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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2025 |

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School Board has deciding vote on County Annex Apartment Project BY NATE SCHWARTZ Editor

The City of North Bend’s Urban Renewal Agency (URA) is seeking to increase the maximum indebtedness available to their urban renewal plan in an attempt to create budgetary room for the demolition and redevelopment of the former Coos County Annex at 1975 McPhearson Avenue, in North Bend. The North Bend School Board meeting on February 6th, at 6 P.M., will hold a discussion and is expected to contain the critical vote on that increase, as well as a Public Building Project for the building of city ofﬁces. The ﬁrst resolution is over the maximum indebtedness itself, which is essentially an increase in the URA’s spending limit. Tax revenue is allocated for the urban renewal plan by diverting it from the other tax districts. Meaning, funds that would go to the School District and the Port of Coos Bay, are diverted toward Urban Renewal for the duration of their adopted plan. Which, in the case of North Bend,

is a 30-year period. It does not mean a direct tax increase for citizens. Therefore, 75% of the impacted taxing districts (City of North Bend, North Bend School District, and the International Port of Coos Bay) would need to approve the resolution. The URA’s argument for this diversion of funds is one of mutual beneﬁt. By abating otherwise abandoned buildings, and creating workforce housing in its place, the URA proposes that the school district will gain more students, meaning more state funding. This is in addition to more indirect beneﬁts like a more vibrant urban area. As the URA points out, enrollment in the school district has declined over the last 5 years. “The annex housing development addresses this concern by providing workforce housing for educators, healthcare professionals, public safety personnel, and other essential workers. Families in these

See URBAN RENEWAL Continued on Page 3

Structure ﬁre leads to fatality in North Bend

STAFF REPORT

The North Bend Fire Department (NBFD) responded to an emergency call about a potential ﬁre at 2555 Sherman Avenue, at 1:47 p.m., on January 28, 2025. The department quickly responded and had crews on the

scene within two minutes of the call. On arrival, they observed smoke coming from the second story of the residential building. Fireﬁghters initiated an immediate search and rescue operation. During their efforts, they discovered the home’s resident, who was identiﬁed

as Kayla Padgett (40), appeared to be unresponsive. NBFD attempted resuscitation on the scene, and a Bay Cities Ambulance was used to transported Padgett to Bay Area Hospital. We are sad to report that she was later pronounced deceased. Fire Chief Jim Brown

Oregon sees decline of 3,700 jobs

indicated that it was likely due to asphyxiation from smoke inhalation. “I’d advice citizens to be careful with fire anytime we’re using it,” advised Chief Brown. “And to make sure that we do have operating smoke detectors in our houses at any time.” NBFD was able to rescue Padgett’s dog during the search and rescue operation, and the fire was contained. An investigation was conducted with assistance from the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Office and the North Bend Police Department. The cause of the fire was determined to be an unattended open flame, and the fire has been ruled accidental with no indications of foul play. The World asked Chief Brown about the nature of that open flame, but he was unable to share more information in that regard. The scene was cleared by 5 pm that evening. “The North Bend Fire Department extends its condolences to the family and friends of the victim. This tragedy serves as an important reminder of fire safety precautions, including the dangers of unattended open flames,” stated the NBFD.

BY JEREMY C. RUARK Country Media, Inc.

A key Oregon economic indicator illustrates a slowdown in job growth across the state. Oregon’s seasonally adjusted nonfarm payroll employment declined by 3,700 jobs in December, following a revised increase of 3,700 jobs in November, according to the latest Oregon Employment Department report Gains and losses December’s gains were largest in health care and social assistance (+1,900 jobs) and government (+700). Declines were\ largest in leisure and hospitality (-1,900 jobs); manufacturing (-1,800); ﬁnancial activities (-1,000); and retail trade (-900). Health care and social assistance continued its rapid, consistent pace of hiring, adding 18,100 jobs, or 6.2%, in the past 12 months. Within this industry, social assistance added the most jobs, gaining 9,200 jobs, or 12.2%, since December 2023. The three health care industries each added between 3,300 and 4,400 jobs during that time. December’s growth in government also capped off a year of strong performance. Its 7,000job gain (+2.3%) was the second fastest growth over the year. Leisure and hospitality cut 3,200 jobs in the past two months. It employed 204,000 in December, which was 3,000 below its average during January 2023 through October 2024. Cutbacks of 1,500 jobs within semiconductor and electronic component manufacturing contributed most of the December

Library Monthly: Feeling the love during National Library Lover’s Month BY JENNY BROWNFIELD Deputy Director, Coos Bay Public Library

February is National Library Lover’s Month and Coos Bay Public Library (CBPL) would like to thank everyone in the community who has shown us the love - and we know there are a lot of you! In fact, during 2024 we had 122,470 visits. We also issued 1,774 new library cards to community members, bringing the total number of Coos Bay library cards to 14,268. That’s a lot of love! We work hard to return that love by making the library a welcoming and safe place for everyone and by choosing materials and programming that cover a wide range of interests so that everyone can find something

See JOB REPORT Continued on Page 15

See LIBRARY LOVERS Continued on Page 10

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