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Coquille Tribe announces Mill Casino rebranding along with huge expansion plans “It was time for the Coquille Indian Tribe’s long-standing gaming and hospitality brand to clearly represent tribal ownership and the core values that define our leadership and service standards, to be proudly recognized as ‘Coquille’,” states Margaret Simpson, CEO of the Coquille Economic Development Corporation. “The tribe has faced significant challenges in its journey towards self-reliance over the past 35 years. As we expand our hospitality brand and outreach, we wanted to unify our projects under a single brand that honors our culture and recognizes the achievements of our tribal citizens.” That expansion goes well
BY NATE SCHWARTZ Editor
On the 30-year anniversary of its opening, the Coquille Tribe announced that the Mill Casino will be getting a complete rebranding. The casino and resort which has become a fixture of North Bend has major expansions planned to accompany the new name which evokes the tribe’s long heritage: Ko-Kwel Casino Resort. The news came as a surprise to long-time casino employees during a celebration of the 30th anniversary, where 9 employees who have worked at the casino since its opening were honored. Initially named after the building’s prior life as a sawmill, the tribe thinks its time to look toward the future through their indigenous perspective.
See MILL CASINO Continued on Page 3
Zoo owner arrested on drug charges following raid Department of Agriculture, IRS, and Department of Justice as they served multiple warrants and investigated the An arrest was made in connection park’s negligence toward its animals. to this month’s multi-agency raid and investigation of West Coast Game Park Veterinarians assessed the animals’ Safari, but not for what was expected. health, nutrition, and enclosure conditions after years of citations and On May 27, the roadside zoo’s owner reports of mistreatment. Brian Tenney, 52, was arrested Three of the animals assessed were by Bandon Police on charges of in such poor condition they had to be possession, production, and attempted euthanized, as transportation would distribution of methamphetamine. have likely been too much for them. In addition to the relocation The rest of the 310 are now in animal of 310 of the zoo’s animals due sanctuaries or properly run care to mistreatment and poor living facilities. conditions, the May 15 raid also According to the Associated Press, yielded a drug and weapon bust. Tenney was released as the District According to new information from Attorney’s office awaited further the Coos County Sherrif’s Office, the information. Charges in relation to the South Coast Interagency Narcotics conditions at the zoo and the treatment Team (SCINT) discovered nearly 80 of its animals have yet to be handed grams of meth, 44 guns (including down in what is likely to be a long one modified to be fully automatic), running case from the state against the 8 grams of cocaine, and roughly $1.6 zoo. million in cash, cashier’s checks, This is still an ongoing bonds, and certificates. investigation. The World will This discovery came in a tandem continue to provide updates as more investigation with members of the information becomes available. Oregon Humane Society, Oregon STAFF REPORT
Senator Wyden makes town-hall stop in North Bend with Congresswoman Hoyle
BY NATE SCHWARTZ Editor
Continuing what has become a long-standing tradition of Oregon’s senate delegation, Senator Ron Wyden made his town hall stop in Coos County on Saturday May 24, in the North Bend Middle School gymnasium.
Wyden has conducted over 1000 such meetings in his time as a Senator, continuing the trend that makes Wyden, and fellow senator Jeff Merkley, the only legislators to hold a town hall in every district of their state. Similar to Merkley’s recent visit, Congresswoman Val Hoyle joined the town hall to give her
perspectives on a variety of questions asked by a healthy turnout of constituents. Both opened the meeting by issuing statements about the Trump administration’s recent budget legislation, the ‘Big Beautiful Bill’. The legislators warned of the bill granting huge tax breaks to the wealthiest citizens of the
country while increasing the federal debt by a further $3.8 trillion. Unsurprisingly, many of the questions from audience members pertained to the current administration and its actions. One woman asked point blank about Trump’s character and his desire to increase the executive
branch’s power, which is another sticking point with the budget bill as it pertains to reducing the judicial branch’s recourse. One gentleman asked about the constitutional crisis this represents, while pointing out that clauses like due process have already been violated by recent ICE deportations. On a more local level, two questions were raised about the Pacific Coast Intermodal Port project. Chief Doug Barrett of the Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua & Siuslaw Indians asked about the preservation of the Hollering Place, a significant heritage site, along with concerns over environmental impacts. These were echoed by Christine Moffitt of the League of Women Voters, who have taken a vested interest in the project. She specifically asked about the economic viability of the container port moving forward. Both legislators showed continued support for the project, with emphasis given on how crucial the ship-to-rail aspect of the expansion was to reducing environmental impacts, and both modernizing and bolstering the country’s supply chain. Wyden
See TOWN HALL Continued on Page 3
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