FRIDAY, JUNE 5, 2020
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SERVING CURRY COUNTY SINCE 1946
Brookings, Oregon
Curry’s ‘Phase II’ plan approved THE PILOT Just after 1:30 p.m. on Thursday Curry County officials received the word they’ve been looking for — Gov. Kate Brown has approved the county’s application to enter Phase II of the state’s plan to reopen Oregon. The county submitted its application earlier in the week and waited patiently for word from the governor’s office that
Curry could join other counties throughout the state in opening more businesses and activities. Permission to allow higher risk activities comes with a caveat — the county must continue to monitor resources and activity of the coronavirus. “I want to say thank you to each and every Oregonian who has made sacrifices to protect the health and safety of our communities,” the governor
said Wednesday as she provided more details on what Phase II will mean. “Your leadership –– you choosing to be both kind and smart –– is why we have been able to start the reopening process.” “Any reopening comes with risk. That’s just a fact of life right now,” she said. “So we need to reduce the risk that comes with reopening. So, fellow Oregonians, you have another chance
to shine. A chance to show that you are looking out for your friends, family, and neighbors.” Curry application In a letter to the governor on June 2, Curry County Public Health Administrator Sherrie R. Ward officially requested that Brown allow Curry County to enter Phase II on Friday, June 5. Ward said that the criteria for the county to enter Phase I
continued to be met. She also certified that county first responders have sufficient personal protective equipment. Additionally, she noted that Curry County Public Health has at least five trained contact tracers, which she said was in excess of the level appropriate and reasonable for the size of the population. Contact tracing is an importPlease see Reopening, Page A6
Pacific, Gold Beach celebrate class of 2020 Two high school graduations set for June 5 THE PILOT
PILOT FILE PHOTO
The 2017 Chetco Bar Fire scorched more than 190,000 acres. A new report from the Government Accountability Office, an agency that provides information to Congress, was recently released.
GAO releases 2017 fire report Chetco Bar Fire examined
A congressional watchdog agency has reported its findings from an examination of the U.S. Forest Service’s firefighting response to the 2017 Chetco Bar Fire. Rep. Peter DeFazio requested an investigation into the Forest Service’s handling of the fire and said June 1 that the lessons learned from past disasters can help with future efforts. The report from the Government Accountability Office, an agency that provides information to Congress, was recently released.
“As we approach another potentially severe wildfire season, along with the added challenge of the coronavirus pandemic, it is imperative that we take lessons learned from past disasters and apply that knowledge to prevention efforts today, in order to keep Oregonians safe,” DeFazio said. The Chetco Bar Fire After an apparent lightning strike in mid-July 2017 deep in the Kalmiopsis Wilderness northeast of Brookings, what came to be known as the Chetco Bar Fire grew slowly for about a month. A Forest Service crew
went in by helicopter to attempt to knock it down while it was small, but firefighters determined that the area was too steep and dangerous to put people on the ground. By Aug. 15 the fire had grown to 5,400 acres with no further effort to put it out. Officials thought the fire might just burn slowly until fall rains, as is sometimes the case with backcountry fires. Unfortunately, hot dry “Chetco effect” winds stirred up the flames and the fire blew up. It would go on to burn six homes and torch 190,000 acres of public and private land. Smoke from the
fire created a health hazard and the fire was not fully contained until Nov. 4. Suppression costs were more than $58 million. As early as August 2017, concerns were expressed locally that the Forest Service hadn’t responded appropriately. Speaking at a service club meeting in Coos Bay, DeFazio said he would request the GAO investigate “because there are some who feel that the initial attack on the fire was inadequate, that it may have been controlled even though it’s a very difficult terrain.” Please see Fire, Page A8
Peaceful demonstration in Brookings Tuesday the long block. About halfway through the demonstration McDonald asked those present to “take a knee” for 8 minutes and 46 seconds. “We are calling for an end to systemic racism that harms and kills people of color in our country,” she wrote on Facebook. The event was planned for two hours and lasted a little beyond that time, although the crowd began to thin out. There was no evidence of any police presence or conflict between those demonstrating and people driving by.
BY CLAUDIA ELLIOTT THE PILOT
About 100 people gathered on the east side of Chetco Avenue just south of 5th Street in Brookings Tuesday afternoon to honor the memory of the Minneapolis man whose death on May 25 has sparked violent protests and rioting across the country. George Floyd was a black man who died in Minneapolis on May 25. Video of him lying face down in the street while handcuffed by a police officer who kept his knee on the right side of Floyd’s neck for 8 minutes and 46 seconds has been circulated widely. The officer, Derek Chauvin, and three others were fired and Chauvin has been charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter in connection with Floyd’s death. Sky-Marie McDonald of Brookings, who organized the event via social media, said the purpose of the event was to honor Floyd and show unity. Although many related protests and demonstrations around
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CURRY COASTAL PILOT
Sky-Marie McDonald of Brookings during a demonstration in honor of George Floyd along Chetco Avenue on Tuesday, June 2. In contrast to related demonstrations across the country, it was a peaceful event. the country have been marked with violence and looting, the event was peaceful. A wide range of ages was represented, with some carrying homemade signs and others just standing by the road, waving at passersby. Many motorists honked and
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waved. In announcing the planned demonstration on her Facebook page, McDonald asked participants to bring signs, observe social distancing and show solidarity. Many wore masks and those gathered spread out along
ANTIFA concerns Although the demonstration in Brookings Tuesday was peaceful, Curry County Sheriff John Ward became concerned later in the day when he heard rumors that three busloads of ANTIFA protestors “could possibly make their way down here.” ANTIFA is a far-left network of groups that have participated in riots and was named by President Donald Trump as a terrorists recently. Please see Protest, Page A5
Gold Beach and Pacific high schools will be holding graduation ceremonies involving parades and social distancing on Friday, June 5. Pacific will celebrate the graduates from the Class of 2020 with a Graduation Parade through Port Orford starting at 5 p.m. on June 5. This parade will start on the north side of Port Orford, travel down Highway 101 and end at the field at Driftwood Elementary School. GBHS has scheduled its Graduation Parade and Socially Distanced Commencement Ceremony for 7 p.m. on June 5. On June 5, immediate family or friends who live with the student will drive a truck, flatbed, or open vehicle to display the senior in their cap and gown in a parade through the town which will finalize on the high school football field. The parade will start at 7 p.m. sharp. KGBR will play “Pomp and Circumstance” to signal the start of the parade. The parade will set up in the Port of Gold Beach along Harbor Way facing north in front of Jerry’s Rogue River Museum and Gift Shop and extending south on the right side of Harbor Way toward the U.S. Post Office. From there, vehicles will enter Highway 101 from Harbor Way and progress south through town to the high school. Students will drive north through the school parking lot, pausing in front of the high school steps to be announced, filmed (live stream), and photographed receiving their diploma. After students have received their diploma, they will continue north through the parking lot, turn left and proceed behind the stadium, and drive down onto the football field to their marked location. There, families and graduates will wait in their designated location with balloons, listening to the announcements of their classmates and honking, cheering until all graduates are on the field. Once the last graduate has taken their position on the football field, Superintendent Tim Wilson will announce the “Graduated Class of 2020.” After the recessional has finished playing, graduation vehicles, graduates and families should exit the field. To abide by social distancing Please see Graduation, Page A5
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