C M C M Y K Y K LOVE GUN BUMBLING BLAZERS Brides and bullets in Las Vegas, A6 Portland picked apart by New Orleans, B3 Serving Oregon’s South Coast Since 1878 THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2013 theworldlink.com I 75¢ When you HIV virus may need a heal 9-year-old Mark Burnap, right, and Max Gilfillan, with the Coast girl’s leukemia hand Guard Auxiliary,pull in rope on the Miss Linda during tow- ing drills with the Coast Guard on Wednesday morning. BY AMY MOSS STRONG Bandon Western World COQUILLE — The fearsome virus that causes AIDS could be the key to restoring 9-year-old Avrey Walker’s health. “We’re just blessed and happy they have technology that can save our daughter’s life,” said her dad, Aaron Walker. Walker and his wife, Christal Carney-Walker, are members of the Coquille High School Class of 1992. Avrey’s grandfather is Les Walker, a former Bandon resident and businessman. Avrey, an active and spirited child who loves the outdoors and Contributed Photo animals, has been fighting cancer Avrey Walker and her father, Aaron, more than half her young life. She spend time in the hospital. was diagnosed with leukemia in 2007 at the age of 4. completing treatment, Avrey’s Her parents were told at the time cancer was back. January 2013 that her type of cancer was a “good brought sadness and fear to the one,” meaning it has a high cure family, until they heard of an Photos by Alysha Beck, The World rate. They said she would have an experimental treatment that had Coast Guardsmen with Station Coos Bay practiced towing drills with the Miss Linda, a 76-foot research vessel, in Coos Bay only been tried on four other young on Wednesday morning. The guardsmen worked with the Coast Guard Auxiliary, practicing towing techniques such as the 80 percent chance of being cured with a two-year-regiment of patients. The treatment, called stern tow, when one end of a rope is tied to a working bitt on a Coast Guard vessel. chemotherapy. CART 19, involves pulling some T But seven months after com- cells from Avrey’s body, then re- pleting her treatment, Avrey engineering them with deactivated relapsed. The family headed back human immunodeficiency virus Volunteers simulate distress (HIV) and programming them to to Doernbecher Children’s Hospi- attack the cells that are causing the tal in Portland for another two- leukemia. year-round of aggressive So Avrey traveled at the end of for Coast Guard training chemotherapy. January to one of the few places the “This time it would work. We all treatment is available, Philadel- knew it would work,”said her aunt, BY THOMAS MORIARTY Coquille resident Jenny Forbes. The World But three short weeks after SEE AVREY | A8 CHARLESTON — On Wednesday morning, a fishing-boat-turned-research-vessel saw new life as a training aid for the ocean’s first responders. The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary conducted boat Happy Valentine’s Day rescue training on the research vessel Miss Linda with Coast Guard Station Coos Bay’s motor lifeboat Intrepid. As an all-volunteer organization, the auxiliary represents a cost-effective option for the service’s marine rescue training. Bob Pedro, an auxiliary member who owns the Miss Linda, said the auxiliary serves a number of roles. Though its primary mission is recreational boating safety, Check out video of the the organization also facili- exercise online tates rescue training for Coast http://theworldlink.com Guard boat and helicopter /multimedia/video crews. The auxiliary is organized into flotillas. Coos Bay is home to Flotilla 51 of Coast Guard District 13, Division 5. The flotilla’s 32 members operate five craft. “I have a very warm spot in my heart for the Coast Guard, because I spent five years in it,”Pedro said. Pedro’s former shrimp boat — which he now Seen from the crow’s nest of the Miss Linda, the crew of the SEE DISTRESS | A8 Intrepid practices methods for towing disabled vessels. Wash. man gets 9 years in prison THE WORLD Coos County Circuit Court Maitland’s car were both serious- Judge Martin Stone sentenced ly injured. A 65-year-old man was sen- Maitland to 106 months in The Coos County District tenced Wednesday to nearly nine prison. Maitland will not be eligi- Attorney’s Office said Maitland years in prison for a drunken- ble for a reduced sentence and failed to show up for his court driving collision involving a Coos will have to undergo 36 months of appearance after he was By Alysha Beck, The World County Road Department vehicle. post-prison supervision follow- arraigned. He eventually was Elizabeth Adams gathers flowers to make arrangements at Checkerberry’s Charles Laurence Maitland of ing his release. found in Vancouver. The DA’s Flowers and Gifts in Coos Bay on Tuesday in preparation for Valentine’s Vancouver, Wash., pleaded guilty Maitland was the driver of a office said Maitland pleaded Day. Beth Burdick, owner of Checkerberry’s, says a dozen roses is the to second-degree assault, third- car that hit a Coos County Roads guilty to second-degree assault, biggest seller and the shop will make 250 to 300 deliveries around the degree assault and driving under Department vehicle on Fairview third-degree assault and driving area today. the influence of intoxicants as Road in Coquille in 2011. A coun- under the influence of intoxicants part of a plea deal. ty employee and the passenger in as part of a plea deal. Flying away Police reports . A2 Sports . B1 T S S E Jon Copsey, North Bend Helicopter transport company is E A H D What’s Up. A3 Comics . B4 T I moving from Corvallis to an airport Mary Sharp, North Bend C T A E A S Partly sunny South Coast. A3 Puzzles. B4 T just south of Portland. See A5 E | Obituaries A5 R N S 55/41 I D Opinion. A4 Classifieds . C1 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 C M C M Y K Y K C M C M Y K A2 •The World • Thursday, February14,2013 Y K South Coast City Editor Ryan Haas • 541-269-1222, ext. 239 Weekend theworldlink.com/lifestyles y g a n d i O ALL N OVE O P O ET OME OLOR r G ! F I L G ! STEP U G ! G S C u m t o a Dolphin players premier “Love Letters” Salmon program trains youth Artist displays colorful coastal photos C S Bands tune up for Hospital to SATURDAY Dance 7-10 p.m., Greenacres cut ribbon Grange Hall, 93393 Confluence festival Marshfield Safe & Sober Grad- Greenacres Lane, Coos Bay. uation Fundraiser Sale 8 Live music by The Monday Saturday a.m.-3 p.m., Blossom Gulch Night Jam Band. Caller Stacy BY SARAH HAASE area breweries and wineries. Elementary School cafeteria, Rose. Admission: general, $7; 333 S. 10th St., Coos Bay. Pick The World Henry Estate Winery from Bay Area Hospital will cut seniors 60 and better, $6; the Umpqua Valley, HV ups or drop offs may be members, $5 and supervised the ribbon on its expanded arranged by calling 541-252- REEDSPORT — Live children free. Alcohol- and Cellars from Tenmile, Wild facility at 11:15 a.m., Saturday. 1661 or 541-297-2498. music, local libations, flavor- Rose Vineyard from Winston The public is welcome to fragrance-free. 541-572-0518 ful fare and an all-around and Rivers Edge Winery from visit between 11 a.m. and 3 AARP Volunteer Tax Aide 9 “Love Letters” 8 p.m., Dolphin a.m.-1 p.m., College Park good time will come together Elkton are some of the winer- p.m. Guided and self-guided Playhouse, 580 Newmark Community Church, 2548 at this year’s Confluence. ies represented. tours will be available. Ave., Coos Bay. General Sponsored by the Participating restaurants Newmark Ave., North Bend. admission by donation. 541- The new facilities, which Bring photo ID, SS card, 2011 Reedsport Winchester Bay include: Harbor Light serving 808-2611 Contributed photo include cardiology, wound and 2012 tax info. Chamber of Commerce, Border Patrol will perform lobster tails, ribs and chicken; care and intensive care, will Georgette Jones Concert 8 AARP Volunteer Tax Aide 9:30- Confluence kicks off the Saturday for the Confluence Beer, Schooner Cafe serving home- start receiving patients in a p.m., Three Rivers Casino, Reedsport area’s annual cal- made soup; and Umpqua few weeks. 11:30 a.m., Bandon Senior 5647 Oregon 126, Florence. Wine and Food festival in Center, 1200 11th St. SW, Ban- endar of festival fun. The 2013 Reedsport. Aquaculture. serving raw and 800-585-3737 celebration of wine, beer, cooked oysters, clam chow- don. Bring photo ID, SS card, 2011 and 2012 tax info. “Vivien” 7 p.m., Sprague Com- seafood and music will take der, oyster cocktail and oyster Live Bands munity Theater, 1202 11th St. place Saturday and Sunday. and there’s a better flow of the tacos. Tide of the Toddlers 10-11 a.m., SW, Bandon. Judith Chapman The event is once again event, because it’s not so bro- Attendees must be 21 years Halfway Tavern, 59576 Halfway South Slough Interpretive Rd, Coos Bay: Big Creek Ren- performs a one-woman show taking over the community ken up anymore,”she said.