MIDWEEK EDITION
Tuesday November 26 2019 www.currypilot.com
Brookings, Oregon
SERVING CURRY COUNTY SINCE 1946
‘Historic storm’ aims at Curry area Jeremy C. Ruark Pilot Editor
T
he National Weather Service has issued a significant high-wind warning for Curry and Del Norte counties, from Tuesday morning though early Wednesday
morning – now classified as a potentially historic, dangerous storm. “We are calling this a potentially historic storm because we have not experienced such a deepening low pressure coming in from the south, so it is one to take serious,” said National Weather Service meteo-
rologist Brett Lutz. The National Weather Service’s online summary describes the approaching storm as a rapidly deepening “bomb cyclone” that will take aim at the southern Oregon coast. Storm-force winds, with periods
of hurricane-force gusts, are expected over the coastal waters. The winds over the waters will initially be southerly, then quickly switch to strong northerly winds behind the low on Tuesday night, said the weather service. This will bring extremely steep
and dangerous seas to the coastal waters, said weather officials. Additionally, high surf is expected along all coastal areas of southern Oregon.
More Storm on Page A6
Free-fishing days
Black Friday: Go shopping … or fishing? W
Pilot staff writer Linda Pinkham hates crowds when shopping, so you might find her fishing somewhere on a river near you during the holiday season. Photo by Linda Pinkham.
Linda Pinkham Staff Writer
hile many people across the country will try to catch a tremendous shopping bargain at the mall on Black Friday, others will choose to use their fishing rods to land “lunkers.” Free-fishing days are scheduled in Oregon for the Friday and Saturday after Thanksgiving, Nov. 29-30. Having outof-town guests for the holiday? They can fish for free as well. If you decide to add fishing to your holiday plans, you don’t need a license or a tag to fish, crab or clam anywhere in the state that’s open to fishing, crabbing or clamming, including ocean fishing. But it’s not a holiday from other fishing regulations. All other rules and regulations apply. “Bag limits, closures and size restrictions are in effect, and you need to know the rules and regulations where you More Fishing on Page A3
Turkey trotters take to the field
Social studies teacher Perry Kleespies organizes chaos during the turkey calling contest. Photo by Linda Pinkham.
“
Linda Pinkham Staff Writer
Organized chaos” is the phrase of the day for Azalea Middle School’s annual Turkey Trot, this year held Nov. 22, at the Brookings-Harbor High School stadium. Every student and staff
member attends the annual track and field Thanksgiving-themed event. Social studies teacher Perry Kleespies, who grew up in Brookings, has been organizing the event for the past four years. It began sometime in the 1970s, he said, but went away for a period of time.
Back then, it was just a run. “Knowing the attention span of our current population of students, with electronics and all, we knew we couldn’t just do a run,” Kleespies said. “It’s almost like a track meet.” In addition to 1.1-mile races for each grade level, the event includes turkey
calling, squash tosses, a marshmallow basketball relay, pie eating and pumpkin bowling contests. Turkey Trot runners at each grade level received a frozen turkey for first place, pumpkin pie for second place and a 10-pound bag of potatoes for third. “Grocery Outlet donated all seven turkeys and 25 pies for prizes and games,” Kleespies said. “They were not asked, they simply refused to allow me to pay for the over $200 worth of food when I went to pick it up.” “It’s organized chaos,” Kleespies said, “which I usually don’t do well with, but I create it.” The first chaotic surprise was when the event’s PA system failed. “Technology did not work for us today,” Kleespies said. But that failure didn’t last long, as everyone pitched in to get the system up and More Turkey on Page A3
Community members unload frozen turkeys that will be the centerpiece for the Brookings Harbor Food Bank’s Thanksgiving baskets for the needy.
Thanksgiving coming together D
Jeremy C. Ruark Pilot Editor
ozens of children and adults arrived Monday morning at the Brookings Church of the Nazarene to assemble Thanksgiving baskets for families in need. The annual effort is coordinated by the Brookings Harbor Food Bank. Executive director Pam Winebarger said area youth and church groups, in addition to members of the community, joined in an assembly line to unload vehicles stuffed with food donations and then sort the items on large tables inside the church’s lobby. More Thanksgiving on Page A3
P258914mP1126
Index
Classifieds.................B2-4 Crosswords...............A4 Calendar...................B1 Comics.....................A4
Weather HIGH LOW
Mon 50 37
Past four days
Sun 61 24
Sat 59 41
Fri 56 40
5-day forecast, tides and complete weather: Page B1
Tides LOW HIGH LOW HIGH
Call us 541-813-1717
Wed Tues Thurs 4:35 AM 5:20 AM 6:05 AM 10:34 AM 11:14 AM 11:54 AM 5:34 PM 6:18 PM 7:02 PM ----
Fax 541-813-1931
Sunrise/Sunset RISE SET
Tues 7:21 4:48
Wed Thurs 7:22 7:23 4:47 4:47
Online www.currypilot.com
Fri 7:24 4:47
$1.50