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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2021
Brookings, Oregon
Permanent indoor mask proposal takes shape By Zoe Gottlieb Country Media
Oregonians may soon face an indefinite indoor mask mandate. As the expiration of the state’s temporary indoor mask rule draws near, a permanent replacement is under review by state health officials.
The Oregon Health Authority filed a proposed rulemaking notice Dec. 10 with the Oregon Secretary of State’s Office, requesting changes to the current rule which expires Feb. 8, 2022. The proposed permanent rule, if effected, would replace the current 180-day temporary rule with one of “indefinite” duration.
“This is necessary to control COVID-19, reduce hospitalizations and deaths, and provide general health protection to people in Oregon,” the proposed rule change states. The rule generally applies to all businesses in Oregon. The OHA is also proposing a civil penalty of $500 per person per
day for non-compliance with the rule. In addition, the rule change would grant the Oregon State Public Health Director or the Oregon State Health Officer “the authority to rescind and reinstate all or parts of the rule,” according to the notice. The rule can be repealed if
A dying breed of craftsmen help myrtlewood stand alone
“on the ground” conditions approve, which are currently not tied to any metrics, according to State Epidemiologist Dr. Dean Sidelinger. Before the filing, an administrative rules advisory committee met Thursday, Dec. 2, to review More Mask, Page A2
Contributed photo
Photo by Diana Bosetti/The Pilot
Michael Merica stands in front of some of the myrtlewood lighthouses his business, Rogue River Myrtlewood Shop in Gold Beach, has become known for.
Salmon Run Golf Course is known for its pristine views and blend of nature and golf. While the COVID pandemic has hurt revenues, there are signs of improvement.
Salmon Run Golf Done right, products can last decades Course making progress B D B y iana The Pilot
osetti
It can take a century for an Oregon Myrtlewood tree to grow to commercial size, and honing its strong, heavy wood into something that can be taken home is also painstakingly slow. It’s worth the wait. So historically prized by woodworkers is the myrtlewood, the tree makes a handful of appearances in the Bible, including
a passage that reveres its properties to that of life and fertility. While the Oregon Myrtlewood is not exactly the same tree as that referenced in the religious text, the member of the California Bay Laurel family is considered to be one of the most beautiful hardwoods and can only be found in areas along the Southern Oregon and Northern California coastlines. Influenced by the dirt and minerals it grows in, the myr-
tlewood’s resulting grain is tightly woven to the point that no distinct growth rings can be seen. When molded into a four by 12 inch bowl, it can command upwards of $150 and take up to three months to make. That is, if it’s done right. “I’m old fashioned, I want to buy something that’s really good quality and I’ll pay more for it because I want it to last 20
More Myrtlewood, Page A2
By Diana Bosetti The Pilot
The operators of Salmon Run Golf Course did not turn a profit in 2021, but revenue projections were exceeded and the group hopes to break even in the coming year. “From our perspective, what does 2022 look like?” asked Michael Sharp, president and CEO of Petaluma-based CourseCo,
Inc. “While we budgeted a loss (for 2022) operationally, I think in the $40,000 range, we feel pretty strong that this might be the year we break even and then build off of that.” In November 2020, the Brookings City Council turned over control of the 18-hole golf course to CourseCo under a 10-year contract, though it’s still
More Progress, Page A9
Earthquakes tied to, but Omicron puts efforts in overdrive not result of, volcanoes By Zoe Gottlieb Country Media
By Diana Bosetti The Pilot
Are the clusters of earthquakes off the Oregon Coast a result of recent volcanic activity? “These earthquakes are not directly related to volcanic eruption, but they are indirectly, yes,” said Scott Burns, professor emeritus of geology and past-chair of the Department of Geology at Portland State University. According to Burns, 90% of
the Oregon Coast earthquakes including the most recent cluster of seismic activity - occur within the Blanco Fault Zone. Surrounding the Blanco Fault Zone are the Juan de Fuca and Gorda plates, which include a series of volcanoes that over time impact the zone. “We have got 200 miles off the coast a chain of volcanoes and magma that creates a plate that is moving toward North America and is being subducted
A Dec. 17 press conference with Oregon Gov. Kate Brown carried with it a sense of urgency, as public health experts described the imminent threat of another COVID-19 surge following the arrival of the Omicron variant in Oregon. Brown was joined by public health experts Oregon Health Authority Director Patrick Allen, OHSU Health Chief Medical Officer Dr. Renee Edwards, State Epidemiologist Dr. Dean Sidelinger, and OHSU Lead Data
More Volcanoes, Page A2
More Omicron, Page A9
Contributed photo
Gov. Kate Brown announced her ambitious plan to have one million Oregonians vaccinated by Jan. 31.
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