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Accused killer to have charges dropped Mental health woes make it impossible to pursue charges By DAVID RUPKALVIS For The World

A North Bend woman arrested for killing her own mother will not spend any time in prison after it was determined she was too mentally ill to assist in her own defense. Coos County District Attorney R. Paul Frasier announced Wednesday that Alexis Marie Bergquist will remain in custody at the Oregon State Hospital for the time being, but due to state law, he has no choice but to drop the second-degree murder charge she was facing. Bergquist was arrested Dec. 30, 2019, and was charged with second-degree murder in

the death of her mother, Ramona Matthews. Frasier said at the time of her arrest, it was obvious Bergquist was suffering with some form of mental illness. During the investigation, law enforcement learned she had suffered with severe mental health issues for years. Under state law, in order for someone to be prosecuted for a crime, they must be able to assist in their own defense. If the defendant is unable to assist in their defense, the prosecution must be halted and appropriate mental health care given. The goal is to provide care that will enable the defendant to assist in their defense. If needed, a defendant can be admitted to the state hospital, but the law limits how long a person can be held in the hospital. In Oregon, that limit is three years for second-de-

gree murder. In addition, state law requires any detention at the state hospital must stop if it is determined the defendant will never be able to assist in their own defense. In that case, all charges must be dropped with prejudice. That means if in the future, circumstances change and the person can assist in their own defense, charges could be reinstated. In Bergquist’s case, it was determined shortly after she was arrested that should not assist in her defense. The court the ordered she be sent to the state hospital for treatment. In July, the state hospital issued an opinion that Bergquist would never be able to assist in her own defense. Because of the severity of the charges, Frasier asked for a second opinion from a qualified mental health expert. That expert

agreed with the state hospital, ruling that Bergquist would never be able to assist in her own defense. While the law requires Frasier to drop the murder charge, he petitioned the court to have Bergquist labeled an extremely dangerous person with mental illness. Frasier asked the court to admit her to the state hospital under the supervision of the Psychiatry Security Review Board. Last month, the court granted Frasier’s petition, and Bergquist was committed to the state hospital for two years. The commitment is renewable, and Bergquist can be kept in the hospital as long as she is considered extremely dangerous. Bergquist was taken back to the state hospital last week, and Frasier has begun the process of dropping the murder charge.

Fall festivities at Dragonfly Farm and Nursery By BREEANA LAUGHLIN The World

A mother/daughter duo who started out selling their plants at the Bandon Farmer’s market have grown their business into a full-fledged plant nursery – as well as a destination for community gatherings. Daughter Jenine and her mother Pam Manning are turning their farm into a year-round destination offering events and activities in every season. The latest community events at Dragonfly Farm and Nursery are a series of pumpkin parties. The first pumpkin parties were held on Oct. 15 and 16 and they will be held again from noon to 5 p.m. Oct. 22 and 23. “We are busiest in the Spring and we thought we need to figure out ways to get people in and keep the traffic flow – as well as we just love putting on community events,” said Jenine Manning. Dragonfly farm and nursery is located off Highway 101 on the east side of the highway, tucked away behind a forest of trees between Langlois and Bandon. It is children

The latest community events at Dragonfly Farm and Nursery are a series of pumpkin parties. The first pumpkin parties were held on Oct. 15 and 16 and they will be held again from noon to 5 p.m. Oct. 22 and 23.

and dog-friendly. The farm has “prewashed” pumpkins for families to pick out during the pumpkin parties as well as free games and face painting, drinks, popcorn and other goodies. Children who come to the pumpkin party dressed in costume get a free goodie bag and other kid-friendly surprises. Adults in costume will receive 31 percent off any one item in the nursery. Jenine says fall is a great time for planting. “People don’t realize that but it’s a great time to get your plants in the ground. The fall rains establish the roots so in the spring plants can focus on their leaves,” she said. Dragonfly farm and nursery sells perennials, annuals, organic vegetable starts, herbs, berries, succulents, cacti, houseplants, shrubs, trees and more. The owners said they realize many people come to the nursery from out of town – so they keep it well stocked so visitors can find everything they need. The property has an interesting

Historic home to be torn down By JULIE AKINS For The World

A once grand old home in Coos Bay now sits on the precipice of destruction within the coming weeks. The once picturesque 1890’s home at 737 North Broadway facing highway 101 and the Pacific Ocean has five bedrooms and three bathrooms under its pitched roof and octagonal design feature which stretches out to nearly three thousand square feet. It’s perched on a small bluff with large bay windows overlooking the march of time. During its existence those who lived Please see DRAGONFLY Page A2 at the home watched Coos Bay go from a single main street with horse and buggy and steamer vessels on the Pacific Ocean to a modern city with electric vehicles cruising the coastline and a 21st century port. The home has been a constant on Nichole Rutherford, assistant city the landscape of Coos Bay for 122 manager in Coos Bay, said the task years. But sadly the grand old lady and force has several goals in front of it. her neighboring property at 765 will No. 1, will be to identify funding soon be demolished, by unanimous sources after the first two years, vote of the Coos Bay City Council which the grant covers. Second, on Tuesday. is to streamline existing resourcIt seems the home, which sold last es. Others include to incorporate July for $210,000, is not properly national-level best practices for braced on the hillside which had a ending homelessness, eliminating significant erosion issue causing the racial disparities in homelessness and creating a pathway that leads to retaining wall and parts of the slope on which the house sits to fail and Please see HOMELESS Page A3 fall onto the highway. The city has determined that both the old grand dam and the smaller home with two bedrooms and one bath next door, will have to be demolished in order to secure the area safely from the homes collapsing when the next significant rains begin to fall. The city argues if the homes are removed it will be easier to abate the falling hillside and it’s the city’s view that in their current form the homes represent a danger to the community. “I’m glad that we can find solutions for the public’s greatest safety,” said Councilor Carmen Matthews. The city’s cost to demolish the homes will not be offset by the Oregon department of Transportation according to the city manager but he does plan to seek a lien on the Drew Farmer, the executive director of ORC- property in order to recover costs of CA, talks about the work that can be done to abatement. The property owner has help the homeless get off the streets during the opportunity to seek an appeal a Rotary Club meeting. Please see CB COUNCIL Page A3

Collaborative effort to take on homelessness By DAVID RUPKALVIS For The World

Cities and counties working together may be the solution to the homelessness crisis in Coos County. That’s the message representatives from Coos Bay, North Bend and Coos County shared Tuesday while sharing how they are working together to the Coos Bay-North Bend Rotary Club. “I’m very happy North Bend, Coos Bay and the county are coordinating together to come up with some solutions,” North Bend Mayor Jessica Engelke said. Drew Farmer, the executive director of ORCCA, explained the partnership in Coos County is thanks to House Bill 4123, which gave $1 million grants to eight counties in the state. The grants were designed to enhance the ability of cities and counties to work as one to come up with plans to combat homelessness. Farmer said as the executive director of a nonprofit that works to find housing and other necessities for people, he can see the value of a coordinated response. He explained the county task force will work to bring nonprofits and others who work for the homeless together so they can have unified front and make money go further. “I can think of about eight other organizations that were attempting to make a plan like this and coordinate everyone,” Farmer said. “Many

people have ended up on the streets and the infrastructure to move them forward isn’t there comprehensively.” Farmer said several years ago, a study showed there were 1,400 homeless in Coos County with fewer than 100 shelter beds available. Coos County Commissioner Melissa Cribbins said the collaborative task force exists largely thanks to the efforts of the Coos Bay Homeless Workgroup, which started in 2018 and was disbanded this month. “That’s really how we ended up here today,” Cribbins said. “Coos Bay was really visionary. They had representatives from North Bend and the county. The Coos Bay Homeless Workgroup was doing great work and really coordinated our efforts.” The new group will be led by Coos Bay, North Bend and the county, but it will be open to all of the county and even places like Reedsport nearby. “This is really going to be a community-wide effort,” Cribbins said. “It has to be a community-wide effort.” According to the legislation that approved the grant funding, the new task force must have a strategic plan completed by May 2023. The task force must also find a way to fund itself after the grant funding ends in two years. “The Legislature will expect a report back,” Cribbins said. “They don’t give out money like this without knowing what their money was

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used for. I think it’s a real opportunity. Homelessness impacts all our communities.” Jill Rolfe, the community development director for Coos County, said the plan the task force is working on a plan that will make a difference. “It is really important when we build that strategic plan that we communicate with all our communities,” Rolfe said. “That plan is not something we want sitting on a shelf.”

Coos Bay Assistant City Manager Nichole Rutherford explains some of the work that will be done by a new homelessness task force that is forming in Coos County.

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