Breach Concerns Landowners
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C M C M Y K Y K SHOOTING SPREE SHOOTING FOR STATE Three perish in carjacking rampage, A7 Bobcats seek first tourney berth since 1994, B1 Serving Oregon’s South Coast Since 1878 WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2013 theworldlink.com I 75¢ Breach Torie Christopher Formby Mitchell Prison concerns term for landowners pizzeria Contributed Photo Family’s tort claim against Bureau of Land Management bulldozers cut a breach point in the dune wall near the heist confluence of New River and FLoras Creek south of Langlois. BLM could lead to a lawsuit BY THOMAS MORIARTY The World BY TYLER RICHARDSON LANGLOIS — South of Bandon, a family of rural The World landowners says their property is headed under- water. COQUILLE — Shackles clanked Literally. around a North Bend couple’s The Guerin family has owned land on Floras heels as they shuffled from a Creek for generations. Since the 1970s, federal Coquille courtroom Tuesday, officials have regularly breached the dunes that moments after receiving vastly separate Floras Creek and New River from the different sentences for a robbery Pacific Ocean, draining wetlands for pasture and they committed last year. flushing sediment from the river. The Guerins Christopher Mitchell, 24, was allege the breaching causes massive erosion of sentenced to 39 months in state their property. prison. His coconspirator Torie The Guerins have filed a tort claim against BLM, Formby, 19, was sentenced to 90 which the agency refused to pay. The next step? days in jail. Possibly a lawsuit. Coos County Circuit Court New River, which runs parallel to the Pacific Judge Richard Barron said in court that Mitchell had used physical Ocean south of Bandon, feeds into Floras Creek force and was more instrumental just north of Floras Lake. A wall of sand is all that in the robbery of Gino’s Pizza Inn separates the river from the ocean. on Nov. 9. Mitchell also has a Fred Guerin, who lives in Roseburg, said ranch- felony conviction for possession of er Jack Storm was the first resident in recent histo- a controlled substance in Califor- ry to mechanically breach the dune wall, starting nia in 2007, while Formby has no in 1970. felony record. “He would breach the dunes and let the salmon Barron had a stern warning for in,”Guerin said. Storm would breach only at low water levels near the mouth of New River, in order to manage SEE HEIST | A8 the salmon fishery. The government took on the breaching effort in 1973, but for a wholly different reason. The Bureau of Land Management breached the dune wall near Floras Lake to alleviate flooding on nearby farm- County land. “They bulldozed and drained that system,” Guerin said. adds funds Unlike Storm, the BLM bulldozed the dunes when the water was high. Guerin says that act for marine increased stream velocity on Floras Creek. Streambanks began eroding at astonishing rates. “Breaching at high water is like a dam blowing center out,” he said. The rushing waters tossed boulders and tore away ancient willow and spruce trees that lined BY JAMES CASEY the creek. His father, Rayburn Guerin, dragged in For The World hundreds of tons of rock to stabilize the banks. Megan Harper, a spokeswoman for the BLM’s COQUILLE — Coos County North Bend office, said the agency has been sensi- commissioners threw $151,896 tive to the environmental impact of breaching into Charleston’s boat basin Tues- practices. day. “We did an environmental analysis of breaching They hope the money — drawn By Lou Sennick, The World in 2003,” Harper said. “We breached four times from the county’s share of Oregon Members of the Guerin family near Langlois have placed boulders along the bank of Floras Creek to stabilize Lottery revenue — will launch the the area where it curves south near the old U.S. Highway 101, just south of the small town in Curry County. Charleston Marine Life Center by SEE BREACH | A8 the end of this year, drawing thou- sands of visitors and hundreds of thousands more dollars into the Crab commission names Explosion destroys community. Craig Young, K.C. restaurant director of the new executive director center’s parent Oregon Institute I 14 are injured; 1 is still missing revolutionary. Craig Young of Marine Biolo- THE WORLD “I just plan on continuing the missions OIMB director gy, had sought COOS BAY — The Oregon Dungeness the Oregon Dungeness Crab Commission KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Authorities were only $120,000 of Crab Commission has announced the has been pursuing,”Link said.“We’re work- bringing in heavy equipment today to remove black- county economic development appointment of a new executive director. ing on our Marine Stewardship Council cer- ened rubble and aid their search for a missing funds. But Commissioner Bob Hugh Link will replace Nick Furman, tifications, and we have a number of proj- employee of a popular Kansas City restaurant Main proposed increasing the who retired in 2012 after 22 years at the head ects that are similar in research needs.” destroyed by a gas explosion and the ensuing inferno. contribution to cover all of the of the organization. Link, previously the Link worked for Hallmark Fisheries in Seven people injured in the Tuesday evening center’s projected remaining commission’s assistant administrator, has Charleston for about 10 years before joining explosion at JJ’s restaurant remained hospitalized costs. worked for the commission since 2004. He the commission in 2004. today, including two whose conditions were critical. Total cost of the 6,000-square- served as acting director after Furman’s The commission represents 429 limited- At least seven others were treated and released. retirement. entry Oregon Dungeness crab permit hold- SEE FUNDING | A8 Link said he’s not planning anything ers and is funded by crab fisherman. SEE EXPLOSION | A8 Police reports . A2 Comics . A6 Robert McMullan, Coos Bay T S S Chester Kauffman, Coos Bay E A H David Penas, Coos Bay D What’s Up. A3 Donald Williams, Myrtle Point I C Puzzles . A6 T Philip Wilkeson, North Bend E A S South Coast. A3 Julia Spjut, North Bend Chance of rain E R N Rosemary Wert, Roseburg | 48/38 I Obituaries A5 D Opinion. A4 Sports . B1 O F Weather | A8 EUUGENEGENE BBALLETALLET CCOMPANYOMPANY A NNewew BBalletallet TTributeribute ttoo tthehe mmusicusic of TThehe BBeatleseatles PLLUSUS Chhannelannel SSurfingurfing • BBlacklack SSwanwan PPasas • LLightight RRainain Friday, Feb. 22 - 7:30pm EUUGENEBALLET.ORGGENEBALLET.ORG Haalesles CCenterenter fforor tthehe PPerformingerforming AArtsrts Ticketsiicketts availableavaiillablle atatt www.dusco.orgwww..dusco..org & Checkerberry’sCheckerberry’’s andand atatt thetthe doordoor forffor $$2255000000 eeachach C M C M Y K Y K C M C M Y K A2 •The World • Wednesday, February20,2013 Y K South Coast City Editor Ryan Haas • 541-269-1222, ext. 239 theworldlink.com/news/local Rob Suryan of Watchdogs guard their gun rights Feb. 23 the Hatfield Marine Science invited to listen to the infor- this weekend is important p.m., Saturday at the Long- BY SARAH HAASE Center will mation that will be provided. for awareness. The World wood House, the former cof- speak at the There will be three guest “I think a lot of people fee shop, 2285 Longwood REEDSPORT — The speakers at the event, might not be aware of what’s Sharing the Drive. Everyone is invited to Coast confer- Reedsport Watchdogs will including Connie Martin, an been going on in the govern- attend the rally, and refresh- host a Resistance Rally, a NRA certified firearms ment,” he said. “The things ence, held ments will be served. pro-Second Amendment instructor; Rob Taylor from that are going on are things March 15-17. “We thought it would be a gathering, Saturday. the Coos County Watchdogs; that make the Second He will discuss The event is sponsored by and Tom McKirgan, an Oath Amendment so important. If good idea for people to hear Oregon’s the local Americans For Keepers representative. we don’t have the Second from someone who isn’t seabird popu- Prosperity and tea party One of the organizers, Amendment, then we don’t local about these issues, lations and affiliates, but organizers said Merv Cloe, said a rally like have anything.” about defending the Consti- how climate all community members are the one being planned for The event will begin at 1 tution,”Cloe said. change is affecting Give in March to help babies in poverty them. NORTH BEND — Poverty Garden association to of 1974. in not a choice for many local To join the Reunion Contributed make eat local guide photo babies, and with a little help BAY AREA Committee or to update your from our communities, their REPORTS South Coast Community mailing address to ensure basic needs can be met. Garden Association is work- receipt of reunion announce- ing on a “Guide to Sustainable The Oregon Department wipes, warm clothing (birth ments and information, con- Climate scientists ask of Human Services, along Food Resources” for the South tact Lynda Ellingsen at 541- totoddler), receiving blan- Coast. We are looking for local with many of our community kets, T-shirts/onesies and 267-7406. growers, CSA’s, producers, partners, work daily with baby shampoo. locals to share the coast processors, farmers markets, Turn in names for individuals from Coos, Curry Donations can be dropped u-pick and farm stands on the those lost at sea and parts of Douglas County off at The Newmark Center, The Sharing the Coast driftline, marine debris and South Coast to encourage who are facing a birth with no 1988 Newmark Ave., Coos The Charleston Fisher- conference will be held its impact on the oceans, people to eat and buy locally.