CCP618 by C.M.I.

SERVING CURRY COUNTY SINCE 1946 www.currypilot.com

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18, 2025

Brookings, Oregon

Junior Lifeguard Program Returns for Fourth Season on Southern Oregon Coast

Land: Land-Based Training is also provided for Lifeguards

BY LINDA LEE

Curry Coastal Pilot

The popular open water Junior Lifeguard Program is set to launch its fourth season on the Southern Oregon Coast, offering youth ages nine to seventeen vital ocean safety education and lifesaving skills. With the ﬁrst session just over a month away, organizers are encourag-ing

interested participants to register soon. This year marks an exciting expansion for the program with the introduction of the Sunset Bay Session in Coos Bay, scheduled for June 28th to 30th. This three-day intensive program will provide instruction from certiﬁed open water lifeguards, focusing on ocean safety awareness, lifesaving techniques and enhancing open water, board, and paddling skills.

Thanks to generous grant funding from the Southern Oregon Workforce Investment Board, and a small grant from the Oregon State Marine Board, this special Sunset Bay session will be offered free of charge to all registrants. The Junior Lifeguard program's core mission is to equip young people with a deeper under-standing of their open water environments, provide them with the skills

to recreate safely and foster pathways within the maritime field. Activities include open water swimming, paddle boarding, body surfing, surfing, kayaking, snorkeling and self-rescue techniques. Environmental respect is cultivated through lec-tures on aquatic topics, while self-respect is built through Please see LIFEGUARD Page 8

Know Before You Go:

Understanding and Surviving Dangerous Rip Currents

Rip Current: A narrow, darker gap between areas of breaking waves is one sign of a rip current. currents of water ﬂowing away from shore, typically forming in breaks in sandbars or near structures like jetties and piers. While often mistaken for under-tows or riptides, these terms are incorrect; rip currents pull swimmers away from the shore, not under the water. These currents can be deceptively fast, averaging one to two

BY LINDA LEE

Curry Coastal Pilot

Coastal communities are urging beachgoers to educate themselves about rip currents, a powerful and often misunderstood ocean hazard responsible for the vast majority of life-guard rescues. Rip currents are channelized

feet per second, but capable of accelerating to a staggering eight feet per second, a speed faster than an Olympic swimmer. They vary in size, from narrow channels to over ﬁfty yards wide and their reach can extend from just beyond the breaking waves to hundreds of yards offshore. Even the strongest swimmers can be swept away.

Knowing how to identify a rip current before entering the water can be a lifesaver. Key indica-tors include: A narrow gap of darker, seemingly calmer water between areas of breaking waves and whitewater; a channel of churning, choppy water; A noticeable difference in wa-ter color or a line of foam, seaweed, or debris moving steadily

seaward. Prevention and awareness are paramount. Before heading to the beach, check the latest Na-tional Weather Service forecast for local beach conditions. Upon arrival, always inquire with lifeguards about rip currents and other potential hazards. Please see RIP CURRENTS Page 3

Port Orford gets state grant for visitor center project JEREMY C. RUARK Country media. Inc.

Oregon Heritage, a division of Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, has awarded 35 matching grants worth over $10,600,000 to Oregon Main Street Network organizations across the state, including Port Orford, for building projects that will strengthen local economies. The projects range from façade improvement to basic facilities and housing with awards ranging from $17,900$400,000. Oregon Heritage Grants and Outreach Coordinator Kuri Gill said the Port Orford grant is for $41,481 with a match grant amount of $19,381. The funding is to complete structural repair and revitalization of the Port Orford Visitor Center at 520 Jefferson Street in Port Orford. “The department funded Oregon Main Street Revitalization Grant (OMSRG) applications that best conveyed the

INDEX

ability to stimulate private investment and local economic development, ﬁt within the community’s long-range plan for downtown vitality, and community need, Gill said. “Several projects will address a variety of preservation needs to increase the viability of spaces for existing businesses or opportunities for new businesses.” Other funded south coast projects are located in Gold Beach and North Bend. The local organizations participating in the Oregon Main Street Network developed plans based on community input to prioritize needs and solutions for the commercial district and city. The funds brought to the community by the local organizations through this grant will provide signiﬁcant economic development impacts. “Vibrant downtowns don’t just happen,” Oregon Main Street Coordinator Please see STATE GRANT Page 3

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

Calendar of Events Police Blotter

Classifieds Crossword Answer Crossword Puzzle