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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 2024

Brookings, Oregon

Tolowa Dee-ni’ oppose windmill energy and transparent procedure is developed. The Tolowa Dee-ni’ is a federally recognized Indian Nation, one of 574 federally recognized tribes in the United States that depend on traditional places, foods and lifestyles. The Tolowa states believe future impacts from climate change threaten access to traditional foods and marine foods, which offer sustenance as well as cultural, economic, medicinal and community health

BY ROGER GITLIN Country Media Inc.

The Tolowa Dee-ni’ Nation announced it has passed a Resolution opposing offshore wind energy. The Nation, which covers Del Norte County and much of Southwest Oregon, urges the Department of Interior and Bureau of Ocean Energy Management to halt all scoping and permitting for offshore wind projects, until a comprehensive

for future Tolowa Dee-ni’ generations. The offshore wind energy project lacks tribal involvement and research, according to the Resolution. The Tribe states the (wind energy project) lacks studies or research about the environmental impacts the windmills will have on the ocean ﬂoor and marine species. “The Federal government has a legal obligation to consult with Tribal Nations on any activities that may affect the lands and resources. We ask the Administration to incorporate the essential value of tribal co-stewardship, co-decision making and co-management of tradition lands and waters,” according to the Resolution.

Gas theft at Peter’s Cranberry Farm Johnson v. On 3/11/2024, the Curry County Sheriff’s Office was notified of a Trespass and Theft at Peter’s Cranberry Farm on Airport Road in Sixes. It was reported that a lock was broken to an outdoor fuel tank next to one of the shops on the property over the weekend. At the time of the report, it was believed several hundred dollars’ worth of non-ethanol premium (clear) fuel was stolen at two different times by the same suspect over the weekend. This incident was captured on newly installed surveillance equipment after a trespass occurred nearly two weeks prior. It was learned through investigation and leads provided by the public, the potential identity of the suspect. The victim had posted to Facebook, photographs of the suspect and vehicle online. It was reported back to the Curry County Sheriff’s Office from our neighboring law enforcement agency, Bandon Police Department, and concerned citizens, the person suspected in this theft was Nicholas Sucec out of Coos County. It was reported that Nicholas was residing in the Coos County area. A Bandon PD Sergeant observed the pickup seen in the Sixes theft on 3/12/2024. The Bandon PD Sergeant attempted a traffic stop and the driver fled in a dodge pickup truck. The male driver was identified as Nicholas Sucec and was taken into custody without further incident. The investigating Curry County Deputy, Levi Easlon, responded to Bandon to interview Sucec. During the interview admissions were made about the fuel theft over the weekend. He was cited and released for the fuel theft, criminal trespass and criminal mischief at Peters Cranberry Farm. Sucec was taken into custody by Bandon PD for Felony Elude, Reckless Driving, and two valid warrants out of Coos Bay PD for failure to appear.

Grants Pass to be Heard by SCOTUS

BY NATE SCHWARTZ Country Media Inc.

A case with massive implications for the Oregon Coast is on the docket for the US Supreme Court next month, in what experts are calling the most important case concerning homelessness in decades.

Oregon Primary 2024 ﬁnal list Democratic Candidates: Joseph Biden Marianne Williamson

STAFF REPORT Country Media Inc.

Oregon Secretary of State LaVonne Grifﬁn-Valade has released the ﬁnal list of candidates to appear on the 2024 Democratic and Republican Presidential Primary for Oregon’s primary election on May 21.

Republican Candidates: Donald Trump “Oregonians are voters,” Grifﬁn-Valade said. “In 2022 we had the highest voter turnout in the county. We have been trailblazers

in creating modern and secure elections through our vote-bymail system, which we’ve operated for more than 20 years without a single instance of widespread voter fraud. We are taking every precaution to ensure the 2024 elections will be no different.” ORS 249.078 (1)(a) states that a Secretary of State may place the name of a candidate on a major

party Presidential primary ballot if the Secretary, in their “sole discretion, has determined that the candidate’s candidacy is generally advocated or is recognized in national news media.” Candidates may also access the ballot by nominating petition as provided in ORS 249.078 (1)(b). Oregon law allows major parties to decide whether to hold “open” or “closed” primaries. In this year’s May Primary, both the Democratic and Republican parties will hold “closed” primaries — meaning that a voter must be registered with that party by April 30th to participate in its primary election. Oregonians can register to vote or change their party registration at OregonVotes.gov. What you need to know about the May 2024 primary election • The deadline to register to vote, update your voter registration, or register with a Please see PRIMARY, Page 9

INDEX

The Case Originally ﬁled in 2018, Gloria Johnson vs The City of Grants Pass, Oregon pertains to a handful of Grants Pass city ordinances that, in addition to other measures, disallow a homeless person to use a blanket, pillow, or cardboard box to protect themselves while sleeping within city limits. If found in violation of these ordinances, which include ‘anti-sleeping’, ‘anti-camping’, and ‘park exclusion’ measures, a homeless individual could be ﬁned hundreds of dollars. Repeat offenders could receive exclusion orders from the city, barring them from any city property at risk of criminal trespassing charges. The 9th District Court ruled in favor of Johnson, stating that under these ordinances, the status of homelessness (which is involuntary to most), is essentially criminalized. The court drew precedent from another 9th District case, Martin v. City of Boise, Idaho. In Martin, the decision held that any criminal charges brought against involuntarily homeless persons for resting on public property violates the Eight Amendment as a form of cruel and excessive punishment. “Pursuant to Martin, it is an Eight Amendment violation to criminally punish involuntarily homeless persons for sleeping in public if there are no other public areas or shelters where those individuals can sleep,” stated the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals following an appeal from the City of Grants Pass. Like most other small Oregon cities, there simply is not enough shelter space to allow each person Please see SCOTUS, Page 9

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

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