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SERVING CURRY COUNTY SINCE 1946 www.currypilot.com

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2024

Brookings, Oregon

Proposal for a camping ban on Brookings Beach the City’s closing of Mill Beach’s public restrooms as one reason for the proposed ban, after they were closed due to plumbing issues and increasing drug use. As more and more campers used the beach, it became more and more untenable for recreation. “With the closure of the City’s necessary sanitary, restroom, and washing facilities bordering Mill Beach for the better part of the past decade, camping on Mill Beach creates a public health hazard. Campers have no choice but to urinate and defecate on Mill Beach,” states the petition, “Camping cannot be healthy, safe, or sanitary without required

BY NATE SCHWARTZ Curry Coastal Pilot

The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) is seeking public comment on a proposed overnight camping ban for the beaches of Brookings, after a petition was submitted by concerned locals. According to OPRD, residents of the Mill Beach area organized the petition, stating that they “identify concerns over public health, risks to public safety, and impacts on the marine ecosystem along the ocean shore as reasons for proposing the closure of camping on the ocean shore within the city limits”. In the petition, citizens cited

Please see HOMELESS, Page 4

Turtle Rock & Grass Music Festival returns to Gold Beach BY NATE SCHWARTZ Curry Coastal Pilot

The Turtle Rock & Grass Music Festival is returning to the Turtle Rock RV Resort in Gold Beach for another year of tunes and laughs on September 14th, starting at 11 AM. The annual fest brings

a diverse blend of artists and comedians to the South Coast, set alongside the beautiful shore at the resort. This year’s musical offering brings together the different corners of rock, blues, and rock together. Petty Fever, a multiaward-winning Tom Petty tribute act, are Please see FESTIVAL, Page 8

Curry Health Network to transition Health Commercial Record System, streamlining local care black investment and thousands of training hours. CHN is conﬁdent that this change will bring a higher standard of care to Curry County. The decision to implement Epic started with CHN’s desire to consolidate staff effort, improve patient integration for more comprehensive care, and better facilitate information sharing across its network. Recognized nationwide as a leading platform, Epic is expected to elevate the patient experience through an extensive patient portal, MyChart.

BY NATE SCHWARTZ Curry Coastal Pilot

In a transformative move set to improve patient care and information access, Curry Health Network (CHN) is embarking on a signiﬁcant upgrade. The local healthcare organization will be adopting the Epic electronic health record (EHR) system starting September 14. This transition is more than just a shift from one health records tool to another; it represents a multi-million-dollar

“The transition to Epic represents a monumental step forward for Curry Health Network. This investment underscores our commitment to providing top-notch care and embracing cutting-edge technology to enhance patient outcomes,” said Ginny Williams, CHN’s Chief Executive Ofﬁcer. Epic was selected following thorough research and feedback from providers and staff and was supported by the board of directors. Epic’s platform is the most widely used electronic

medical record (EMR) system across Oregon and the U.S., equipping healthcare professionals with the newest advancements in care, and information from across the network. If CHN had chosen to build a system of scratch, it could lead to a long-term and expensive endeavor. This strategy instead allows for smoother integration and serves as a bridge for the regional continuum of care. The more cost effective and efﬁcient Please see HEALTH, Page 3

rockﬁsh harvest reductions for 2025

NEWPORT, Ore. – ODFW is holding two public meetings to discuss the commercial black and blue rockfish fishery and the nearshore fishery. Meetings will be held Sept. 10 in Port Orford with a virtual option and Sept. 12 in Tillamook. Beginning in 2025, harvest of black rockfish is reduced for both commercial and recreational fisheries. The reduction, put into place by the Pacific Fishery Management Council and the National Marine Fisheries Service is a result of a 2023 black rockfish stock assessment. ODFW fishery managers will explain the assessment, resulting harvest reductions, and get input on the best way to manage the fishery to the lower black rockfish harvest levels. The agenda and presentation also include: • Review of the 2024 fishery. • Process and options for setting 2025 state regulations on bi-monthly Please see HARVEST, Page 3

INDEX

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

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