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Dive team recovers man near Myrtle Point By DAVID RUPKALVIS The World
Members of the Bandon Fire Dive Rescue Team recovered the body of a 33-year-old man Tuesday, three days after he fell into a creek
near Doerner Fir Trail. The body of Daniel Dyer, of Sutherlin, was located in a deep-water pool near the top of a waterfall on the creek. A press release from the Coos County Sheriff’s Office says Dyer died after
helping his girlfriend escape from the water. Capt. Gabe Fabrizio with the Coos County Sheriff’s Office said Dyer and his 23-year-old girlfriend, Hailey Huckabee, went hiking in the area of Doerner Fir Trail outside
of Myrtle Point off Burnt Mountain on Sunday. According to Huckabee, the two reached the creek where Dyer fell in around 4:25 p.m. While attempting to help Dyer out of the water, Huckabee also fell in. Huckabee
says Dyer pushed her back to the shore, where she was able to climb out. When she got out of the water, Huckabee said she could not find her boyfriend.
Please see BODY, Page A3
Working to save Shutter Creek Deputies
identify man killed in shooting Suspect was wanted for murder in Springfield By DAVID RUPKALVIS The World
Photos by Jillian Ward
Mike Castaldo, union representative and sergeant and Shutter Creek, holds a sign protesting the planned closure of the facility in Lakeside. Below, from left, Nicholas Sousley and Joy St. Peter talk about some of the programs at Shutter Creek that benefit the community, such as training service dogs for veterans and people with disabilities.
Rally to keep Shutter Creek open draws crowd along Coos Bay Boardwalk By JILLIAN WARD For The World
COOS COUNTY ─ Over the weekend, nearly 100 people gathered along the Coos Bay Boardwalk to keep Shutter Creek Correctional Institution open. Participants of the Community Awareness Rally held signs along Highway 101 and the Coos Bay Boardwalk, urging more local support to stop the state from shutting Shutter Creek down. “I think the community came out to support us today and we appreciate it,” said Mike Castaldo, union president and sergeant at Shutter Creek. He acknowledged the presence of Lakeside Mayor James Edwards, highlighting the ripple effect Shutter Creek’s closure would have on both Lakeside and the community as a whole. “Half of our employees live in
Reedsport, so this impacts Douglas County, too,” he said. “(Edwards) is here from Lakeside because (Shutter Creek’s closure) would be a huge blow to his city.” Gloria Clark, a spouse to one of the employees at Shutter Creek, said repercussions to the closure would spread from strain on the court system to further devastating the local economy. “…When the courts open to full capacity, there will be an influx of inmates and no place to put them,” she said. Clark added that the plans on closing three prisons, Shutter Creek, Lakeview and Mill Creek, are a way to save money. However, she pointed out that Shutter Creek was built in the 1990s to stimulate the rural Oregon economy, which had suffered when the mill industry Please see RALLY, Page A16
The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office has identified the man killed in an officer-involved shooting in Reedsport on Tuesday as 30-yearold David Robert Ruozi Jr. At the time of the shooting, Ruozi was wanted by the Springfield Police Department as the suspect in the murder of Richard Marshall. According to the Douglas County Major Crimes Team, the investigation into the shooting in ongoing. The officers involved in the shooting have been put on paid administrative leave, which is the common practice in officer-involved shootings. The names of the deputies involved are not being released at this time. According to a press release issued by the Major Crimes Team, Ruozi was wanted by Springfield police, and leading up to the incident Tuesday, Springfield detectives had been in in several coastal towns looking for Ruozi. On Tuesday, a Douglas County deputy conducted a routine traffic stop on Highway 101 in Reedsport. One person in the vehicle left and was taken into custody, but Ruozi refused to exit the vehicle, became irate and made it clear he had a gun with him. Deputies closed Highway 101 for five hours while trying to negotiate with Ruozi. At 10:44 p.m., shots were fired and Ruozi was killed. The Douglas County Major Crimes Team was activated to investigate the incident, and the Roseburg Police Department has been assigned as the lead agency. The Major Crimes Team is a multi-agency team comprised of Investigators from the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, Roseburg Police Department, Oregon State Police and the Douglas County District Attorney’s Office.
Merkley touts elements of America Rescue Plan By DAVID RUPKALVIS The World
When Pres. Joe Biden signed the America Rescue Plan into law Friday, it did much more than just send $1,400 checks to Americans. During a call with Oregon journalists Friday, Sen. Jeff Merkley said the law will help the country recover from a year of turmoil, pain and lockdowns due to COVID-19. “It’s a massive $1.9 trillion bill and one of the most transformative pieces of legislation since the New Deal,” Merkley said. “This will get America back on its feet.” During the call, Merkley was joined by several Oregonians who touted aspects of the bill. Curry County Commissioner Court Boice said the bill will make a big difference in rural Oregon.
“The America Rescue Plan is most welcome legislation,” Boice said. “I believe the work is good enough it could ultimately unite all Oregonians.” Boice said money set aside for Oregon, totaling $5.8 billion, will make a big difference in smaller counties. He especially touted the fact the money will be sent directly to counties, rather than having it filter through the state. “This time, our COVID relief is coming directly to the counties, where people trust us,” Boice said. “the funds are fair, they’re equitable based on population. I’d like to note rural Oregon does not keep Senator Merkley in business, and he never ignores our needs.” Jim Doherty, a commissioner in Morrow County, agreed.
“One of the key things that is so special in this is the direct funding,” he said. “One size doesn’t fit all. What might fit for one county, won’t fit here.” Merkley said the changes in the bill, like direct funding to counties, came about because leaders like Boice and Doherty reached out. “Your feedback on the first round was this didn’t work so well, can you do better,” Merkley said. “We listened.” Miriam Cummins with Casa Latinos Unidas said the legislation will help improve vaccinations in minority communities, like the ones her organization works with. “With the new funding coming in, this will ensure individuals, Please see MERKLEY, Page A3
File photo
Sen. Jeff Merkley answers questions during a town hall in Bandon in 2019.
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