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FRIDAY December 20, 2019
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CALVARY CHAPEL WELCOMES TRAVELERS TO
LIVE NATIVITY
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By David Hayes Staff Writer
he City Council on Monday approved spending $23,614 to hire a consultant to explore the community’s appetite for new taxes to finance current and future needs of the Crescent Fire Protection District. The discussion arose during interim Crescent City Fire and Rescue Chief Bill Gillespie’s explanation of an amendment for the professional services agreement that pays for the services of Planwest Partners, which includes subcontractors Bartle Wells Associates and Godbe Research. The council had met Nov. 21 with the Crescent Fire Protection District Board for a breakdown of the district’s 10-year master plan, which Gillespie said detailed “the past, current and future service delivery needs of the fire department to be effective in the Crescent City area, to continue to provide the service our community wants, needs and deserves.” That plan talked about capital improvements, apparatus replacement recommendations, funding, training, governance, and operational and administrative needs. “These were different topics to have a well-rounded, effective and efficient fire department for this community going forward 10 years into the future,” Gillespie said. “We also dove heavily into revenue sufficiency. So that we knew, number one, what the identified cost was to do this, and (number two), what the recommendations were on how to get there.” For example, Gillespie said, the fire district currently has the funding to get two interviews into the search for a new fire chief. A plan to address manning levels - with three new Captain II positions, and to build a sleeper program under More Fire on Page A5
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wife of Calvary Chapel’s pastor, Rommel Gil, said they try to add something a little different each year – although the message remains the same. “My goal, to be honest, is to make God smile,” Gil said. “My goal for the community is to get an idea of what Christmas really means, why we celebrate.” She said two dozen people are involved in the production, among them actors and volunteers who maintain the fire pits, direct traffic and keep the homemade apple cider hot. Motorists drive down the lane, past
By David Hayes Staff Writer
idway between Brookings and Crescent City, along U.S. Highway 101, the night sky was lit up over the weekend to beckon motorists to witness the true story of Christmas. Calvary Chapel of the Redwoods hosted its fourth-annual Live Nativity Scene. But this wasn’t the traditional depiction of the Birth of Christ. A full cast of actors recreated multiple scenes surrounding the tale of Mary and Joseph. Barbara Gil, the Nativity director and
the chapel and loop back around to travel one at a time past the various depictions. The displays include the shepherd’s field where the angel appears to Mary; a merchant selling her wares; Caesar Augustus on his throne in Rome; the manger with Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus and the little drummer boy; the three Magi humbling themselves following the star; and angels amongst the trees. Gil said the chapel accepts volunteers ages 2 to 80. “We would accept a More Nativity on Page A2
Saga begins with a stolen auto Staff Report
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hree Jackson County men are facing criminal charges following a highspeed chase Dec. 14 that began in Gold Beach and ended north of Brookings. According to a press release from the Curry County Sheriff’s Office, the sheriff’s dispatcher received a 911 call at 7 a.m. last Saturday from Gold Beach resident Carey Hargesheimer, who said someone had just stolen his green 1996 Honda from the Gold Beach Motel 6 and driven off southbound from the Rogue River Bridge. As dispatch radioed the Gold Beach Police Department, a Curry County Sheriff’s Office marine deputy saw a car fitting that description heading south on Ellensburg Avenue, along with a red Honda. The deputy attempted to stop the stolen
vehicle near the Curry County Fairgrounds but it, along with the red Honda, sped up south out of town. The red car turned off as the deputy began pursuit of the stolen vehicle. In an effort to stop the fleeing car, Brookings Police Department officers set up stop sticks and drove north to intercept. A Gold Beach Police Department corporal caught up to the pursuit near Thomas Creek Bridge and assumed the lead. As the chase proceeded along U.S. Highway 101 near Whaleshead viewpoint, the pursing officers reported that the stolen vehicle had begun emitting heavy smoke and looked to be nearly disabled. According to the law enforcement press release, the driver of the stolen vehicle then turned back north and ran off the road near Eggers Road, where he jumped from the moving car into a steep, heavily wooded and
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brushy area on the west side of Highway 101. Additional deputies, the sheriff’s department K9 unit, Brookings police officers and the Oregon State Police arrived to set up a perimeter around the area. The sheriff’s search and rescue team, which had been training in Gold Beach with heat-seeking drone equipment, also responded. Once the perimeter was established, the drone was deployed. Although it picked up a heat source, the signal was lost shortly thereafter because of weather conditions and tall trees. The steep, brushy terrain hindered the low officers’ search as well, and it was temporarily called off.
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By David Hayes Staff Writer
he Del Norte Unified School District is considering bringing a bond measure before local voters next November to finance at least a portion of the $255 million it says is needed for repairs to the district’s aging facilities. The school board on Dec. 12 approved hiring Isom Advisors to conduct a survey of the community as to whether it would support a school improvement measure totaling between $20 million and $30 million, said district spokesman Michael Hawkins. “We need to be able to build new buildings or renovate and maintain current buildings,” Hawkins told The Triplicate by email last Friday. “So, Director of Facilities and Construction Steve Morgan conducted a district-wide survey of the entire school district and its facilities, focusing on the current state of all of the schools. The survey determined that it would cost more than $255 million to get the district facili-
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Facility bond measure is under study by schools
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