Curry could see ‘extreme’ restrictions next week BY ZACK DEMARS The Pilot
COVID-19 case rates across the state are declining — but not in Curry County. According to state data released Tuesday, Curry County could be forced back into the extreme-risk category as soon as next week if current trends continue. That would require restaurants and recreational facilities to close their indoor oper-
ations for at least two weeks. “Businesses can’t take much more. Especially our restaurants. We’ve already lost some,” said Court Boice, chair of the board of county commissioners, in a phone call Tuesday. “That’s my biggest concern.” Fortunately, Tuesday’s data was only advisory, meaning it doesn’t change the county’s risk level right away. The next risk level change will take place March 12, after new
data are announced March 9. To avoid a higher level of restrictions, the county will need to see significant declines in COVID-19 spread. Boice said reducing that spread will be critical in making sure restaurants can remain open. “We’re going to get into spring here pretty soon, we’re going to have people visiting,” Boice said. “We’re in the hospitality business. We’ve got some incredible, incredible people that provide that.”
Both metrics the state uses to determine risk levels were in the “extreme” category last week. Curry County reported 61 cases of the virus between Feb. 14 and 27. What’s more, 10.4% of virus tests in the same timeframe came back positive — the highest rate in the state. In order to remain in the current moderate-risk category of restrictions, the county will have to reduce that positivity rate to below 8% and
report fewer than 45 new cases of the virus for the period between Feb. 21 and March 6. According to Sherrié Ward, the county’s public health administrator, Curry County Public Health received notification of 19 new virus cases between Feb. 23 and March 1. Six are from south county, one is from north county and 12 are from central county, according to Ward.
Healing while selling produce County
looking at sales tax
Learning to sell was much more than business
BY DAVID RUPKALVIS The Pilot
BY DAVID RUPKALVIS The Pilot
Sylvia Yock faced a dilemma. After suffering a stroke and a seizure a decade ago, she was terrified of speaking publicly. The trauma of her medical condition left her shaken, and changes to her body made it difficult to talk. That’s when her husband, Raymond, had an idea. A hydrangea farmer in Harbor, Raymond made his wife go outside every day to sell flowers to strangers. And it worked. Sylvia slowly regained her confidence. Today, it would be hard to imagine Sylvia struggling to communicate as she runs the largest business at the Brookings Farmers Market two times a week. “Probably about 10 years ago, I had a medical problem and the answer was for me to start selling so I could talk to people,” Yock said. “We started really small and grew to this.” This is Sylvia’s Farm Fresh Produce, which sets up every time the farmers market is open. Inside, one can find a variety of fresh vegetables, many grown at the Yock’s 150-acre farm in Brookings. While hydrangeas are still the main crop, fresh vegetables are always coming out and are for sale in Brookings. “Everything’s popular,’ Yock said. “It depends what season it is.” And for Yock, the best season is coming up in a couple of weeks – strawberries. More Produce, Page A2
Photo by David Rupkalvis
Sylvia Yock is all smiles while she waits for customers to check out at Sylvia’s Farm Fresh Produce at the Brookings Farmers Market.
Nonprofit Kings, castles, whimsical characters Galchutt displays sets out unique style at Manley Art Center to help community BY KNOX KERANEN The Pilot
BY ZACK DEMARS The Pilot
The needs in the community have been different during the pandemic — but no less, according to Pamela Winebarger, whose Brookings Harbor Community Helpers have been trying to meet the challenge. “The need has been great — the need has been different,” Winebarger said. “We started out 2021 just running.” The nonprofit is in transition, working to expand its services to meet the basic needs of those in the community. “We are here as community helpers. We have a help center, and we have our food bank,” Winebarger said. More Helpers, Page A3
More COVID, Page A3
David Galchutt can pinpoint the exact moment he knew he wanted to be an artist; a moment that came early on in his life. “When I was in kindergarten, we all had to draw trees and I drew my tree with branches and bird’s nests and things, and I looked at everybody else’s and they all looked like Q-tips. Brown and green Q-tips,” said Galchutt. “I figured at that point maybe that’s what I did that was a little bit special.” Since then, Galchutt graduated from ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena, Calif., and worked as an illustrator for 40 years in various industries, including children’s literature, giftware, toys and greeting cards. He also authored and illustrated his own children’s book, “There Was Magic Inside,” which was published by notable publishing house Simon & Schuster.
More Artist, Page A3
Contributed by David Galchutt
The work of artist David Galchutt will be on display through April 3 at the Manley Art Center.
Curry County commissioners took a small step toward asking voters to approve a consumption tax during a work session last week. The three commissioners all expressed an interest in looking at the tax, more widely known as a sales tax, and asked county staff to research possibilities before the board decided whether to go to voters. Board Chair Court Boice brought the subject up, saying Curry County needs a new revenue stream. Boice said due to COVID-19, the county is looking at losing up to $1 million in revenue in the next fiscal year. He said a sales tax, which would be paid largely by tourists and visitors, is a good option to make up the losses. “Other than increasing fees to our citizens, which I’ve generally been in favor of, there’s been no new ideas coming in front of our board,” Boice said. “We have public health to finance, we have law enforcement to finance, we have basic services, mandated services.” Boice said a 2 percent sales tax would bring in around $3 million annually. He said how that money will be spent is still undecided, but it would provide a much-needed boost to county finances. “I think it has tremendous potential for the county,” he said. “The reason I’m convinced this is a possibly wise idea for Curry County is because it brings in a tremendous amount of money. It would actually keep the property taxes down.” Boice said his proposal would provide some exemptions to protect Curry County residents, but no final plan was produced. “It’s something I wish we had taken a look at a long time ago,” Boice said. “If the voters had passed this, we would have several million dollars at our disposal.” Boice said a sales tax would be ideal for Curry County for a couple of reasons. First, a lot of people visit the area and would help fund county government. Second, many residents of Del Norte County in California already cross the border to go shopping, and they, too, could pay into the county government. Commissioner Chris Paasch said he was interested in the idea, but said he wanted more details could make a final decision. “In some ways, I would support this,” Paasch said. Commissioner John Herzog also showed interest, but warned approval by voters would be difficult. “None of this can happen unless the voters vote for it,” Herzog said. “If we come up with a good plan and a good breakdown, the voters will let us know how they feel. When you say tax in Curry County, that’s a four-letter word. It’s interesting to me.” Paasch said if the tax was geared toward tourists, it likely would have no downside. More Tax, Page A10