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TUESDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2024 | theworldlink.com

Rep. Wright lauds upcoming education bills at Coos Bay school board to receive a boost of an additional $500 million, Wright told the board. “The rumor mill, as it District 9 Rep. Boomer goes around in my area, Wright visited with Coos says there’s probably going Bay School District’s board to be another $500 million at their Oct. 7 meeting. An educator of 31 years, coming down,” he said. “That should help all of us Wright expressed his in a variety of ways.” appreciation for teachers This summer Wright and staff for all their participated in workgroups efforts before discussing education-related legislative on absenteeism, he said. “We’re looking at, efforts. statewide, 38% of the kids Wright serves on the education committee are not attending school, for K-12 and the higher missing more than 10 education committee, as days and nationally we’re well as several state task looking at a little over forces. Please see SCHOOL Page 3 Education is expected BY BRANDON SUMMERS The World

Benetti declares October 14 North Bend Mayor Indigenous Peoples’ Day in Coos Bay Engelke to

BY BRANDON SUMMERS

be League of Cities President in 2025

The World

Mayor Joe Benetti has declared Oct. 14 to be Indigenous Peoples’ Day in Coos Bay. Benetti signed the proclamation at the Oct. 1 meeting of the Coos Bay City Council. City Manager Nichole Rutherford explained that the City Council passed a proclamation in October 2022 recognizing the second Monday of October as Indigenous Peoples’ Day and established a policy for flying flags for each of the three tribal nations of the Coos Bay area. “They’ve been helpful in making sure we have those flags updated when the weather ‘challenges’ them to stay beautiful,” she said. Julie Siestreem of the Confederated Tribes of the Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians Tribal Council attended the meeting on Oct. 1 and read the official proclamation. The proclamation reads: “Whereas, the City of Coos Bay recognizes the indigenous peoples of the lands that would later become known as the Amer-

BY BRANDON SUMMERS The World

icas have lived on these lands since time immemorial, and whereas the City honors the fact that the city of Coos Bay is built upon the traditional homelands of the Coquille Indian Tribe, the Confederated Tribes of the Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians, and the Confederated Tribes of the Siletz Indians, and recognizes the inher-

ent sovereignty of the nine fairly recognized tribal nations in the state of Oregon, and all indigenous peoples everywhere, “And whereas, the City values the many contributions made to our community through indigenous peoples’ knowledge, labor, technology, science, philosophy, arts and the deep cultural contribution that has substantially

shaped the character of the city of Coos Bay, “And whereas, Indigenous Peoples’ Day was ﬁrst proposed in 1977 by the Delegation of Native Nations to the United Nations sponsored international conference on discrimination against indigenous populations in Please see INDIGENOUS Page 7

Coquille Point designated as a marine garden BY BREE LAUGHLIN The World

Members of the Shoreline Education for Awareness organization (also known as SEA) held a ribbon cutting ceremony to inform community members about the Coquille Point Marine Garden. The site, which is located off Beach Loop Road in Bandon, was designated as a Marine Garden earlier this year to protect the coastal rocky habitat ecosystem and allow for public learning opportunities. It protects habitat from the top of the sea stacks to the rocky intertidal and sandy beach below. A sign was installed at the site informing visitors about the marine garden and asking visitors to follow guidelines to protect the area. These guidelines include staying on bare rock or sand while exploring, collecting only photos, being aware of incoming tides, exploring gently and touching tenderly, as well as keeping dogs on leashes when wildlife is nearby. Bill Stenberg is a SEA volunteer who co-wrote the marine garden proposal along with Bev Minn. Stenberg said when he ﬁrst moved to the area he would come down to this beach almost every day. But he was unaware about how to protect the wildlife and other natural resources from being disturbed. “I was doing things wrong,” Stenberg said. “But I think education is the way to

North Bend Mayor Jessica Engelke will become League of Oregon Cities President starting in January 2025, which will be its 100th year. Engelke currently serves as the League’s vice president, and has been involved for more than three years. The LOC’s role is to “be that collective voice of what the needs are and elevate it and hopefully be able to advocate that to the Governor’s ofﬁce and our legislators.” “I’ve been very impressed with the work that the League of Oregon Cities has done,” she said. “They represent all 241 cities and they’re very thoughtful about making sure that there’s representation from every region in Oregon. It ensures that every city in Oregon has a voice and gives us an opportunity to advocate at the state level collectively.” Engelke especially enjoys seeing the group being able to make a difference, she said. “There was over $100 million given to local projects through the legislation last year, and I believe League of Oregon Cities having that one voice really made a difference in advocating for the needs of the community,” she said. “That always feels really good when you see the advocacy work.” LOC will be focusing on similar local concerns and issues as they have the last few years, said Engelke, such as more funding for transportation, roads and bridges. Theirs is a democratic process, she emphasized, particularly when readying top priorities now for the upcoming legislative session. “Each city, no matter Please see LEAGUE Page 8

Please see MARINE GARDEN Page 10

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