W061722

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Serving Oregon’s South Coast Since 1878

Change of command

U.S. Amatuer nears

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Will be at Bandon Dunes, A8

RAIN 47 • 35 | FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2022 | theworldlink.com |

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Murder suspect shot, killed after pulling knife Accused killer held on $2 million bond

By DAVID RUPKALVIS The World

After four days of searching for a suspect in the murder of a woman on Cape Arago Highway, a suspect was finally identified Tuesday afternoon. But when sheriff’s deputies and police tried to make contact with the suspect, an altercation led to two officers shooting the suspect, who was declared dead shortly later at Bay Area Hospital. District Attorney Paul Frasier said law enforcement officials investigating the Saturday shooting of Amber Townsend identified 37-year-old Matthew Tyler Mikel as a suspect in the case. At around 7:34 p.m. Tuesday, multiple officers went to the Global Inn in Coos Bay, where they learned Mikel was staying. “An altercation then ensued,” Please see Murder, Page A3

By DAVID RUPKALVIS The World

Photo by David Rupkalvis/The World

Sheriff Craig Zanni and Coos Bay Police Detective Ken Labrousse discuss the recent murders their departments are investigating during a press briefing Tuesday.

A North Bend man charged with the murder of a Coos Bay woman last week is being held on a $2 million bond on a charge of second-degree murder. 47-year-old Johnny Ray Bohannon was arrested last Thursday after Rebecca Elaine Reeves was found dead in her home on Idaho Drive. District Attorney Paul Frasier said an autopsy was scheduled on Reeves Tuesday. "I expect what we'll see based on what I saw at the scene is death by blunt force trauma," Please see Bond, Page A3

Class of 2022 celebrates victories, resilience

Photos by David Rupkalvis/The World

Above: The Class of 2022 at Marshfield High School celebrates as balloons fall at the conclusion of their graduation ceremony Saturday. Right top: Marshfield senior Ismael Rodriguez Cardoza addresses his classmates during the commencement ceremony. Right bottom: Ashlyn Briggs receives her diploma from Principal Elias Ashton.

Marshfield seniors remembered for success in and out of the classroom

By DAVID RUPKALVIS The World

The Marshfield High School Class of 2022 will go down in history as one of the top classes in school history. The senior class played huge roles in state championships in football,

basketball and track and field as well as two state titles and speech and debate. But during their commencement ceremony Saturday, the 148 seniors who received diplomas were remembered for something even greater - the resiliency and determination the

young men and women showed as they persevered through two years of ups and downs due to the COVID-19 pandemic. After years of missing school, cancelling sports and other extracurricular activities and wearing masks, graduation was a celebration of the students who

completed the unusual journey, and smiles were everywhere as the Class of 2022 concluded their high-school journey. "I've never met so many individuals who experienced the challenges I did as a young adult while in high school," Marshfield Principal Elias Ashton said. "In

2020, you were all thrown into a series of unfortunate experiences. Instead of making excused, you adapted. You got creative like have an outdoor homecoming dance. You adapted like playing outdoor volleyball and winter Please see SENIORS, Page A2

Convicted murderer re-sentenced in 1988 killings By DAVID RUPKALVIS The World

After spending more than 30 years on Oregon's death row, a man convicted of raping and killing two German tourists in 1988 now has a chance at freedom. But not if District Attorney Paul Frasier has anything to say about it. After the Oregon Legislature changed the state law regarding aggravated murder in 2019 and the state Supreme Court ruled all inmates on death row that do not qualify based on the new standards must be re-sentenced, David Lynn Simonson had a new sentencing hearing in Coos County on Monday. Frasier explained that since

life in prison without the possibility of parole was not available when the crime was committed, the most he could ask for was life in prison with a possibility of parole after 30 years. "I made the argument based on the facts of the case that if there ever was a case that deserved consecutive sentencing, this was the one," Frasier said. "Judge (Martin) Stone agreed with me." Stone sentenced Simonson to consecutive sentences of life in prison with the possibility of parole after 30 years. That means if Simonson were granted parole on one case, he would still have to serve the second before being Please see SENTENCE, Page A3

Photo by David Rupkalvis/The World

Coos County District Attorney Paul Frasier discussed the re-sentencing of David Lynn Simonson after he was sentenced to sonecutive terms of life in prison with a possibility of parole after 30 years.

Photo gallery: SWOCC celebrates graduation

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