MIDWEEK EDITION
Tuesday March 10, 2020
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Brookings, Oregon
SERVING CURRY COUNTY SINCE 1946
Gov. declares coronavirus state of emergency Staff Report
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regon Gov. Kate Brown declared a state of emergency in Oregon to address the spread of the novel coronavirus after the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) identified seven new cases of COVID-19 in Oregon, bringing the total to 14. The governor authorized the state of emergency by verbal proclamation last night at 8:14 p.m., and confirmed the executive order in writing this morning.
"This news is concerning for all Oregonians, but my resolve and that of my administration to address this public health crisis is unchanged," Brown said. "This emergency declaration gives the Oregon Health Authority and the Office of Emergency Management all the resources at the state's disposal to stem the spread of this disease. We will do everything it takes, within our power and in coordination with federal and local officials, to keep Oregonians safe." Brown's emergency declaration
allows OHA to activate reserves of emergency volunteer health care professionals, bringing online auxiliary medical professionals to work with local health authorities to identify and contain new cases of COVID-19 in Oregon. The declaration additionally grants broad authority to the State Public Health Director, OHA, and the Office of Emergency Management, which will allow the agencies to take immediate action and devote all available state resources towards containing the
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Zola’s move remains on track
Directing dogs
New director takes Gold Beach shelter’s leash
By Brian Williams Pilot Editor
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By Linda Pinkham Staff Writer
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icole Farrell didn’t lose a minute making changes designed to increase adoptions as the new executive director at the Wild Rivers Animal Rescue and Shelter in Gold Beach. By the end of the new executive director’s first week, three dogs and five cats had new homes. That’s the same number of adoptions as occurred over the entire past month. Some of the animals had been at the shelter for years, waiting for the right home. “After I applied for the job, I came out here and saw the shelter and thought it needed some work to get into the twenty-first century,” Farrell said. “You have to wait and wait and wait to get an adopted animal out of here. It needs some work, but there’s a passionate community behind it with a lot of animal lovers, and it seems like a good place to be.” On day one, Feb. 24, Farrell started by updating the adoption policies at the shelter that were well-intentioned but created barriers for getting animals into new homes. The new philosophy at the shelter starts with a quote from the Million Cat Challenge: “Open adoptions address this reality by doing away with rigid policies and adoption applications and instead focus on conversations designed to help anyone walking into a shelter feel respected, and anyone walking out to be more educated, and hopefully, with a pet to love.” The adoption information form has been updated and is now less intimidating. The new form asks prospective adopters to agree with animal care and shelter philosophies and provide basic information about themselves, but does not go into voluminous detail about training, veterinarian’s name and phone number, landlord’s name and phone number, size of yard, whether it’s fenced, height of fence, fencing material, training ideology, how much time you can spend with a pet, and much more. “We’re going to have a conversation with them,” Ferrell said. “Instead of asking if they have a yard on paper, we’re going
coronavirus in Oregon. The state of emergency will remain in effect for 60 days, but can be extended until the public health threat of the coronavirus is contained. Oregon Association of Hospitals and Health Systems President and CEO Becky Hultberg said Oregon’s 62 acute care hospitals support the emergency declaration. “By declaring a state of
Delilah (left) and Daisy love their 'dog mom' Nicole Farrell’s new job at the Wild Rivers Animal Rescue in Gold Beach. Photo by Linda Pinkham. to say, ‘What kind of dog are you looking for?’ Well, this dog is super high energy. Do you have a yard for it to roam in or are you looking for an indoor dog? If you want an inside dog, we’ll say, ‘Let’s go look at this dog.’” Farrell described her own story of being denied when looking to adopt a companion for her remaining cat after she lost her disabled cat a month ago. She applied to six different rescues and was denied by all of them. “I am an animal shelter director, and you are up here telling me I cannot have an animal,” she said. One said no because she doesn’t vaccinate for feline leukemia, but her cats are vaccinated against rabies and all the other diseases. Another one said she didn’t make enough money per year to take care of a special needs cat. A third said because she already had a special needs cat, she didn’t
need another one. “If you don’t let the animal go, you are going to have to put it down eventually because you can’t keep it forever,” she told them. Eventually, a friend who runs an animal shelter connected her with a kitty in a wheelchair. Her background as a veterinary assistant and technician makes her more than capable of caring for the cat. Farrell was previously the shelter manager at a large, open-intake facility in Georgia. The changes at the shelter don’t stop at streamlining the adoption process. She took the big book of existing shelter policies off the shelf, and pointed out several changes: • Build up the volunteer program. Many of the volunteers have been with the More SHELTER on Page A2
hanges are in the works for Zola’s Pizzeria — a name change and a
move. The popular pizza place in the Port of Brookings Harbor, will become Zola’s on the Water and move a stone’s throw away into the former Sports Haven Marina Bar and Grill building. “We are excited,” said Eian Savas, Zola’s owner for the past 11 years. A special Port of Brookings Harbor commissioners meeting Friday afternoon kept the process moving for Savas. Work on the new building is currently underway and Savas is shooting for opening in the new location at the end of April. “We have a lot to do,” Savas told commissioners after receiving their approval to transfer fees to the new building, of the color scheme for the exterior of the building and to expand overall square footage by 20 feet. All three items received unanimous approval from the commissioners. Zola’s Pizzeria remains open at 16362 Lower Harbor Rd. at least until they move the last pieces from the restaurant, mainly the wood-fired oven over to the new spot at 16374 Lower Harbor Rd. After everything is moved out, the old building will be demolished. “The building is old and per the Port’s strategic plan that building is supposed to be demolished and made into more parking for the eventual construction of a third retail building which is also included in the Port's strategic plan,” stated Harbor Master Travis Webster. Bold colors have been a staple of Zola’s and that will continue at the new location based on the submissions to the commissioners. The added square footage will allow Zola’s to hide utilities from the public’s view and fix a drainage issue as well as level the uneven ground on the side of the building. The new building is nearly three times bigger than the current space. Savas said Zola’s currently employs roughly 20 people and will be doubling the staff when the new space opens. As for food, Savas said, of course, their popular pizzas will be on the menu and much more. He wasn’t ready to go public with a lot of details on the project just yet. Savas said working with the Port has been great. “The process has been fantastic,” Savas said. “I appreciate the support.”
Brookings-Harbor comes up short in third-place game By John Gunther Staff Writer
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uring his halftime talk in the Class 3A third-place game Saturday at Marshfield High School, Burns girls coach Brandon McMullen went through several key
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points. Among them were keeping track of Brookings-Harbor’s Sidney Alexander and spreading around the offense. The Hilanders did both those things and the result was a great second half as Burns pulled away for a 49-41 win over the Bruins. “It feels good,” said Burns star
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Allie Hueckman. The Hilanders played in the thirdplace game last year, but came up short. This time, trailing the Bruins 25-23 at the break, they turned it around. “I felt that we just came out more More BHHS on Page A6
Clatskanie's Olivia Sprague drives Friday against BrookingsHarbor's Sidney Alexander during a state 3A semifinal game at Marshfield High School. Clatskanie beat Brookings and will play for the state title against Sutherlin at 5:45 on Saturday at Marshfield. Photo by Ed Glazar.
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