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MIDWEEK EDITION

Tuesday March 24, 2020

www.currypilot.com

Brookings, Oregon

SERVING CURRY COUNTY SINCE 1946

Gov. Brown tightens distancing measures Staff Report

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overnor Kate Brown on Monday, March 23, issued Executive Order 20-12, directing everyone in Oregon to stay at home to the maximum extent possible and adding to the list of businesses that will be temporarily closed to stem the spread of COVID-19 in Oregon. The order is effective immediately, and remains in effect until ended by the Governor. “We are learning more about this virus and how people react to it every day. Not just from a medical standpoint, but from a social and behavioral standpoint. “I started by asking Oregonians to stay home and practice social distancing. Then I urged the public to follow these recommendations. Instead, thousands

crowded the beaches of our coastal communities, our trails, our parks, and our city streets, potentially spreading COVID-19 and endangering the lives of others across the state. Now, I’m ordering it. To save lives and protect our community. “Today, I am issuing a new executive order further requiring social distancing measures because we know this is the most effective way to flatten the curve and slow the spread of this virus. I hope everyone in Oregon abides by its core message: stay home unless absolutely necessary. “Staying home both keeps you safe from infection, and ensures you do not unknowingly infect others. “We’ve already put a number of measures forward specifically aimed at increasing hospital capacity, such as

OPRD closes state parks to camping and day-use A

cutting down on non-emergency care so we conserve masks, gloves, and gowns to save the lives of the health care workers who are working so hard to save others. All of these things add up, and by slowing the infection rate, we preserve hospital beds so that there will be one available if and when you need it. “None of us have ever been through this before, and that means there is no way to know exactly what lies ahead. We don’t know yet when this outbreak will end, or what changes this will bring for our state and for our country. But I want to make sure that we’ve done all we can to end it as quickly as possible.” About the order: • All non-essential social and recreational gatherings of individuals are prohibited immediately, regardless of size, if a distance of at least six

feet between individuals cannot be maintained. Gatherings of members of the same residential household are permitted. • It closes and prohibits shopping at specific categories of retail businesses, for which close personal contact is difficult to avoid, such as arcades, barber shops, hair salons, gyms and fitness studios, skating rinks, theaters, and yoga studios. • It requires businesses not closed by the order to implement social distancing policies in order to remain open, and requires workplaces to implement teleworking and work-at-home options when possible. • It directs Oregonians to stay home More BROWN on Page A5

How schools are coping

Staff Report

t the direction of Governor Kate Brown, and in keeping with the guidance that all Oregonians should stay home and stay healthy, the Oregon State Park system closed at the end of the day Monday, March 23, including all day-use areas and campgrounds. The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department previously ordered a campground closure that would have started April 3, and advised travelers to avoid day trips to full parks. With new guidance from the Governor, and clear signs that travelers are not following advice to avoid full parks, a statewide state park closure is necessary. Beaches can be closed by OPRD at their discretion and will be closed if social distancing practices are not followed. All daytime park services will be closed statewide, including parking areas, picnic areas, natural areas, recreation sites, viewpoints and restrooms. Campers will be refunded for all canceled nights. All travelers are advised to follow the guidance to stay home to stay healthy. City and county parks and other public land managers are open at their discretion, with the recommendation they do so only if they can adhere to social distancing practices. State parks, natural areas, scenic corridors and recreation sites along the South Coast include Umpqua State Scenic Cooridor, Bolon Island Tideways State Scenic Corridor, Golden and Silver Falls State Natural Area, William M. Tugman State Park, Cape Arago State Park, Sunset Bay State Park, Shore Acres State Park, Coquille Myrtle Grove State Natural Area, Hoffman Memorial State Wayside, Seven Devils State Recreation Site, Bullards Beach State Park, Bandon State Natural Area, Cape Blanco State Park, Port Orford Heads State Park, Arizona Beach State Recreation Site, Geisel Monument State Heritage Site, Cape Sebastian State Scenic Corridor, Pistol River State Scenic Viewpoint, Winchuck State Recreation Site, McVay Rock State Recreation Site and Harris Beach State Park. “We would have preferred an orderly shutdown of the system and to remain open for daytime visits, but our concern for the effects on rural health care systems requires us to move up and expand our plans,” says Lisa Sumption, director of the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department. “We know this will cause a disruption, since we’re suspending service to everyone, even people who live near a park. Reducing contact between people is more important than recreation at the moment. “An essential part of operating a park relates to the health and safety of our staff, volunteers, and visitors like you,” Sumption added. The closure will last at least until May 8. OPRD will reevaluate the situation at that time. On the OPRD home web page, Sumption explained in more detail why OPRD does not see the closure as an overreaction. “Hardest thing we've ever had to do,” She wrote. “We'd hoped people would protect themselves and, more importantly, others by limiting their travel just to short trips to places with space. That didn't happen, and

Local schools officials are working out the details of how to continue to educate their students while they are out through April 28 due to the coronavirus. Photos by Brian Williams.

Local superintendents address remote teaching, food service challenges Staff Writer

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chool kids are home from school on an extended break that started abruptly the week before Spring Break and will last much longer than originally planned — now at least through April 28 — but it could be extended further or shortened by Gover-

Classifieds.................A8 Crosswords...............A4 Comics......................A4 Weather.....................A9

Weather HIGH LOW

Thurs 56 40

By Brian Williams

The Brookings Harbor Food Bank is open and has been busy according Executive Director Pamela Winebarger. Volunteer Eunice Werner opens a package of fruit for distribution. Photo by Brian Williams.

Past four days

Wed 53 41

tional barriers for some students. “We need to create learning opportunities that are both fair and are what we can actually pull off. Do we want to provide learning packages for all students? You bet we do,” he said. “Our mission statement says we will create learning environments where every student can succeed.” More SCHOOL on Page A2

Food Bank tries to keep up with demand

More PARKS on Page A6

Index

nor Kate Brown. The Pilot caught up with Brookings Harbor School District Interim Superintendent Chris Eberhardt and Central Curry School District 1 Superintendent Tim Wilson to discuss what the current strategy involves. “The plans around the school closure change on almost a daily basis due to the evolving volatility of the crisis,” Wilson said. The first challenge, according to Eberhardt is to not create addi-

By Linda Pinkham

Tues 46 43

Mon 54 37

5-day forecast, tides and complete weather: Page A10

Call us 541-813-1717

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Pilot Editor

he Brookings Harbor Food Bank has been “slammed” with people gripping with the repercussions of the growing novel coronavirus outbreak. “We’ve been slammed, we have been absolutely

slammed,” said Pamela Winebarger, Executive Director of the Brookings Harbor Food Bank. “I got a whole list of stuff that I am looking for.” More people are being impacted across all walks of life from the novel More FOOD on Page A6

Sunrise/Sunset RISE SET

Tues 7:10 7:35

Fax 541-813-1931

Wed Thurs Fri 7:08 7:07 7:05 7:36 7:37 7:38

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