Kalmiopsis K-3 closure extended LINDA PINKHAM The Pilot
Kindergarten through third grade classes at Kalmiopsis Elementary will remain in distance learning mode through Friday, Oct. 2 with a possible re-start of in-person learning on Monday, Oct. 5. Brookings-Harbor School Superintendent David Marshall made the announcement on the school’s web page on Monday, Sept. 21. The extended closure allows additional time for the non-school contact tracing process to be completed. “I would like to provide an update on the precautions and extra measures we are taking in collaboration with Curry County Public Health to protect our community after a COVID-19 exposure in our elementary school,” Marshall said. “At this time, some of
Oregon revenue forecast strong
our staff have been directed to quarantine limiting our ability to provide in-person services.” Individuals directed to quarantine in accordance with ODE/ OHA rules have been contacted by the district. However, the county public health department is still conducting its contact tracing process to determine potential close contacts in the community. The positive case was announced by Curry Public Health on Sunday, Sept. 20. Curry Public Health began working with the school on contact tracing that same day and the school sent messages via email and phone messages to parents notifying them of the exposure and cancelation of in-person classes. “It’s been great working with the county health department,” Marshall said. “We were prepared for it. It’s always different
when you experience it, but the state has done a good job providing guidelines. When the time came, it wasn’t as stressful or traumatic as it could have been.” Two weeks before school started, the district prepared for how to quickly communicate information with the health department. Student information is confidential, so transmitting the information needed to be both secure and accessible to public health. “When (Public Health Administrator) Sherriè Ward texted me on Sunday, literally within an hour we had the first files ready (for contact tracing), and by early afternoon we had thoroughly identified all the potential exposures.” Custodial staff is working on impacted areas that are being deep cleaned and disinfected. “I ask that as a community
we show care and compassion for the impacted individuals,” Marshall said. “We wish them well, and we also ask for your continued support and flexibility
for our students and teachers t ransitioning to distance learning tomorrow. Thank you for doing your part to protect yourself and others.“
Tax collections show surprising gain, but forecast also leads to caution over impact of pandemic JEREMY C. RUARK
jruark@countrymedia.net
The latest report about how the Oregon economy is doing offers encouragement but also caution. The Oregon Department of Administrative Services opened its summary statement for the September Oregon Revenue Forecast saying “the economy remains in a Great Recession-sized hole.” The report, issued Sept. 23, finds lower-income households have borne the brunt of the recession. “The combination of higher-income households being less impacted to date, and the large federal support means consumer spending and tax collections have held up much better than expected,” the report summary states. “The strong economic growth in recent months is encouraging, as many workers on temporary layoffs are recalled. However, normally it takes a year or two for the recessionary shock to work its way through the economy.” The report also states that overall, the current state of the economy is much better than feared at the time of the previous forecast. But the economic outlook in the years ahead is only improved modestly. It takes time, even under the best of circumstances to regain lost ground due to recessions. 2020 so far is anything but the best. Despite the sharp reduction in economic activity, the revenue summary states that Oregon’s primary revenue instruments have continued to grow. Collections of Personal Income Taxes and Corporate Taxes both set record highs over the post-shutdown (March-to-September) period this year. But state officials also caution that the economic pain has yet to be fully reflected in Oregon’s revenue data.
Debbie Payne shows off her mobile food cart located along Gold Beach’s two-mile stretch of U.S. Highway 101.
Linda Pinkham, The Pilot
GB Council chews over food cart dilemma LINDA PINKHAM The Pilot
Mobile food carts were the topic du jour at the Gold Beach City Council’s regular meeting on Monday, Sept. 14. In July, the City Council had passed a moratorium on licensing any new food carts on the city’s main street until Councilors had a chance to review city codes and draft new rules regarding their use and placement. Staff has expressed concerns about unregulated placement, sanitation, and quasi-structural issues that relate to fire/life safety codes. A few business owners also brought specific concerns to city staff. The moratorium grandfathered in existing carts, Hunger Paynes and Knob Khun Thai Food, but for now prohibits the establishment of a new food cart business anywhere on main street such as the lot across the street from the Thai food that has a “for rent”
sign posted. In their research after the moratorium, staff learned the issue wasn’t as simple as it appeared, and presented Councilors with more than 150 pages of documents about food cart standards, discussions of merits and detriments to an area and sample ordinances so the council could provide more explicit guidance for drafting an ordinance. “Because we don’t have anything specific to food carts in our zoning codes, we have allowed them in areas that are zoned commercial because it’s commercial use,” said Jodi Fritts, City Administrator. “And we have relied on the health department to enforce health regulations related to food stuff. I didn’t realize… that there’s some pretty specific rules related to the mobility of the carts.” The carts need to be mobile like a milk truck, RV or trailer that can be moved. Fritts questioned whether
the existing food carts in town were in conflict with state health codes. “It has to be to totally self-contained. There can’t be a bunch of structures added on,” she said. Councilors weighed in on the discussion with their views. “Because of our Urban Renewal District and the fact it’s along main street, I would like to not necessarily seed main street with a bunch of food trucks,” Councilor Larry Brennan said. “One suggestion I had was maybe a couple could go in the fairgrounds if the fairgrounds was willing to do that. It would be a money raiser for them as far as rent and it would put the food trucks off main street but it would be close enough that they would probably attract attention.” Brennan also suggested the port as a good location. “I’m not necessarily against food trucks, but I don’t want to see a bunch of them along main street.”
Mayor Karl Popoff agreed with Brennan, noting that the city has a two-mile-long main street. “Having something along the same lines as having an area dedicated to it, such as like Portland does—we obviously can’t do that on our main street.” “Our moratorium negatively impacted the Event Center on the Beach, and I’m anxious to find out how we are planning on mitigating that in this ordinance,” Councilor Becky Campbell said. The Event Center’s “Fair Food” special event needed to obtain special permission from the city for that weekend, which was granted on the basis that if the fair hadn’t been cancelled, those food trucks would have been present. Campbell serves as the city’s liaison to the Fair Board and offered to find out if they would be interested in hosting a food court and making it yearround.
The two individuals were from the same household; one adult and one child, who are both home self-isolating. CCPH) is working with Kalmiopsis Elementary on contact tracing. Some staff members are quarantined and monitoring for symptoms. The following day, Sept. 21, CCPH was notified of two more
cases by Coos County Public Health. Those two cases are related to an outbreak in Coos County. Those two cases are also self-isolating. As of Sept. 21, Curry County has registered a total of 30 positive cases, with 24 recovered and 6 active cases. There have been no hospitalizations or deaths
reported. Statewide, as of Sept. 23, the total number of Oregon cases is 31,503 with the death toll at 507. Del Norte County Public Health currently has 5 active cases as of Sept. 22 out of 138 total confirmed cases. The county has no current hospitalizations, and has had one death.
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Curry County has four more COVID-19 cases LINDA PINKHAM The Pilot
Curry County Public Health (CCPH) was notified of four new cases of COVID-19 in the county. The first two cases were announced on Sept. 20 after the information was provided from Del Norte County Public Health.