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FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 2022
Brookings, Oregon
Indoor mask mandate to lift March 11 Permanent rule stays
ZOE GOTTLIEB Country Media
Masking indoors will no longer be a statewide requirement in Oregon as soon as March 11, reflecting a downtrend in COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations, as well as a shift from previous guidance issued by the Oregon Health Authority (OHA). In Oregon, the OHA rules requiring masks in indoor public places and schools will lift after Courtesy of OHA 11:59 p.m. on March 11. The OHA said Oregon's high Other state and federal revaccination rate is a key conquirements, such as those tributing factor to the early lift for health care settings, date.
public transit, and other specialized settings, will remain in place for now, according to the OHA. State Epidemiologist Dr. Dean Sidelinger, Oregon Department of Education (ODE) Director Colt Gill, and OHA Communications Officer Jonathan Modie held a briefing Monday, Feb. 28 to take questions from the media. The OHA's announcement does not rule out the possibility of reimposing mask mandates should a new variant arise. According to Modie, the permanent rule will remain in place but contains a component allowing the mask mandate to be lifted or reinstated "like an on-off switch." "I think as individuals as communities, we need
to be prepared to take additional steps as the situation changes, and we face some more variants that cause more severe disease," Sidelinger said. "But for the time being, we can move forward with individuals and individual communities making decisions based on the conditions on the ground, the conditions, the risk factors, and those around them as we all step up to protect ourselves (and) our loved ones in our broader communities." Sidelinger acknowledged the gains Oregon has made so far in widespread compliance with state health directives and stemming the spread of COVID-19. "I think this is an important step in response
to the pandemic that we have in front of us - the virus that we have in front of us. Cases are significantly declining, there are no emerging variants of concern on the horizon, and we continue to see increases in people being up-to-date with their vaccinations," he said. The OHA has twice revised the state's indoor mask mandate to end on March 31 and again on March 19, following a significant decline in hospitalizations and case counts. The revisions follow a reduction of more than half in hospitalizations from the Omicron peak of 1,130 on Jan. 27, down to 528 as of Thursday, Feb. 24, according to Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU's) latest
Student exhibit takes over Coos Art Museum
COVID-19 forecast. Oregon Gov. Kate Brown released a statement in response to the changes in OHA guidance. “Two years ago, today, we identified Oregon’s first case of COVID-19. As has been made clear time and again over the last two years, COVID-19 does not stop at state borders or county lines. On the West Coast, our communities and economies are linked. "Together, as we continue to recover from the Omicron surge, we will build resiliency and prepare for the next variant and the next pandemic. As we learn to live with this virus, we must remain vigilant to protect each other and More Mandate, Page A2
Legislators to invest $400 million to combat homelessness By DAVID RUPKALVIS The World
The Oregon Legislature is working to pass legislation that would infuse $400 million to help combat homelessness and provide affordable housing Photos by David Rupkalvis/The Pilot across Oregon. Bryce Bales, a student at Gold Beach High School, received the third place overWhile much of the investment all award for these ceramic masks he made. By finishing in the top three, Bales will happen in the larger cities of also earned free tuition to Southwestern Oregon Community College. the state, funding is being made available to rural areas as well. Annika Malmbery from Brookings-Harbor High School has her painting on disDuring a press conference play in the VISION Art Competition at the Coos Art Museum Thursday, Democratic leaders announced the funding packmasks he made. "It's one of the best shows we The three Best of Show By DAVID RUPKALVIS age, which includes House Bill Upstairs, both exhibition halls do," Ruby said. "All the teachers winners not only get bragging The Pilot 4123. HB 4123 will create a pilot are filled with the annual VIget to be involved with the museum rights, but they receive tuition The Coos Art Museum has SION Art Competition, a project and the students get to see their waivers to SWOCC thanks to the program that provides funding been taken over by artwork from co-sponsored by Southwestern for cities and counties that work work in a professional setting." SWOCC Foundation. Southern Oregon students. Oregon Community College. As she walked through the “The VISION show is a must- together to combat homelessness. The entire downstairs is filled In Coos County, the cities The art in the competition is exhibit, Ruby stopped time after see," said foundation Executive with the Student Biennial show, from high school students, with time to admire the work. Director Elise Hammer. "It is the and North Bend and Coos Bay which showcases paintings, the top three artists as chosen by "Oh that's great," she said to one venue where we can gain in- are working with the county to sculptures and more from stujudges receiving scholarships to one painting. "I absolutely love sight into the thoughts, struggles host one of the pilot programs. dents in pre-K to 12th grade. The Southwestern Oregon Communi- these," she said, pointing to snow- and aspirations of our current di- In Lincoln County, the county is majority of the work is from stu- ty College. partnering with Lincoln City, the men made by pre-K students. verse generation of high schooldents in Coos County, but work city of Newport and the city of More than 140 people attend"This is a show you can come age students. Guaranteed, you’ll from young artists in Douglas, Toledo to host one of the pilots. ed the opening of the show last see several times," Ruby said. walk away from the VISION Curry and other counties are also week, and the exhibits will reRepresentative Jason Kro"There's technical skills in here show completely inspired.” on display. pf authored HB 4123, which main on display through April 15. that are amazing." The judges were uniquely Some of the big winners came While the children's work is on was scheduled to be voted on At the VISIONS competition, qualified to judge the student from Curry County as students Thursday in the Subcommittee display, entrance to the Coos Art high school students from many competition. Snyder in a printfrom Gold Beach High School on Transportation and Economic Museum is free for everyone. schools displayed their artwork. maker, artist and taught art for and Brookings-Harbor High Development. Leah Ruby, who took over as Judges Pat Snyder and James 30 years at Marshfield High School entered the competition. "Each pilot will establish a executive director of the museFritz looked over the art before School while Fritz runs the art The Best of Show third place coordinated homeless response um in January, was ecstatic as picking first through fourth-place department at SWOCC. award went to Bryce Bales from office," Kropf said. "In doing so, she looked through the art made winners in each grade and three Gold Beach for three ceramic by the young artists. Best of Show winners overall. More Student Art, Page A2 our communities will be better positioned to leverage existing resources. Pilots will be required to report back on their plans, their progress, challenges and opportunities. Houselessness does not have a one size fits all solution." HB 4123 will provide $1 million for each of the eight pilot programs, with a goal of finding "Three years ago, I decided to come to By DAVID RUPKALVIS what works and doesn't work. Ukraine to help teach the Ukranian military The World State Rep. David Gomberg, and police IED awareness and first aid," he who represents Lincoln County said this week. "Shortly after I arrived, I made in the Legislature, said the prosome friends and a company asked me to The first time he was in a war zone, Kurt gram is much needed. come work for them." Kimble volunteered to serve as a member of "As a coastal and a rural Kimble later fell in love with a Ukranian the U.S. Army. He never imagined when he relegislature, I've seen firsthand woman and remarried, taking in her daughter turned from Iraq, he would be facing war again. as his own. the plight of homelessness in But the longtime North Bend resident is facour community," he said. "In my Kimble said life in Lviv, Ukraine has been ing that exact scenario as he works to protect home county, 20 percent of stumostly good, but he started feeling apprehenhimself and his family in Ukraine. dent in schools are categorized sion grow about a month ago. Kimble grew up in North Bend and graduatas homeless. What we're talking "When Russia and Belarus were holding ed from North Bend High School, only leaving what they called exercises," Kimble said. "I'm about here is seniors, families, when he joined the Army. He returned to low-income workers and, yes, a former military man, and when they were North Bend after he left the service and raised we're talking about kids." bringing thousands and thousands of troops to Contributed by Kurt Kimble his family in the area. Three years ago, he was the Ukranian border, I thought they were going He said HB 4123 will find After serving in the Army and in law enfacing tragedy in his life after his wife died, solutions because it will lead to to advance further into Ukraine." forcement, Kurt Kimble left North Bend and with the blessing of his son and daughter, greater cooperation among local to train police and the military in Ukraine. More Ukraine Page A12 he decided to take a job in Ukraine.
North Bend man talks about life in Ukraine during war
'If I have to, I'll die here'
More Homelessness, Page A8
Pick your favorite: Reader's Choice ballots can be found on page 9
INDEX Crossword................................................ A8 Classifieds.......................................... A5 Crossword Answers............................ A6
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