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WEEKEND EDITION

Friday February 21, 2020

Inside Zwickelmania on tap See page 2

www.currypilot.com

SERVING CURRY COUNTY SINCE 1946

Brookings, Oregon

Sky High 4th of July Staff Report

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he Gateway Group, a networking team of business and community leaders, has elected to take on the 4th of July celebration in Brookings in response to a Pilot news story on Jan. 14 that this year’s festival was in doubt. The coordinator of the previous year’s July 4 Family Fun Festival, Barbara Ciaramella, contacted The Pilot to let the community know that a new organizer needed to step forward. “Our team has compiled a schedule of Sky High activities including, but not limited to

environmentally friendly fireworks show, professional laser light show and display, hot air balloons, drone races, and more,” said spokesperson Crissy Cooper. The environmentally friendly fireworks are made in the U.S., are “boomless” so they won’t scare pets and wildlife, and reduce the amount of atmospheric pollution produced — all without sacrificing the brilliance of the display. The fireworks will be combined with a laser light show this year to further enhance the display. “It is our hope that involvement packets will be available mid-March,” Cooper said.

The Gateway Group in Brookings intends to make sure the July 4th celebration goes off without a bang this year with environmentally friendly fireworks. Courtesy photo.

Body of missing Calif. man found near milepost 323

Quiet supporters

VanHoosen was last heard from by family on Feb. 8

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he body of a missing Kerman, Calif., man was found in his Ford Ranger pickup on Monday, Feb. 17, afternoon in a ravine near milepost 323 in Curry County, the Curry County Sheriff’s Office reported. At about 1:10 p.m on Feb. 17, Curry County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue members Logan Couch and Corina Lea, while driving along U.S. Highway 101 near milepost 323 about four miles north of Gold Beach, spotted some tire tracks in the dirt on the east side of the highway. According to a press release from Curry County Sheriff More Body on Page A3

South Coast Humane Society helps Pebbles P

(Top left to right) Misty Young, Steve Mathis and Sue Mathis enjoy their roles with the Coast Guard Auxiliary. (Right) The Coast Guard practices connecting to a ‘disabled ship’ on a rainy day. The forward ship on the left is the disabled vessel. Photos by Linda Pinkham.

ebbles wags her tail and flashes that American pit bull terrier smile as if she’s saying thank you. Now, if someone gives her a forever home, her story will have the happiest of endings. If not for South Coast Humane Society she might not be here at all. Pebbles is available for adoption. Pebbles is a newcomer to Brookings. She hails from Visalia, Calif., a town in the San Joaquin Valley with a population of give or take 133,000 according to the latest census. Not quite the old stomping grounds of SCHS Director

Coast Guard Auxiliary who are they?

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Linda Pinkham Staff Writer

.S. Coast Guard members are hailed as heroes in local coastal communities. You’ve seen the stories in the news. They rescue crews from fishing boats and search for people who’ve fallen overboard. Helicopters fly in to rescue people stuck on cliffs, and those “Coasties” will even jump out of a helicopter to rescue someone in the water. But at the Port of Brookings Harbor, another group is stationed with them with the mission to quietly support their activities in every way that they can. When you hear about the Coast Guard Auxiliary, you probably don’t know who these people are or what they do. To find out more, the Pilot tracked down several of the local Coast Guard Auxiliary volunteers: Sue Mathis, Flotilla 56 Commander; Steve Mathis, Division 5 Vice Commander of District 13; and Misty Young, public affairs. They met us outside the locked gates to the

Index

Classifieds.................B3-8 Crosswords...............A4 Calendar....................B1 Comics......................A4 Art Scene..................B1-2

Brookings Harbor Coast Guard base. After entering the grounds, we proceeded to the main building, also locked, and signed in. The Auxiliarists are in uniform, just like the facility’s newest Coast Guard trainee, who greeted us at the front door. The role of these volunteers, who live full-time in our community, is to support the Coast Guard in two areas. Their main focus, says Sue Mathis, is to provide education and outreach for recreational boating safety. They also provide support to activeduty shipmates serving in the U.S. Coast Guard. Approximately 40 active-duty U.S. Coast Guard members are stationed in Brookings. Recreational Boating Safety The Mathis’ became involved with the Auxiliary after retiring to Brookings. According to Sue Mathis, Steve wanted to get an airplane, but decided on a boat instead because of the fog. Because he had never owned a boat before, he contacted

Weather HIGH LOW

Thurs 58 42

Past four days

Wed 56 37

Tues 58 41

Mon 59 40

5-day forecast, tides and complete weather: Page B1

Brian Williams Pilot Editor

More Humane on Page A3

the Auxiliary to learn how to operate it safely, and then soon became volunteers themselves. “One of the main functions that we do is free vessel safety checks,” Sue Mathis said. “It’s a great way for the recreational boaters to allow us to help them boat safely. We have a check list that we go through and there’s no charge. As the Auxiliary, we’re not law enforcement so we don’t impose any fines. We help them make sure that they go out and come back safely.” “If they are missing things, we let them know,” she said. “If you don’t have this or that and get boarded by the Coast Guard, it will result in a fine. I always tell recreational boaters that you want the old guys to check your boat because we’re not law enforcement.” Sue Mathis recommends that along with your life jackets, you should also have

Tides LOW HIGH LOW HIGH

Call us 541-813-1717

Fri 4:04 AM 9:51 AM 4:53 PM 11:27 PM

whistles attached to them. “If you go overboard, you’re going to get tired of yelling, and if it’s on your lifejacket, you have it with you,” she said. In addition, the Auxiliary will check whether your flares are good, your fire extinguisher works, and your lights and horn are working. “Almost every time a boat is not in compliance, either the flares are expired or the lights aren’t working — 95% of the time,” Sue Mathis said. “One of the biggest misconceptions with recreational boaters is, we’ll say, ‘Do your lights work?’ and they’ll say, ‘What do I need lights for? I’m going in the daylight.’ But there’s fog that can come in very quickly.” “The lights aren’t for you, but for the other boats (to see you),” Steve Mathis said. More Auxiliary on Page A2

Sat Sun 4:47 AM 5:25 AM 10:34 AM 11:13 AM 5:28 PM 6:00 PM 11:58 PM

Fax 541-813-1931

Pebbles had a 1.8-pound tumor removed by Brookings Harbor Veterinary Hospital after being transported from California to Brookings thanks to the efforts of the South Coast Humane Society. Photo courtesy of South Coast Humane Society.

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