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TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2025 |

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Criminal investigation leads to hundreds of animals seized from West Coast Game Park Safari BY NATE SCHWARTZ Editor

In a search warrant execution that lasted four days and involved more than eight agencies, animals were ﬁnally relocated from West Coast Game Park Safari. The roadside zoo has long drawn complaints and regulatory citations culminating on May 18 with 310 animals living in subpar conditions being seized and sent to more reputable facilities and sanctuaries for specialized care. Citations for the tourist trap go back years, with more recent violations being documented by U.S. Fish and Wildlife and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). In 2023, they were found to have violated the Big Cat Public Safety Act after allowing guests to pet a young jaguar. In August 2024, the USDA handed out 19 citations for a variety of offenses. Some included a negligent lack of veterinary care for the animals, as their contracted vet only worked two days a week and with a limited purview of animals. The facility was generally understaffed otherwise. Several enclosures were not up to code and had conditions considered

unﬁt for the animals. Trash, feces, and food waste ﬁlled many of the already small enclosures, some with

See ANIMAL ABUSE Continued on Page 3

Foreign Wars Post 3440 provides community, camaraderie, and common purpose to Bandon vets

Coos County special election preliminary results

BY NATE SCHWARTZ Editor

This Memorial Day, The World Newspaper would like to highlight the efforts of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3440 in Bandon. The Frank C. High Medal of Honor Post aims to give a sense of purpose and camaraderie to veterans of oversees conflicts through community service and engagement. Affectionately known as ‘The Post’, VFW 3440 was formed in February, 1936, by its now-namesake Frank C. High, along with a group of 26 other veterans. High served in the Army during the PhilippineAmerican War, and was granted the Medal of Honor along with 21 of his fellow scouts for their actions between May 13-16, 1899, when they charged across a burning bridge to flush out 600 heavily entrenched enemy combatants. The Post was renamed in his honor in 2018. In addition to maintaining Bandon’s Veterans Memorial and the flag at the city’s entrance, and serving as the city’s Honor Huard, the Post also commemorate those who’ve served by distributing flags to the city’s three cemeteries during remembrance holidays. But this is just the start of what the group contributes to the community. Just this year, the Post participated in the 2025 Day of Service in which they adopted the portion of Highway 101 North of Bandon and held a trash cleanup and cookout. They awarded students at Harbor Lights Middle School who participated in the National VFW Patriot’s Pen scholarship essay contest with certificates and notebooks, with Isla Vosburg-Sullivan winning the contest. They also organized and participated in roll through of Bandon for National Vietnam War Veterans Day on March 29. Their community service draws them support from many local organizations and businesses. This Memorial Day weekend, Bandon Fisheries Warehouse held an allages Run to Remember fundraiser for the Bandon VFW. Community members chose a 1-mile Fun Run

STAFF REPORT With just over a 21% turnout rate so far, ballots have begun to be counted in the May 20 Special Election in Coos County. Many contested races on the boards of important local organizations have begun to take shape, with mail-in votes continuing to be counted over the next week. Here are the results for each of the contested races and ballot measures so far. Keep in mind these are preliminary results and therefor subject to change. We will update this article with the most up to date results. Bay Area Hospital District, Position 3 Simon Alonzo Jr - 35.19% Darin O’Bryan - 24.59% Mark Daily - 26.86% Timothy W Lynch - 12.73% Bay Area Hospital District, Position 4 Arlene Roblan - 50.29% Brandon Saada - 49.26% Bay Area Hospital District, Position 5 Kyle Stevens - 61.43% Renee Nelson - 37.93% Bay Area Hospital District, Position 6 John Uno - 66.68% Troy Cribbins - 32.76% or more challenging 3-mile course to show support for local veterans. Earlier this year, they accepted a $2100 donation from Bandon’s Rotary Club, raised through the proceeds from their Veterans Golf Tournament. On Memorial Day itself, the Post held a parade, along with

remembrances and honors at the aforementioned Veterans Memorial wall. The day was ﬁnished with a barbecue back at the Post on Bates Road. In fact, the Post’s Canteen Bar and Grill is open ﬁve days a week, from 4-7 PM Sunday, Monday, Tues, and Thursday, with late opening until 9 PM on Fridays. Anyone is

Coos County Airport District, Position 4 Brent Pahls – 57.08% Mike Collins – 41.79

welcome to come, not just veterans and their families, with proceeds continuing to support The Post and all it does for the community. For more information on how VFW 3440 helps its community of veterans and beyond you can visit their ofﬁcial website at: vfw3440.org

Coos County Area Transportation District, Position 2 Phil Taylor – 52.69% Simon Alonzo Jr – 46.46% Southwestern Oregon Community College District, Position 2 Marcia Jensen - 63.49% Chris Castleman – 36.05% Southwestern Oregon Community College District, Position 4 Jeremy Skinner – 58.71% Richard Coleman – 39.58% Southwestern Oregon Community College District, Position 7 Maria Sudduth – 59.24% See ELECTION Continued on Page 17

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