SERVING CURRY COUNTY SINCE 1946
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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2020
Brookings, Oregon
Mini horse nonprofit has big problem LINDA PINKHAM The Pilot
“The county is trying to put us out of business,” said James Hart, who operates a 501(c)3 nonprofit mini horse rescue, West Coast Minis, Inc. near Brookings. Hart says he is in good standing with the state of Oregon in all aspects of his operation. He loves his own little herd of ambassador mini horses. He rescued them and continues to rescue others from breeders on the East Coast to prevent them from being sold at auction as meat for zoo animals. He then transports them to the West Coast to be adopted out after
Election: Gold and Popoff lose seats
they have been quarantined for 30 days after arrival to ensure they don’t bring any equine diseases into the area. But now the County says he needs to apply for a conditional use permit (CUP) and obtain a business license. Hart complied with getting the business license, but needs to raise funds to apply for the CUP, which costs $2,000. COVID has taken a toll on the nonprofit’s operations. “It has hit us hard,” Hart said. “We only have a couple of volunteers left and it’s difficult to actually make any progress when all we can do is care for the horses.” The organization operates off of donations, volunteers
and adoption fees. They cost us money. We don’t make anything.” Hart says they generally lose money with vet bills and the current high cost of hay at $18 a bale. Those extra expenses come out of his own pocket. “It costs us a fortune, but we love doing it.” The farm looks like any other farm in the neighborhood, and the animals are well cared for — clean, groomed, hooves trimmed, well fed, healthy and happy. The barnyard was tidy and did not smell of manure on The Pilot’s visit. The furry little critters more closely resemble big dogs than horses. More Horses, Page A8
Photo by Linda Pinkham
Betty Boop, Sylvan and Mikey would rather eat hay than be eaten by zoo animals.
LINDA PINKHAM The Pilot
A couple of Curry County incumbent politicians suffered upsets in this year’s General Election. Commissioner Sue Gold lost her Position 2 seat to challenger John Herzog. City of Gold Beach Mayor Karl Popoff, who has been mayor for 16 years, lost to Gold Beach City Councilor Tamie Kaufman. The race for Gold Beach City Council, Position #2 is so tight that results may not be finalized until the election is certified. Just four votes currently separate candidates Chip Bradley, who has the lead, and Beth Barker-Hidalgo. Election results are not final until certified by election officials, which will be within 20 days. Curry County voter turnout was 80.75 percent with 15,088 ballots received of 18,658 registered voters. Below are results from the Oregon Secretary of State, last updated at 3:07 a.m., Nov. 4.
Federal races U.S. Senator Democrat Jeff Merkley retained his seat with 57.68 percent of the vote over Republican opponent Jo Rae Perkins, who captured 38.73 percent of the vote. U.S. Representative, 4th District Democrat Peter DeFazio retained his seat with 51.56 percent of the vote over Republican Alek Skarlatos, who garnered 46.22 percent of the vote.
State races State Senator, 1st District Republican Dallas Heard retained his seat with 68.61 percent of the vote over Democrat Kat Stone with 31.22 percent. State Representative, 1st District Republican David Brock Smith retained his seat with 68.8 More Election, Page A4
INDEX Crosswords........................................ A7 Crossword Answers............................ B3 Classifieds.......................................... B1
Linda Pinkham photos, The Pilot
Milo Mann stands next to the newly installed statue of Lucy Dick. He is a Chetco/Tututni descendant and serves as vice president for the Chetco Historical Memorial Project.
Lucy Dick sculpture unveiled LINDA PINKHAM The Pilot
The unveiling of a bronze sculpture of Chetco Native American Lucy Dick at the Port of Brookings Harbor drew a small crowd of funders, fundraisers. volunteers, Native American elders and descendants of the famous Chetco elder who passed in 1940. The cast bronze sculpture in her likeness was the final touch to complete the interpretive site. Previous stages of the project included building a plank house, installing interpretive signage, and planting native vegetation. “The Chetco Indian Memorial is the only interpretive site that represents an Oregon coastal tribe and its history on the very site of their ancestral village, making this project unique in the region,” said Milo Mann, a descendent of Lucy Dick and a member of the Chetco tribe. The memorial is tucked away at the end of the Port of Brookings-Harbor boardwalk. The almost half-acre portion of land where the memorial is built was
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donated by the Port of Brookings Harbor. “We’re so proud of this project,” said Adrienne Crookes, president of the board of directors for the memorial. “I’m so happy that we’re done. This has been 11 years and it just turned out so beautiful.” The Chetco Historical Memorial Project was started in 2009 because of the “near-absence of history in the Brookings-Harbor area about the Chetco native people, the earliest known inhabitants of the Chetco River Valley,” according to the project’s website. “I am so proud and happy to be here today to attend this event and the opening ceremonies, said Delores Pigsley, Tribal Chairman for the Confederated Tribes of Siletz. Other tribal council members attending were Lily Butler, Angela Ramirez, Reggie Butler. “It’s such a great pleasure to see this memorial completed,” Pigsley said. “We were here when there was nothing; we were here when there were a few rocks; and to be here today to see all the work done.” More Sculpture, Page A3
Artist A. Vincen Talbot describes some details in her sculpture of Lucy Dick with board secretary/treasurer Karen Crump.
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