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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2024 |

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In observation of Veterans Day

North Bend Public Library’s new Teen Zone revealed at special City Council Meeting held at NBHS group: teens. The North Bend Jubilee Court gave a report on their volunteering efforts. The court, On October 24th, 2024, the which is a group of sophomores North Bend City Council held a and juniors selected by the special meeting concerning young council through application and adult affairs at North Bend High interview, act as the City’s teen School. These special meetings ambassadors. The court helps are intended to foster civic set-up and operation at July engagement and a future interest Jubilee, the Prefontaine Run in government from students and for Kids, and many other local local teens. events. They also give feedback Though it was geared toward and engage with the council on the students, the meeting was matters pertaining to young adults conducted as normal, including in North Bend. public comment, reports North Bend High School from outside organizations, ASB Secretary, Ellie Massey, and important points of City gave an impressive report on business. This relatively serious the breadth of student activities meeting gave student attendees so far this year. She recounted the opportunity to see how the where each sports team stands in council typically operates and get involved in the process while representing their own interest Please see TEEN ZONE Page 3 BY NATE SCHWARTZ The World

Oregon’s D.C. Delegation announces another $29 million for Port of Coos Bay expansion

funding, and for making the Port as unique and viable as it is. Unloaded freight can be put straight On October 25th, 2024, Oreonto rail, allowing for reduced gon’s federal legislative represenemissions and traffic from trucktatives secured a second massive ing, and greater investment into federal funding package for the Pa- green energy alternatives. cific Coast Intermodal Port (PCIP) “Today’s award makes long and Coos Bay Rail Line (CBRL). overdue investments in the Coos Representative Val Hoyle, and Bay Rail Line and will improve Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff sections of the line that have fallen Merkley jointly announced a into disrepair,” said Representafurther $29,751,615 would be tive Hoyle, “Upgrades and repairs coming to the South Coast for the to the rail line will help to move port expansion, as part of the U.S. products across Oregon and the Department of Transportation’s county faster. A renovated Coos (USDOT) Consolidated Rail and Bay Rail line is a key part of Infrastructure Safety Improvesetting the Port of Coos bay up to ments (CRISI) program. be the first ship-to-rail port on the Just the week prior, Oregon’s West Coast.” legislative trio announced the first Through these funds, the PCIP large chunk of federal investwill be able to plan necessary ment through over $25 million rail-specific developments. These in funding through the USDOT’s developments will include track Nationally Significant Multimodal rehabilitation, new sidings, and Freight and Highways (INFRA) evaluations of each tunnel, bridge, program, making the entire fundand crossing from the Coos Bay ing pool over $54 million. line to the Eugene Yard. Eugene’s And make no mistake, this rail yard will also be a beneficiawould be a ‘nationally significant’ ry, as their capacity will need to intermodal port. The PCIP would increase to accommodate more be the first port of its kind on the traffic heading for the Class 1 West Coast and will contribute not national rail network. only toward an estimated 8000+ “The funding to upgrade the jobs for the local community, but Coos Bay Rail Line is huge for the also toward bolstering our entire project because it ensures we have national supply chain. durable infrastructure in place that The Coos Bay Rail Line is a crucial element for securing the Please see PORT Page 8

BY NATE SCHWARTZ The World

Coos Bay City Council gives feedback on Empire area blueprint The Blueprint covers the whole of Empire, including the waterfront. However, the heart of the plan focuses on developing the Newmark corridor. At a joint workshop session on “This is a vision for the area, and October 22nd, the Coos Bay City it speaks to how we’d love to see the Council discussed what they are waterfront developed. It’s a prime piece calling the Empire Area Blueprint, of land. But, we also acknowledge that which is a guiding document for their it’s going to be a slower, more involved vision for the Empire Area of Coos process. Along the corridor, that’s really Bay. The Council also discussed what where you can get some of your wins,” municipal codes would need to change explained Schnabel. to expediate that vision, as the plan Those ‘wins’ will take different form, was presented by City of Coos Bay but all contribute back toward further Community Development Director, economic development. Beautification Chelsea Schnabel. is a big piece of the plan, including The Council first authorized this long-term planning effort in the Autumn encouraging murals and public art and installing wayfinding signage. of 2022, and with the help of a Project From an infrastructure standpoint, the Advisory Committee (PAC) consisting plan calls for expanding public parking of community members, have been and adjusting the transportation layout giving their thoughts on the blueprint. Individual meeting were also held with for more conducive traffic and better multimodal connectivity. For instance, members of the Coquille Tribe and Confederated Tribes of the Coos, Lower the portion of Newmark between Umpqua, and Siuslaw Indians, as well as one-on-one stakeholder interviews. Please see BLUEPRINT Page 10

BY NATE SCHWARTZ News Editor

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