FRIDAY, AUGUST 7, 2020
www.currypilot.com
SERVING CURRY COUNTY SINCE 1946
Brookings, Oregon
COVID-19 Update
Governor considers travel restrictions THE PILOT
There were relatively few new confirmed positive tests of COVID-19 reported locally in the last week. As of the Thursday morning deadline for this edition, Del Norte County reported two active cases in self-isolation and 88 inactive cases — a total of 90. Curry County reported five active positive cases and nine recovered cases — a total of 14. No new cases of staff were reported at Pelican Bay State Prison and it appears that inmate testing thus far has not resulted
in any confirmed positive cases. Curry County Public Health has not responded to our requests for information about the number of positive staff cases from Pelican Bay State Prison who are Curry County residents. Public health officials in both counties continue to advise the public to practice social distancing, observe face mask requirements in public places, and wash hands frequently. There were news reports this week that Oregon Gov. Kate Brown may be considering travel restrictions. In response to an in-
quiry, the governor’s press office responded as follows: “As mentioned in recent press availabilities, in recent weeks, doctors, health experts, and case investigators have reported seeing cases linked to interstate travel. The issue of travel restrictions was raised by members of the Governor’s Medical Advisory Panel based on COVID-19 cases linked to travel in southern Oregon, which is troubling based on the spikes in case counts California is currently experiencing. County-level COVID-19 data from across the country likewise
shows increasing case counts between linked communities across state borders. “We are asking the health experts at the Oregon Health Authority and the Medical Advisory Panel for more data on travel-related spread of COVID-19, as well as recommendations for health and safety measures to address such cases. In conversations with legislators today, our office also discussed the reality that many Oregonians in communities on the state’s borders often cross those borders for work, and that any restric-
tions must take economic and supply chain implications into account. As the Governor has stated previously, our focus is on restrictions related to tourist travel from hotspot states and communities. Conversations are ongoing about how those restrictions could work.” California Gov. Gavin Newsom did not respond to our question about whether California is considering travel restrictions. Online at pilot.com and triplicate.com we publish a local COVID-19 update at 6 p.m. daily, Monday through Friday.
OSAA adjusts calendar
Seawall construction begins at Sporthaven
Fall sports season is moved to winter by Executive Board BY JERRY ULMER OSAA Today
Claudia Elliott, The Pilot
The Port of Brookings Harbor began construction of a temporary seawall along Sporthaven Beach this week. As planned to help prevent debris and saltwater from inundating the adjacent recreational vehicle park, the concrete blocks also will define a widened walking path above the beach. Bumpers and new parking area striping are being added, as well, and the roadway has been designated for one-way traffic only.
Event Center roof replacement begins soon
Editor’s Note: Many people who drive by the Event Center on the Beach in Gold Beach, which is also the home of the Curry County Fair, may not know the history of the property — or how it is managed. Becky Campbell, Gold Beach City Councilor, is among those concerned about the future of the fair and event center, and shares this information with our readers. BY BECKY CAMPBELL Friends of the Fair
The Event Center on the Beach is located in Gold Beach on Ellensburg Avenue (Highway 101) on the ocean- or west-side of the street and is literally beside the beach and Pacific Ocean. The buildings on the property are owned by Curry County. The land was deeded to the “Curry County Fair” by the Crook and Turner families back in the 1930s as a location for the county fair. Prior to this, our fair was a joint venture held by Coos and Curry Counties. Due to budget cuts and a downturn of our local timber economy, our county government has been unable to fund basic infrastructure of these county-owned buildings. A nonprofit foundation, Friends of the Fair, was formed to support the needs
INDEX Crosswords........................................ A7 Crossword Answers............................ B3 Classifieds.......................................... B1 Weather.............................................. A10
Becky Campbell, Friends of the Fair
Socially distanced and eager for the long-awaited new roofing project at the Event Center on the Beach to proceed are members of Friends of the Fair, from left, Chris Brose, Bob Chibante, Michelle (Micki) Wills, Erin Johnson, Dave Hoenie and Rob Carillon. of the property. The bulk of funds have been earned through catering events held at the event center. From 1993 to date, Friends of the Fair has donated $200,000. This money has funded projects such as the purchase of a John Deere tractor, a commercial dishwasher, chairs, tables, and carpet for the upper mezzanine in the Docia Sweet building. Unfortunately, this wonderful organization has been unable to fund all of the needed infrastructure and maintenance necessary on this property. This need was acknowledged by the
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Gold Beach City Council in June 2016 when it decided to assist the ECOB by creating a permanent funding stream for maintenance and infrastructure repairs of county-owned buildings located within our city limits. This funding stream was created in the form of a tax on tourists. The city council increased the tax on hotel, motel, bed ‘n breakfasts, and vacation rentals within the city limits by one percent. This funding stream is called the Transit Lodging Tax or TLT. This additional one percent is to be used on maintenance at
the event center. The first big expenditure of your taxpayer money is beginning with a roof replacement project. The Event Center Board of Directors is made up of six people: Dave Hoenie who serves as president; Rob Carillo who serves as vice president; and fellow board members Bob Chibante, Tim Scullen, Jeri Lynn Thompson, Erin Johnson, and Chris Brose. Gary Vila is the maintenance supervisor, Micki Wills is the office manager, and Kaitlyn Coleman is the chief executive officer. More Roof on Page A2
Adapting to restrictions from COVID-19, the Oregon School Activities Association has set a new course for 2020-21 school activities. Taking a cue from Nevada’s association, the OSAA announced Wednesday that it has opted to schedule truncated winter, fall and spring seasons – in that order – with contests starting in the new calendar year and running through late June. That means the basketball season will go from Jan. 11 to March 7 and the football season will run from March 15 through May 9, all predicated on COVID-19 guidance from the Governor’s Office and Oregon Health Authority. “The goal was to try to maximize opportunities for students, providing three distinct seasons for schools later in the year,” OSAA executive director Peter Weber said. Two weeks ago, the OSAA pushed back the first contest date of the fall season to Sept. 23, keeping the first date of fall practice at Aug. 17. But due to state restrictions for COVID-19, the vast majority of Oregon school districts have committed to starting the year with online learning, casting doubts on fall sports and activities. By delaying the first practices until Dec. 28 and the first contests until Jan. 11, the OSAA is hopeful that more schools will have a chance to compete. “Nearly all schools are going to have to spend a significant part of the fall in comprehensive distance learning,” Weber said, “and that will present challenges in terms of the ability to offer opportunities to students in some areas. So moving the season allows for those opportunities.” Each sport will have a seven-week regular season followed by a “culminating week.” Weber said that the specifics of the culminating weeks are still to be determined. “We’ll have to work with our membership on what that would look like,” Weber said. “In our football contingency groups, they said that maybe that could be a bowl game. And that type of approach could be done in other activities, as well. We definitely wanted to leave room for the opportunity of some type of culminating event.” The period between Aug. 31 and Dec. 27 – dubbed Season 1 in the plan – also presents potential opportunities for students to participate. More OSAA on Page A6
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