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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2025

Brookings, Oregon

Oregon Crab Fishery Faces Scrutiny After Record Whale Entanglements BY LINDA LEE

Curry Coastal Pilot

Oregon's commercial Dungeness crab fishery is under increasing pressure to address whale entanglements after a record-breaking four incidents in 2024, including one as recently as January 6th. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) has issued an advisory to crabbers, urging them to be vigilant and avoid setting gear in areas where whales are transiting or foraging; however, conservation groups like Oceana, a leading ocean conservation organization, criticized the advisory as inadequate and the voluntary measures are insufficient and they are calling for stronger, more decisive action. The ODFW advisory, while acknowledging the high number of entanglements, relies on voluntary compliance from the fishing fleet. It reminds crabbers to use best practices, such as minimizing surface gear, avoiding areas with high whale activity and promptly removing gear from the ocean. The

Protected Status: Humpback Whales have been on the Endangered Species List since 1973.

Please see WHALES Page 10

Backyard Orchardists Gear Up for Fruit Tree Season From seasoned growers to those just planting their first tree, fruit tree enthusiasts are preparing for a busy season. Now is the time for crucial tasks like buying, planting, pruning and spraying, all essential for a healthy and productive orchard, whether it's a single tree or a backyard full. "If you start with disease-resistant varieties, you've got a much better chance of having a low-input orchard," advises retired Oregon State University (OSU) Extension Service horticulturist Steve Renquist. “Choosing resistant varieties minimizes the need for constant spraying.” For those with limited space, Renquist recommends dwarf rootstock, which keeps trees smaller and easier to manage. Even dwarf trees need adequate space and require at least five feet between plantings. Fruit trees thrive in welldrained soil. Standard-size trees require soil four to nine feet deep, while dwarf varieties can manage with three to five feet. Raised beds are a good option for areas with compacted or shallow

In need of pruning: An example of an Apple Tree in need of pruning.

Please see FRUIT TREES Page 10

Curry County Board of Commissioners

Filed Suit Against Sheriff Ward Ward has refused to attend board meetings and provide county legal counsel with requested documents. According to the lawsuit, those documents detail things like county property, contracts, employment matters and potential liabilities. Last month, the board passed an order requiring the sheriff to hand over the records, attend relevant county meetings and provide duplicate keys to his office’s county vehicles; to which, Sheriff Ward has not complied. Sheriff Ward and Curry County commissioners have been at odds following budget cuts for the sheriff’s department, and other issues. A law enforcement levy to help fund county police failed

BY LINDA LEE

Curry Coastal Pilot

On January 13, 2025, the Curry County Board of Commissioners (BOC) filed a declaratory judgment suit against Curry County Sheriff John Ward in Curry County Circuit Court in order to resolve long-standing disagreements between the BOC and the sheriff about their respective roles and responsibilities in county government. Filing a suit was an option of last resort that was taken after the BOC and county legal counsel made multiple requests for cooperation, information and records from the Sheriff’s Office that were not satisfactorily fulfilled. The complaint alleges Sheriff

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last year at the ballot. The sheriff’s office cut nineteen positions in July. Commissioners approved the possibility of another levy to go before voters in May. In September, Ward filed an Oregon State Bar complaint against Fitzgerald, describing Fitzgerald’s requests as a “vendetta fueled by personal animosity.” In December, Teamsters Local 223, a union representing Curry County Sheriff’s Deputies, released a statement “calling out the Curry County Board of Commissioners for their blatant financial neglect of the Sheriff’s Office and their continued overreach into areas beyond their authority.” The release called the county’s

order directed towards Ward “direct overreach of the commissioners’ powers” and a “violation of the principles of local governance and constitutional law.” The lawsuit against Sheriff Ward alleges that the sheriff believes he has autonomous authority and is not required to obey policies adopted by the board. It goes on to claim that Sheriff Ward has entered into contracts that involve the county without providing specifics of those agreements to the commission’s legal counsel. This stems from Sheriff Ward signing off on the Medication for Opioid-Use Disorder (MOUD) grant without the board’s knowledge or approval, thereby mak-

ing the grant null and void and leaving the sheriff’s department without the funds available to maintain the Medically Assisted Treatment (MAT) program for incarcerated individuals at the Curry County Jail in Gold Beach. The BOC remains hopeful that these matters of disagreement can be mutually resolved without lengthy litigation and the Sheriff will choose to work cooperatively with the Board in serving the people of Curry County. The county’s attorney, Ted Fitzgerald, declined to comment on the active litigation. Ward was unavailable for a statement. This is an ongoing story and will be updated as more information follows.

Phone Number: 541-813-1717 • Address: 519 Chetco Avenue, Unit 7, Brookings, OR 97415 • Email: Circulation@CountryMedia.net

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