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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2023

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North Bend resident Kurt Kimble fights for Ukraine. Though he’s been injured twice he says he’ll fight for how ever long it takes to free Ukraine from Russian aggression.

Brookings, Oregon

Measure 110 repeal sought Curry County Commissioners pass resolution to abolish new law ELLIOT SCHWARZ Country Media, Inc.

Courtesy photo Kurt Kimble is leading a group of soldiers from all over the world with the International Legion of Ukraine.

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BREE LAUGHLIN Country Media, Inc.

I – along with the people – believe what Russia is doing is a criminal act and I want to fight against it.

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— Kurt Kimble

North Bend man is helping Ukraine defend its people from invading Russian soldiers. Kurt Kimble recently returned to his hometown of North Bend, Oregon for a brief visit before returning to fight in the International Legion in Ukraine. “We are progressing slowly and progressively winning on the battlefield because the Ukrainian people are fighting for something – and the Russians aren’t,” Kimble said. Kimble has been injured twice since enlisting in the war. He was shot in the helmet and recently hit by a piece of shrapnel – but he is staying in Ukraine to help them finish the war. “I want to stay fighting as long as it takes,” he said. Volunteering

Courtesy photo Kurt Kimble reports Russian troops aren’t just targeting cities in Ukraine. They have decimated small villages that have been around since the 1700s.

Kimble moved to Ukraine in 2019. The retired U.S. military veteran was looking to do something different with his life after his wife passed away. He decided to put his military background to use as a volunteer with the Ukrainian police and National Guard. When Russian President Vladimir Putin’s troops invaded the country

– Kimble decided to enlist in the Ukrainian Army under the International Legion. “By the time I enlisted in the Ukrainian army, the Russians had already crossed over the border,” he said. “That was a moment when I was like, ‘I need to do something more.’ But what really set me off was the day I saw the maternity hospital blown up – and that really pushed me to go and fight,” Kimble said. Kimble said his family in North Bend supports what he is doing, but they also want him to come home – and he wants that too. But he can’t until he finishes what he started. “I – along with the people – believe what Russia is doing is a criminal act and I want to fight against it,” Kimble said. After almost five years, Kimble said Ukraine has also become his home. Kimble remarried and adopted his wife’s’ daughter. “I have friends. The people have been good to me,” he said. “The Ukrainian people are just phenomenal. They’re

Curry County joins Coos, Jackson and several other counties in calling for the repeal of Measure 110, which passed by more than 58% of Oregon voters in November 2020. On the ballot as the “Drug Addiction Treatment and Recovery Act,” the measure decriminalized minor drug possession which was downgraded from a misdemeanor to a violation similar to a traffic ticket and started the gradual process of putting cannabis tax dollars toward drug treatment organizations. The resolution A resolution passed by the Curry County Board of Commissioners Aug. 16 reads, “…Ballot Measure 10…was passed in 2020 with the promise of reducing crime, improving public safety, and saving lives; and the evidence shows that Measure 110 has had the opposite effect, leading to an increase in overdose deaths, criminal activity, public nuisance, and a diminished quality of life for the citizens of Oregon Since Measure 110 was passed, there has been a dramatic increase in overdose deaths in Oregon; in 2020 there were 585 overdose deaths; in 2021, that number increased to 917; as of March 8, 2023, there have been 1,161 overdose deaths confirmed in Oregon in 2022, more than doubling the number experienced just two years prior… Measure 110’s enforcement provisions have proven ineffectual.” By the numbers

The position expressed in the resolution appears to match a broad swath of public sentiment and perception. A poll released by Emerson College Polling Aug. 23, measuring public attitudes toward See WAR, Page 12 Measure 110 showed a majority of voters (56%) think the measure should be repealed completely, while 45% think it should be left as is. A summary of the poll shows closest to the two swaths of a majority (54%) of voters think Pacific Ocean identified by the Measure 110 has increased ocean energy agency as ideal for homelessness in their communities, large wind turbines that would 38% think the measure has no float about 18 to 32 miles from impact on homelessness, and 8% land. Energy generated across the think the measure has decreased 344 square miles of open ocean homelessness. Asked if they thought identified for the projects could Measure 110 makes the community power nearly 200,000 homes. safer or less safe, half of voters The federal agency would like (50%) say the measure makes the to host an auction by year’s end, community much or somewhat less allowing companies interested in safe. Twenty percent of voters say developing ocean wind energy the measure makes the community to bid on leases for the sites. A much or somewhat safer. Thirty similar auction in California in percent say the community is about 2022 brought in $757 million in the same since the measure took winning bids for four companies. effect. Voters were split about the effects Reaction of funds from Measure 110 being used as part of a needle exchange During a recent Brookings City program, which offers drug users Council workshop, Mayor Ron clean needles in exchange for Hedenskog voiced opposition to

Meetings set for offshore wind energy proposals ALEX BAUMHARDT Oregon Capital Chronicle Pilot Guest Article ELLIOT SCHWARZ Country Media, Inc.

Public meetings Gold Beach 4 – 8 p.m. Sept. 26 Event Center 29392 Ellensburg Ave.

Federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) officials will meet with Oregonians concerned or curious about potential floating offshore wind energy projects following public and political outcry. Read the entire federal wind energy proposal with this story at currypilot.com. Officials will host three inperson meetings in Gold Beach, Coos Bay and Brookings on Sept. 26, 27 and 28. The agency also doubled the public comment period from 30 to 60 days, until Oct. 16. Generating clean energy from

Coos Bay 4 – 8 p.m. Sept. 27 Coos Bay Public Library 525 Anderson Ave. Brookings 4 – 8 p.m. Sept. 28 Southwest Oregon Community College 96082 Lone Ranch Parkway wind turbines floating in the Pacific Ocean is part of state and federal plans to rapidly reduce greenhouse gas emissions contributing to global climate change. But some residents of the

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Oregon Coast and several tribal nations are concerned about the potential impact to marine life, fisheries and the industries and people who depend on them. Coos Bay and Brookings are

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