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Serving Oregon’s South Coast Since 1878

Happy memory of area

Coquille’s cosmetology program

Zach Silva shares favorite school story, B1

New program is one of just three in the state, A7

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Coos COVID-19 cases reported ZACH SILVA The World

COOS COUNTY — The amount of COVID-19 cases in Coos County continues to rise. Earlier this week there were two positive cases and two presumptive positive cases reported in the area, all stemming from a group of individuals who had recently gone to Portland. One of the cases that was initially reported as presumptive positive

has since tested positive. Additionally, there have been two presumptive positive cases that stem from the individual who most recently tested positive. That individual, who has previously been identified as a woman under the age of 40, did not immediately isolate upon returning to Coos County. “It’s a perfect presentation of if you don’t get your claws around every person, as amazing and responsible as the other

individuals were, once they knew that COVID-19 was in the mix before they even had symptoms, it just takes one person, and a very brief amount of time,” said Coos Health and Wellness epidemiologist Brian Leon. “The concern is that, obviously, if that presumptive turned confirmed case had exposed a few people and the ones we know of most of them have at least come down with one symptom, then we really need to make

sure we’re really getting in touch with everybody.” In addition to the two additional presumptive positives, there are another four individuals who are now symptomatic. These individuals appear to have plans to get tested. There is one person in that group who Coos Health and Wellness has been unable to reach. As of Thursday afternoon, Coos Health and Wellness has reported that there have been 34

positive cases of COVID-19 in the county and now five presumptive positives. “The number of cases that we’ve had and nailed down over the last seven days is a concern. This is a pretty significant increase compared to the last 28 days,” said Leon. The latest surge of cases has been a clear view of how fast the virus can move. Please see Covid-19, Page A8

Major festivals canceled

The World

COOS BAY — The Coos Bay Downtown Association has made the difficult decision to cancel two major festivals that draw thousands of visitors to the downtown core. “Because of COVID-19 restrictions placed on festivals in the phased reopening of Coos County, the CBDA board made the decision to cancel the Blackberry Arts Festival in August and the Bay Area Fun Festival in September,” said CBDA Executive Director Holly Boardman in a press release. “Instead, the focus will be on building other promotions and events that will help bring visitors to the downtown area.” Please see Festival, Page A8

Contributed photo

Pastor Eric Lindsey of North Bend First Presbyterian Church regularly hands out Kids’ HOPE bags, which are filled with products to promote hygiene as well as activity items for children. The bags were made funded by grants from Wild Rivers Coast Alliance and The Ford Family Foundation, among many private and local contributors.

Kids’ HOPE Center offers activity bags The World COOS BAY — The Kids’ HOPE Center has been finding creative ways to engage with the community in the midst of COVID-19. One of those ways has been to provide the community with hygiene/activity bags to local organizations affiliated with children. Since March, the Kids’ HOPE Center has donated over 3,000 of the bags to schools, school districts, youth groups, churches, restaurants and other organizations and individuals to give away to students or children who could use the supplies. The items for the bags have been purchased using grant money the Kids’ HOPE Center graciously received from Wild Rivers Coast Alliance, The Ford Family Foundation and many private and local contributors. Included in each bag is an array of items for kids, such as toothpaste and toothbrushes, bars of soap, bubbles, activity books, crayons, snacks,

toys, juice, chalk, and candy. Pastor Eric Lindsey of First Presbyterian Church in North Bend has been receiving the bags since the Kids’ HOPE Center starting giving them out. He hands the bags out to children who come with their parents to the church’s food pantry, which has been operating locally for over 40 years. “The need for the kids in this area to have the kind of resources that allow them to be kids is something that we have seen as a huge benefit from these bags,” Lindsey said. “A majority of our clients that come through typically have two to four kids and the ability for us to give them more than just food, but to also give them something that is specifically for the kids is a gift of sorts, almost like a Christmas gift. Lindsey noted that many of the children of parents who come to the pantry don’t have the same access to food, so while the food is the gift for the parents, the hygiene/activity bags for the kids is “an extra gift that gives the kids

something to feel special about and it makes them feel important and valued — something they may not see or hear because they are worried about food.” The Kids’ HOPE Center plans to continue to disperse the bags throughout Coos County through the end of the summer. The bag donations were a way staff at the Center felt they could continue to contribute to the community in a positive way due to the cancellation of most of the Kids’ HOPE Center’s planned annual activities, such as Pinwheel Planting and Family Fun Day. “Taking on this project has been very gratifying,” said Sarah Bright, education coordinator at the Kids’ HOPE Center. “I know that parents are stuggling to pay bills and put food on the table, so we hope that being able to supply them with hygiene products, activities and snacks for their children provides a little bit of relief for them. We don’t get to stay around and see most of these handed out, but I can imagine

Photo gallery: Message to 2020 graduates Photo gallery: Black Lives Matter demonstration

the joy on the kid’s faces when they get a bag of their own to see what’s inside.” Those who know a school, organization or community group that could use hygiene/activity bags for childiren are asked to contact Bright by phone at 541-269-4196 to inquire about receiving the donated bags. Questions or additional information about the program can be directed to Bay Area Hospital Communications Coordinator Olivia Alley at 541-267- 1991. Kids’ HOPE Center The Kids’ HOPE Center supports families and child abuse victims through an all-inclusive program that includes the investigation of abuse allegations from communities throughout Coos County and beyond. Following the “medical model” of abuse investigations, the Kids’ HOPE Center focuses primarily on meeting the whole-health physical and emotional needs of victims.

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Special session wraps up

SALEM (AP) — The Oregon Legislature wrapped up what the Senate president called “an impossible and historic session” Friday after passing a slew of bills, most dealing with police accountability and the coronavirus pandemic. “I could not have imagined two months ago that we would be holding a special session in a closed building, with virtual meetings, social distancing, and face masks,” Senate President Peter Courtney said. “But here we are, 24 bills passed, more than 600 pieces of public testimony submitted, over 100 people gave virtual committee testimony, all in only three days.” Police reform bills that lawmakers passed include measures that limit the use of chokeholds, require officers to intervene if their colleague is being unjust or unethical and creating a statewide police discipline database. Another bill that now goes to Gov. Kate Brown prohibits law enforcement agencies from using tear gas for crowd control, except Please see Session, Page A8

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Summer Stove Service Sale! Model P43

Get your Stove Set for Winter! $10 OFF Pellet or Gas Heating Stove Yearly Service Calls schedeuled in July and August! Installation and Delivery Available. See store for details. CCB#49282.

Coos Bay

Coquille

(541)267-2137

(541)396-3161

Sale ends 03/31/2020. While supplies last.


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