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North Bend to start property watch program By DAVID RUPKALVIS The World
The North Bend Police Department is planning to implement a property watch program to help business owners watch their property during off hours. Police Chief Gary McCullough said the program has been successful in many Oregon communities, including in Coos Bay when he was police chief there. "It worked really well for us in assisting our downtown businesses and property owners in helping police their downtown properties when there's nobody there," McCullough said.
The program, which will kick off in September, would allow business owners to sign up to have police keep a closer eye on their properties after the business has closed. McCullough said businesses that sign up will give police the authority to remove people from the property for a variety of violations. Those include anyone making unreasonable noise, fighting, exhibiting violent behavior, violating state or city laws, or people who remain on the property for more than 20 minutes, violate curfew laws, consume alcohol or controlled substance, litter, ride skateboards, drive a vehicle in a
careless manner, obstruct traffic or carry firearms. Basically, McCullough said, business that sign up will give police authority to remove those causing any trouble from the business property without having to contact the owner at the time. "Without this, if we go on a property and someone broke a window or made a mess at 4 o’clock in the morning, we have to contact a business owner and say what would you like us to do," McCullough said. Similar programs are used in Astoria, Pendleton, Salem, Coos Bay and other communities. McCullough said when he was chief
in Coos Bay, more than 75 business were signed up and most were pleased with the results. "There are limits to the property watch program," McCullough said. "If you sign up to be a part of the program, please be aware the North Bend police officers cannot give you legal advice, cannot evict someone for you, cannot tow vehicles from your property. The one we have stress the most is we do not take the place of private security. We are not there. If we happen to drive by and see someone of your property, we can stop and take action." The free program is only for
Thousands flock to The Mill Casino
commercial business. Business owners who sign up will be placards to place in their windows, showing police and the public they are part of the program. North Coos Dispatch will also keep the list, so they can inform officers that come to a scene. When the program kicks off, business owners can sign up by filling out a form on the North Bend police website or by filling out hard copies that will be available at the police department. "We'd like to start it here in September and they would be eligible until the end of the year," McCullough said. :We'd like to renew it every year."
Wyden touts elements of Inflation Reduction Act By DAVID RUPKALVIS The World
Photos by David Rupkalvis/The World
The Mill Casino, Hotel and RV Park was the place to be last weekend as two special events drew big crowds. The casino hosted its fourth Food Truck-off, with 15 food trucks set up in the casino parking lot. Thousands of people visited the food truck event to try a variety of foods and listen to live music. At the same time, a rock and gem show inside the casino brought people indoors to see a variety of beautiful rocks, polished gems and much more.
Swimmers take over Mingus Park
Photos by David Rupkalvis/The World
Hundreds of youth swimmers converged on Coos Bay last weekend to take park in the Big Kahuna Open, which was sponsored by the Gold Coast Swim Team. Dozens of tents were set up near the Mingus Park Pool as some of the visiting families camped outdoors, while many others stayed in local hotels. At the pool, swimmers competed in a variety of strokes as volunteer timers waited at the finish line to catch the exact moment each swimmer finished.
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Days after the U.S. Senate passed the Inflation Reduction Act, approving hundreds of billions in spending on major Democrat priorities, Sen. Ron Wyden took a victory lap during a call with Oregon media. Wyden, who authored several of the key elements, in the package that passed the Senate when Vice Pres. Kamala Harris broke a 50-50 tie, said he was proud of the money to combat climate change, lower drug prices and take on tax cheats. "I'm proud the legislation is going to pack a 1-2 punch on climate change," Wyden said. "The bill includes my Clean Energy for America legislation and the money for wildfire impact across the state. What the Clean Energy for America bill does is it takes the tax code and throws it in the trash can. It says the more you reduce carbon, the bigger savings you get. The law I wrote is the biggest investment in climate change ever. I've been working on it for a decade, and I'm proud of it." Wyden said the bill provides $20 billion for farmers who use environmentally-friendly technology, $5 billion to help combat wildfires and $4 billion for drought mitigation. The legislation also takes a big step toward lowering drug prices, although it did not go as far as Wyden had hoped. The biggest change is Medicare will now be able to negotiate directly with drug makers on pricing. "Seniors have felt the restriction that big pharma has been able to protect in the Medicare law, the provision that keeps Medicare from negotiating is a curse," Wyden said. "The curse is being lifted now. Obviously big pharma is going to fight this every step of the way. Big pharma is going to fight this in courts and state legislatures. "The reason pig pharma is going to fight this is it's going to be a seismic shift in way drug prices are set. They will no longer be able to charge what they want." Wyden said in Oregon, 20,000 seniors now pay $2,000 a year or more for pharmaceuticals. Under the new legislation, there will be monthly cap on what anyone using Medicare has to pay." One big change is Medicare patients using insulin will have a monthly cap of $35 for the life-saving drug. Wyden said perhaps his biggest disappointment was Republican senators blocked an effort to extend the $35 cap Please see INFLATION, Page A2
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