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MOSTLY SUNNY 51•30 | TUESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2020 | theworldlink.com

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Powers reappoints interim police chief ZACK DEMARS The World

POWERS — After a turn of events nearly identical to what took place in January, the Powers police department is staffed once again. On Monday, the city council approved a contract appointing Rhett Davis as the city’s interim, part-time police chief. Davis held the same role earlier in the year before the city council hired Kevin Macho, the city’s most recent permanent chief who resigned from the role in October after just seven months on the job. The contract was the only agenda item during a special city

council meeting held Monday. A motion made by Wanda Blanton and seconded by Jim Clauson to approved the contract was approved by the council 4-2. The appointment puts an officer in the department for the first time since Macho’s departure. Without a chief — the department’s only full-time officer — the city’s law enforcement has been left to the Coos County Sheriff’s Office, at least 30 minutes away. Davis has had a long history with the department. He was the city’s police chief between 1998 and 2004, and he was rehired in 2007, continuing with the department until 2018. Then, in January of this year,

Davis took over as interim chief after then-chief Robert Baker’s firing by the city council. Once the city hired Macho as chief, Davis continued working in the department as a part-time reserve officer “He wants to be retired, but he’s offered to help,” said Mayor Robert Kohn in an interview Monday. “He’s been kind enough to keep helping the city out.” His newly approved contract is for $31 an hour at 20 hours per week, and expires July 7, 2021. City leaders hope hiring Davis will give the city some public safety coverage while they work to hire a permanent chief. “We’re certainly looking for someone that’s going to stick

around for a little while, and recognize our budget constraints,” Kohn said. For several months, the city’s been working with Prothman, a recruitment firm, to recruit and screen possible candidates for the position. Out of twelve applicants, three were considered qualified by the firm, including one who is “well qualified,” Kohn said. Council members had a list of qualities they wanted to see in a possible chief, including law enforcement experience in a small town. The city council also met Monday in an executive session to discuss the candidates, according to Kohn. He said later

Coffee Spot opens in Lakeside

Oregon lawmakers pass four bills Monday

JILLIAN WARD For The World

LAKESIDE ─ On the corner heading into downtown Lakeside stands a new coffee drive-thru, or more aptly named “The Coffee Spot.” “Get your mojo on,” said co-owner Chris Barnett, quoting the company motto and inviting people to visit what has now been his dream for the past four years. Barnett had the corner of 701 Airport Way in his sights for some time, which he described as originally being “an eyesore.” “I found out who owned (the land) and asked if they’d be willing to sell,” he said. “The gentleman said he wasn’t interested in selling, but I gave him my number and checked in with him.” It was then that the owner agreed that “it might be time to let it go.” Barnett shared his idea of opening a coffee stop and the owner “thought it was excellent,” he said. From Grants Pass, Ore., Barnett worked on radio commercials for Dutch Bros. Coffee and dreamt of doing something similar. “I wanted to do something fun,” he said. “The community doesn’t have many businesses here, but we have a traffic area where everything goes into (the town).” In addition, he explained that it is going to be a prime location now that the ATV ordinance has been approved, “So why not have something fun for this community? And everyone likes coffee, right?” Barnett and his wife Stefani, who is co-owner as well, purchased The Coffee Spot from a woman in Albany, Ore. who didn’t want to continue the business. Interested in carrying on her hard work, the Barnett’s kept the name and moved the shop to Lakeside. They also held onto the same product, which is Dillanos Coffee out of Sumner,

Photo by Jillian Ward

Co-owner Chris Barnett (far right) stands with three of his employees. Behind him is barista Ingrid Duke, maintenance and supplier Mike Nottingham, and manager Nancy Nottingham. Wash. “It’s really good stuff,” Chris Barnett said of the brand. The Coffee Spot manager, Nancy Nottingham, stated they can make anything a customer requests including iced coffee, smoothies, Italian soda and energy drinks. “If someone says they want to try something else, if we have the flavors, we will do it,” she said, pointing out that the shop is

20 minutes away from Coos Bay or Reedsport, meaning it is likely to draw in customers who might need a coffee between towns. And so far, the most popular drink has been the white chocolate mocha. “I think that drink is popular for most coffee places,” Barnett said. “My personal favorite though is the Earl Gray hot chocolate. I didn’t think I’d like it, but it is a very good drink that’s

not coffee but tea.” Since opening Nov. 17, Barnett said the community has been supportive. “…People are just finding out about us,” he said. “We want people to know we’re not a secret. And with COVID, people aren’t going out and businesses are suffering but take-out and drive-thru’s are open, so we are here for the community. “Come by and see us,” he said.

of hours. The Senate cleared the massive package by a 92-6 vote after the House approved the COVID-19 package by another lopsided vote, 359-53. The tallies were a bipartisan coda to months of partisanship and politicking as lawmakers wrangled over the relief question, a logjam that broke after President-elect Joe Biden urged his party to accept a compromise with top Republicans that is smaller than many Democrats would have liked. The bill combines coronavirus-fighting funds with financial relief for individuals and businesses. It would establish a temporary $300 per week supplemental jobless benefit and a $600 direct stimulus payment to most Americans, along with a

new round of subsidies for hardhit businesses, restaurants, and theaters and money for schools, health care providers and renters facing eviction. The 5,593-page legislation — by far the longest bill ever — came together Sunday after months of battling, posturing and postelection negotiating that reined in a number of Democratic demands as the end of the congressional session approached. Biden was eager for a deal to deliver long-awaited help to suffering people and a boost to the economy, even though it was less than half the size that Democrats wanted in the fall. “This deal is not everything I want — not by a long shot,” said Rules Committee Chairman Jim

McGovern, D-Mass., a longstanding voice in the party’s oldschool liberal wing. “The choice before us is simple. It’s about whether we help families or not. It’s about whether we help small businesses and restaurants or not. It’s about whether we boost (food stamp) benefits and strengthen anti-hunger programs or not. And whether we help those dealing with a job loss or not. To me, this is not a tough call.” The Senate, meanwhile, was also on track to pass a one-week stopgap spending bill to avert a partial government shutdown at midnight and give Trump time to sign the sweeping legislation.

COVID relief bill passes Senate and House WASHINGTON (AP) — Congress passed a $900 billion pandemic relief package Monday night that would finally deliver long-sought cash to businesses and individuals and resources to vaccinate a nation confronting a frightening surge in COVID-19 cases and deaths. Lawmakers tacked on a $1.4 trillion catchall spending bill and thousands of pages of other endof-session business in a massive bundle of bipartisan legislation as Capitol Hill prepared to close the books on the year. The bill goes to President Donald Trump for his signature, which is expected in the coming days. The relief package, unveiled Monday afternoon, sped through the House and Senate in a matter

in the public meeting that council intends to bring at least one of the candidates to the city for an interview. “If we agree with Prothman and their recommendation, we’d invite (the candidates) up for an interview,” Kohn said, adding that could occur in the next several weeks. Looking forward, Kohn hopes the chief who is eventually selected from the process sticks with the department to give it some stability. Once a chief is in place, the city can hire reserve officers to provide additional policing support when necessary. “One or two reserves helps the guy at least get a day off every once in a while,” Kohn said.

Please see Relief, Page 2

SALEM (AP) — State police declared an unlawful assembly at Oregon’s Capitol building Monday as far-right protesters opposed to COVID-19 restrictions attempted to force their way in during a one-day special legislative session, with some demonstrators toting guns and others attacking authorities with bear spray. Inside the Capitol, Lawmakers passed four bills Monday evening, which includes $800 million in relief to people struggling from the pandemic and wildfires, extending an eviction moratorium through June and allocating funds for renter and landlord relief. “Make no mistake, if we do not pass this bill thousands of families will lose their homes in January and it will be on us,” Rep. Julie Fahey, a Democrat from Eugene, said to her colleagues. The scene inside the Capitol was much different earlier in the day when a group of protestors forced their way in and used chemical agents and bear spray against officers. At least two people were arrested, police said. Lawmakers, including Senate President Peter Courtney said the chemical agents lingered in the hallways, causing them to cough as they discussed bills. Outside, protesters banged their fists against the doors chanting, “Let us in.” The state’s Capitol is closed to the public during the special session as part of a COVID-19 safety measure. However virtual testimony about the bills that were expected to be discussed by lawmakers Monday was allowed during Thursday and Saturday hearings. Police blocked off streets surrounding the Capitol building, but as of noon people were shouting “Arrest Kate Brown,” referring to the Democratic governor, who has extended virus restrictions in the state. One person climbed on top of a 20-foot tall relief sculpture next to the front steps of the building, and waved an American flag as people cheered. Other protestors walked around with rifles slung across their bodies as state police, within armored vehicles, repeatedly announced that people must leave the area. By 2 p.m., the crowd’s agitation heightened as people attempted to break glass doors leading into the Capitol building. Reporters from Oregon Public Broadcasting and the Statesman Journal posted videos on Twitter of them being assaulted by protestors. House Speaker Tina Kotek described the violence and damage to the Capitol as “disconcerting and frightening.” Please see Session, Page 2

eEdition

Oregon sees drop in daily case count Monday The World Oregon had fewer than 1,000 reported new COVID-19 cases Monday, the Oregon Health Authority said. The state reported 846 near cases, bringing the total since the start of the pandemic to 103,755. Oregon also had six more deaths, leaving the state’s death toll at 1,347. The new cases reported Monday were in the following counties: Baker (1), Benton (7), Clackamas (114), Clatsop (3), Columbia (11), Coos (5), Crook (4), Curry (3), Deschutes (39), Douglas (27), Harney (3), Hood River (10), Jackson (41), Jefferson (26), Josephine (32), Lane (26), Lincoln (4), Linn (29), Malheur (4), Marion (69),

Relief From Page 1

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, a key negotiator, said on CNBC Monday morning that the direct payments would begin arriving in bank accounts next week. Democrats promised more aid to come once Biden takes office, but Republicans were signaling a wait-and-see approach. The measure would fund the government through September, wrapping a year’s worth of action on annual spending bills into a single package that never saw Senate committee or floor debate. The legislation followed a tortured path. Democrats played hardball up until Election Day, amid accusations that they wanted to deny Trump a victory that might help him prevail. Democrats denied that, but their demands indeed became more realistic after Trump’s loss and as Biden made it clear that half a loaf was better than none. The final bill bore ample resemblance to a $1 trillion package put together by Senate Republican leaders in July, a proposal that at the time was scoffed at by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., as way too little. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., took a victory lap after blocking far more ambitious legislation from reaching the Senate floor. He said the pragmatic approach of Biden was key. “The president-elect suggesting that we needed to do something now was helpful in moving both Pelosi and Schumer into

Morrow (1), Multnomah (212), Polk (10), Tillamook (4), Umatilla (23), Union (1), Wasco (11), Washington (108), Yamhill (18). Oregon’s 1,342nd COVID-19 death is a 58-year-old man in Deschutes County who tested positive on Dec. 14 and died on Dec. 19 at St. Charles Medical Center— Bend. He had underlying conditions. Oregon’s 1,343rd COVID-19 death is a 90-year-old woman in Douglas County who tested positive on Nov. 21 and died on Dec. 18 at her residence. Presence of underlying conditions are being confirmed. Oregon’s 1,344th COVID-19 death is a 78-year-old woman in Hood River County who

tested positive on Dec. 6 and died on Dec. 20 at her residence. She had underlying conditions. Oregon’s 1,345th COVID-19 death is a 74-year-old man in Jackson County who tested positive on Nov. 10 and died on Dec. 18 at Rogue Valley Medical Center. He had underlying conditions. Oregon’s 1,346th COVID-19 death is a 60-year-old man in Jackson County who tested positive on Nov. 27 and died on Dec. 14 at his residence. He had underlying conditions. Oregon’s 1,347th COVID-19 death is a 96-year-old woman in Lane County who tested positive on Dec. 11 and died on Dec. 16 at her residence. She had underlying conditions.

a better place,” McConnell told The Associated Press. “My view about what comes next is let’s take a look at it. Happy to evaluate that based upon the needs that we confront in February and March.” Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, D-Calif., came to the Senate to cast her vote for the bill. “The American people need relief and I want to be able to do what I can to help them,” she said. On direct payments, the bill provides $600 to individuals making up to $75,000 per year and $1,200 to couples making up to $150,000, with payments phased out for higher incomes. An additional $600 payment will be made per dependent child, similar to the last round of relief payments in the spring. “I expect we’ll get the money out by the beginning of next week — $2,400 for a family of four,” Mnuchin said. “So much needed relief just in time for the holidays.” The $300 per week bonus jobless benefit was half the supplemental federal unemployment benefit provided under the $1.8 billion CARES Act in March. That more generous benefit and would be limited to 11 weeks instead of 16 weeks. The direct $600 stimulus payment was also half the March payment. The CARES Act was credited with keeping the economy from falling off a cliff during widespread lockdowns in the spring, but Republicans controlling the Senate cited debt concerns in pushing against Democratic demands. “Anyone who thinks this bill is enough hasn’t

heard the desperation in the voices of their constituents, has not looked into the eyes of the small-business owner on the brink of ruin,” said Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer, a lifelong New Yorker who pushed hard for money helping his city’s transit systems, renters, theaters and restaurants. Progress came after a bipartisan group of pragmatists and moderates devised a $908 billion plan that built a middle-ground position that the top four leaders of Congress — the GOP and Democratic leaders of both the House and Senate — used as the basis for their talks. The lawmakers urged leaders on both sides to back off of hardline positions. “At times we felt like we were in the wilderness because people on all sides of the aisle didn’t want to give, in order to give the other side a win,” said freshman Rep. Elssa Slotkin, D-Mich. “And it was gross to watch, frankly.” Republicans were most intent on reviving the Paycheck Protection Program with $284 billion, which would cover a second round of PPP grants to especially hard-hit businesses. Democrats won set-asides for low-income and minority communities. The sweeping bill also contains $25 billion in rental assistance, $15 billion for theaters and other live venues, $82 billion for local schools, colleges and universities, and $10 billion for child care. The governmentwide appropriations bill was likely to provide a last $1.4 billion installment for Trump’s U.S.-Mexico border wall as a condition of winning his signature.

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Devereux Warming Center will be open tonight The World COOS BAY — With temperatures projected to drop, the Warming Center at Coos Bay’s Devereux Center will open Tuesday. The center offers a meal, hot beverages and warm shelter when temperatures drop to 36 degrees or below. It’ll be open from 6 p.m. Tuesday to 8 a.m. the next morning. Temperatures are expected to dip down to

around 34 degrees Tuesday night after daytime highs in the mid-50s, according to the National Weather Service. Wednesday night is forecast to see temperatures of around 35 degrees. If that forecast holds, the warming center will likely be open Wednesday night, too. The center is located at the lower level of the Devereux Center, at the “Y intersection” of Newmark

Avenue in Coos Bay (1200 Newmark Avenue). Center leaders say they’re currently in need of donations of hot cocoa and apple cider, as well as coffee creamer, tuna and hot dogs, snacks, winter clothing and rain gear. Monetary donations are accepted through the organization’s Facebook page, as well as in-person at the center or online at www.thedevereuxcenter. org.

Relief bill would end ‘surprise’ medical bills WASHINGTON (AP) — People with private health insurance will see the nasty shock of “surprise” medical bills virtually gone, thanks to the coronavirus compromise passed by Congress. The charges that can run from hundreds to tens of thousands of dollars come from doctors and hospitals that are outside the network of a patient’s health insurance plan. It’s estimated that about 1 in 5 emergency visits and 1 in 6 inpatient admissions will trigger a surprise bill. Although lawmakers of

both parties long agreed that the practice amounted to abusive billing, a lobbying war between doctors and insurers had thwarted a compromise, allowing the impasse to become a symbol of dysfunction in Washington. “This has been a profoundly distressing pocketbook issue for families for years,” said Karen Pollitz, a health insurance expert with the nonpartisan Kaiser Family Foundation. “Some of these bills are onerous, and they all strike people as completely unfair.” The compromise would

take patients and their families out of the financial crosshairs by limiting what they can be billed for out-of-network services to a fee that’s based on in-network charges. The amount consumers pay would get counted toward their in-network annual deductible. Insurers and service providers would submit their billing disputes to an independent dispute resolution process, which will follow certain guidelines. The main provisions of the legislation would take effect Jan. 1, 2022.

Session

other political groups. There were tense moments within the walls of the Capitol as well. On the Senate floor Monday morning, Republican Sen. Dallas Heard, who represents an area that includes Curry and southern Coos counties, stood before his colleagues accusing Democrats and Courtney of joining Brown’s “campaign against the people and the children of God.” The senator from Roseburg called the special session “illegitimate” as the public is not allowed inside and described it as an “unchecked assault” against people and their freedom. He also decried the mask mandate. “If you had not done such great evil to my people and had simply asked me to wear my mask, I would have,” Heard said. “But you commanded it and therefore I declare my right to protest against your false authority and remove my mask.” Heard did speak with protesters outside and was absent from the rest of the special session. The four bills that lawmakers passed Monday during the one-day special legislative session were an eviction moratorium that includes $200 million in relief for landlords and tenants, a restaurant relief package that includes

a provision legalizing cocktails to-go, a bill that protects schools from some coronavirus-related lawsuits and a measure that will transfer $600 million in to the state’s emergency fund for COVID-19 and wildfire-response and recovery. The bill that has dominated discussions among lawmakers for weeks and drove the immediate need for a special session is House Bill 4401, which focuses on evictions. With the federal and state eviction moratorium set to expire at the end of the year, the issue has been pushed to the forefront. For weeks, housing advocates have implored lawmakers to extend the moratorium, estimating that between 20,000 and 40,000 Oregon households could be at risk for eviction. The bill extends the moratorium on residential evictions through June 2021. It also requires tenants to submit a sworn statement that they’ve experienced financial hardship in order to be protected from eviction. In addition, the bill allocates $150 million for a Landlord Compensation Fund to pay landlords back rent owed, however landlords must forgo 20% of past-due payments. The third special session lasted a total of 10 hours.

From Page 1

Sen. Courtney, who is Oregon’s longest-serving lawmaker, said Monday’s protests “shook” him. “It was sad today,” Courtney said. “There was a lot of anger — real anger — a lot of meanness and a lot of open division, and I can’t find a way to stop it.” Lawmakers are no stranger to protests, whether it is by members of the public or their own colleagues. Last year a series of walkouts was held by Republican senators, blocking a school funding tax. They returned after Democrats scrapped bills on gun control and another that would have limited religious exemptions from vaccines. A month later, Republicans again did not show up to the Capitol in order to stop a cap-and-trade bill designed to institute a carbon tax. During that time the governor sent state police to bring the absent Republican senators back to the Capitol, and in response some senators fled the state. About 50 miles northeast of the Capitol, Portland has been the epicenter of Black Lives Matter protests — where police and protesters have clashed, as well as demonstrators from

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Oregon women survive scare at Washington State PULLMAN, Wash. (AP) — Nyara Sabally had 19 points and 14 rebounds, and No. 8 Oregon hung on to beat Washington State 69-65 on Monday to extend the nation’s longest winning streak to 26 games, dating to last season. Erin Boley scored 18 points and made all five of her 3-point attempts for Oregon (7-0, 5-0 Pac-12), which has the longest winning streak in program history. “It was really good for us to play a really good team like Washington State,” Boley said. “This was the best game we could have had before the (Christmas) break. It will help us get better when we get back.” Charlisse Leger-Walker scored

20 points for Washington State (3-1, 2-1), which came in following its first win over a ranked opponent since the 2016-17 season. The Cougars beat then-No. 21 Oregon State 61-55 on Saturday. That loss knocked the Beavers out of the poll for the first time in four seasons. Washington State, picked to finish last in the Pac-12, led for much of this game. “I’m proud of how hard we competed,” Cougars coach Kamie Ethridge said. “I’m disappointed we couldn’t pull it off. “I think we are showing ourselves not to be a fluke team. We are solid in a lot of areas,” she said. Johanna Teder hit a 3-pointer with a few seconds left to lift

the Cougars to a 37-32 lead at halftime. Oregon, which trailed at halftime for the first time this season, was hurt by 11 turnovers in the first half, compared with four for the Cougars. However, the Ducks settled down and had just five turnovers in the second half. Two baskets by Bella Murekatete put Washington State up 41-32 early in the third quarter, but the Ducks came back. Jaz Shelley hit a 3-pointer to put Oregon up 49-48. But Jessica Clarke made a late basket to lift the Cougars to a 50-49 lead at the end of the third. Shelley’s 3-pointer with just over a minute left in the game put Oregon ahead 63-62. After a WSU turnover, Boley followed

with a 3-pointer to give Oregon the winning points and a 66-62 lead with 33 seconds left. Krystal Leger-Walker hit a 3-pointer to cut Oregon’s lead to 66-65 with 23 seconds left. Boley hit one of two free throws with 21 seconds remaining to give Oregon a 67-65 lead. Washington State ran most of the time off the clock and Ula Motuga missed a shot from the corner to end the threat. Boley, a senior, said she is trying to be a better leader for her young team. “All of the new people we have have done a really great job of working together,” she said. STANFORD 61, UCLA 49: Francesca Belibi dunked again and scored 15 points, and No.

1 Stanford survived its closest game of the season, beating 10thranked on Monday to remain undefeated. Belibi dunked early in the fourth quarter, a week after becoming the first woman to do so in a collegiate game since former Baylor star Brittney Griner in 2013. Belibi added seven rebounds. Freshman Cameron Brink added 10 points and nine rebounds for the Cardinal (7-0, 4-0 Pac-12). Kiana Williams had 10 points. Michaela Onyenwere finished with 19 points and seven rebounds, and Emily Bessoir, a freshman from Germany, added 15 points for the Bruins (5-2, 3-2).

Bengals surprise Steelers on Monday night CINCINNATI (AP) — Bengals safety Vonn Bell made a beeline for JuJu Smith-Schuster and delivered a devastating hit, forcing a fumble while sending the Steelers’ receiver flying backward. After dancing on Cincinnati’s midfield logo before the game, Smith-Schuster got planted in the turf — and the underdog Bengals were no pussycats at all in a 2717 upset Monday night. Pittsburgh pushovers for years, the last-place Bengals (3-10-1) used a strong defensive effort to beat their AFC North rivals for the first time since 2015 and send the slumping Steelers (11-3) to their third straight defeat. Bell set the tone near the end of the first quarter with his punishing hit on Smith-Schuster after he caught a pass from Ben Roethlisberger. The ball popped free and was recovered by Cincinnati, one of three Pittsburgh turnovers in the game. As promised, Smith-Schuster danced on the Bengals logo before kickoff. He did the same thing in Buffalo prior to a Week 14 loss. Smith-Schuster was not made available to reporters postgame, but Bell had a wry smile when asked about the hit. “I read Ben’s eyes, I saw 19, and I just went and made a play,” he said. “We talked about it on the sidelines, and it just happened.” The Bengals had lost 11 straight games to the Steelers, and they weren’t supposed to win this one — especially with thirdstring quarterback Ryan Finley making his first start of the season. As it turned out, Cincinnati prevented first-place Pittsburgh from wrapping up the AFC North title, and made the Steelers’ postseason prospects look shaky. Since starting the season 11-0, the Steelers have dropped three straight and

Hall of Fame linebacker Greene dies Associated Press Kevin Greene will be remembered for his long blond hair, his charisma, and the havoc he created for opposing quarterbacks. The Hall of Fame linebacker, considered one of the fiercest pass rushers in NFL history, died Monday, it was confirmed by the family and the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He was 58. No cause of death was given. “I regarded him as a personal friend and a true Hall of Famer in every sense,” Hall of Fame president and CEO David Baker said in a statement Monday. “He possessed the most incredible can-do attitude of anyone I ever met. He was a great player, but more than that, he was a great man.” A two-time All-Pro and five-time Pro Bowl selection, Greene finished his 15year NFL career with 160 sacks, which ranks third in league history behind only Bruce Smith (200) and Reggie White (198). He also had 23 forced fumbles and five interceptions. He played for Los Angeles Rams (1985–1992), Pittsburgh Steelers (1993– 1995), Carolina Panthers (1996, 199899) and San Francisco 49ers (1997). He was All-Pro in 1994 and 1996. Former Panthers general manager Bill Polian said Greene was a person exceptionally devoted to his family, his craft as a football player and the miliscored fewer than 20 points in each of their past four games.

Appalachian State wins season’s first bowl game CONWAY, S.C. (AP) — Camerun Peoples and Appalachian State began college football’s virus-impacted bowl season with a record-breaking show at the Myrtle Beach Bowl on Monday. Peoples ran for a bowl-record 317 yards and tied another mark with five rushing touchdowns to lead the Mountaineers past North Texas 56-28. “This is probably one of the most memorable football games I’ve ever played,” Peoples said. The sophomore surpassed the 307 yards rushing of Georgia Tech’s PJ Daniels in the 2004 Humanitarian Bowl. Peoples also became the seventh player to run for that many scores in a bowl game, a list that includes Oklahoma State’s Barry Sanders and Toledo’s Kareem Hunt, as the Mountaineers (9-3) remained a perfect 6-0 in bowls since joining the Sun Belt Conference in 2014. Peoples wasn’t aware he was close to those milestones. He was told on the sideline in the fourth quarter he was nearing 300 yards

and the rushing marks for Appalachian State and a bowl game. Peoples looked at coach Shawn Clark. “Coach Clark said, ‘Yeah, you’re not coming out of the game,’” said Peoples, named the inaugural bowl’s MVP. North Texas (4-6) of Conference USA fell behind 28-7 and had no answer for Peoples or the App State rushing game, which finished with 500 yards. It was a powerful performance by App State and a somewhat normal start to a bowl schedule with few guarantees about how things will play out. Most years, the Mean Green, who came in with a losing record, would’ve had their lockers cleaned out until spring practice. But this isn’t most years. The NCAA waived victory minimums for bowl eligibility — how else could 2-8 South Carolina be playing this time of year? — because of COVID-19. The Frisco Bowl, set to start bowl season last Saturday, was canceled when the virus struck SMU, one of that game’s teams. So instead, it was the

Mountaineers returning to Coastal Carolina’s teal-colored field for the second time this season after losing to the Chanticleers 34-23 in November. The App State coach was grateful for the opportunity for some normalcy at the end of a fretful season in which games were canceled, postponed and rescheduled every week. Clark said his team’s two days at the Grand Strand resort area were “the most fun I’ve seen our players have in the last six months.” The Mountaineers kept the good times rolling come kickoff. Tight end Henry Pearson had first-half TD catches of 22 and 11 yards before App State put things out of reach with a 70-yard touchdown run by Marcus Williams Jr. and Peoples’ 64-yard burst to the end zone. The Mountaineers led 35-14 at the half. Peoples piled on with a 62-yard scoring run in the third quarter. He finished the period with a 76-yard run, but was caught just shy of the end zone. No matter. Peoples went in from a yard out.

tary, where he earned the rank of captain and completed airborne training at Fort Benning to become a paratrooper. Polian said Greene had an exceptional ability to escape blockers. “He was a self-made technician and as good as anyone who has ever played the game in terms of technique,” said Polian, like Greene a Hall of Fame inductee. “And because he was undersized, grit played a tremendous role in his success.” Greene would have agreed with that assessment. “I wasn’t the biggest (and) I wasn’t fastest,” Greene once said. “But as long as you have a motor, you have heart ... that will overcome any physical limitations.” Greene regularly studied film to search for opponents’ weaknesses. “I figured out how to pass rush,” Greene said. “I figured out how to put a guy, an offensive tackle three to four inches taller, 80 pounds heavier, put him in a position of failure, and I did that.” Dom Capers, who coached Greene in Pittsburgh and Carolina, said Greene “had such a great passion for the game.” “He had an infectious personality,” Capers said. “He influenced everybody that he was around. Everyone had a tremendous amount of respect for him because he not only produced as a player, but because as good of a player as he was he was an even better person.” Perhaps even more surprising was the fact that the Bengals were the more physi-

cal team on Monday night, which is rarely the case in this rivalry. Cincinnati outrushed the Steelers 15286 despite playing without running back Joe Mixon. Giovanni Bernard ran for 83 yards and a touchdown, and caught a 14yard pass for another score. “We’ve got to dig deep,” Steelers linebacker TJ Watt said. “We’ve got to find out what’s going wrong and get better.” Roethlisberger completed just two of his first eight passes as the Steelers went three-and-out on seven of their first eight possessions. He had an interception and a fumbled exchange in the first half as the Bengals built a 17-0 lead. Roethlisberger finished 20 of 38 for 170 yards with one TD and one pick. “I wasn’t good enough today,” he said. “Their whole defense kept us off balance.” With leading rusher James Conner out with a quadriceps injury, the Steelers relied heavily on Bennie Snell Jr., who had 84 of their 86 yards rushing. Roethlisberger, however, never got into any kind of consistent rhythm in the passing game. And there was frustration on both sides of the ball. “We’re two weeks out (from the playoffs)” said Pittsburgh defensive tackle Cam Heyward. “We need to make the plays early and not be in a catch-up game. To start 17-0, you’re asking a lot for our offense. And our offense has got to start faster.” Roethlisberger continues to preach patience, but he acknowledged the Steelers’ frustration level was “high” following the loss. “I will never stop believing in this team,” he said. “We better get it figured out and I think we can.”

Army gets spot in bowl game when Tennessee pulls out for COVID reasons MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Army went from left out of the bowls to replacing Tennessee in the Liberty Bowl on Monday night, hours after the Volunteers withdrew because of COVID-19 test results. The Black Knights, who had been committed to the Independence Bowl since October before the game was called off, will now play West Virginia in Memphis, Tennessee, on Dec. 31. “We went from being in tears this evening to just being elated,” Army coach Jeff Monken said. “Our guys, when I announced it to them, they were thrilled and excited. It just couldn’t have worked out better. Sometimes, things don’t work out like you want them to, but somehow, some way, they work out a different way. It almost seems like it’s just even better. We’re just humbled that so many people have latched onto this and felt so strongly about our team having an opportunity.” The Black Knights (9-2) were left without a bowl Sunday night when the Independence Bowl, scheduled for Dec. 26 in Louisiana, was called off without an available opponent. A spot in the Liberty Bowl became available Monday when Tennessee became the first team to back out since bowl berths were announced. The Volunteers ended their season after receiving the results of Sunday’s COVID-19 testing. “The test results revealed an increase in positive cases among student-athletes and staff and subsequent contact tracing,” Tennessee said in a statement. “The decision was made in consultation with health officials, the Southeastern Conference and the AutoZone Liberty Bowl.”

In other bowl news Monday, No. 17 Iowa said it was pausing football activities for at least five days because of an increase in positive COVID-19 cases but still hopes to play in the Music City Bowl in Nashville on Dec. 30. The Hawkeyes (6-2) are scheduled to face Missouri (5-5). The change to its Liberty Bowl opponent was no problem for West Virginia (5-4). The game will be the first between the teams since 1961. “Our team deserves to be in a bowl and so does the 9-2 Army squad,” West Virginia athletic director Shane Lyons said. “While we are disappointed that Tennessee couldn’t be in the game, Army needed a bowl and an opponent, and the Mountaineers are glad to solve the problem.” West Virginia coach Neal Brown agreed, saying Monken and his staff have done a terrific job winning 43 games in five seasons. “We started the day preparing for one opponent and will end it preparing for another, but that’s how crazy 2020 has been,” Brown said. Army is coming off wins over its service-academy rivals on back-to-back weeks. The Black Knights captured the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy on Saturday with a 10-7 victory over Air Force. “It’s a special group of young men who represent us every Saturday,” Army athletic director Mike Buddie said. “To get the opportunity was what we were hoping for. Frankly, I think we were stunned to find out the opportunity would be in a bowl like the AutoZone Liberty Bowl. It’s truly the icing on the cake. It’s more than we could have hoped for and we’re just thrilled for the opportunity.”