C M C M Y K Y K ALL-STAR GAMES Top local talent hits the hardwood, B1 Serving Oregon’s South Coast Since 1878 MONDAY, MARCH 18, 2013 County will Dancing for Avrey mull work groups idea I Plan would eliminate commissioners’ liaisons BY JAMES CASEY For The World COQUILLE — Coos County com- missioners will examine again the touchy issue of reorganizing govern- ment when they meet Tuesday. Commissioners are considering eliminating “liaison” relationships between individual commissioners and six to 10 departments each. Instead, the county would use several “interde- partmental work groups.” Four or five such groups would present consolidat- ed reports to all three commissioners. The idea arose from Want to go? the ashes of a proposal for Coos County commission- a county ers will meet at 9:30 a.m. administra- Tuesday in the large confer- tor, which ence room of the Owen v oters Building, 201 N. Adams St., rejected in Coquille. The liaison issue is high on the agenda, listed N ovember as “informational only,” along with a with no action planned. c ompeting proposal for a county charter. A volunteer commit- tee from Portland State University suggested the new reorganization plan By Thomas Moriarty, The World in January. Dori Wolfe and Geth Noble lead Zumba for Avrey participants in a routine Sunday afternoon during the fundraising event at North Bend’s Pony Village Mall. The The idea is in the hands of a com- Zumbathon was intended to support 10-year-old Avrey Walker of Coquille, who is undergoing experimental treatment after a relapse of leukemia. mittee headed by Ginger Swan, county director of mental health, and District Attorney Paul Frasier. Swan and Frasier Latin rhythm propels will present the committee’s recom- mendations Tuesday. Their report is listed as “informa- tional only,” and no action is sched- benefit for ailing child uled. The same election that KO’d the administrator and charter proposals BY THOMAS MORIARTY elected new Commissioners John The World Want to know more? Sweet and Melissa Cribbins, who say I Read The World’s Feb. 13 story about Avery at they favor phasing out the liaison sys- NORTH BEND — Latin dance music http://tinyurl.com/bh9vlv3. tem. Voters re-elected Commissioner crackled through the otherwise quiet Pony I Keep up with the continuing fundraising efforts for Bob Main, who says the present Village Mall Sunday afternoon, as dozens of Avrey on Facebook: arrangement works well. He opposes Zumba enthusiasts ponied up $15 to dance www.facebook.com/AveryWalkerBenefitFundraiser. the reorganization. for a cause. Another change to Coos County The workout marathon was one of several organizer Jenny Forbes said. government — a citizens committee to fundraisers planned for 10-year-old Avrey Forbes said idea of a Zumbathon fundrais- advise county planners about the Walker of Coquille, who has battled leukemia er was first suggested by Coos Bay Zumba county’s comprehensive plan — is on since age 4. instructor Kimmie Cooke. Tuesday’s agenda. Commissioners Walker relapsed for a second time in Feb- “I’ve attended other ones, but I’ve never hope to start a process by which people ruary and has begun experimental treatment run one myself,”Cooke said. can apply to serve on the seven-mem- with a modified version of the HIV virus. Created by a Colombian aerobics instruc- Contributed photo ber committee. Although the new treatment regime is prom- tor, Zumba has quickly become one of the Avrey Walker, 10, has been battling leukemia for six ising, it’s not covered by Avrey’s insurance. years and recently began an experimental treatment SEE MEETING | A8 “It’s not even close to being mainstream,” SEE AVREY | A8 that had good results in other young patients. Bill would phase Chopper frees out chemicals Quebec inmates toxic to children — for a while BY JEFF BARNARD The Associated Press I GRANTS PASS — A bill before the Police apprehend escapees following Legislature would set up a state data- unheard of prison break in Quebec base to track the use of 19 chemicals in manufactured products shown to be harmful to children, and work with THE ASSOCIATED PRESS manufacturers to phase out use of the chemicals over five years. SAINT-JEROME, Quebec — Two Quebec inmates The bi-partisan bill is patterned after climbed into a hijacked helicopter to make a daring day- a law in Washington state. Based on the light escape from a prison outside Montreal, authorities experience of past failures to ban harm- said Monday. Both were later recaptured. ful chemicals from everyday items like Police said they believe the pilot was held hostage in baby bottles and food cans, environ- the Sunday jail-break and consider him a victim. He was mentalists and child advocates also are The Associated Press treated for shock in the hospital. supporting the measure as a longer, Christine Hickey holds a child’s sippy cup at Eco Tots Earth Friendly Children’s Boutique in Grants Quebec provincial police said early Monday that they market-driven view. Pass on Friday.The Oregon Legislature is considering a bill to track the use of 19 chemicals shown had arrested four people about 30 miles north of the “We tried to use the exact same law to be harmful to children, and to work with manufacturers to phase them out. Saint-Jerome prison from which the inmates escaped. passed by Washington, which had a lot Two of those arrested Sunday were inmates Benjamin of bipartisan support, to make it as easy demand That’s what happened with ers, particularly of food cans, which are Hudon-Barbeau, 36, and Danny Provencal, 33. Hudon- as possible for companies,” said Rep. BPA.” lined with plastic. Barbeau was arrested first and police cornered Provencal Alissa Keny-Guyer, D-Portland, the BPA — or bisphenol-A - is a hardener “We took from the Legislature that later in the evening, after establishing a security principal sponsor of the bill. “We want used in plastics, from baby bottles to they didn’t want to single out one perimeter around a building where he had barricaded strong economy activity, but not at the music CDs. Research had shown it chemical,”said Andrea Durbin, director himself. expense of the population.” posed a threat to brain and reproductive of the Oregon Environmental Council, Quebec Provincial Police Sgt. Benoit Richard said By piggybacking on Washington system development in babies and which pushed the BPA ban that failed in early Monday that Provencal had surrendered peaceful- state’s law, Oregon would build market young children. Though Canada, sever- 2011.“They wanted to take a more com- ly after negotiations continued through the night. pressure, she added. al states and Multnomah County prehensive scientific approach. This Earlier Sunday, police received a call from the staff at Sen. Elizabeth Steiner Hayward, D- banned its use in various products, the does that. We borrow what Washington the Saint-Jerome jail, reporting the escape at about 2:20 Portland-Beaverton, a co-sponsor, Oregon Legislature would not, most state has done.” p.m. local time, Richard said. said, “It’s always better when manufac- recently in 2011. Opponents said a ban turers make choices because of public would pose problems for manufactur- SEE CHEMICALS | A8 SEE ESCAPE | A8 Deadly plane crash Police reports . A2 Comics . A6 Edward Martin, Coos Bay T S S E N Private aircraft hits homes in A H Dorothy Brown, Coos Bay O D What’s Up. A2 I I small Indiana town, killing two C Puzzles . A6 T T E A S State . A3 and causing evacuation. Cloudy A E R N | 54/43 I Obituaries A5 N Page A5 D Opinion. A4 Sports . B1 O F Weather | A8 C M C M Y K Y K C M C M Y K A2 •The World • Monday, March 18,2013 Y K South Coast City Editor Ryan Haas • 541-269-1222, ext. 239 theworldlink.com/news/local A crowning achievement TODAY 8:30 p.m., Hales Center for the Performing Arts, 1988 AARP Volunteer Tax Aide 9 Newmark Ave., Coos Bay. a.m. to 1 p.m., College Park Community Church, 2548 Newmark Ave., North Bend. FRIDAY Bring photo ID, SS card, 2011 Sand Drags Test N Tune — all and 2012 tax info. day Box Car Hill, Transpacific Bay Area Rotary Peace Forum Parkway, North Bend. 541- noon, The Mill Casino-Hotel 480-9338 Sawblade Room, 3201 AARP Volunteer Tax Aide 9 Tremont, North Bend. Guest a.m. to 1 p.m., College Park speaker Angela Phillips on Community Church, 2548 conflict resolutiona and vio- Newmark Ave., North Bend. lence prevention program for Bring photo ID, SS card, 2011 kids. No host lunch, RSVP for and 2012 tax info. head count. Umpqua River Lighthouse Authors Night “Turning Family Tours 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., History into Fiction” 7 p.m., Umpqua River Lighthouse, Bandon Public Library, 1204 Winchester Bay. Tours are $5 11th St. SW, Bandon. Present- for adults and $3 for children ed by Ann Shorey. Refresh- and seniors. ments provided by Bandon Coastal Harvest Craft and Bake Library Friends Foundation. Sale Fundraiser 10 a.m. to 4 541-347-3221 p.m., The Barn Community Center, 1200 11th St. SW, Ban- TUESDAY don. 541-347-1585 AARP Volunteer Tax Aide 9 Free Admission Coos Historical a.m. to 1 p.m., College Park & Maritime Museum 10 a.m. Community Church, 2548 to 4 p.m., 1220 Sherman Ave., Newmark Ave., North Bend. North Bend. Shipwreck and Bring photo ID, SS card, 2011 Victor West: Photographic and 2012 tax info. History of Coos County. 541- AARP Volunteer Tax Aide 9:30- 756-6320 By Gail Elber, The World 11:30 a.m., Bandon Senior Photos with the Easter Bunny Friends and family gather around the Mr.