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FRIDAY, JANUARY 28, 2022
Brookings, Oregon
Residents speak against proposal to house homeless By DAVID RUPKALVIS The Pilot
A proposal to turn the old Ophir School into a homeless camp led to a massive outcry from Gold Beach residents opposed to the idea. After receiving $2.2 million from the American Rescue Plan, Curry County set up a committee to accept applications on how to spend the money. One application requested $300,000 to turn the old school in Ophir into housing for the homeless. Curry County commissioners have taken no stand on the issue, but just the idea brought a lot of people to the board of commis-
sioners to express their concern. Joe Wilson told commissioners turning a facility that large into homeless housing will only attract more homeless to the community. "I didn't come here to speak about what's good for the homeless, I came here to speak about what's good for Curry County," Wilson said. "If this facility is given $300,000 or if this facility is allowed to operate in this county, I've been in places in the Pacific Northwest, in Portland or Eugene, where they've spent millions of millions of dollars on the homeless and all it does in increase the amount of homeless. This facility has eight acres, almost 20,000
square feet. You could have 10,000 homeless there. "I talked to one business owner who said he talked to a new homeless person and asked him why he came here. He said somebody in Portland gave him a bus ticket to come to the Oregon Coast. You open that facility up, that will attract thousands and thousands of homeless and all the problems they bring. Do we need that? They will be shipping that to us. Do we want this in our community. If anything, what you as commissioners can do, is do no harm. Do we want this in our community?" Joseph Smith, a long-term resident of Gold Beach, said he
can already see the downside to homeless in the area, without bringing many more to his community. From my house in the middle of town, I can see homeless activity every day," Smith said. "All homeless, all homeless I've encountered, were abusing using drugs or alcohol or both. They lack self discipline to maintain a job. They steal from each other and innocent citizens when they have the opportunity. They also commit fraud against government welfare programs. This proposed community federal boondoggle will not solve the homeless problem. In fact, it will only make it worse. This grant is
part of a long-range Communist strategy to destroy our freedoms and our community. Just say no to this program." Judy Baker, a registered nurse, a counselor and a volunteer at the Christian Food Bank in Gold Beach, said she works to help the homeless, but the Ophir School idea is not good for the community. She said in her travels as a nurse, she saw what happens when government provides free housing for the homeless. "I saw the devastating results of giving homeless people free homes," she said. "I've seen homes erected and destroyed in More HOMELESS, Page A2
Public outcry over permanent mask mandate New death
reported as Omicron surge continues By DAVID RUPKALVIS The Pilot
Courtesy Photos from Daniel O’Brien – Valve Media
A Free Oregon demonstrator holds up a sign to voice her opposition to the proposed permanent mask rule during the Jan. 20 protest at the Oregon Health Authority office in Portland.
By ZOE GOTTLIEB Country Media
The decision to make Oregon’s indoor mask mandate indefinite was pending as of Tuesday, Jan. 25. Oregon’s hearing on a proposed permanent mask rule drew a crowd of more than 300 people, opening the floodgates to a wide range of comments and emotions. The Oregon Health Authority held the public electronic hearing Jan. 20 on the proposed rule change, inviting public testimony on which a decision has yet to be determined. Emotional testimony One woman struggled to hold back sobs during her testimony, as she described the moment her 8-year-old told her she couldn’t remember what the world was
like without masks. Another speaker said he has 40% of a healthy person’s lung capacity and thus has difficulty breathing with a mask on. “Free these childrens’ faces so they can smile again,” a third said, his voice filled with emotion. Others took on radically different tones, threatening to take action if the OHA goes through with imposing the new permanent rule. “If you do this, we will fight to our death,” Nikolas, a defense attorney representing a client who violated Oregon’s current temporary mask mandate, said. “The farther you take this, the farther we will take it. We have nothing to lose.” “We’re coming for you. We’re coming for your jobs,” Free Oregon Leader Angela Todd said. Demonstrators involved with
Free Oregon, a grassroots organization dedicated to upholding the mission of “fighting tyranny” in Oregon, took to the streets, holding a “BBQ Mask Party” outside the OHA office at NE 800 Oregon Street in Portland. “Bring a mask and something to burn,” the event description read on the Free Oregon website. Demonstrators chanted, held signs, and set a barrel containing surgical masks ablaze in synchronicity with the OHA’s electronic hearing, which kicked off at 10 a.m. and lasted for several hours. Rules of the hearing Administrative Rules Coordinator Brittany Hall led the OHA’s Administrative Rules hearing, discussing the adoption of a permanent rule requiring masks to be worn in indoor spaces in Oregon.
Hall opened the meeting with the following clarifying statement. “The temporary rule cannot be extended past six months, thus Oregon’s temporary rule expires on Feb. 8,” she said. “That does not mean the rule is permanent. The Oregon Health Authority can rescind, repeal, or cancel a rule when it decides it is no longer necessary.” After opening remarks, Hall invited testifying members of the public to speak. Opponents of the proposed permanent rule presented concerns ranging from realized sociological harms to the sole authority such a rule will give the agency, creating obstacles for the public to seek legal recourse. Aden Nepom, the meeting’s first speaker, expressed concern that the OHA’s proposal More OUTCRY, Page A2
Water planning proposal falls short By DAVID RUPKALVIS The Pilot
A proposal to spend $25,000 in the American Rescue Plan funds to create a long-term plan for water needs in Curry County was shot down by a majority of the board of commissioners. Commissioner Court Boice made a motion to spend the federal funds to create the plan, but the motion died when neither Chair John Herzog or Vice
Chair Chris Paasch seconded the motion. Boice asked commissioners to consider spending the funds, saying having a plan now would pay big benefits in the long run. He said spending a little bit of the $2.2 million the county received this year from the federal government would be a good investment. "Water is the hub for everything, especially in our county," Boice said. "This is about 1
percent of our budget for the first year of $2.2 million. Curry County has a chance to lead here. If we can get this done, we will have the attention of the Association of Oregon Counties." Boice said as commissioner the top three issues he is working on are firefighting awareness, housing an water. He said the county could be a leader in Oregon by planning early. "Why should counties take
Curry Health Network: Meet the Curry Health Therapy Team on page 10
the leadership on water?" he asked. "Commissioners, planners can help negotiate the increasingly complex world of water. This plan would put us in a very good position." Boice said the Association of Oregon Counties would do the work for the $25,000 fee, and he said many counties were already jumping on board to participate. The work would in-
Curry County is continuing to see a record number of COVID cases, even as the case count begins to slowly drop. In the last week, 213 new cases were reported in Curry County, a slight decrease from the 229 new cases a week earlier. Despite the lower case counts, health experts warn the difficulty in receiving tests right now in all of Oregon is likely depressing the true case count in most counties. In January alone, Curry County has reported 636 COVID cases, easily the highest month of the pandemic. The Omicron variant, which is highly contagious, is believed responsible for almost all the new cases. In the last week, Curry County also reported a new death linked to the virus, bringing the death toll since the pandemic began to 41. Since the beginning of the pandemic almost two years ago, there have been 2,665 COVID cases in the county, meaning more than 10% of the county’s residents likely have caught the virus. While the Omicron surge has led to an increase in breakthrough cases for those who are fully vaccinated, the greatest impact continues to be seen in the unvaccinated population. In nearby counties, around two-thirds of those hospitalized are unvaccinated, and the majority of the recent deaths are among the unvaccinated. The Omicron variant, while leading massive numbers statewide, appears to be the mildest variant of the virus. The state of Oregon reported 19,400 new cases over the weekend, with 17 new deaths. In Curry County, 66.1% of adults and 59.8% of all residents have received at least one dose of the vaccine. Just under 30% of county residents have received a booster shot. Statewide, 82.1% of adults have received at least one dose of the vaccine. COVID vaccines are available at most clinics, pharmacies and at St. Timothy's Episcopal Church in Brookings. There is no charge for the vaccine.
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