What we can learn from fish snouts LINDA PINKHAM The Pilot
Each evening one of about 15 volunteers from Curry Anadromous Fishermen (CAF) makes the rounds to collect hatchery salmon snouts from three locations on the Rogue River Estuary. What on earth do they want fish snouts for, you might ask? The snouts are placed in collection bins by fishermen, who are then entered into a drawing for fishing gear. Bins are located at fish cleaning stations at the Port of Gold Beach, Jot’s Resort and Lex’s Landing. Once collected, they are saved for ODFW fish biologists to examine. The group started collecting snouts on October 1 and will continue
through November. They are collecting the snouts because CAF and Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) want to learn about the survival rate of the hatchery fish because they operate the Indian Creek Hatchery (ICH) under the supervision of Oregon ODFW’s Lower Rogue salmon and trout enhancement program (STEP). “We remove a small wire tag from the snout that has data scribed on the tag,” said STEP biologist John Weber. “The data tells us what state, hatchery, and release group. Once we have that data we can go to a database and learn a lot about the status of the fish when they were young and in the hatchery being reared.” In-
dian Creek Hatchery tags about 33% of the Chinook salmon released. “The effort has been going great,” Weber said. “We have had more participation then what I expected for a first year project.” As of Oct. 21, 97 snouts have been turned in resulting in 63 tags total with 40 coming from Indian Creek Hatchery Chinook (ICH). In addition, there are 34 non-coded wire tag (CWT) fish, which are presumed to be mostly Indian Creek fish as well. So ICH has 63.5 percent of the CWT fish and presumed 70 percent to 80 percent of the hatchery fish caught in the Rogue Estuary thus far.
More Fish, Page A2
Photo courtesy ODFW
ODFW’s Morgan Johnston reads a coded wire tag under a microscope.
Dare to visit the
Reopening schools
Asylum
Local COVID-19 cases affect decisions as Brookings and Gold Beach districts delay on-campus classes
17th Annual Brookings Haunted House presented by Chetco Pelican Players
THE PILOT
successful small business in San Francisco. And from a working life that included raising two children; 20+ years of paralegal work in contracts, business support and development, case digest editing, arts and charitable organization support, domestic violence and disability advocacy; as well as stints as a Merchant Marine, teamster, factory worker, and farmer. Past political/civic experience: Wherever I have lived, I have taken part in the political activity of the community. Here are some highlights: Report to the Louisiana Governor’s Taskforce on the Status of Working Class
David Marshall, Superintendent of Brookings-Harbor School District, announced on Friday afternoon, Oct. 16 that the recent spike in cases in Curry County will delay holding in-person classes for grades 4 to 12. The weekly report from Oregon Health Authority and Oregon Department of Education (ODE) that was released on Oct. 12 confirmed Curry County experienced a spike in cases that pushed the county significantly over the 30 cases per 100,000 people metric. “Under the ODE rules that permit us to have in-person classes for our kindergarten through third-grade students, we are permitted to continue in-person classes as long as the outbreak or spike is not connected to the school,” Marshall said. The increases in local cases are attributed to an isolated outbreak in an elder care facility and not indicative of expanded community spread, and no current active cases have been traced to the schools, according to Curry County Public Health. “We will continue to keep in contact with Curry County Public Health to ensure that we are aware and can take action should the information change,” he said. “Unfortunately, the new cases do impact our county-wide metrics that determine the district’s ability to start regular in-person classes under the hybrid model for grades 4 to 12.” County and state virus metrics must meet the target numbers for three weeks in a row in order for regular in-person instruction to begin in grades 4-12. The BHSD Board of Directors will discuss potential timelines and options for returning to in-person instruction allowable
More Felicity, Page A6
More Schools, Page A2
LON GODDARD AND CLAIRE WILLARD For The Pilot
AIEEEEEEEEE!!! Break out your entrance masks! It’s back and it’s scarier than ever! The 17th annual Chetco Pelican Players’ Haunted House is here and the terrifying theme this year is the creepy hollow of the Asylum! This year’s event is an abnormally major feat, due to the current necessities of distancing … but we’ll have you safely covered as you ponder our invitation to have yourself and your loved ones committed! The crazed corridors of chaos will open at 7 p.m. on Friday, Oct, 23, in the giant warehouse on the corner of east Hoffeldt Lane and U.S. Highway 101 South - behind the Dollar Store in Harbor. No waiting in any rain, it’s all within the protected roof of the dreadful dungeon of derangement! Watch out - there are nasty things prowling in the institution at night. Travel through 21,000 square feet of nightmare peril, down through the darkest of old stairwell paths Contributed Photo
More Haunt, Page A2
Meet some of the staff and patients on a guided tour of the Asylum at the 17th annual Chetco Pelican Players’ Haunted House
Election 2020: Oregon House District 1
David Brock Smith Age: 43 Years in the area: 3rd Generation Occupation: State Representa-
tive, Southwest Oregon Children’s Foundation Development Director, Small Business Owner Past political/civic experience: State Representative, Legislative Committees-Vice Chair-Economic Development & Trade, Vice Chair-Carbon Reduction, Agriculture & Land Use, Natural Resources, Energy & Environment, Early Childhood & Family Support, Governor appointed Convener-Chetco Bar Fire Recovery Council, Legislative Task Forces-Sudden Oak Death, Opioid, Maritime Workforce Development, Invasive Species, OCC Chair-Southern Oregon China Connection, More Smith, Page A6
Calla Felicity Age: 67 Years in the area: 4 Occupation: Retired from 10+ years establishing and running a