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Concerned citizens hold meeting in Empire over issues with PCIP Project to be on the minds of the 40+ attendees of the meeting. The presentation also included A group of concerned citizens assessment of the railway, held a community meeting economic, and environmental on Tuesday December 11th, impacts that the expansion could at the Dolphin Playhouse in bring. Empire, to discuss their issues Citizens raised alarm over with what they feel is a lack of the increase in railway traffic, transparency about the Pacific stating that the increase in length Coast Intermodal Port expansion, and frequency of the proposed which would see development on trains would be exponential. One the North Spit across the channel point was, that in places like from Empire. Reedsport which has two distinct A presentation was given railway crossings, citizens could by Empire citizens including be seeing greater delays from Patrick Momsen, and Christine the passing trains amounting Moffitt, who represented the to frustration for drivers and League of Women Voters of restriction for emergency Oregon (LWV). LWV have been services. This extends to the conducting studies on the Port of over 100 crossings between the Coos Bay since 1960. proposed Port and the Eugene Many of the grievances over property values, and the sights, See PCIP Project smells, and sounds that a major Continued on Page 3 Port brings to an area seemed BY NATE SCHWARTZ News Editor
Bay Area Hospital moves forward with strategic merger, delays discussion of pension freeze million dollar loss last month, the hospital could no longer keep to the current trajectory without potentially defaulting on their Board votes to enter bank commitments and seeing the decision leave their hands. negotiations with “The team that you have Quorum Health Corp. up here now was able to turn over stones, make some hard After a 6-month period of dedecisions, and correct that $61 liberation and research, the board million loss. The difficulty was, of Bay Area Hospital (BAH) the market didn’t change. So now voted in the Dec 10th meeting were kind of in the hole, we’re to move forward with a letter chasing the ball out in front of of intent to merge with Quorum us,” explained chairman of the Health Corp., a health services hospital board, Troy Cribbins to management company with head- a packed room of employees and quarters in Tennessee. community members. This comes after the board exAccording to recent presenploring many options to navigate tations to the board, the hospithe financial struggles that have seen the long-time independent See BAH Merger hospital returning losses at an unContinued on Page 5 sustainable rate. Reporting a $2.2
South Coast organizations receive over $200,000 from Oregon Community Foundation
BY NATE SCHWARTZ News Editor
STAFF REPORT
The Oregon Community Foundation announced the recipients for their Fall Cycle of Community Grants, with South Coast organizations and nonprofits receiving $206,000 from the philanthropic foundation. The statewide funder has distributed 8 new grants on the South Coast to support capacity building, small capital and new or expanding projects by nonprofits. The announcement came on #GivingTuesday, an international day of generosity that follows Thanksgiving. Statewide, the new round of funding includes 248 grants for nearly $5.8 million. That brings the total awarded in Community Grants by OCF to a record $11.1 million for the year, including funding previously announced in the spring. “Community Grants are OCF’s ‘open door’ for nonprofits working to improve the lives of people in Southern Oregon in so many ways,” says OCF Board Member and United Way of Jackson County CEO and Executive Director Dee Anne Everson, “Sometimes that’s wildfire resilience programs or a kitchen that serves kids in need. And other times, what’s needed is a vehicle that helps a program reach rural communities. The goal is to support what’s working.” The grants are possible because of the generosity of Oregon Community Foundation donors. Just as the new funding reaches Oregon nonprofits, OCF has opened the next round of Community
Celebration of Life, a transformation for the annual Homeless Person’s Memorial’s 15th Year BY NATE SCHWARTZ News Editor
Human Right’s Advocates of Coos County look to shift paradigm around homeless conversation The Human Right’s Advocates of Coos County, organizers of the annual Homeless Person’s Memorial are reinterpreting the event that has honored those lost to living on the streets. The new
Celebration of Life is a more inclusive and community-based event, that brings together people of all walks of life. The all-day event on Saturday, December 21st, which sees multiple venues participating, welcomes all community members to come out and enjoy food, fun, education, and resources. To get an idea of the new look celebration we spoke with organizer and programs coordinator assistant from Human Rights Advocates of Coos County,
Christopher Reynolds. “It’s a transformation of the old Homeless Person’s Memorial. This year would’ve been the 15th year, so it’s in honor of the 15th annual memorial… The idea is that moving forward this is going
to be the new annual event: The Celebration of Life,” explained Reynolds. See Homelessness Continued on Page 5
See Project Grants Continued on Page 3
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