C M C M Y K Y K BEAVER BELIEVERS BIRTH CONTROL OTC? Oregon State excited for Civil War, B1 Physicians group supports accessibility, A6 Serving Oregon’s South Coast Since 1878 WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2012 theworldlink.com I 75¢ Search for CB shooting suspect I Reedsport man is Bay on Tuesday night. South Fourth Street. believed to be in during the The suspect is described as a Bay Area Hospital said shooting was towed away from listed in serious thin, white male in his early Johnson is listed in serious the scene hours after the inci- condition 20s, between 5-foot-10 and 6 condition. dent. feet tall, with dark hair and a Police searched the area near Johnson was interviewed at goatee. Police said the man was the shooting with dogs, but the hospital and police believe THE WORLD wearing a white T-shirt, tan could not find the suspect. the suspect fled on foot after shorts and an orange jacket. The call came in around 5 the shooting. By Alysha Beck, The World COOS BAY — Police are still Vernon Lee Johnson, 33, of p.m. and police searched the Anyone with information is A Volkswagen sedan was towed away for police evidence near searching for a suspect they Reedsport was taken to Bay scene late into Tuesday to try urged to call the Coos Bay Fourth Street and Kruse Avenue in Coos Bay after a man was say shot a man in his leg while Area Hospital after police say and recover evidence. Police Department at 541- he was inside his car in Coos shot in the leg Tuesday night. he was shot in the leg near The car that Johnson was 269-8911. Tribal Enjoy the show leader bows out I Ed Metcalf has led the tribe for 21 years BY GAIL ELBER The World Although he originally had to be talked into running, Ed Metcalf remained the chairman of the Coquille Tribe for 21 years. The soft-spoken 66-year-old, who grew up in Fairview and Coquille, was “too busy” to take much notice of the tribe’s battle for restoration of its recognition by the U.S. government. But after restoration in 1989, Metcalf’s sisters talked him into going to some tribal council meet- ings. He saw an opportunity to put his skills to work. His qualifications had little to do with his day job as a heavy equipment operator and truck By Lou Sennick, The World driver. What the tribe needed was See more pictures in the Three Koi fish underwater, bottom, are new at this year’s Holiday Lights at Shore Acres State Park.The annual light photo gallery at display will open to the public Thanksgiving evening and run each night through Monday, Dec. 31.The hours are 4- the skills he’d gained in his off theworldlink.com hours as a sports referee and 9:30 p.m. each evening.This year, they have about 300,000 lights in the garden displays. umpire. That fits with how Metcalf sees the job of chairman: “You have to settle arguments and keep them from escalating.” In 1992, when Metcalf’s prede- ORC: Our survival hangs in the balance cessor — his second cousin Jimmy Metcalf — had to step down from the chairmanship for health rea- BY DANIEL SIMMONS-RITCHIE “That has made my job extremely difficult to Commissioner Fred Messerle said he sup- sons, a group of elders came to The World refinance and recapitalize the business,”he said. ports the agreement with ORC. Metcalf and talked him into run- If the county can guarantee access to “I believe it’s certainly a reasonable offer to ning. COOS BAY — Coos County’s biggest mining chromite reserves in the Seven Devils area, the county,”Messerle said. “It protects the for- “I really liked the job I had,”he company says a hearing next week could decide Knott says ORC can extend its mine life to 16 est operation.” said. “I wasn’t looking forward to its fate and that of its 60 employees. years and therefore be more attractive to Commissioner Cam Parry couldn’t be quitting it.” Oregon Resources Corp., a chromite miner, investors. reached for comment Tuesday night. But with encouragement from has been in financial hot water for the past two The commissioners will determine whether Whether the commissioners make changes to Wilfred Wasson, the tribal coun- months and says its future depends on access to to grant that access in a Monday hearing. The the agreement or not, a bevy of ORC supporters cil’s first chairman, Metcalf ran a parcel of county-owned forest. commissioners may hold a second hearing if and critics are expected to voice their opinions and was elected. Wayne Knott, CEO of ORC’s parent compa- necessary. at the hearing. “I admired the man complete- ny, IDM International, says without access, he Whether the agreement will be approved or On Tuesday, a group of business owners ly,”Metcalf said of Wasson. will lose the confidence of investors. changed remains uncertain. Commissioner Bob began an early salvo. Since then, Metcalf has been re- John Knutson, owner of Knutson Towboat At present, ORC has access to eight years of Main said the lease needs to be “tweaked,” elected to a succession of three- Company, said without their approval, the year terms with little opposition. chromite, but Knott says investors expect a although he declined to elaborate. Tribal council members praise mining venture to have an average “mine life” of “I don’t want to discuss it in the media,” he him as a good public representa- 20 years. said. “I want to discuss it in the meeting.” SEE ORC | A5 tive of the tribe, a good manager and a modest, kindly man. “Ed makes small of the things he’s accomplished in his 20 years,” said the tribe’s new council chair, Man recants rape confession in court Brenda Meade. “And that’s what people love about him.” “He’s a real easygoing man and BY TYLER RICHARDSON cried as he described the basics of “I was trying to clear my name,” “I had to swear not to tell anyone does a real good job with being the The World the alleged one-time sexual he said. “I was telling him what he because he told me that if he went to front person for the tribal organi- encounter to Det. Michael Tabor of wanted to hear so I could go home.” jail with the name of a child molester zation,” said Tom Younker, who COQUILLE— A man took the the Oregon State Police. Peak is charged with second- he would kill himself,”she said. recently retired as vice-chairman stand during the first day of his rape Peak, who was 24 at the time of degree rape and two counts of first- The girl, wearing a blue jacket and of the council. trial and told the jury he confessed to the alleged rape, denied having any degree sexual abuse after allegedly a gray turtleneck, testified she told “He allows the people they hire having sexual intercourse with an contact with the girl when initially touching and having sexual inter- Peak’s best friend’s wife about the to do their job.” underage girl because he felt pres- interviewed by Coos Bay Sgt. Eric course with the girl in his bedroom. alleged intercourse while the two Metcalf himself said that was an sured by police. Schwenninger on July 9. When he The girl — whose name The World were on a walk together.The girl later important element of his job. “I Before Johnathan Peak took the took the stand Tuesday, Peak said he is withholding to protect her privacy said she told her father and OSP Det. don’t have the power to go across stand, the jury listened to his taped confessed during the July 17 inter- — testified she had a “crush” on Deanna Harris about the incident the street and say, ‘Hey, CEDCO confession where he admits to hav- view because he wanted to please Peak, and after the two had sex he when Harris interviewed her. ing sex with a girl under the age of 14 police and didn’t want to call the asked her to keep quiet, and later lie, SEE ELECT | A8 in the fall of 2011. On the tape, Peak alleged victim a liar. about the incident. SEE RECANTS | A8 Storm recovery Police reports . A2 Sports . B1 Eulia Johnson, Coquille T S S Portland police officer still E E A H John Dubisar, North Bend D What’s Up. A2 T in serious condition after I C Comics . B4 T Charlene Laurcella, Coos Bay A E A S getting hit by falling tree. Rain South Coast. A3 T E R N | S Page A5 52/42 I Obituaries A5 D Opinion. A4 Puzzles. B4 O F Weather | A8 S e GOING OUT OF BUSINES SSaalle OPEN TUESDAY - SATURDAY 11AM TO 4PM! Hurry In Now . ..EVERYTHINGEVERYTHING MUSTMUST GO!GO! C M C M Y K Y K C M C M Y K A2 •The World • Wednesday, November 21,2012 Y K South Coast City Editor Ryan Haas • 541-269-1222, ext. 239 theworldlink.com/news/local Groups unite against TODAY OSU Extension Holiday Food gov’t land expansion Safety Hotline 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 1-800-354-7319 Second Annual Veterans Art Show 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., BY DANIEL SIMMONS-RITCHIE sioners, Rob Taylor, secre- the U.S. Forest Service is Pony Village Mall, 1611 Vir- The World tary of Coos County Today, planning to gradually limit ginia Ave., North Bend.