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CLOUDY, RAIN 68 • 57 | TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 | theworldlink.com

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Hurricane likely to deluge Gulf Coast WAVELAND, Miss. (AP) — Hurricane Sally, a plodding storm with winds of 85 mph (137 kph), crept toward the northern Gulf Coast early Tuesday as forecasters warned of potentially deadly storm surges and flash floods with up to 2 feet (.61 meters) of rain and the possibility of tornadoes. Forecasters stressed “significant” uncertainty as to where the storm’s eye would make landfall. But they kept nudging the predicted track eastward, easing fears in New Orleans, which was once in Sally’s crosshairs. By early Tuesday, hurricane warnings stretched from the mouth of the Pearl River at the Louisiana-Mississippi line to Navarre, Florida, and forecasters said Sally should reach land near the Alabama-Mississippi state line by late Tuesday or early Wednesday. Stacy Stewart, a senior specialist with the National Hurricane Center, said Tuesday that

people should continue to take the storm seriously since “devastating” rainfall is expected in large areas. People could drown in the flooding, he said. “This is going to be historic flooding along with the historic rainfall,” Stewart said. “If people live near rivers, small streams and creeks, they need to evacuate and go somewhere else.” In Gulfport, Mississippi, twin hurricane warning flags popped in the wind Tuesday morning at a marina and the sea had risen enough to cover an area normally used for bonfires in the sand. Most boat slips at the marina were empty, and many businesses in town were closed, metal storm shutters or plywood covering the windows. Police in Pascagoula, Mississippi, tweeted video of rising seawater flowing across a coastal roadway. Another online video showed a few cars and SUVs stuck in a beachfront area on

Dauphin Island, Alabama, their tires sunk deep into wet sand. “Short and sweet: it is going to rain hard — we have a chance for flooding and tornadoes,” tweeted officials in Okaloosa County, Florida. The storm was moving at only 2 mph (4 kph) Tuesday morning, centered about 105 miles (169 kilometers) south-southeast of Biloxi, Mississippi, and 65 miles (105 kilometers) east of the mouth of the Mississippi River. Forecasters expect Sally to turn northward Tuesday afternoon, moving near the coast of southeastern Louisiana later in the day, and then travel slowly north-northeastward through Wednesday, remaining a Category 1 hurricane, with top winds of 85 mph (137 kph), until it comes ashore. After making landfall, Sally was forecast to cause flash floods and minor to moderate river flooding across inland portions of Mississippi, Alabama, northern

Georgia and the western Carolinas through the rest of the week. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis declared an emergency in the Panhandle’s westernmost counties, which were being pummeled by rain from Sally’s outer bands early Tuesday. The threat of heavy rain and storm surge was exacerbated by the storm’s slow movement. President Donald Trump issued emergency declarations for parts of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama on Monday, and tweeted that residents should listen to state and local leaders. Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey sought the presidential declaration after the National Weather Service in Mobile, Alabama, warned of the increasing likelihood of “dangerous and potentially historic flooding,” with waters rising as much as 9 feet (2.7 meters) above ground in parts of the Mobile metro area. Ivey urged residents Tuesday to

Blessing the Cranberry Harvest

Northwest Fires

Choking air isn’t easing up

Amy Moss Strong, Bandon Western World

Though the annual Bandon Cranberry Festival was canceled this year, the Blessing of the Cranberry Harvest was held at Friday Farms in Bandon on Saturday morning. From left, Court Chaperone Kenzie Basey, 2019 Cranberry Queen Allison Hennick, 2020 Cranberry Court Princesses Hannah Bristow, Kayla LaPlante and Elli Schulz, along with Ed Freitag (sitting in truck), The Rev. Robin Haruna from Unity of Bandon and Father Anthony Ahamefule of Holy Trinity Catholic Church. Cranberry juice is poured into the bogs as a symbolic gesture.

First beach cleanup events are Saturday to wear a mask whenever they can’t socially distance. “Please remember our ocean shores can be dangerous,” the organizer said. “Please do not climb on logs that have any water around them and never turn your back on the ocean. Keep dogs on a leash.

The World SOUTH COAST — Registration is now open for SOLVE’s annual Beach & Riverside Cleanup, happening from Saturday, Sept. 19 through Sunday, Oct. 4. This statewide volunteer event includes beach cleanups, inland cleanups and habitat restoration events, all of which keep Oregon’s watersheds clean and healthy. Since 1984, more than 140,000 Oregonians have participated in this statewide event, collecting over 900 tons of litter and debris. This longstanding Oregon tradition has seen renewed excitement each year, reflecting how important taking care of the environment is to Oregonians. The Beach & Riverside Cleanup, along with all SOLVE events, requires all volunteers and volunteer leaders to adhere to safety guidelines. These guidelines include wearing a face covering at the event, maintaining social distancing, and providing only sanitized tools, among other measures. Even with Safety Guidelines in place, SOLVE volunteers have still proven motivated to keep Oregon clean. To find a beach cleanup near

Sept. 19 events Horsfall Beach cleanup

Contributed Photo

A past SOLVE Oregon Beach Cleanup event. you or to sign up in advance (not required), visit solveoregon.org. “Help us protect marine life and maintain the beauty of our coast,” said SOLVE opportunity leader Jon Schmidt. “Be prepared by dressing for any weather and wearing sturdy shoes. You are encouraged to bring your own reusable bucket/bag, gloves and water bottle to help reduce plastic waste. If you happen to forget, SOLVE will provide bags and gloves.”

Volunteers are reminded not to forget to pick up the small stuff. The most commonly found items of trash found on Oregon beaches are tiny bits of plastic and cigarette butts, which can be harmful to shore birds and marine life. Bring an old colander to sift the sand for these items. This beach cleanup is family friendly and volunteers of all ages will find the event fun and rewarding. Volunteers are asked

stay vigilant and heed any emergency warnings. It all seemed a distant threat Monday afternoon in Waveland, Mississippi, as a shirtless, barefooted Trevor Claunch, of nearby Bay St. Louis, got in some last-minute beach time. But there were signs of trouble coming. Gulf waters had already crept over swaths of sandy shore and infiltrated bike paths and parking lots. “Without any rain, and it’s already all the way up — I honestly want to stick around and see where it goes,” said Claunch. But he wasn’t taking any chances. “We’re going to go inland,” he said. Sally achieved hurricane strength Monday and quickly intensified to a Category 2 storm with 100 mph (161 kph) winds. Its maximum sustained winds dwindled to a Category 1 by early Tuesday, and forecasters did not predict further strengthening.

Join SOLVE and the Strawberry Hill 4 Wheelers at the Horsfall Day Use OHV Staging Area from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19. Thank you to Central Coast Dispoal and Lane County for donating hauling and disposal services.

Sunset Bay Beach cleanup Join CoastWatch and SOLVE at Sunset Bay State Park from 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 19. Please stagger your arrival between 10-10:30 a.m. This event is part of the annual Beach & Riverside Cleanup and the International Coastal Cleanup, a worldwide effort to keep our beaches healthy and reduce the impacts to marine life. Please see Cleanup, Page 2

PORTLAND (AP) — Relief from putrid, dangerous air spewing from massive wildfires across the West won’t come until later in the week or beyond, scientists and forecasters say, and the hazy and gunk-filled skies might stick around for even longer. People in Oregon, Washington and parts of California were struggling under acrid yellowish-green smog — the worst, most unhealthy air on the planet according to some measurements. It seeped into homes and businesses, sneaked into cars through air conditioning vents and caused the closure of iconic locations such as Powell’s Books and the Oregon Zoo in Portland, the state’s biggest city. “I don’t think that we should be outside, but at the same time, we’ve been cooped up in the house already for months so it’s kind of hard to dictate what’s good and what’s bad. I mean, we shouldn’t be outside period,” said Issa Ubidia-Luckett, a Portland resident, who was grabbing lunch on Monday. Oregon’s Department of Environmental Quality extended an air quality alert to Thursday after it was to initially expire on Monday. The air was so thick that on Monday Alaska Airlines announced it was suspending service to Portland and Spokane, Washington, until Tuesday afternoon. Hazy, smoky skies fouled Washington state and experts said some parts of California might not see relief until next month. Zoe Flanagan, who has lived in Portland for 12 years, has barely left the house but braved the smog to walk her two dogs on Monday. On Sunday, Flanagan and her husband, in desperation, turned on the heater, which has a better filter than their air conditioning. “I can feel it in my chest and then I just feel hungover despite not drinking,” she said. “I felt really hungover all day Saturday. I just couldn’t get enough water, I had a headache.” Dylan Darling, a spokesman for the state’s department of Environmental Quality, said: “I grew up in Oregon and lived here a long time, and to see this much smoke for this long and wide spreading, really stands out in the state’s history.” Some areas of central California blanketed by smoke are not likely to see relief until October, said Dan Borsum, the incident meteorologist for a fire in Northern California. Please see Fires, Page 2

eEdition

Notifications

Fires

Sheriff’s Office urges signups

From Page 1

The World COOS COUNTY — The Coos County Sheriff’s Office advises people to sign up for Everbridge notifications in the event of an emergency. “We will notify via Everbridge if there is need for a large evacuation,” said Heather Sanborn, evidence-records technician with the Coos County Sheriff’s Office in reference to the North Bank fire on Tuesday afternoon, Sept. 8. “If there is an immediate danger, please keep up to date via your local news, do not call 911. Local emergency responders will try to keep everyone apprised. Please do not call 911 unless you have an emergency.” Anyone who is not currently signed up for the everbridge system can do so at this link: https:// member.everbridge.net/ index/892807736724057#/

Contributed Photo from Coos Bay Fire Department

Coos Bay Fire Department employees and volunteers pose for a photo following a clean up on Ocean Blvd. Saturday morning.

Coos Bay Fire Department cleans race route The World COOS BAY — The Coos Bay Fire Department cleaned up on Satruday. The department typically holds its clean-up of Ocean Blvd. in anticipation of the Prefontaine Memorial Run, held in conjunction with the Bay Area Fun Festival. Both events were canceled, though there is a COVID-style Prefontaine being held on Saturday,

Cleanup From Page 1

Bastendorf Beach cleanup Join SOLVE and Safer As One from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. for a beach cleanup at Bastendorf Beach Park. Check-in between 10-10:30 a.m. Debris that is removed from the beach will be collected by Washed Ashore to potentially be made into art to save the sea.

Bandon beach cleanup Join SOLVE and Shoreline Education for Awareness in taking care of Bandon area beaches for the Beach & Riverside Cleanup on Saturday, Sept. 19. Check-in at the

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Sept. 19. “Although the traditional Prefontaine Memorial run has been cancelled this year due to COVID-19, your Coos Bay Firefighters will still be out there picking up trash to make the city a more beautiful and welcoming place,” wrote on the City of Coos Bay’s official Facebook page. “Your firefighters strive to work hard for the citizens of Coos Bay not only

Bandon City Park’s gazebo between 10-11 a.m. Once checking in at the gazebo, the SOLVE beach captain will recommend the best beach area to clean. Thank you to the Washed Ashore Project for helping to re-purpose collected debris at this site.

da@usda.gov if you have questions. Hauling and disposal donated by the U.S. Forest Service.

Umpqua Dunes Beach cleanup

Oct. 3 events Oregon Dunes cleanup Join SOLVE at from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3, at Sparrow Park Road, 4.5 miles north of Reedsport off U.S. Highway 101. The 4 mile road down to Sparrow Park is rough and in one area has a large dip filled with water causing it to be hard to pass with a car. Trucks are recommended for this road. Contact christina.oje-

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when they are answering emergency calls, but also in making the city we all reside in a more beautiful place,” the post stated. “Coos Bay firefighters take extreme pride in their work both professionally and in the various volunteer activities that they partake in. The Coos Bay firefighters are proud of their community and are committed to providing excellent service to our citizens.”

Join SOLVE and its partners at the Umpqua Dunes from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3, at the Umpqua Beach parking lot No. 2. At Winchester Bay, take the turn-off on to Salmon Harbor Drive. Follow Salmon Harbor Drive and the SOLVE cleanup signs to Umpqua Beach No. 2 parking lot. Parking: Volunteers will not need to pay the day use fee. Please grab an envelope at the parking fee area, write “SOLVE Volunteer” in large letters on it, and place on the car dash. No need to place anything in the fee tube.

“It’s going to take a substantially strong weather pattern to move all the smoke,” Borsum told a fire briefing Sunday night. He said smoke from dozens of wildfires in the West and throughout California is pooling in the Central Valley, which already has some of California’s worst air quality even when wildfires are not burning. Joe Smith, advocacy director for Sacramento Loaves & Fishes, which attends to homeless people, said California’s capital city hasn’t seen consistent blue skies in weeks. People experiencing homelessness have grappled with an unrelenting onslaught of virus, searing heat and now, polluted air they can’t escape. “Some of the toughest folks you’ll ever meet are people who live outdoors, unhoused, but it is getting to them,” he said. “We’ve got COVID-19, followed by excessive heat wave, followed by smoke. What’s going to start falling out of the air next on these poor folks?” Twana James, who lives in a tent in Sacramento, coughed several times during a brief phone interview Monday, trying to clear her throat. She said her voice is not usually so hoarse. “We got hella ashes from the fires, everything is covered in ashes,” she said. “It’s hard to breathe.” In Oregon, places like the Oregon Convention Center in downtown Portland are being used as a smoke advisory shelter where people in need of healthy air quality can go. Darling said typically during wildfires in Oregon, such as those in 2017 that carried heavy smoke to the Willamette Valley and

Eugene area, people can escape to other areas of the state for clean air. “That’s what’s standing out — there just isn’t a place in Oregon right now to find fresh air,” Darling said. State officials say they are collecting data to see how these fires compare to those in the past and the effects, not only on people’s health but also the environment. Tyler Kranz, a meteorologist at Portland’s National Weather Service office, said for the smoke to disperse Oregon will need strong enough winds blowing from the ocean towards land — but there needs to be a “perfect balance” of wind so that it disperses smoke but doesn’t further ignite fires. “We need the winds to get the smoke out of here,” Kranz said. “We just don’t want them to be too strong, because then they could fan those flames and all of a sudden those fires are spreading again.” As she ate lunch at a popular burger place east of Portland, one of only a few places open, Ubidia-Luckett said the smoke reminded her of stories long-time Portland residents tell about the thick ash that fell on the city when Mount St. Helen’s erupted in nearby Washington state in 1980. There was so much ash that for weeks many residents wore masks and had to clear ash off their cars. After beginning the meal outside, Ubidia-Luckett and her 6-year-old son soon moved inside because the air was too much to take. The boy was with her because his first day of kindergarten was postponed Monday for the second time due to the hazardous air conditions. “That’s the hard part for little kids. They’re so cooped up so what do you do?” she asked. “Eventually, they want to go outside.”

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eEdition

LTOB presents ‘Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy’ The first two episodes will be posted Saturday night on YouTube The World NORTH BEND — The Liberty Theatre, home of Little Theatre on the Bay, along with Restaurant O are partnering to bring entertainment and a discounted three-course pre-theater meal for South Coast residents from the comfort of their own homes or with reservation at the bar at Restaurant O for LTOB’s fall shows. Head over to the The Liberty Theatre website

at www.thelibertytheatre. org for a link to LTOB’s YouTube channel for the five-part radio drama “Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” every Saturday at 7 p.m. starting on Saturday, Sept. 19, through Saturday, Oct. 7.

Schedule Sept. 19 at 7 p.m.: Episodes 1 and 2 Sept. 26 at 7 p.m.: Episode 3 Oct. 3 at 7 p.m.: Episoide 4 Oct. 10 at 7 p.m.: Episode 5 Oct. 17 at 7 p.m.: Episode 6

Menu from Restaurant O Let’s Get Started

French Onion Soup or Wild Caught Prawn Tempura with chili and tamarind sauce or Cajun Chicken New York Caesar Salad. Main Attraction Pappardelle Pasta Strips with gorgonzola cheese and zucchini, or Spiced Steamed Salmon with spring onion, soy sauce, ginger, bok choy and jasmine rice, or Spiced Crispy Pork Belly, with leek and pea mashed potatoes and five spice jus. Sweet Ending Tiramisu, or Duo of White and Dark Chocolate Mousse with fresh berries, or Strawberry Cheesecake Cost of the three-course pre-theatre meal is $35. The first 50 orders will re-

Oregon reports two new deaths The World PORTLAND — COVID-19 has claimed two more lives in Oregon, raising the state’s death toll to 511, the Oregon Health Authority reported Monday. Oregon Health Authority also reported 151 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 on Monday, bringing the state total to 29,484. The new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases reported Monday are in the following counties: Clackamas (18), Columbia (1), Coos (1), Deschutes (3), Douglas (3), Jackson (4), Jefferson (1), Klamath (1), Lane (19), Malheur (13), Marion (11), Morrow (2), Multnomah (27), Polk

(1), Umatilla (23), Union (1), Wasco (1), Washington (18), and Yamhill (3). Oregon’s 510th COVID-19 death is an 87-year-old man in Lane County who tested positive on Sept. 1 and died on Sept. 13, in his residence. He had underlying conditions. Oregon’s 511th COVID-19 death is a 92-year-old woman in Washington County who tested positive on Aug. 20. More details about her death are pending. She had underlying conditions. TESTING NOTE: Wildfires and hazardous air conditions have affected COVID-19 testing in Oregon. Over the past several days statewide testing numbers appear to have

dipped. This is a lagging data point as tests are often reported several days after specimen collection. However, due to widespread hazardous conditions, people seeking testing may have declined. OHA will continue to monitor the situation. The Oregon State Public Health Laboratory (OSPHL) is closed today Monday, Sept. 14, due to indoor air quality which is too hazardous to safely use appropriate air safety equipment including hoods. No specimens will be accepted or tested. Specimens already received at OSPHL are being held at appropriate temperatures pending testing. OSPHL will reopen as soon as air safety standards can be met.

North Bank Road fire at 70 percent containment level The World BANDON — The North Bank Road fire at mile marker 8 is still holding. The fire is 70% contained, according to an update from the Coos Forest Protective Association on Tuesday morning. The windy conditions Monday afternoon have not caused any further issues. Firefighters are still working on containment

lines and fire line hazards. The fire remains at 350 acres. North Bank Lane remains closed. CFPA officials will be looking today at whether they can reopen the road. “We will have a flight over the fire today to check the condition of the fire from above,” said a CFPA spokesperson. Weather is shifting to warm, gusty and breezy.

However, the firefighters are confident they will not have a problem with reaching containment of this fire, according to CFPA. “The containment is at 70% which is good news,” said CFPA. “We are more than halfway to complete containment. Our hope is to bring more good news later. Thank you for all you are doing for our firefighters out there especially for your support.”

Curry County seeks member for Tourism Promotions Committee from north county The World PORT ORFORD — The Curry County Board of Commissioners is seeking north county (as defined by the boundaries of the 2CJ (Port Orford Langlois School District) applicants for the Tourism Promotions Committee with a term expiring Dec. 31, 2023. According to John Jezuit, the position is open due to a resignation. He said that working in partnership with other government entities, the

committee prepares and presents to the board for approval, an annual report that contains details concerning the allocations, amounts, and uses of TLT (Transient Lodging Tax) funds during the prior year; an accounting of the committee’s expenditures of TLT funds for administration and overhead; and the unexpended balance of TLT funds in the possession of the committee. Members are individuals who represent a tourism-based business or a promotions based business.

Also, the committee shall not be comprised of more than three individuals from a similar business industry. For specific details of the Tourism Promotions Committee duties and responsibilities, and for residents of north county who would like to serve on the Tourism Promotions Committee, go to the county’s website at: http:// www.co.curry.or.us or call 541-247-3296 to obtain an application. Applications will be accepted until 5 p.m. on Sept. 17.

US tariffs on China ruled illegal by WTO GENEVA (AP) — The World Trade Organization said Tuesday that Trump administration tariffs on Chinese goods totaling more than $200 billion are illegal under the rules of the global trade body. The decision marks the first time the Geneva-based trade body has ruled against a series of tariffs that President Donald Trump’s government has imposed on a number of countries, allies and rivals alike. Trump has repeatedly criticized the WTO, which oversees international disputes on trade, for allegedly treating the U.S. unfairly. In its decision, the WTO ruled against the Trump

administration’s argument that China has engaged in practices harmful to U.S. interests, on issues including intellectual property theft, technology transfer and innovation. The ruling, in theory, would allow China to impose retaliatory tariffs on billions worth of U.S. goods - if the process is completed. But the U.S. government can appeal the decision announced by the WTO’s dispute settlement body, and the WTO’s appeals court is currently no longer functioning - largely because of Washington’s single-handed refusal to accept new members for it. The U.S. tariffs target two batches of Chinese

products. Duties of 10% were imposed on some $200 billion worth of goods in September 2018, and were jacked up to 25% eight months later. An additional 25% duties were imposed in June 2018 against Chinese goods worth about $34 billion in annual trade. The administration has justified the sanctions under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, a common tool used by the government to impose sanctions. The U.S. argued that China’s actions had amounted to “state-sanctioned theft” and “misappropriation” of U.S. technology, intellectual property and commercial secrets.

ceive a $10 discount (20% gratuity, post-discount) through the generosity of the event’s sponsors. Call 541-808-9300 or

email info@restauranto. us to place your order and schedule a pick-up time. Restaurant O will also air the show at the

restaurant with limited seating. Those planning to attend in person are asked to make reservations in advance.

Face Rock Creamery’s Vampire Slayer cheese featured by Burgerville The World On Sept. 18, Burgerville will celebrate National Cheeseburger Day. Traditionally, the popular hamburger restaurant celebrates National Cheeseburger Day by serving thousands of $1 Original Cheeseburgers to customers. “For our hardworking employees in the restaurants, it’s a fun, but hectic day,” said Burgerville spokesperson Hillary Barbour. “Last year we even went so far to recognize NCBD as a holiday and award holiday pay to employees working in the restaurants that day.” Given Burgerville’s vision to Make the Pacific Northwest the Healthiest Region on the Planet, and all of the changes this year in response to COVID-19, Burgerville wanted to do something different this year. “We are changing our approach to National Cheeseburger Day in a way that celebrates our food, honors our hardworking restaurant teams, and gives something back to people living in the Pacific Northwest,” Barbour said. Instead of selling as many $1 burgers as possible, Burgerville is shifting its focus to be about giving back to the communities that support the company. This year Burgerville is promoting its premium burger: The Vampire Slayer, featuring Face Rock Creamery’s super garlicky and delicious Vampire Slayer aged cheddar cheese. “We introduced Burgerville fans to Face Rock Creamery cheese last year with the No. 6 burger and talked about ‘the cheese that saved a town,’” Barbour said. When Face Rock reopened Bandon’s historic dairy in 2013, many

thought the town’s best days of cheesemaking had long gone. But the creamery has successfully revived cheesemaking and restored agricultural pride in the community. “We wanted to use National Cheeseburger Day to help give back to the community of Bandon,” Barbour said. There are 42 Burgerville locations in Southwest Washington and Northwest Oregon, as far south as Albany. This year, $1 of every Vampire Slayer Burger sold will be donated to Bandon Feeds the Hungry, an organization that distributes food and monetary aid equally to the community’s five nonprofit food assistance organizations. These groups serve Bandon and nearby residents: Families, students, seniors, and anyone who needs food assistance. “Burgerville’s goal is to sell 2,500 burgers on National Cheeseburger Day, and we are very excited that Face Rock Creamery will match out contribution amount up to $2,500. We hope all South Coast residents who have friends or family in the Portland/Vancouver areas will tell them to purchase a Vampire Slayer Burger on Sept. 18,” Barbour said. Click the link for more information about Burgerville (locations, local sourcing, seasonal specials, Burger Breaks). Vampire Slayer Burger general information: The Vampure Slayer Burger is featured at Burgerville from Sept. 1 to Oct. 31. It costs $5.99. In addition to featuring Face Rock Creamery’s Vampire Slayer cheddar, the garlicky wonder of a burger has a beef patty from Country Natural Beef, which is seasoned with garlic salt, garlic aioli, then topped with garlic roasted red onions and arugula.

DEAR ABBYBy Abigail Van Buren

Early lesson in social graces helps overcome initial shyness

DEAR ABBY: When I was a young adult, I had difficulty speaking with strangers. I recall, some years later, attending a party in honor of someone I truly admired. Most of the people there didn’t know each other. Someone had the bright idea for each of us to tell how we knew the honoree. We went around the circle describing our connection to the person. This not only kept the spotlight on the honoree, but it was a great icebreaker. I found myself interested in several of the folks there, and it gave me fodder to follow up with questions for them when we began to mingle. I learned a valuable lesson that night. Curiosity is wonderful, and as you have pointed out, people like to talk about themselves. Now when I’m in a room full of strangers, I find it easier to smile and ask, “How do you know Susie?” or, “What brings you to this event?” I am no longer shy about attending gatherings where I won’t know anyone. I actually like meeting new folks. Abby, thank you for your column and for offering your booklet that teaches people how to be more comfortable in social situations. I’m sure more than a few of your readers need it. -- MIXING AND MINGLING IN NAPA, CALIF. DEAR M AND M: You’re welcome. No one is born knowing how to be social. Social adeptness is a skill like any other. People don’t have to be brilliant or a laugh riot. Part of being social -- something you picked up on at that party -- is the importance of showing an interest in other people. A smile is an excellent icebreaker, and part of being charming is being a good listener. Of course, you should cultivate your own interests so you will have something to add to a conversation. My booklet “How To Be Popular” contains many useful tips for polishing social skills for

people of all ages -- how to approach others, what to say and what not to say. It can be ordered by sending your name and address, plus a check or money order for $8 (U.S. funds), to: Dear Abby Popularity Booklet, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, IL 61054-0447. Shipping and handling are included in the price. Good conversationalists prioritize what others have to say rather than feel pressured to fill the air with the sound of their own voices. And remember: Most people can focus on only one thing at a time. So forget about yourself and concentrate on the OTHER person. If you try it, you’ll find that it works like a charm. DEAR ABBY: Why does my boyfriend always expect me to help him with his home repairs when I don’t live there and don’t plan to for a long while? I live in my own house, and I don’t ask him to come help me fix a downed fence. How should I handle this situation? -FIXIN’ TO ARGUE IN TEXAS DEAR FIXIN’: Do not “argue.” If you prefer not to help your boyfriend with his home repairs, tell him you have other plans. (And if you don’t have any but don’t want to be conscripted, MAKE some.) ------------------------------Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at www. DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069. What teens need to know about sex, drugs, AIDS and getting along with peers and parents is in “What Every Teen Should Know.” Send your name and mailing address, plus check or money order for $8 (U.S. funds) to: Dear Abby, Teen Booklet, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, IL 61054-0447. (Shipping and handling are included in the price.)

eEdition FOUR-DAY FORECAST FOR NORTH BEND TONIGHT TUESDAY WEDNESDAY

Mostly cloudy, a shower or two

Cloudy with occasional rain

LOW: 57° 68° LOCAL ALMANAC

Yesterday Year to date Last year to date Normal year to date

Sunset tonight Sunrise tomorrow Moonrise tomorrow Moonset tomorrow

Full

Oct 1

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Florence Reedsport

58/67

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Astoria Burns Brookings Corvallis Eugene Klamath Falls La Grande Medford Newport Pendleton Portland Redmond Roseburg Salem The Dalles

56°

67°

7:28 p.m. 6:57 a.m. 4:27 a.m. 7:01 p.m.

TIDES Location

65/52 0.00 93/36 0.00 55/46 Trace 66/43 0.00 67/46 0.00 88/40 0.00 85/40 0.00 72/49 0.00 59/45 0.00 76/55 0.00 63/51 0.00 89/43 0.00 73/48 0.00 64/46 0.00 66/51 0.00

69/58/sh 88/41/pc 67/58/c 68/56/r 74/58/pc 79/42/pc 86/47/pc 82/58/pc 63/54/r 86/56/pc 67/61/r 87/48/pc 78/59/pc 70/58/r 80/59/pc

Bandon

High

11:44 a.m. 11:17 p.m. Charleston 11:49 a.m. 11:22 p.m. Coos Bay 1:15 p.m. --Florence 12:33 p.m. --Port Orford 11:33 a.m. 10:56 p.m. Reedsport 12:46 p.m. --Half Moon Bay 11:58 a.m. 11:31 p.m.

Rogue Valley Tonight Tue.

56°

82°

52/78

74°

T-storms -10s

Beaver Marsh

Klamath Falls

39/79

56/82

Tuesday ft.

Low

6.2 7.3 6.7 7.9 6.4 --5.8 --6.3 7.7 6.4 --6.1 7.4

5:16 a.m. 5:23 p.m. 5:14 a.m. 5:21 p.m. 6:42 a.m. 6:49 p.m. 6:12 a.m. 6:19 p.m. 4:59 a.m. 4:59 p.m. 6:22 a.m. 6:29 p.m. 5:31 a.m. 5:32 p.m.

ft.

-0.6 1.8 -0.6 2.0 -0.5 1.7 -0.5 1.6 -0.5 2.3 -0.2 2.0 -0.5 1.9

62°

67°

High

Wednesday

12:20 p.m. --12:25 p.m. --12:48 a.m. 1:51 p.m. 12:06 a.m. 1:09 p.m. 12:07 p.m. 11:47 p.m. 12:27 a.m. 1:25 p.m. 12:34 p.m. ---

North Coast Tonight Tue.

58°

70°

-0s

Snow

10s

NATIONAL CITIES

53/81

Medford 56/81

Showers

Flurries

20s

30s

Ice

Cold Front

40s

National high: 111° at Death Valley, CA

43/77

Ashland

Rain

50s

60s

Warm Front 70s

80s

Stationary Front

90s

100s

110s

NATIONAL EXTREMES YESTERDAY (for the 48 contiguous states)

Chiloquin

Willamette Valley Portland Area Tonight Tue. Tonight Tue.

56°

Shown are tomorrow’s noon positions of weather systems and precipitation. Temperature bands are highs for the day.

46/76

Toketee Falls

Butte Falls

52/81

Grants Pass

46/78

Crescent

42/76

Gold Hill

53/85

Hi/Lo Prec. Hi/Lo/W

La Pine

56/81

60/83

Tue.

48/83

Canyonville

Powers

59/70

49/84

Sunriver

Oakridge

56/78

Port Orford

Oct 9

Bend

56/78

Roseburg

Coquille

59/68

49/84

57/76

56/76

59/73

Last

70°

50°

Sisters

Springfield

Oakland

57/68

Yesterday

59°

63°

54/82

58/74

Coos Bay / North Bend

57/67

Curry Co. Coast Tonight Tue.

55°

Cottage Grove

56/75

Bandon

REGIONAL FORECASTS South Coast Tonight Tue.

56/74

Drain

Elkton

OREGON CITIES

66° Halsey

Gold Beach Sep 17 Sep 23

Some sun with spotty showers

Eugene

Trace 28.02" 42.29" 38.03"

SUN AND MOON

Times of clouds and sun

56°

Yachats

54°/49° 65°/51° 90° in 1979 34° in 1970

PRECIPITATION

First

67°

FRIDAY

Shown is tomorrow’s weather. Temperatures are tonight’s lows and tomorrow’s highs.

57/66

High/low Normal high/low Record high Record low

New

Sun and areas of low clouds

57°

North Bend Sunday

TEMPERATURE

NATIONAL FORECAST THURSDAY

ft.

Low

6.6 --7.2 --7.6 6.9 6.8 6.2 6.8 7.8 7.7 6.9 6.6 ---

5:58 a.m. 6:10 p.m. 5:56 a.m. 6:08 p.m. 7:24 a.m. 7:36 p.m. 6:54 a.m. 7:06 p.m. 5:40 a.m. 5:47 p.m. 7:07 a.m. 7:20 p.m. 6:13 a.m. 6:20 p.m.

ft.

-0.8 1.1 -0.8 1.2 -0.7 1.0 -0.7 0.9 -0.7 1.6 -0.4 1.3 -0.7 1.2

Central Oregon Tonight Tue.

46°

87°

Tue.

Wed.

National low: 23° at Bodie State Park, CA

Tue.

Wed.

City

Hi/Lo/W

City

Hi/Lo/W

Albuquerque Anchorage Atlanta Atlantic City Austin Baltimore Billings Birmingham Boise Boston Buffalo Burlington, VT Caribou, ME Casper Charleston, SC Charleston, WV Charlotte, NC Cheyenne Chicago Cincinnati Cleveland Colorado Spgs Columbus, OH Concord, NH Dallas Dayton Daytona Beach Denver Des Moines Detroit El Paso Fairbanks

83/57/s 56/50/pc 80/67/t 70/59/s 90/72/t 72/53/s 86/53/pc 83/71/t 89/58/pc 63/52/s 69/57/s 65/51/s 61/41/s 87/46/pc 83/71/pc 81/58/s 80/61/c 86/50/s 78/60/s 78/60/s 72/54/s 84/56/s 76/55/s 68/41/s 86/71/pc 77/55/s 87/75/sh 89/54/s 82/60/s 72/52/s 86/64/s 63/44/c

87/56/s 58/50/c 72/67/sh 73/67/s 91/71/t 76/60/s 75/49/s 75/69/sh 91/60/pc 76/62/s 76/61/s 77/60/s 71/55/sh 82/47/s 81/72/sh 83/63/s 78/66/pc 82/51/s 83/62/s 80/66/pc 79/60/s 83/52/s 81/63/s 78/54/s 88/70/t 82/62/s 88/75/c 86/56/s 82/55/s 78/58/s 91/64/s 55/42/sh

Fargo Flagstaff Fresno Green Bay Hartford, CT Helena Honolulu Houston Indianapolis Kansas City Key West Las Vegas Lexington Little Rock Los Angeles Louisville Madison Memphis Miami Milwaukee Minneapolis Missoula Nashville New Orleans New York City Norfolk, VA Oklahoma City Olympia, WA Omaha Orlando Philadelphia Phoenix

82/51/pc 77/42/s 95/64/pc 78/63/pc 69/49/s 85/51/pc 90/74/s 94/76/c 77/58/s 79/59/s 89/83/pc 102/76/s 79/63/s 86/71/c 88/65/pc 82/67/s 77/60/s 87/73/sh 90/78/pc 77/61/s 83/62/s 82/50/pc 84/68/t 81/75/r 70/56/s 75/66/pc 81/62/pc 72/57/sh 83/61/s 89/74/pc 72/53/s 104/80/s

62/38/pc 81/42/s 92/64/pc 79/47/pc 77/58/s 82/49/s 90/76/s 95/75/pc 80/63/s 82/60/pc 89/82/pc 102/76/pc 81/65/s 86/70/t 89/65/pc 84/69/pc 78/51/s 82/70/sh 89/78/pc 80/58/s 73/47/pc 85/48/pc 80/68/pc 86/75/r 75/63/s 79/69/pc 84/62/t 75/55/c 84/57/s 90/75/sh 76/61/s 107/79/s

Tue.

Wed.

City

Hi/Lo/W

Pittsburgh Pocatello Portland, ME Providence Raleigh Rapid City Redding Reno Richmond, VA Sacramento St. Louis Salt Lake City San Angelo San Diego San Francisco San Jose Santa Fe Seattle Sioux Falls Spokane Springfield, IL Springfield, MA Syracuse Tampa Toledo Trenton Tucson Tulsa Washington, DC W. Palm Beach Wichita Wilmington, DE

73/52/s 88/49/s 65/50/s 69/51/s 77/60/s 90/50/s 94/56/pc 91/54/pc 76/57/s 89/60/pc 81/63/s 91/64/pc 84/62/pc 83/67/s 73/61/pc 77/60/pc 82/48/s 73/61/r 87/59/s 78/57/pc 79/55/s 68/45/s 69/50/s 88/76/t 75/50/s 70/52/s 97/69/s 83/65/pc 73/59/s 89/77/pc 80/60/s 71/54/s

81/61/s 89/48/s 75/59/s 74/62/s 79/65/s 75/47/s 92/57/pc 90/54/pc 80/63/s 88/62/pc 84/67/pc 92/65/pc 88/60/t 82/67/s 74/62/c 80/62/pc 84/47/s 73/61/pc 78/49/pc 83/57/pc 81/58/pc 76/57/s 80/61/s 89/77/t 81/58/s 75/59/s 101/71/s 85/66/t 78/64/s 89/77/pc 86/61/pc 76/60/s

Weather (W): s-sunny, pc-partly cloudy, c-cloudy, sh-showers, t-thunderstorms, r-rain, sf-snow flurries, sn-snow, i-ice, Prec.-precipitation.

Easing Western wildfires not as simple as climate change vs. forest management SALEM (AP) — Deadly West Coast wildfires are dividing President Donald Trump and the states’ Democratic leaders over how to prevent blazes from becoming more frequent and destructive, but scientists and others on the front lines say it’s not as simple as blaming either climate change or the way land is managed. The governors of California, Oregon and Washington have all said global warming is priming forests for wildfires as they become hotter and drier. But during a visit Monday to California, Trump pointed to how states manage forests and said, “It will start getting cooler, just you watch.” Scientists say wildfires are all but inevitable, and the main drivers are plants and trees drying out due to climate change and more people living closer to areas that burn. And while forest thinning and controlled burns are solutions, they have proven challenging to implement on the scale needed to combat those threats. As crews battled wildfires that have killed at least 36 people, destroyed neighborhoods and enveloped the West Coast in

smoke, Trump contended that the states are to blame for failing to rake leaves and clear dead timber from forest floors. However, many of the California blazes have roared through coastal chaparral and grasslands, not forest, and some of the largest are burning on federal land. In Oregon, it was the forests that burned at unprecedented levels this past week. Almost the same number of “megafires” — defined as having scorched 100,000 acres or more — were burning last week as have occurred during the entire last century, said Jim Gersbach, spokesman for the Oregon Department of Forestry. Oregon Gov. Kate Brown on Monday requested a Presidential Disaster Declaration, saying it would bring much needed resources to Oregon’s response and recovery efforts. Experts, environmentalists and loggers largely agree that thinning trees and brush through prescribed burns and careful logging will help prevent forests that cover vast tracts of the American West from threatening cities with fire. But whether that would have spared towns is less clear. Strong winds sent flames racing down

the western slopes of the Cascade Range into small towns like Detroit, Oregon, wiping them out. “In a wind-driven event at 30 miles an hour, where you’ve got embers flying far ahead of the actual flame fronts and flame lengths being much greater than normal, is thinning going to really be enough to stop a home from burning in an inferno like that?” Gersbach said. Millions of dollars are spent on tree thinning and brush clearing every year in Western states, though many argue more needs to be done. But scaling up the costly, labor-intensive work as more people move into mountains and forests has many challenges. Forest thinning helped save the town of Sisters, Oregon, from a wildfire in 2017. But out of 30 million forested acres statewide, prescribed burns have been used on only roughly a half-percent a year, Gersbach said. In Washington state, a prescribed burning program hasn’t yet begun on state lands, said Department of Natural Resources spokesman Thomas Kyle-Milward. The state helps manage deliberate fires on thousands of

acres of federal lands each year. Many places don’t have the capacity or the money to do the work, said John Bailey, an Oregon State University professor of tree growth and fire management. There are no longer enough mills to handle salvageable timber, whose proceeds can help offset the costs of forest thinning. “Sometimes I feel like we are making progress at increasing the pace and scale of resilience treatments, but largely, the same issues are at play, and progress has been slow,” Bailey said. “More folks are probably ‘on board’ to the ideas, but implementation is hard.” And as more people move into rural areas or build vacation cabins in the woods, prescribed burning is less of an option. “Where you have lots of people living on small acreages close together, and you’ve got houses and barns and sheds and corrals and fences, it’s very difficult to do a prescribed burn,” Gersbach said. “You’ve got a lot of things that, if that fire for some reason escapes, you’re almost immediately into someone else’s property.” West Coast governors have bluntly blamed climate change

GOP statement will be in voters’ pamphlet SALEM (AP) — A county judge has decided the Oregon Republican Party should be permitted to place its November election statement in the state voting guide although the secretary of state’s office says the party missed the deadline by seconds. Judge Channing Bennett on Monday ruled that Republican chairman Bill Currier completed his portion of the transaction in the minute before the 5 p.m. deadline on Aug. 25, Oregon Public Broadcasting reported. Bennett said that is more important than the time at which the state finished processing the filing. Secretary of State Bev Clar-

no announced after the ruling that the Republican Party’s statement would be included in the Voters’ Pamphlet. “I have asked my team to ensure the Oregon Republican Party’s statement is printed in the Voters’ Pamphlet for November’s General Election,” Clarno said. “At the same time, I still believe 5 p.m. is 5 p.m. and we will appeal the ruling to ensure there is a bright line for filing requirements going forward. I and our Elections Division remain deeply committed to administering all of our election processes in an open, transparent, and nonpartisan manner.” Bennett said The Oregon

Voters’ Pamphlet, which includes statements from candidates and information on ballot measures, must go to print Friday to get to voters on time. The judge said that the time it takes to process an electronic filing is arbitrary and doesn’t provide the certainty called for in law. He said state law sees the policy statements of a major party as “necessary to a free and informed electorate” and that this outweighs ambiguities in the election deadline. The state Democratic Party and six minor parties submitted their statements without any hitches. But Currier said

NW Natural 46.37 46.44 Skywest 34.58 34.63 Starbucks 86.63 88.16 Umpqua Hldgs 11.43 11.36 Weyerhaeuser 28.96 28.80 Xerox 19.24 19.30

Coos Bay, North Bend lift power tools bans Bans on the use of power tools in Coos Bay and North Bend were lifted Monday, according to a press release from the Coos Bay Fire Department. The bans were put in place last week amid historic fire danger, but the increased humidity in the area and forecast for afternoon precipitation led to the decision to lift the bans, the release said. Fog and possible rain are forecast through the week, according to the National Weather Service. High temperatures for the week are forecast in the low 60’s. A ban on open burning, such as campfires and burn barrels, is still in effect in both cities, as well as throughout the Coos Forest Protective Association district.

NORTHWEST STOCKS LOTTERY

NORTHWEST NORTHWESTSTOCKS STOCKS Closing and 8:30 a.m. quotes: Stock Close Open Intel 49.41 50.50 Kroger 32.83 33.16 Microsoft 205.59 208.24 Nike 119.32 119.85

he had problems filing earlier in the day and did not log into the state’s online reporting system until 4:52 p.m. Salem attorney Kevin Mannix, who represented the party at the hearing, argued the deadline was unclear because it only referred to “5 p.m.” He said that could mean 5 p.m. sharp or up to one second before 5:01 p.m. Brian Simmonds Marshall, an assistant attorney general, said the state has the right to interpret its rules and that the law says “not later than 5 p.m.” He noted that a Wisconsin case concluded that a 5 p.m. deadline means that exact second.

and accused the Trump administration of downplaying the threat. California Gov. Gavin Newsom was tempered Monday in his meeting with Trump, saying: “We come from a perspective, humbly, where we submit the science is in — and observed evidence is self-evident — that climate change is real and that is exacerbating this.” He also pointed out that 57% of forest land in California is controlled by the federal government. Just Friday, Newsom called out the “ideological BS” of those who deny the danger of climate change. In southern Oregon to Northern California, warnings of low moisture and strong winds — conditions that can drive the flames — are in effect through Tuesday. Tens of thousands of people have fled their homes as the fast-moving flames turned neighborhoods to nothing but charred rubble and burned-out cars. At least 10 people have been killed in Oregon. Officials more than 20 people are still missing, and the number of fatalities is likely to rise as authorities search. In California, 24 people have died, and one person was killed in Washington state.

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Blazers’ CJ McCollum releases his first wine PORTLAND (AP) — Always a wine connoisseur, CJ McCollum is now a wine maker, too. The Portland Trail Blazers guard has a signature wine coming out Tuesday, and apropos of Oregon, it’s a pinot noir. McCollum Heritage 91 is the result of a partnership with Adelsheim Vineyard. “We’re in a bit of a jam because it’s a limited quantity, and demand is very high,” McCollum said. McCollum readied for the launch while recuperating from Portland’s 51-day odyssey in the NBA bubble in Florida. The Blazers overperformed in the seeding games, going 6-2 and making the playoffs as the No. 8 seed. It was Portland’s seventh

straight trip to the playoffs, but it ended in five games in the first round against the top-seeded Los Angeles Lakers. McCollum played the tournament with a fractured vertebra in his back. The 10th pick out of Lehigh in the 2013 draft, McCollum has averaged 18.5 points, 3.3 rebounds and 3.1 assists over his career in Portland. This strange season he averaged 22.2 points, 4.2 rebounds and 4.4 assists as half of Portland’s dynamic backcourt with All-Star Damian Lillard. When Lillard celebrated a birthday in the bubble, McCollum contributed the wine. In fact, McCollum’s room at Walt Disney World became something of a wine cellar with more than 80 bottles.

“I brought him a bottle and I brought myself like a case of McCollum Heritage 91 and I brought a bunch of other Oregon wines,” McCollum said. “He only wanted to drink my stuff.” McCollum is by no means alone in the NBA when it comes to wine. Stephen Curry’s wife, Ayesha, and sister Sydel have a cabernet sauvignon and a sauvignon blanc under their label, Domaine Curry. Former player Dwyane Wade has Wade Cellars in Napa Valley, which produces, among other wines, a rose. Yao Ming’s Yao Family Wines released its first bottles in 2011. Trail Blazer Carmelo Anthony has a YouTube show called

“What’s In Your Glass” where he discusses wine and more with fellow athletes and other celebrities. McCollum’s wine was two years in the making. “It started with me sitting down and kind of figuring out what I wanted to get out of the process, from the educational standpoint, from a wine standpoint, from a taste preference standpoint. What is my ideal situation? We went over examples of ideas on how I could learn, how often I could be on the vineyard, how I could be involved in the process,” he said. McCollum’s preference was for wine from volcanic soil. He worked with Adelsheim wine maker Gina Hennen to find the

right combination of grapes, from three different vineyards. His first bottle is from grapes harvested in 2018. But there’s more to come. For McCollum, this is more than just a money-making venture (his wine retails for $50 a bottle). He really loves wine. Since arriving in Oregon, he has become a member at several local vineyards. “Right before I left to go to the bubble, actually I went to Adelsheim and to check things out, to visit. And I was fortunate enough to taste the ’19 version, but it’s still young and not ready,” he said. “It was fun to walk down and see the barrel’s label, it had my initials on it and the year.”

Defense, Big Ben carry Steelers to victory EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — There was one overriding reason Ben Roethlisberger worked so hard to return from a major elbow injury. His team. Roethlisberger, who missed the final 14 games last season after elbow surgery, threw for three scores and the Pittsburgh Steelers beat the New York Giants 26-16 at an empty and eerie MetLife Stadium on Monday night. He also got all the help he could ask for from his defense and backup running back Bennie Snell. “I am excited we won the game,” Roethlisberger said. “I told the guys before the game it is not about me individually. The reason I came back is for these guys, this team. It’s a special group of football players, of men, and I am just glad to be a part of it.” A key part of it, along with several defensive plays and Snell’s 113 yards on 19 carries — his first 100-yard performance in his second NFL season. “We have talked openly about the maturation process and things you can expect from a second-year player,” coach Mike Tomlin said, “and he’s showed signs of that from the very beginning of this process. He is a quality player and one that is maturing and emerging, and one who answered the bell when called upon.” The defense, while not quite on the level of the famed Steel Curtain, was stingy and physical. It held Saquon Barkley to 6 yards on 15 carries, swarming in the backfield nearly all night. “I have to be better,” Barkley

Titans beat Broncos on late field goal DENVER (AP) — A day after Tom Brady’s dud of a debut for Tampa Bay, Stephen Gostkowski failed to put all that Patriots pedigree to work in his first game with the Tennessee Titans. Until the very end. Unlike Brady, who lost his first game in a uniform other than New England’s, Gostkowski prevailed Monday night when he nailed a 25yard field goal with 17 seconds left, sending the Titans past the Denver Broncos 16-14 after he missed four kicks for the first time in his career. “I really wanted to come out and make a strong first impression,” Gostkowski said. “I did the exact opposite.” Gostkowski missed a kick in each quarter, including a blocked field goal and an errant extra point. It didn’t matter in the end. “We’re happy to get a win,” Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill said. “Any win in the NFL is a good win. I’ll take it. They don’t put any asterisks on it in the win column.” Titans coach and ex-teammate Mike Vrabel said he had no qualms about sending Gostkowski out for another try, “Nope, and they did, obviously, because they weren’t using their timeouts and they were banking on him missing,” Vrabel said. “We’ve all got to do our job. And again, it’s not on just one player. We’ll get this stuff fixed. We’ve got a lot of faith in our players. Excited to get out of here with a win. This is a tough place to play.” Gostkowski missed every way you can think of: wide left, wide right, a block and a shanked extra point that loomed large until he atoned for his awful night in the final seconds. “You can’t expect him to miss them all,” said Broncos defensive lineman Jurrell Casey, who was traded from Tennessee in the offseason. Gostkowski never missed three field goals in said. “I have to be better for the team. We have to get the running game going.”

a game during his 14 seasons in New England, where he won three Super Bowl rings, made four Pro Bowls and left this offseason as the Patriots’ all-time leading scorer. On Thursday he joined the Titans, who had the worst field goal unit in the NFL last year when their first four kickers combined to connect on only 44.4% of field goals (8 for 18). The last Titans/Oilers kicker to miss three field goals and an extra point in a game was Skip Butler against the Jets in the 1977 season opener. Gostkowski appreciated the support. “I just got here and come out here and play like that? For the guys to still support me and still have my back was pretty good,” Gostkowski said. “That’s the cool thing about team sports — you win and lose as a team. A position like mine, everybody sees when you screw up. “That’s why I was grateful for the opportunity at the end, because the guys deserved the win. We’re all pros here. We’ve all had our days. But the kicking position, you miss a couple of kicks, the camera follows you around, they talk about you the whole time, they watch you. It can get to a lonely spot. But you have to keep your head high and keep on going.” Gostkowski, who had made 87.4% of his kicks coming into the game, a percentage that ranked fifth-best in NFL history, missed a 47-yarder in the first quarter and Shelby Harris blocked his 43-yarder just before halftime. Gostkowski’s 42-yarder in the third quarter was wide left and he missed the PAT following Tennessee’s go-ahead touchdown on Jonnu Smith’s catch from Ryan Tannehill on fourth-and-1 with 13:49 remaining. Denver replied with a 75-yard drive, with Melvin Gordon taking it in from a yard out, and Brandon McManus’ extra point put the Broncos up 14-13 with 9 minutes left.

Three Steelers stars got them their first touchdown. All-Pro linebacker T.J. Watt made a

Stars reach Stanley Cup finals Associated Press The Dallas Stars were mired in a six-game losing streak when the season was paused for 4 1/2 months because of the coronavirus pandemic, and have been outscored and outshot since getting inside the NHL bubble. Yet now they are one of only three teams still playing, already set for their first Stanley Cup Final since 2000. “We’re finding ways to win right now, and that’s all that matters,” captain Jamie Benn said. With their captain and two rookies scoring goals in another comeback, the Stars wrapped up the best-of-seven Western Conference Final in five games with a 3-2 overtime victory against the top-seeded Vegas Golden Knights. “We’re not going home!” goaltender Anton Khudobin screamed after his 34-save performance in the clincher. From their miserable 1-7-1 start to the season way back in October, to an unexpected coaching change for off-ice issues in December after they were back on the winning track, and then that 0-4-2 span into mid-March, these Stars still have a chance to win their second Stanley Cup championship.

Tampa Bay took a 3-1 series lead over the New York Islanders into Game 5 of the Eastern Conference final on Tuesday night, also in Edmonton. Dallas trailed 2-0 in the opening seconds of the third period Monday night, and finally got on the board with Benn’s goal midway through the period. Joel Kiviranta, whose OT goal in Game 7 of the second-round clincher over Colorado capped his hat trick, then tied the game with 3:47 left. Denis Gurianov scored the game-winner on a one-timer during a power play 3:36 into overtime. “We’ve done this all year. We’ve come back from behind all year,” interim coach Rick Bowness said. “Down 2-0, there was no panic. We just were a very confident group that we could respond to the challenge.” The finale against the Golden Knights marked the fifth time this postseason Dallas came back to win when trailing after the first period — and the third time to win when trailing after two periods. The Stars have also won six games after giving up the first goal, two short of the franchise record set by their 1999 Stanley Cup-winning team. They are 5-0 in overtime,

and 10-1 in one-goal games. The Stars finished the Western Conference Final with 118 shots on goal — 48 fewer than Vegas had in the five games. In their 21 postseason games overall, they have been outscored 64-62, making them the first team to enter the Stanley Cup Final with a negative goal differential in the postseason since the 1968 St. Louis Blues. “We’re a confident group,” Tyler Seguin said. “There’s no panic, there’s composure. There’s just knowing that we’re going to get the job done, and it starts one shift at a time, and we have key goals at big moments, and everything’s falling in our favor right now. We’ve just have to keep going.” The 65-year-old Bowness, who joined the Stars as an assistant coach before the 201819 season, became the interim head coach in December after second-year head coach Jim Montgomery was fired. Montgomery, who took the Stars to the second round of the playoffs and a double-overtime Game 7 loss to eventual Stanley Cup champion St. Louis in his only full season, later entered alcohol rehabilitation.

clever interception at the New York 36. Roethlisberger beat a blitz with a perfect throw

to JuJu Smith-Schuster for a 10-yard second-quarter score. Chris Boswell’s extra point hit the upright, leaving them behind 10-9. They got the lead with 7 seconds remaining in the half as Roethlisberger connected with James Washington, who dived into the end zone for a 13-yard score. Boswell made the PAT this time, and added a 36-yard field goal early in the final quarter. That came following the night’s biggest play. Even though the Pittsburgh defense broke down as the Giants marched 87 yards on 19 plays in the third quarter, it still came up with a huge stop. Bud Dupree pressured quarterback Daniel Jones as he rolled left from the 4 and deflected his pass. Edge rusher Cam Heyward practically made a fair catch in the end zone for the interception. “I want to make a play for my team. I saw Bud laying him down,” Heyward said. “I tried to make a good play and float to the ball. “We got to be an opportunistic defense. We got sacks by guys who don’t usually get sacks and interceptions by guys who don’t usually get interceptions.” Roethlisberger then took Pittsburgh 62 yards for the field goal and a 19-10 lead. He hit Smith-Schuster again for a 10-yard touchdown and a 26-10 lead before New York got a late TD. Roethlisberger finished 21 of 32 for 229 yards has now thrown for 366 touchdowns, a franchise record, tying Eli Manning for the eighth most in NFL history.

Man charged in Masters scheme AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) — A Georgia man was sentenced Monday to more than two years in federal prison after pleading guilty to a scheme that used stolen identities to obtain tickets to the Masters golf tournament. Federal prosecutors say Stephen Michael Freeman, 42, of Athens, and three family members in Texas sold those tickets for a profit. U.S. District Court Judge Randall Hall in the tournament’s hometown of Augusta sentenced Freeman to 28 months in prison. More than a year had passed since Freeman pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail fraud. His parents and a sister also entered guilty pleas last year and were sentenced to three years on probation. As part of their plea deals, the family members agreed to pay a total of nearly $275,500 in restitution. A news release from U.S. Attorney Bobby Christine’s office did not say how many tickets the family obtained or how much they profited from them. Federal prosecutors said the family used stolen IDs from 2013 through 2017 to cheat the lottery system that distributes tournament tickets and to circumvent Augusta National Golf Club’s rules allowing people to apply only once to enter its ticket lottery. The family purchased bulk mailing lists to obtain names and addresses of people that were used to create fake accounts for Augusta National’s online ticket lottery, according to the court documents filed in April by federal prosecutors. Those accounts were submitted with email addresses controlled by Freeman and his relatives. The family would then ask Augusta National to change the addresses associated with the bogus accounts, using “false driver licenses, false utility bills and false credit card statements in the identity of the fake user accounts” sent by mail, the court documents said. That would ensure any tickets won through the lottery would be mailed to addresses where Freeman and his relatives would receive them, prosecutors said.