TUESDAY, JUNE 9, 2026 | theworldlink.com |
$2
|
Serving Oregon’s South Coast Since 1878
Public comment sought for Pacific Marten recovery plan By Nate Schwartz World Editor
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) has recently released a draft recovery plan for the Pacific Marten, and is seeking public input on the proposed efforts which aim to one day delist the marten from the federal threatened species list as part of the Endangered Species Act. This plan focuses on the coastal distinct population segment (DPS) which calls our area home. An emblematic species for our region, the marten is a cat-sized member of the weasel family. Researchers at the USFWS have identified seven distinct but isolated populations as a part of their range during a Species Status Assessment (SSA). An SSA is the foundational study through which most decisions around species protected by the department are informed. They contain the crucial scientific and commercial information about a species’ history, biology and necessary conditions needed to help recover their populations. The report’s lead authors are Tia Adams, Peter (Bjorn) Erickson, Jenny Hutchinson and Frank Weaver who represent the Klamath Falls, Sacramento, Arcata and Roseberg USFWS offices respectively. Recovery plans like this include a strategy, criteria and estimates of time and costs needed to achieve non-threatened status for a particular species. The Pacific Marten was designated as a threatened species in October of 2020, following a long decline in population due to fur trapping, habitat loss and fragmented populations. Reports are created through collaboration with local organizations, industries and tribes. “The Service works closely with tribes and industry partners
Coos County man sentenced to 98 months Staff Report
A Coos County man was sentenced to over eight years in federal prison, with a further five of supervised release, The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently released a draft recovery plan to de-list the marten from the federal threatened species list as part of the Endangered Species Act. after prosecutors proved he’d distributed over 15,000 photos to prioritize marten recovery ical range and show distribution occupied areas. and videos of child sexual abuse in a way that aligns with the below historical levels. They are In particular, the focus is on material (CSAM) online. ecological value and economic described as still having many recovering the female marten Ryan Scott Groce, 41, recontributions of forest habitats. ongoing threats. demographics, as studies show ceived the 98-month prison senThis recovery plan demonstrates “Ongoing threats from catthat female martens have a tence and additional supervised the Service’s commitment to astrophic wildfire, vegetation larger impact on the population’s release on Wednesday, June 3. A supporting wildlife management, manresiliency. The hope is that as judge will rule on any required and habitat while made barriers, and the population grows, so do the restitution at a later date. ensuring that Amerpredators continue to extent population areas (EPA). According to court docuica’s lands remain act upon the species. “As population sizes grow ments, Groce was incredibly open for responsible The population-level and expand in distribution, we active between Nov. 2023 and economic use and effects of disease anticipate that EPAs will morph, Nov. 2024, during which he outdoor recreation,” and rodenticides are with some overlapping, naturally distributed more than 15,000 stated official USFunknown; however, leading to a predicted increase in files through a file-sharing WS communications. evidence suggests genetic diversity, connectivity, software. Investigators found Currently the USthis species may and gene flow,” states the report. the software during a search FWS has defined the be detrimentally There is a rolling need for of his cell phone. The program marten’s range from impacted,” states the research when conducting a was actively file sharing, both Sonoma County, recovery plan. recovery plan like this, and the uploads and downloads, at the California to the Columbia River The main way that the USUSFWS admits that it needs the time. The phone also contained help of its various partners to in Oregon. In our region, they FWS plans to help recover the over 1,000 videos of CSAM. inhabit shore-pine forests in and population is by increasing the “Today’s sentence sends a around coastal dune habitats. resiliency of its known popuSee More Plan clear message: those who exThose seven extant populations lation areas and restoring the on page 9 ploit children will face signifiare all within the species’ historhabitat outside of those currently cant consequences,” said U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford. “Protecting children and pursuing justice for victims remain among the highest priorities of this office, and we will continue to use every available resource to combat child exploitation and abuse.” The investigation was led by Homeland Security, with prosecution led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffery Sweet. Groce was charged by information on Aug. 21, 2025 with one count of distribution of CSAM to which he pled guilty on Sept. 12, 2025. their experiAccording mented. The system provides “The volume of files disences with the to the city, direct alerts via text, phone call system, with replacement and email and can be activated tributed by Mr. Groce is staggering,” said HSI Seattle many speaking costs for the remotely without the need to acting Special Agent in Charge to audibility siren towers access a central control unit. April Miller. “The number issues. On the themselves are The City is encouraging of victims—many of whom beach it is hard estimated at those who are not subscribed, remain unidentified—is deeply to hear them over $100,000 who have changed their numover the sound per tower ber, or are unsure of their status troubling. HSI remains comof the waves. making a full to either text Bandon to 38276, mitted to leading the global fight against child exploitation If you are in replacement of or visit bandon-or.gov/portal. and will continue to investiyour home, they the system a Texting will sign you up for can’t be heard, huge financial emergency notifications, but on gate crimes targeting our most especially over burden for the the website, there are a number vulnerable population – our the sound of a tv or music. city. of other public notifications that children.” Groce had previously been They also raised the point that To that end, discussions you can opt into. the system could potentially over what to do with the old These include utility notifica- arrested, booked, and subsequently released by the Coos tions for electric, water, sewer scare confused visitors who are siren system were decisive and County Sheriff’s Office in or other public works outages unaware of the sirens’ purpose. succinct. August of 2024. Deputies idenand changes. You can receive Repairs to both the siren tow“Get rid of them,” was the tified Groce’s vehicle during a updates on upcoming comers themselves as well as the sentiment echoed by every follow up on a different case munity events at the library or laptop that controls the signal council member in attendance, and tracked him to Downtown Sprague Theatre. You can also have become untenable over resulting in a unanimous Coos Bay where he was taken receive updates from city govtime. Replacements parts for motion to sunset the old siren into custody on an outstanding ernment on meeting agendas, the towers are no longer being system. warrant unrelated to this case. budget notices, updates from produced. The laptop which inThe replacement, thankfully, Anyone who has information the planning department, or terfaces with the master control is already in place. The city about the physical or online police alerts. unit is no longer working, but already uses the CivicPlus exploitation of children is Thankfully, with another it cannot be replaced simply Mass Notification System for encouraged to contact HSI at emergency notification system as the software which managproviding emergency alerts, (866) 347-2423 or submit a tip already in place, retiring the es the system is no longer in similar to the Everbridge online at the National Center sirens will save the city repair production either. Since the system used by Coos County. laptop failing, city staff have Unless they opted out, residents costs and precious time in case for Missing and Exploited Children’s official webpage at, been operating the system diwere automatically enrolled via of an actual emergency. report.cybertip.org. rectly from the master unit with the city’s utility billing system mixed results. when CivicPlus was first imple-
Bandon City Council discusses aging tsunami warning system Encourages residents to sign up for mass notifications By Nate Schwartz World Editor
The Bandon City Council discussed next steps and alternatives for their tsunami warning system during their regular meeting on June 1,2026. Concerns over the current siren-based system have consistently been raised as the hardware and software that the system relies on have become outdated and prone to failure. The current warning apparatus consists of a master control unit, run off of a laptop, which transmits the emergency signal to five siren towers located at strategic locations throughout the community. Each tower is fitted with at least eight sirens allowing for as much coverage as possible. Recently, several areas have reported concerns about the audibility and volume of the system, with others reporting that they can not hear the sirens at all. Several of the sirens are no longer working as intended. According to meeting materials, city staff receive numerous calls a month in regards to the sirens. Council members relayed
FIND US ONLINE: TheWorldLink.com
Opinion
2
Sports
4
Classifieds
7
Calendar
11
Comics
14
Obituaries
15
EMAIL US: WorldCirculation@CountryMedia.net CALL US: (707) 460-8655
Serving Oregon’s South Coast since 1878 • A Country Media Newspaper • Copyright 2025 Follow us:
facebook.com/theworldnewspaper
twitter.com/TheWorldLink
instagram.com/theworldlink