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TUESDAY, JULY 2, 2024 |

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Due to the holiday,

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Juneteenth event features Gansango Music & Dance BY BREE LAUGHLIN The World

Teaching artists from Gansango Music & Dance Company had the audience clapping and moving along to the songs and drumming of West Africa. The audience was invited to ‘travel to Africa’ to celebrate Juneteenth during the community-wide block party sponsored by the South Coast Equity Coalition and the Coos County Library Service District on Wednesday, June 19. Many of those who came to the event brought a lawn chair to enjoy the outdoor show across the street from Coos Bay City Hall and in front of Black Market Gourmet. The event was one of several opportunities to take part in Juneteenth in both Coos and Curry Counties. Juneteenth is a federal holiday in the United States celebrated annually on June 19 to commemorate the ending of slavery in the United States. The theme of the local Juneteenth holiday this year was ‘Family Reunion,’ a celebration centering on African American resilience, Please see GANSANGO Page 3

National Women’s March movement Overturned Raft causes death on the Rogue

Staff Report

North Bend Mayor appointed by governor to South Coast Regional Solutions advisory committee Governor Tina Kotek has appointed North Bend Mayor Jessica Engelke to the South Coast Regional Solutions Advisory Committee, representing Coos, Curry, and Douglas Counties. Mayor Engelke will serve as the city representative through June 30, 2026. Regional Solutions is a uniquely Oregon approach to community and economic development, fostering collaboration among public, private, and civic sectors to advance projects, solve problems, seize opportunities, and respond to emerging local needs. This program builds on a

long tradition of collaborative governance, regional coordination, and creative problem-solving. Mayor Engelke expressed her enthusiasm for the appointment: “Being part of the South Coast Regional Solutions Advisory Committee allows me to further my commitment to our community. I’m excited to collaborate with leaders across sectors to advance projects that will benefit our beautiful South Coast. Our region is unique and full of potential. Together, we can seize opportunities and tackle challenges to create a thriving community.” The Regional Solutions Program,

established by legislation in 2014, is divided into 11 Economic Development Districts. Each district has a Governor-appointed Advisory Committee composed of community leaders, including local government officials and tribal representatives. These committees set regional priorities and identify resources to support local projects, ensuring effective state government support for local partners. Mayor Engelke was elected to serve as North Bend’s Mayor in November 2022, after serving as a Council Member since 2018. She is a tenured Business Professor at

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Southwestern Oregon Community College and has over 25 years of hands-on experience in the business community. Her extensive involvement in local boards and organizations, including past president of the Bay Area Chamber of Commerce and current role as Vice President of the League of Oregon Cities, highlights her dedication to enhancing the welfare of her community. For more information on the Regional Solutions Program, please visit https://www.oregon.gov/gov/ regional-solutions/pages/default. aspx.

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On Saturday, June 22, 2024, at about 12:41pm, the Curry County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch 911 Center received a Text to the 911 line, from Agness resident Martin Gillette. Gillette reported the drowning of a woman at Two-Mile Rapids, upriver from Agness. Information was provided that the female victim was on a rafting excursion with three others and a dog that started at Foster Bar. Shortly after being on the water, the two females on the raft and a dog were flipped out at the TwoMile Rapids. Others in the rafting party were able to get both females to shore, but one had drowned. Dispatch paged out Agness Fire and Rescue and Reach Air along with request to page out Mercy Air. Marine Sergeant Jared Gray had been at Huntly Park earlier doing water training with SAR, Gold Beach Fire and Police, Sixes River Fire Department, USFS, Aquatic Safety and Coos County Sheriff’s Office. Sergeant Gray started upriver in the marine boat and picked up two members of the Coos County Sheriff’s Office at the Lobster Creek Boat Ramp. They then responded to the Two-Mile rapids. Once on scene, there were other rafters that had arrived. The victim, identified as sixty-six-yearPlease see DROWNED Page 2

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