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Yard of the Month WINNERS ANNOUNCED See page 8!

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 08, 2025

Brookings, Oregon

$100,000 grant to fund Bud Cross Park improvements CURRY COASTAL PILOT Bud Cross Park will see some major improvements thanks to a $100,000 grant from the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD). The project will add paved pathways, a new playground, a day-use picnic area and much needed shade trees. “This is a big win for Brookings,” said City Manager Tim Rundel. “I’m grateful to our community for their input and to OPRD for recognizing the importance of this project.” A recent community survey showed over ninety-four percent support for the proposed park upgrades. The park improvements reﬂect a strong partnership between the city, the community and state resources. “Investing in Bud Cross Park

The picnic area will meet ADA requirements.

means investing in our community’s quality of life,” said Mayor Isaac Hodges. “This project will ensure the park remains a welcoming place for everyone to gather, play, and connect.” The project goes beyond basic Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements by integrating inclusive playground features such as rubberized safety surfacing, sensory elements and an adult/child face-to-face swing, creating opportunities for children of all abilities to play together. “These upgrades, from the new playground and picnic area to the accessible pathways, reﬂect what our residents told us they wanted,” said Hodges. With nearly twenty percent of Brookings residents living with Please see BUD CROSS Page 3

This will make a great tactile experience for kids.

Brookings-Harbor High School Principal Resigns can be a detriment to a person’s well-being. It’s not clear when, but sometime after the assignation of Charlie Kirk, who was labeled as a conservative political activist, Amber Harkins took to social media praising the shooter for his marksmanship and asking if he was going to give shooting lessons. After the community became aware of the post, the backlash started for Harkins and she once again took to social media posting a second video claiming that her original video had been manipulated and reposted, but she offered no evidence to sup-

BY LINDA LEE

Curry Coastal Pilot

A social media shake up could possibly be the reason that Brookings-Harbor High School Principal Tristin Harkins resigned on September 17th after two online posts by his wife, Amber Harkins, went somewhat viral causing chaos for the school district and concern within the community. Although no ofﬁcial reason was given for the principal’s resignation, the timeline aligns with the aftereffects of the incident that has shook this nation and reminded us that social media

port her claim. She never offered an apology for the potential harm she may have caused. In response to the incident, the school board held a special meeting on September 15th and produced the following statement: ‘The Brookings Harbor School Board is aware of recent online commentary circulating in the community originating from Amber Harkins. We recognize this message has created enormous disruption and anxiety within our schools and neighborhoods. It is important to clarify the limits of the school board's authority. We may only take action in matters involving

district operations, employees, and students. The board and district do not have the authority to sanction or discipline individuals who are not employed by the district, even when their actions create concern in the wider community. What we can do is reaffirm our unwavering commitment to the safety and well-being of our students and staff. We stand firmly against violence, threats of violence, or the glorification of violent acts. We also unequivocally condemn horrific acts of violence in general, regardless of where or by whom they occur, as they have no place

in a safe and caring community. Such views are inconsistent with the values of our schools and community. The Brookings Harbor School District's values a positive learning culture. We strive to provide a safe environment with open discussion and educational opportunities. We hope to model this behavior today and every day for our students and community. We are dedicated to promoting open dialogue, civil discourse, and non-violent problem solving as essential components of education and citizenship. We ask our community to Please see RESIGNS Page 2

Sea Cadet program being explored BY LINDA LEE

Curry Coastal Pilot

The Curry County Board of Commissioners (BOC) is exploring an effort to establish a United States Naval Sea Cadet Corps (USNSCC) unit for local youth in Curry County. “We are excited to be working with Curry County to start a new unit,” said Captain Thurraya S. Kent, USN (ret), Strategic Growth Director U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps. Founded in 1958, the USNSCC is a youth leadership and development program sponsored by the Navy League of the United States and endorsed by the U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard. The program’s mission is to build leaders of character by instilling in youth the values of honor, courage and commitment. This nationally recognized leadership and character-building program prepares young people ages ten to seventeen for success in school, careers and community life through naval-inspired training and mentorship. "Sea Cadets creates the leaders America needs. As the U.S.

A Sea Cadet at the completion of the graduation ceremony.

Please see SEA CADET Page 4

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