SERVING CURRY COUNTY SINCE 1946 www.currypilot.com FRIDAY, JULY 9, 2021 Brookings, Oregon ‘A devastating lack of affordable housing’ Merkley introduces legislation to ease housing crunch in Oregon BY DAVID RUPKALVIS the Senate. challenge in rural areas, subur- “Housing is so much more rest of their lives. When families The Pilot Merkley said housing is some- ban areas, everywhere. Every Or- than a building or a bed,” have a stable home, children start thing he hears about constantly egonian, every American, should Merkley said. “Stable, afford- to blossom.” A “devastating lack of afford- and is something that must be be able to afford a decent home able housing is a foundation for Merkley said being able to able housing” is something that addressed now. in a decent community.” thriving families and thriving rent a home is difficult through- can no longer be ignored, U.S. “Every single town hall I Merkley said housing is some- communities. Study after study out Oregon but added home Sen. Jeff Merkley said Tuesday hold, every single meet and greet thing that every person needs, has shown that children who ownership is even a greater chal- as he announced he was unveil- with elected officials, housing adding a stable home is a goal grow up in a stable home do bet- ing the Affordable Home Act in comes up,” Merkley said. “It’s a for every American. ter in school and do better in the More Housing, Page A3 Dance studio hanging by a thread Marijuana taxes a surprise for Gold Beach BY KNOX KERANEN The Pilot Gold Beach recently re- ceived the 2020 local marijua- na tax report from the state. The state collects a 3% sales tax from cannabis dispensa- ries on behalf of the city, in exchange for a fee, and then distributes the tax revenue back to the city. There are two dispensaries within Gold Beach city limits: Club Sock- eye and La Mota. In total, the state collected $44,222.57 in cannabis sales tax in Gold Beach. After tak- ing out fees and interest, they distributed $43,814.51 back to the city, according to a state Photos by Knox Keranen/The Pilot Department of Revenue. “This may be a small town, but my students fit right in when they travel to dance in other intensive programs, such as at Eugene Ballet The state also has an agree- and San Francisco Ballet, and my past students have been competitive enough to get into some really good college dance programs. I’ve ment with the city to share tax been very proud of that,” Sky-Marie McDonald said about her nonprofit dance studio. revenue collected from the ad- ditional 17% state sales tax on cannabis. The state distributed McDonald urgently looking for new home for nonprofit studio an additional $14,779.39 to the city as a part of the reve- BY KNOX KERANEN Wild Rivers Coast Foundation the pandemic even when we McDonald founded Wild The Pilot for Dance, after she was handed had to close down and couldn’t Rivers Conservatory of Dance in nue sharing program. a 30-day lease termination notice utilize the space,” said McDon- 2015, after moving to Brookings When looking at the num- Hanging by a thread. by the landlord of her studio last ald. “I was told by the property from Texas. The next year, she bers, City Administrator Jodi That’s how Sky-Marie Mc- month. manager that the landlord wants created the Wild Rivers Coast Fritts said she was surprised. Donald describes the state of her “The studio isn’t behind on more money and has other plans “It just amazes me how nonprofit youth dance program, rent, we paid faithfully through for the building.” much money those two little More Dance, Page A9 stores brought in, that’s a lot of weed,” said Fritts. Gold Beach Fire Depart- ment “State of the Union” Police seek help identifying child in duffel bag Tyson Krieger, fire chief at Gold Beach Fire Department, FROM STAFF REPORTS • Eye color: Hazel / Brown • Hair color: Brown / Black submitted his first ever quar- Oregon State Police have released new • Skin color: Light Brown / Fair with no terly report to the city in what DNA details that the law enforcement agency freckles he hopes to make a recurring hopes will lead to the identification of a • Race: She has been identified as most- update on the successes and deceased child found in a rest area near the ly Caucasian with some Central American shortcomings of the depart- Oregon Coast. ancestry ment. On December 10, 2020, the Oregon State • She was wearing a pull-up diaper This year, the 24-person Police recovered the remains of a female Earlier anthropological and forensic dental volunteer department is child in the forest immediately adjacent to examinations of the child determined she looking to set another record the H.B. Van Duzer Forrest State Scenic Cor- stood between 3’10’ and 4’6” tall. for calls for service. In ridor rest area east of Lincoln City. OSP has been working in partnership with 2020, the department fielded Her body was inside a duffel bag that had the National Center for Missing and Exploit- a record 286 calls, which been concealed in the forest near the rest ed Children since the discovery of the child’s includes medical, car accident area. Based on the condition of the remains, remains. Over the past six months, detectives and structure fire calls. In little was known about the deceased’s race, have definitively ruled out more than 60 2021, the city is on pace to appearance, or other identifying characteris- potential missing kids from information pro- exceed 430 calls for service, tics. In an attempt to identify the deceased, vided by NCMEC and tips from the public. representing a nearly 100% OSP and Oregon State Medical Examiner’s There is a strong likelihood this child has increase from last year. Office used a specialty lab to extract DNA not been reported missing. Investigators said “No one single area such information to aid in her identification. they would like the public to know they are as medicals or car wrecks and With the assistance of Parabon Nanolabs, already considering all children listed on the certainly not structure fires investigators now know more identifying NCMEC website. have shown any substantial details which will hopefully assist in her This child would likely not have been seen Courtesy of OSP increase from 2020 to 2021. identification. The following new information since November 2020. If you have informa- Investigators had earlier released this Just an overall increase,” is being released: tion that might help investigators, please call sketch of the deceased child to help learn • Age: 7 – 9 800-442-0776 or *OSP (*677). who she is. More Gold Beach, Page A3 Massive offshore windfarms coming to Oregon? INDEX Crosswords ............................................. A10 Legislature invests in wildfire prevention Crossword Answers ........................... A7 AT CURRYPILOT.COM Classifieds ......................................... 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HEALTHCARE A2 | FRIDAY, JULY 9, 2021 CURRY COASTAL PILOT Obituaries Jeremy Michael Johnston Joseph Lee Emerick HE�August 4, 1975 – April�ES 15, 2021 April 16, 1957 – May 20, 2021 Jeremy Michael John- Mackenzie and Carter. Joseph Lee Emerick emotional effects followed ston was born August 4, Grandson Waylon. Parents passed away, at his home, him throughout his life. 1975 to Michael and Cindy Mike and Cindy, Sister in the early morning hours Despite all of the trau- Johnston in West Covina, Shaleen, nephew Cole and of May 20, 2021. He was ma, and a surreal number CA and passed away April niece Tamara, as well as 64 years old. of surgeries over the course 15, 2021 in Medford, OR. numerous aunts, uncles, His life has been an of his life, Joe completed Jeremy was a Brookings cousins and close friends inspiration to many people, a successful career with resident since 1988 and he called family. and he will be greatly Sause Brothers. In the BHHS graduate class of A Celebration of Life missed. latter years of his job, 1993. He lived in Brook- will be held Saturday July Joe was born at Curry Joe transferred back over ings until his passing. 10th at 99261 North Bank General Hospital in Gold to the West Coast, and Jeremy is survived by Chetco River Road, Brook- Beach on April 16, 1957. finished his career closer his children Chase (Heidi), ings, OR. He was Lee and Louise to his family. He retired, Emerick’s first born, and after 30 years, in 2015. He their only son. As a child, talked fondly of his “Sause Joe loved camping with family”, and expressed his family, trout fishing in gratitude for the support he Service Notices Quosatana Creek, riding was given.