North Bend Fire & Rescue installs a fire danger sign
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North Bend considering tiny homes By DAVID RUPKALVIS For The World
The city of North Bend is looking at the possibility of building tiny homes as a means of easing the need for more middle-income housing. During a council work session last week, City Administrator David Milliron told the council the city is
considering tiny homes to ease the housing crunch in the city. “Part of the huge initiative at the state level now is all about housing and homelessness,” said Miliron. “People are homeless because we have a housing issue and we have a housing issue because the market. We as a governing body declared specific properties as surplus
for the purpose of housing.” Milliron said North Bend has been working on housing and homelessness with Coos Bay and the county. He explained that when the visitor’s center moves downtown, the old location near Simpson Park is on the surplus list. The area has previously been discussed as housing, Milliron said. Milliron gave the city
council examples of four tiny homes. Each of the homes is 500 square feet, all with a single-car garage. Milliron said the homes could house a family of two with one or two children. “In looking at the visitor information center, when that is demolished, it gives us the opportunity to create a small home community with a courtyard,” Milliron said. “All
of them would have off-street parking because they all have garages. These homes would address your affordable housing issue in the city because each one of these would cost $7,000 to $9,000 to be built. They are actually quite affordable”. Milliron said the city is considering two areas right Please see TINY HOMES Page A2
Bend Spectacular marine inspired art from North to leave across the country now on display smoking rules By SARAH KELLY For Country Media, Inc.
The 29th Annual Maritime Art Exhibit has opened its doors at the Coos Art Museum The Coos Art Museum is once again holding their annual Maritime Art Exhibition. This year marks its 29th occurrence. The museum will be displaying a vast array of works from artists all over
the country. However, this juried show is not the only exhibit on display at the museum. Also up for viewing are the “Of the Sea” exhibit, featuring maritime artist Debbie Daniels, the “Reserve Inspiration” exhibit and the “Changing Tides: The Art of Environmental Stewardship” exhibit. The Maritime Exhibition is an annual juried art exhibit, funded by a generous grant from the oquille Tribal Community Fund. The Please see EXHIBIT Page A10
Photo by Sarah Kelly
Imaginative oil painting done by Myrtle Point artist, William Shelton. The piece is called, “Jack Frost Visits the Oregon Coast.”
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By DAVID RUPKALVIS For The World
The city of North Bend will not take stronger actions to limit smoking in city parks after the council discussed the issue last week. During a work session, the council discussed amending its park ordinance to further restrict smoking, but without police and other staff to actively enforce such rules, the council decided to make no changes. City Administrator David Milliron explained the city already has regulations against smoking near playgrounds in city parks. “Right now, we already have signange on all of our playgrouns at all of our parks regarding smoking,” Milliron said. He explained in researching Photo by Sarah Kelly the issue, city staff discussed Stephen Wright of Coos Bay’s metal piece titled “Vlad the Angler Fish.” it with Coos Bay. The city of Coos Bay does have an ordinance banning smoking in all its parks, but it is rarely enforced. “They’ve given out one ticket, because they deem it unenforceable,” Milliron said. “It’s on the honor system. If a law enforcement officer does not see it, it’s unenforceable. They cannot write a ticket. Staff is not going to go in and enforce it. That is not their job.” Milliron said Police Chief Cal Mitts said his department simply doesn’t have enough officers to enforce smoking regulations unless the cuuncil decided it was a priortiy. “When you have a city that has two or three officers on duty at any time, and they are Photo by Sarah Kelly prioritizing calls, the likelihood Stunning alcohol ink and acrylic piece done by Susanna Bemetz of Newport titled “Moonlight Whale.” they are going to divert due to a call of someone smoking at a city park, is very unlikely,” Milliron said. Milliron said city staff STAFF REPORT was growing north northeast. looked at the issue after a Country Media, Inc. Fire managers are conducting guest from Coos Health & reconnaissance for access Wellness brought it up to the points where firefighters council. After hearing from can build fireline safely. Milliron, the council members Fire retardant was used to agreed making any significant enhance a fireline on the changes was probably not the northwest side of the fire right move. Monday, July 17. Overnight “I don’t see the point of the fire was expected to spending money to make new continue to be active. signs,” Councilor Barbara Boice has sent the Schultz said. following letter to Oregon “I know the cops won’t Gov. Tina Kotek and the respond to someone smoking, Oregon Congressional but maybe another citizen The U.S. Forest Service delegation. might say, hey there’s no latest update showed the 8,000 acre Flat Fire, two miles southeast of Agnes, Please see WILDFIRE Page A9 Please see SMOKING Page A9
Rep. Boice urges wildfire protection action Oregon State Rep. Court Boice is sounding the alarm about the wildfire threat to local communities.
Rep. Boice speaking during a recent Oregon House session.
Courtesy photo
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