campuses and stoking debate over whether firearms should be allowed on campus for protection."

And by that, of course they are referring to clearly identified armed guards and police officers, not individual students. I have heard that there was one security officer on campus, but instead of a gun he carried pepper spray. That makes no sense to me; it would be like putting police officers on the streets, but not allowing them to carry guns.

Tragedies like this have been repeated way too many times across the nation's schools and campuses, and it's time to have well-trained, and armed, officers on the campus.

I am sure that this debate will be held nationwide, along with the much-needed discussion about the mentally ill, how do we identify them and how do we keep weapons out of their hands?

*           *           *

The 8th annual Bandon Feeds the Hungry Variety Show and Silent Auction was a huge success again this year, raising approximately $16,000, which will be divided equally among the five food assistance groups in Bandon.

Amy Moss-Strong, chairman of the event, said that many people made the fundraiser a success. "The bulk of the funds raised come from cash donations. Bandon residents and former residents support their less fortunate neighbors generously. Local merchants from Bandon, Port Orford, Coos Bay, North Bend and Coquille are also very generous with gift certificates and silent auction items. People who attended the show, many of whom had already donated cash or silent auction items, also bid on items."

Amy adds: "Bandon sure knows how to take care of its neighbors, and, as we know, it takes that kind of effort to keep our community strong and healthy."

Amy, with a lot of help from daughter Autumn, did a great job in making them such a huge success.

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The third annual Oregon Coast Film Festival is set for this weekend at the Sprague Theater, where people can see and hear special Oregon stories.

Friday evening's exhibition categories are Thrill of the Still Photo Exhibition, Cranberry Film Challenge, and Time Lapse, Digital Painting and Dronescapes ... from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

The Saturday matinee (4 to 5:15 p.m.) will showcase the Best of the Northwest Filmmakers' Festival. Saturday evening (6 to 8:30 p.m.) will feature short documentaries, best-of-local film submissions, plus the audience choice award and videographer questions and answers.

Admission is $15, and tickets are available at Bandon Mercantile, Bandon Ace Hardware or at the door.

I attended this event two years ago, and I was blown away by the quality and subject matter of the films.

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A memorial service for former Bandon mayor and long-time resident Joe Whitsett will be held Saturday, Oct. 17, at 4 p.m. at the VFW Hall, according to word I received this week from his wife, Darla, who lives in Springfield.

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I learned that Bandon resident Wayne Robbins died Saturday morning at a nursing home in Coos Bay, where he had been for some time after suffering serious complications from diabetes.

Wayne, who turned 80 in September, was a long-time member of the Bandon School Board and had also served as the city's representative on the arts council.

Among his survivors are his wife, Betty, at home in Bandon, and a daughter, Jane, who lives in Salem.

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I see that the owners of Lloyd's Cafe, which has sat empty way too long in the heart of Old Town, have now listed the property with Chas. Waldrop. Hopefully that means that aggressive attempts will be made to sell the business, which was the anchor tenant in the downtown area for many years.

Now that it is listed, maybe someone will at least wash the dirty, filthy windows, which greet visitors as they walk down Second Street and along Baltimore Avenue.

It's a prime piece of real estate and it needs to once again be the vibrant local hangout for locals and tourists that it once was when the Dahl family owned it.

It was always busy on Cranberry weekend when locals would return to town for the weekend and head to Lloyd's to see their friends. We knew that pretty much everyone would be there.

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News that Mike Keiser has decided not to further pursue his purchase of state park lands to develop the Bandon Muni golf course was sad, indeed.

I am not sure how many people actually knew about Mr. Keiser's plans for the course south of Bandon, which would have provided an opportunity for locals to play golf for $20, jobs and scholarships.

Thursday morning I received a personal email from Mike thanking me for my "unwavering support for the Bandon Municipal Golf Course: 80 jobs, world class golf course for $10 greens fees for 'caddy mentors' from Coos and Curry County, up to 200 high school students in the caddy/college scholarship program, and certain economic development in the towns of Bandon and Port Orford. I would guess the project was supported by 90 percent of your constituents.

"It's sad that our federal government (BLM) ruled as it did. Mike."

I forwarded his email on to the offices of Congressman Peter DeFazio and Senator Jeff Merkley.

What I would consider a gleeful article in the Oregonian Sept. 29, written by environmental reporter Kelly House, who has been anything but a friend to Mr. Keiser's efforts, was titled "New rules hang up Bandon land deal." She mistakenly calls the property "active state parkland," when it was actually a large parcel of land covered by gorse.

The writer explains that about $450,000 would be added to the price he would have to pay if he wanted to buy state park land on the South Coast. "Then subtract the college scholarships and environmental restoration work he vowed to provide with revenue from the course."

The article points out that the BLM, which controls the fate of the 180-acre piece of land, has included those details in a list of hurdles Keiser must clear to buy the land.

"The State Parks Commission agreed in 2014 to give Keiser a chunk of the 878-acre park in exchange for $2.5 million, 216 acres of land elsewhere on the coast and money to control an invasive plant known as gorse."

Later the article explains that "Keiser would have to drastically alter his business plan to make the deal work. According to bureau (BLM) rules, greens fees at the course would have to compete with other nonprofit courses operating on the federal agency's land. Any money earned in the process would have to go back into the operation."

That meant that the revenue from the course could not fund college scholarships for local teenagers nor could it be used to combat gorse.

One of the primary opponents, who has fought a number of things that would have benefitted the South Coast, was Cameron LaFollette, director of the Oregon Coast Alliance.

According to former city manager Matt Winkel, she even tried to weigh in when Keiser joined the city of Bandon and a group of cranberry growers to form a cranberry water control district, which has since been abandoned.

And to top it all, Mr. Keiser had made two nonrefundable offers to the parks system as part of the deal. The state will not have to repay the $450,000 he spent to help the department buy a Lincoln County property known as Whale Cove, nor the $120,000 he paid to combat gorse.

The parks commission chairman got it right when he said: "As far as getting an overwhelming value, I still think the parks department, on balance, got that. As far as the controversy it created, maybe not."

The Oregonian editorial board obviously supported Keiser's efforts. In an editorial Oct. 3, editors said "The proposed golf course would have functioned as a municipal facility, expanding access to local golfers, while providing a much-needed jolt to the south coast economy. Bandon Muni, as Keiser referred to it, would have opened gorse-covered land at Bandon State Natural Area to wider public access in such a way that posed no threat to the nearby beach-nesting snowy plovers."

In a statement, Keiser said he would look for another location to operate the same programs he was planning for the parkland. He owns enough property next to the park to support a course.

I'm sure Cameron LaFollette and her cohorts will go to great lengths to stop anything he tries to do.

I have said this before and I will say it again: Mike Keiser has brought hope to the South Coast and he deserves a huge vote of thanks . . . not federal, state and environmental stumbling blocks.

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Don't forget, the Southern Coos Hospital will be administering free flu shots on Wednesday (Oct. 7) at the city property adjacent to Bandon Supply, beginning at 7 a.m.


previous columns by Mary Schamehorn