Coos County Likely Headed to “Extreme-Risk” Level, A2
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Serving Oregon’s South Coast Since 1878 7-on-7 season a success COVID-19 update Coaches applaud work of players, B1 Coos County likely headed to “extreme-risk” level, A2 LIGHT RAIN 54 • 45 FORECAST A10 | TUESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2020 | theworldlink.com | $2 Economic forum shows optimism ZACK DEMARS of COVID-19 … not so much. ic restrictions came all at once, others, too. “This experience is very new The World As the hard data showed a Tauer said. A huge influx of spending to us,” Mitchell said. “The pan- grim picture of how the pan- All told, at the peak of pan- came from government assis- demic is not unprecedented at all Nearing the end of an objec- demic has ravaged the economy, demic restrictions in the spring, tance programs — around two in human history — but it is new tively bad year, local business both locally and statewide, the about 5,000 people in Coos thirds of Oregon businesses to us.” leaders looked for hope in eco- presenters highlighted bright County had lost their jobs and received support from the federal Pandemic-related job loss nomic data. spots in the outlook for economic were considered unemployed. As Paycheck Protection Program. statewide hasn’t been spread The review came at the Bay recovery. restrictions have loosened, that’s But many federal programs will evenly across income levels, Area Chamber of Commerce’s “We went from record low decreased to around 3,200 — a end at the end of the year, unless he said. Employment in “low- 28th annual Economic Outlook unemployment rates virtually faster improvement than after the Congress extends them. wage” jobs is down nearly 40% Forum, a series of presentations overnight to a record peak in Great Recession, Tauer said. “With some of these programs compared to the start of the year, by economists and business own- unemployment rate,” said Guy Because the virus restrictions slated to wind up, it puts some of while “high-wage” employment ers about the state of the local Tauer, a regional economist largely focused on activities these companies and businesses is down only 1.6%, he said. economy. with the Oregon Employment described as “non-essential,” the in limbo,” Tauer said. Another major change, year Last year’s forum showed Department. hardest hit sectors included ac- John Mitchell, a former over year: The median price for a steady growth in the 11th In Coos County, the rate of job commodations and food services, leading economist for U.S. home in the county was up 8.3% upturn year after the Great loss caused by the pandemic’s health care, social assistance Bank, gave the event’s keynote in September over last year, Recession. business shutdowns was faster and administrative and waste address and shared insight on the Mitchell said. But this year’s forum, held on than the Great Recession from services, Tauer said. Younger state- and nation-wide economic Zoom to avoid the transmission 2007-2008, because the pandem- workers were harder-hit than pictures. Please see Forum, Page A10 Coquille Governor grad earns urges vaccine doctorate ‘Success lies in a patience forward direction’ MONIQUE MERRILL Erim Gómez says Country Media As the first shipment By Jillian Ward of COVID-19 vaccines is For The World expected to arrive in Oregon this week, Gov. Kate Brown COQUILLE ─ While Co- urged residents across the quille High School graduate state to continue to follow Erim Gómez conducted a public health recommenda- population study on endangered tions. fat-tailed horned lizards near the “As we wait for wide distri- U.S.-Mexican border, he paused. bution of the vaccine, one of He remembered that 35 years our most important challenges ago, his father crossed that very is to remind Oregonians to border as an economic refugee. keep your guard up,” Brown “…I remember thinking ‘my said in a press conference father crossed this border and Friday. “We all need to keep now he has a son working for the wearing masks, limiting get U.S. government for something togethers and maintaining so- as strange as a population study cial distance until we achieve on lizards,’” Gómez mused. “It’s community immunity.” the American dream, isn’t it?” The question of when That was in 2004. Now Gó- community immunity will mez is receiving his doctorate in be possible is still uncertain natural resource sciences from and depends largely on how Washington State University and many additional doses of has accepted a teaching faculty vaccines the state will receive job at the University of Montana after this month. What is in the wildlife program. known is that by the end of “It’s hard to imagine that December, the state is slated I’m where I am without having to receive 147,000 doses of the experience growing up in both the Pfizer and Moderna Coquille,” he said, crediting his vaccines. father who brought the family to The first round of vaccines the rural ranch town. “I worked in will be certain to go to hos- the fish hatchery, was welcomed pital staff and long-term care by the Coquille community. Even facility staff and residents. though I don’t make it back as There are around 360,000 healthcare workers who will often as I’d like, that community Contributed Photo need the vaccine and, as of is still important to me.” Coquille graduate Erim Gómez recently received his doctorate in natural resource sciences and will soon begin teaching at the today, no information from the University of Montana. Please see Gomez, Page A10 federal government on future vaccine dose allocation. The uncertainty makes it difficult to predict when all residents North Bend firefighters deliver baby will have the opportunity to be vaccinated, Oregon Health JOHN GUNTHER “I’ve been a couple times cero said. “I stick my hand Authority Director Pat Allen The World close, where they just deliv- down there and cradle the said. ered a baby. Certainly, that head and boom, the baby is “The challenge is we’ve NORTH BEND — Every was the first time I’ve ever coming out right now. been given no distribution other year during recertifica- caught one.” “I just reached down and schedule or any idea of how tion as an EMT, firefighters He didn’t have a lot of turned her shoulders a tiny many doses to expect on any have to go through a variety time to think about what he bit and boom, she’s right out, regular basis, so it’s really of training, including how to and Rector were doing. she’s in my hand.” impossible for us to put a deliver babies. “We got tapped out,” he It had been 23 years since specific timeline on that,” said Most never need it. said of the call coming in. Lucero’s youngest son, Luke, Allen. But North Bend Lt. John “It’s literally 30 seconds was born — 23 years since About 70% of the state Lucero did on a recent day. from the station. I jumped he had been present for a needs to be vaccinated to Lucero, who last week out and ran in the door. birth. achieve community immunity, celebrated his 20th anniver- She’s laying on the bed. Her Family relationships made Brown said. To accomplish sary with the North Bend mom is at her head. She is the experience even more that, she said more than Fire Department, and partner screaming. special, he said. 10,000 residents will need to Luke Rector were called to a “I was thinking she’s “My kids are my world,” be vaccinated per day. hotel for a woman in labor. going to have it four hours Lucero said. “Everything in “It’s a tall order, and we Moments later, Lucero was from now, tonight, tomorrow. my life revolves around my can’t do it without federal holding a baby girl. She said, ‘No, you don’t un- kids to some extent. It was resources to deliver the doses “We train on that stuff,” derstand, the baby is coming super rewarding. I was hon- and support our distribution Lucero said. “You don’t train right now.’” ored to be there. It was really and outreach efforts,” she a lot on it. I don’t know if And it was. emotional.” Contributed Photo said. anybody at North Bend Fire “I look down, and here North Bend firefighters John Lucero, left, and Luke has ever delivered one. comes the baby’s head,” Lu- Please see Baby, Page A10 Rector recently delivered a baby in a hotel room. Please see Vaccine, Page A3 Photo gallery: Home for veterans nears completion OPINION A4 SPORTS B1 Photo gallery: Trick-or-treaters find new fun amid pandemic OBITUARIES A5 CLASSIFIEDS B5 WEATHER A10 COMICS B6 AT THEWORLDLINK.COM D • Serving Oregon’s South Coast since 1878 • A Country Media Newspaper • Copyright 2020 Follow us online: facebook.com/theworldnewspaper twitter.com/TheWorldLink instagram.com/theworldlink A2 | TUESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2020 THE WORLD Coos County likely to see new restrictions Friday ZACK DEMARS ized by the Oregon Health Au- al sports, indoor pools and indoor tricts announced plans to move “Unless we can find a way to The World thority when it publishes case dance, among other things. some or all of their students to pull together as a community, data for the past two weeks. If • Outdoor recreation and distance learning. On Wednes- we’re not going to see a change Coos County businesses and the county’s had more than 200 fitness establishments will still be day, both the Coos Bay and in the numbers, because we need residents should expect anoth- cases per 100,000 in popula- allowed, up to 50 people.