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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2022 | theworldlink.com |

Most city elections not needed in November Briggs: New and Sara Stephens were the only candidates to qualify for the ballot. Kamryn Stringfield announced earlier this year she was running for a council seat but withdrew after moving from the city. In Bandon, Mayor Mary Schamehorn will get another term in office after being the only person to file. On the council side, two incumbents will be joined by a newcomer, but no election is needed after only three candidates filed for the three seats. Incumbents Chris Powell and Madeline Seymour filed for re-election while port Administrator Josh Adamson was the lone candidate to file for Peter

By DAVID RUPKALVIS The World

Most cities in Coos County will not need an election to determine who will lead their cities for the next two years. Coos Bay, Bandon and Coquille had only the minimum number of candidates file for the seats, although there will be new faces in some of the communities. There will be no change in Coos Bay, where Mayor Joe Benetti was the only person to run for mayor, ensuring he will serve another two-year term in office. On the council side, incumbents Carmen Matthews, Rob Miles

Braun's seat. In Coquille, Mayor Sam Flaherty will get another term after being the lone candidate to file for mayor. On the council side, incumbents Jake Marshall and Dave Waddington will receive new terms while Janice Wheeler will take the seat being vacated by Ann Parker. One exception in 2022 is in North Bend, where elections for both mayor and council are needed. Incumbent Mayor Jessica Engelke filed for re-election, where she will be opposed by former Mayor John Briggs. Engelke was elected to the council in 2018

and became the city's first female mayor in 2020. Briggs was elected to the council in 1998 and elected as mayor in 2000. He served one term as mayor. The winner in November will receive a two-year term as mayor. On the council side, incumbents Timm Slater and Bill Richardson announced they will not seek new terms. Councilor Larry Garboden is running for a new term. Three candidates - Jenny Jones, John Scheirman and Barbara Schultz - are also running. The top three vote getters in the November election will earn four-year terms on the council.

School’s back in session

Photos by David Rupkalvis/The World

Students returned to class around Coos County this week as schools in Coos Bay and North Bend opened their doors to students. In Coos Bay, Marshfield High School and Marshfield Junior High started classes Tuesday, while in North Bend, all students returned Wednesday. As Hillcrest School in North Bend, students began arriving 20 minutes before the doors opened, eager to get back into the classroom and to see their friends they missed over the summer. As parents brought their children to the school, many stopped to take first-day-of school photos. When the doors to Hillcrest finally opened, the students poured into the school, officially starting a new school year.

File photo

Hundreds of people gather at Mingus Park in Coos Bay for the Out of the Darkness Suicide Awareness Walk.

Walk aims to cut back on suicides been a problem forever, but it has grown into a plague in Oregon and Coos County in recent years. That's something Lance Nelson hopes to stop. The Oregon chapter president of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Nelson said September will be a busy month in the effort to slow down suicide. This week is Suicide Prevention Week and September is Suicide Prevention Month. So how big of a problem is

By DAVID RUPKALVIS The World

It is the No. 1 cause of death for people ages 10 to 24 and in the top causes of death for all people in the United States, yet most people prefer to ignore it. But this month, volunteers in Coos County are working to bring it into the light and to raise funds to slow it down in the future. What is it? Suicide, the taking of one's own life. Suicide has

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suicide in Coos County. It's worse than most would expect. "What we know is Oregon is one of the worst states for suicide," Nelson said. "In Oregon, Coos County is one of the worst counties." The question many try to answer is why? "It's a very complicated scenario there," Nelson said. "We know that rural areas are typically worse. We know that areas that are lower economically are

worse. We know areas with high firearm ownership are worse, and we now areas with lower mental health services all contribute." Nelson was quick to reassure he was not opposed to gun ownership, but he said the use of guns during suicide attempts are almost always successful, which does play a role in the high numbers. "We know if we can extend the timeframe from their suicidal

leadership is needed in North Bend By DAVID RUPKALVIS The World

After he left the position as North Bend mayor in 2002, John Briggs never planned to run for office again. That was until he watched a city council meeting earlier this year During that meeting, an employee of Rite Aid spoke to the council and talked about how a homeless man at the store made her fear for her life. Briggs said the response from incumbent Mayor Jessica Engelke infuriated him. "Since this was the middle of public comment, unfortunately our mayor said this is public comment, your time is up and we don't have time to discuss it with you. I find that lacks in compassion. When do the citizens get to sit down with the council," Briggs asked. "I don't see it. That's why I'm running for mayor." Briggs said he has other problems with Engelke's leadership and the direction the city is taking, but that moment was the one that pushed him to run for office again. Another area Briggs shows concern about is Engelke's claim that the Main Street program is making a big difference in the community. "I know Jessica Engelke really touts what she done. I know there's some good stuff that's come with that. But the Main Street Program is just down there," he said pointing toward downtown. "They've done nothing for the businesses down here all the way to Newmark." Briggs said even with Main Street, he is disappointed when walking downtown. "Twenty years ago when I was mayor, we had a lack of parking downtown, and we had all the storefronts open," he said. "It was not costing us $85,000 a year. These folks up there in the houses, they help pay. All funds belong to the citizens of North Bend. It is the job of the council and the city administrator to work with the funds available. To me, the most important part of the city is the residents." Briggs, who served eight years on the airport board, said he was also dismayed when he learned the city of North Bend is considering cancelling a law enforcement agreement with the airport. If that were to happen, the airport could be forced to close. "Many businesses would be affected as will our various medical facilities," Briggs said. "Why would the city even consider such an action. I believe this is evidence of poor leadership at city hall." When Briggs was mayor from 2000 to 2002, he garnered some controversy when he supported a proposal to consolidate Coos Bay and North Bend. The voters in North Bend rejected that proposal, and Briggs said he has learned his lesson. "I hereby state I heard their voice, and I will not support consolidation again," he said. Briggs said he has three main objectives if elected. First, would be to re-establish a sense of safety and security in the community. "Right now, I don't feel that comfortable walking around," he said. Second, Briggs wants a city government that is compassionate toward its residents. A confessed fiscal

Please see SUICIDE, Page A2

Please see BRIGGS, Page A11

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