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Chief receives plaudits at retirement ceremony Wyden and Hoyle visit for annual Town Hall By Nate Schwartz World Editor
In a packed city council chambers at North Bend City Hall on the morning of May 19, North Bend Police Department (NBPD) Chief Cal Mitts and his family received their flowers (in a literal and figurative sense). Mitts retired from the NBPD after five years with the department closing what was described as a “chapter that was never supposed to be written.” This would mark the second time that Mitts would retire from a local police force. Following a fractious period for the NBPD which led to the resignation of Chief Robert Kappelman and Captain Curt Bennett in October of 2021, City Administrator David Milliron reached out to Mitts and Gary McCullough for help as interim Captain and Chief respectively. Both had previously served as leadership with the Coos Bay Police Department. The pair, after some apprehension, accepted the offer with McCullough serving 18 months as interim chief of the department. In April, 2023, Mitts took over the role in what has become a succession plan that continued with the appointment of Ed Perry on Tuesday. An actionable succession plan is not the only thing that Mitts brought to the apartment. He received an exceedingly complimentary send-off from Milliron, McCullough, Former Coos Bay Police Chief and City Manager Roger Craddock, and former District Attorney Paul Frasier. All mentioned the expansion, enrichment, and experience he brought to the department and the exceptional leader he is. “When Cal Mitts came to North Bend, he brought more than experience. He brought calm, credibility and a clear sense of purpose,” Milliron said. “He helped take a department that was in a defining moment and turn it into one that is fully staffed, technologically advanced, professionally respected and better prepared for the future. He leaves this city in a far better place than he found it, and that is the mark of exceptional leadership.” Under his leadership, the NBPD modernized their operations, brought back the K-9 drug detection program, and expand-
By Nate Schwartz World Editor
World photo by Nate Schwartz
Now retired Police Chief Cal Mitts congratulates new Chief Ed Perry after Perry was sworn in.
ed community policing roles through a Community Services Officer and Community Resource Officer. The department, which is now fully staffed for the first time in ten years, was able to eliminate mandatory overtime, streamline incident reporting, and bring the force up to date with a full remit of new equipment, vehicles, and technology. Mitts was nicknamed “The Accelerator” during his stint as director of the South Coast Interagency Narcotics Team (SCINT), which he said was due to the fact that he “doesn’t like complacency.” “My time at the department has been very rewarding,” Mitts told the World. “It’s exceeded any expectations I had coming in… Seeing the growth and leadership within the department, as well as in the city and administration, it is now and hopefully always will be one of the greatest police departments in the state.” Mitts was thanked for his service with a shadow box of his badge and commendations, as well as a knife engraved with his title, badge number, and service period. His wife Megan was recognized as well for the sacrifices
Dozens of Coos County’s politically engaged citizens and members of office were in attendance for Oregon Senator Ron Wyden and Representative Val Hoyle’s annual Town Hall on May 27, 2026. The North Bend Community Center was the venue for feedback on protections for federal workers and lands, the Pacific Coast Intermodal Port Project (PCIP), and campaign finance reform. The event began with an introduction from North Hoyle Bend Mayor Jessica Engelke, who introduced the two legislators. According to Wyden himself, this was the 1,167th town hall he’d conducted during his time in Washington. He and fellow Senator Jeff Merkley are two of the only policymakers in D.C. who make the point of holding a yearly town hall in each of their constituent counties. In opening statement’s Wyden spoke directly to the issue of campaign finance, stating that the biggest issue facing our Wyden political future is unchecked money in Washington. The Supreme Court decision on Citizens United, which allows corporations and outside spenders to pump unlimited amounts of money into campaigns under the guise of free speech, needs to be “thrown in the trash,” according to the Senator. The first of the crowd questions was quite pointed. With a young woman asking Val Hoyle about her voting record in regards to Israel’s ongoing campaign of destruction and settlement in Gaza and now Lebanon. Hoyle and Wyden both defended their positions. Hoyle stated that she’d only voted for funding packages that we’re couched in humanitarian aid for other embattled regions like Ukraine and Sudan. Wyden stated that the situation had been difficult for him, being raised Jewish, but disavowed actions taken by Banjamin Netanyahu and stated he would not be voting for any military aid for Israel in the future. Another notable point of discussion encompassed the challenges currently facing both federal lands and workers, which have both been in the crosshairs of the current administration. It has been announced that the Bureau of Land Management’s holdings will be up for sale and should be logged at an increased rate. At the same time, federal employees across multiple departments who are normally tasked with protecting those federal lands have been fired or placed under increasingly difficult working conditions. Both lawmakers pointed to the idea that those are coinciding tactics aimed at privatizing large swaths of the federal government, from forestry to the postal service. Hamstringing federal departments and limiting their abilities so that those inefficiencies can be used as reasoning for corporations to fill the gaps.
made throughout his service and gifted a large bouquet of flowers. His successor now-Chief Perry has a long history with the NBPD, which he joined as a reserve officer back in 2003. He made full patrol in 2011 and, upon being recognized as the new chief, has worked his way up the entire chain of command in the department. He received his Bachelors of Science in Criminal Justice Administration and Communication from Bushnell University, graduating with a 3.88 GPA. “Chief Perry is one of the most gifted and talented law enforcement officers I’ve ever worked with,” said Mitts on his successor. “What he brings to the table as far as his skills, leadership ability, and vision is truly remarkable. I have no worries, no hesitations, in his ability to bring this department even further from where it was when I got here.” Reed’s appointment represents and even wider full-circle moment for the department and city, as his great-grandfather, Oliver E. Reeve, served as the North Bend chief of police in 1939. “Ed Perry is the right leader at the right time,” Milliron said.
“He knows this department, he has earned the respect of his peers, and he understands both the responsibility and the opportunity that come with this moment. He inherits a stronger department because of Chief Mitts’ work, and I am confident he will build on that foundation with professionalism, humility and vision.” Perry told the World, “Chief Mitts is an amazing person, an amazing mentor. I couldn’t have asked for a better person to work with. Being the captain under him has been amazing. I think it’s a huge responsibility [to be chief]. I’m ready to see where we can go, and with the people we have I think we’re going to go great places.” As part of the aforementioned succession plan, Sergeant Jake Hult has been promoted to Captain, and Officer Jerad Jaehnig has been promoted to Sergeant. The goal being to develop a long line of department leaders that were trained in and represent the North Bend community. Mitts said in his retirement he is excited just to spend time with family and watch the further growth of the department from outside of the public eye.
Coquille’s Sawdust Theatre prepares to begin 59th season of melodrama By Nate Schwartz World Editor
Few community theaters have a vision and brand as consistent and specialized as Coquille’s summer mainstay, the Sawdust Theatre. Since their first show in 1967, the “Sawdusters” have brought a melodrama to the stage every year since Sgt. Pepper’s and the Summer of Love. The summer shows at Sawdust represent a tradition that encompasses thousands of the city’s residents and countless volunteer hours over the course of nearly 60 years. This year’s show reflects that history directly. “Calamity at the Coquelle Creamery” or “Udder Confusion” may follow some of the unique tropes of the melodrama genre of theater, but it does so through the hyper-local lens of a town’s cultural cornerstone. Just ask long-time Sawdusters and directors of this year’s show Nancy Wilson and Kendall Roberts. Wilson was in the last production of “Udder Confusion” back in 2001, after joining the theater in 1993. “We affectionately call it ‘The
There is a benefit show for the Coquille Rotary Club on Friday, June 5 ahead of opening night on Saturday June 6. Then, a show Ateevery Saturday night at 7 pm until Labor Day, with a few Sunday matinees sprinkled in.
Cow Play’,” laughed Wilson. “It is definitely old school villain with the top hat and the cape and the mustache. The heroine is not tied to the railroad tracks this year, but it’s a similar situation.” “She’s very innocent and pure, and virtuous,” explained Roberts, who’s called the theater home since her mother was a dancer there in the 80’s. This play features heroine Henrietta Holstein and hero Ferdinand Farnsworth who must protect the family farm from the wiles of evil villain Franklin
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Basher. It was written in the 80’s by Diana Amling, an inaugural member of the company, Gael Berhow and Cindy Robnett. Set in Coquille, as many of their shows are, locals are known to pick out people, places and events from the town’s history. While they’ve done a few melodramas from outside the company over the years, nearly every show is written by, of, and for the people of Coquille. “It’s an honor, it’s just awesome,” said Wilson, on what its like to do shows so reflective of
their community. “Last year’s play was based on real people, so people that had been around, people that are my age, remembered these characters. We always tie in the location names, so there’s always something somebody is going to recognize.” Another trademark touch for Sawdust shows is their interstitial olios, which are musical numbers and dances that populate the spaces between each scene. This year’s olios are directed by Stephanie Kreutzer and Chloe Stevenson. “The olios are in between the scenes and keep the audience engaged, keep them going,” said Kreutzer. “Singing and dancing a majority of the time. We do tap, the French can-can, jazz, some character numbers. We try to tie into whatever the play is about, and add a little bit of that in.” The olios lead a sing-along and introduce everyone to the unique show environment. Those who are used to a theatrical experience which separates the audience from the show are in
See Town Hall Continued on Page 11
SAWDUST Continued on Page 11
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