MIDWEEK EDITION
Tuesday December 17 2019 www.currypilot.com
Brookings, Oregon
SERVING CURRY COUNTY SINCE 1946
Heavy rainfall, but rivers below flood stage Jeremy C. Ruark Pilot Editor
B
rookings and Crescent City residents and visitors have been turning to their raingear and umbrellas to weather the latest storm systems. Rainfall, heavy at times, poured from the sky last
week - but not enough to send rivers to flood stage, according to two meteorologists at the National Weather Service. Brookings experienced 1.02 inches of rainfall from Dec. 11 through Dec. 12, according to Mike Petrucelli, meteorologist at the Medford National Weather Service office, who told
The Pilot that the rainfall produced some increases in the rivers but nothing significant. “The dry summer and fall have kept them low,” he said. “There is no concern in getting to an action stage. “The Chetco River is currently just under 7 feet. The action stage, when we
would be closely monitoring that river, is at 18 feet, so we are well below that.” A weather break is expected through the weekend, with daytime temperatures in the mid to upper 40s and night-side temperatures dipping into the low 40s. National Weather Service meteorologist Mat-
thew Kidwell at the Eureka office said Crescent City had 1.78 inches of rain from Dec. 11 thorough the 12th, not enough to make a significant flood issue in Del Norte County. “The rivers have come up quite a bit, but they are still well below flood stage,” Kidwell said. The National Weather
Service continued a highsurf advisory along the beaches in Curry and Del Norte counties until 7 p.m. Friday due to the latest storm systems. The weather service advisory said large, breaking waves would create hazardous conditions along and within the surf zone.
Spinning quite a yarn
Capping the holiday spirit at Head Start C
Jeremy C. Ruark Pilot Editor
hildren attending Brookings Head Start classes are enjoying a surprise gift from a group of local knitters. Heike Domel, Malynn Moorhead, Joanne Wasbauer and Susan Rhoads - all retired from professional careers and living in Brookings - meet regularly in a knitting session. The group recently decided to spend their time knitting dozens of caps for Head Start children. The caps include fun and colorful characters, such as a starfish. K “I just want to play,” knitter Heike Domel said. “I think of little kids and the wonder of nature and colors, and it just happens. So, doing this as a creative project. And to think that these little kids get a cap is a great joy.” Domel and her group presented the caps to the children on Dec. 12. She said the project underscores how important children are. “And how precious they are and that we love them,” she said. “That’s how I want them to feel when they get a cap.” This is the group’s first giveaway at Head Start. “A friend of the knitting group, who’s a volunteer with Head Start children through Oregon’s SMARTreading program, would sometimes pop by on her return home,” said volunteer Barbara Braunstein. “There would always be a delightful story or two of the youngsters. “And one day, as everyone sat knitting, someone said how much fun it would be to knit caps for the kiddos. There’s another group in Brookings called Caps for Kids, so in a sense the idea came from that organization.”
(Top) Brookings knitter Heike Domel shows Head Start children how to knit. (Bottom) A child slips on one of the knitted caps. Photos by Jeremy C. Ruark. Braunstein said it’s critical that children be supported and recognized as important. “And that they are happy in their new school environment, knowing that the community at large knows they are special,” she said. “This project is a physical reminder of that. We think each and every one of the children is special, and we wanted each one to have a handmade gift.” The knitters plan to present caps to the children again next year.
‘Green building’ headache persists T
Linda Pinkham Staff Writer
he green building may be mostly gone, but it keeps giving Port of Brookings Harbor commissioners something to talk about. The latest ‘headache’ was discussed at a special meeting on Dec. 4. The contractor doing the demolition, Allied Roofing and Construction, submitted a change order that added another $12,000 to the original demolition estimate of $84,350, bringing the total cost to get rid of the building to $96,350. The change order became necessary when the contractor discovered what the port manager Gary Dehlinger described as “a lot more concrete” in the footings and slab, exceeding the dimensions provided on the plans used to create the original bid. The additional material raised the contractor’s labor for demolition and the cost for disposal of the rubble. The original drawings indicated 5-inch thick slabs and 24-inch foundation walls. What the contractor found was 10inch thick slabs and 30-inch foundation walls. After discussion, the port commissioners agreed to accept the change order as a “not to exceed $12,000” extension of the previous contract. The next regularly scheduled meeting for the Port of Brookings Harbor is at 6 p.m. on Dec. 17. The agenda includes the most recent draft financial audit for fiscal year 2018-19. The entire board packet may be downloaded at their website, portofbrookingsharbor.com.
Index
Classifieds.................B3-7 Crosswords...............A4 Calendar....................B1 Comics......................A4
Weather HIGH LOW
Mon 54 42
Past four days
Sun 50 39
Sat 45 40
Fri 53 43
5-day forecast, tides and complete weather: Page B1
Santa opens the door of a “honey bucket” aboard a decorated Curry Transfer and Recycling vehicle as the light parade gets set to begin. More Light Parade photos on Page 6. Photos by Jeremy C. Ruark.
Brookings parades its holiday spirit F
Jeremy C. Ruark Pilot Editor
riday evening’s rain showers and cold temperatures didn’t keep dozens of children, parents and community members from attending the annual Coastal Christmas Light Parade and
Tides LOW HIGH LOW HIGH
Call us 541-813-1717
Tues 3:53 AM 9:18 AM 2:49 PM 9:51 PM
Santa party. The decorated vehicles in the parade included a fire engine from Brookings Fire and Rescue, two large Brookings-Harbor School District buses, a truck from Curry Transfer and Recycling, a few Jeeps and a 29-foot U.S. Coast Guard
Wed 4:45 AM 10:34 AM 4:01 PM 10:45 PM
Fax 541-813-1931
boat in tow. Martha Brown of Brookings drove a green VW coupe lined with holiday lights, and even a big inflatable Grinch carefully positioned in the back seat. “This is Steve Kerr’s car, from Kerr Ace Hardware,” she said. “And this is the first
time for me in this parade. I am here because this is fun and a community event that brings joy.” Brown’s passenger, Glynda Barton, said she came specially dressed for the
More Holiday on Page A4
Sunrise/Sunset Thurs 5:37 AM 11:53 AM 5:24 PM 11:42 PM
RISE SET
Tues 7:40 4:47
Wed Thurs 7:40 7:41 4:47 4:48
Online www.currypilot.com
Fri 7:41 4:48
$1.50