Police investigating graffiti JILLIAN WARD The World
COOS BAY — The man responsible for tagging The World Newspaper has come forward. The World is not pressing charges. “Over the past several weeks, the Coos Bay Police Department has seen an increase in graffiti and criminal mischief calls,” read a department press release. “The graffiti has been found on various buildings, fences, sidewalks and business signs.” On Wednesday morning, the department was notified of new graffiti that appeared between 6:30 p.m. and 8 a.m. “The new graffiti was found at The World newspaper business located on Commercial Ave. in the downtown area of Coos Bay,” the release said. “The graffiti covered the front sidewalk and was also on (its) business sign.” The graffiti made “several offensive comments regarding
The World newspaper, as well as city staff and city officials,” the release said. According to the newspaper’s publisher, Ben Kenfield, the tagging also covered the front stairs, while window chalk was used to write on the front door and windows around the building. Most of the tagging was done in sidewalk chalk. “It reflects the frustration in this community,” Kenfield said as he scrubbed graffiti off The World’s sign. “We have a microcosm of what’s happening in the country here in Coos Bay. “I think sometimes it’s hard to tell where to point the frustration and turn it into change.” Members of Safer as One — a grassroots organization standing for equality and a safer community — showed up to help scrub the chalk graffiti off The World’s stairs. “These are words of pain and people trying to speak out Please see Graffiti, Page A8
Jillian Ward, The World
The World Newspaper is the latest location hit with graffiti in the area, but with tagging that read “fake news” and “Black Lives Matter.”
COVID-19 cases up in Coos County AMY MOSS STRONG The World
as well as on a Facebook live feed. The two groups clashed loudly at first, with two Coos Bay Police officers on hand who stood between people when it appeared tensions were escalating. After a few verbal confrontations involving angry yelling and threats, the crowd calmed down and began talking to each other, with a few eventually agreeing to meet at a later date in the week to talk about how they could come together for a common cause despite their differences. Jay Brown, a leader among the Black people in Coos County, posted a live feed on Facebook of the impromptu rally.
COOS COUNTY — Coos County’s cases have jumped in the past month, with 43 confirmed cases and nine presumptive cases for a total of 52, Brian Leon, epidemiologist with Coos Health and Wellness reported Thursday afternoon. Of that total, 24 are unassociated with the previous Shutter Creek Correctional Institution outbreak. Twenty of the new cases were discovered in the last 28 days; 13 of them in the last 14 days and nine of those since Monday. One person has been hospitalized due to the virus and remains in the hospital but has improved, Leon said. Five recent confirmed cases and one presumptive case are due to a workplace outbreak, according to CHW. “At this time, we are only concerned about the employees,” Leon said. “We feel ... that this is not a public concern and not a consumer-based business.” Leon said the workplace outbreak involves one man under age 40 and four men between the ages of 40-60, with four confirmed cases and one presumptive among them. “The additional four in the last few days we don’t have much information on,” Leon said, adding that most of this week’s cases that don’t involve the workplace outbreak are people who have traveled outside the area and came back with the virus. “We can usually stop those before there are too many transmissions,” Leon said. “Please consider how necessary it is to travel and if you have to, remember to social distance, use a mask and hand sanitizer.”
Please see Council, Page A8
Please see COVID, Page A8
Amy Moss Strong Photos, The World Protestors and counter-protestors clash outside the Coos Bay Public Library on July 7 while a Coos Bay City Council meeting was being held inside. A resolution about diversity, equity and inclusion was on the council’s agenda. Though tempers flared at times, the two sides eventually parted on civil terms.
CB council adopts inclusion resolution AMY MOSS STRONG The World
COOS BAY — After listening to heated public comment regarding racism or the perceived lack thereof in the Coos Bay community, the Coos Bay City Council voted unanimously to adopt a resolution supporting diversity, equity and inclusion within the city. About 10 people spoke to the council, which met for the first time in person at the Coos Bay Public Library since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Some asked the council why they would consider such a resolution, while others asked why the council hasn’t done more to ensure people of all races feel safe.
Coos Bay Deputy Police Chief Chris Chapanar advises the crowd to disperse after protestors and counter-protestors clashed outside the Coos Bay Public Library on July 7 while a Coos Bay City Council meeting was being held inside. During the meeting, about enter the library individually due 50 people gathered outside to to social distancing guidelines. support speakers on both sides. The meeting was being broadcast Those speaking were only able to via a speaker outside the library