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Sole Mates launch party for community Walking Guide BY NATE SCHWARTZ Editor
A group of community members received funding from Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU) to create a free walking guide for Coos Bay and North Bend. The Sole Mates, twenty locals with a passion for the outdoors and improving public health, came together to make resources available for anyone who feels the same. The Sole Mates’ origin story was quite unorthodox. OHSU partnered with 20 public libraries throughout the state to conduct studies around walking as a means for improving health and fitness. Librarian Paul Addis of the Coos Bay
Public Library (CBPL) headed the project and recruited 20 community participants for the twoyear survey. Participants were not allowed to exercise more than three times a week. Instead, the group would meet-up every Saturday, starting in May of 2023, at the library to talk and get some walking done, in addition to meeting with OHSU researchers every 6 months to mark their progress. “We started out, because we were not a fit group, with maybe just a few blocks walk around where the library is. We increased that every week and then See SOLE MATES Continued on Page 3
North Bend Fire Department Gold Beach Aquatic Safety Program receives grants, seeks trains with ARFF team at expansion into Coos County regional airport
BY LINDA LEE
Country Media, Inc.
The Gold Beach Aquatic Safety Program is experiencing a surge in support, receiving significant grants to bolster its vital services. The Oregon Community Foundation (OCF) recently awarded the program $35,000 for the 2024 fiscal year. These funds, combined with an additional $10,000 support from the City of Gold Beach as well as regional tourism and recreation partners, will enable the program to expand its reach and impact. “This funding is crucial for us to continue growing and better serve our community,” said Luke Martinez, Curry County Aquatic Safety Officer. “With increased resources, we can enhance our outreach, education, and response capabilities, particularly focusing on underserved populations.” This funding, combined with a pending $50,000 grant from the Oregon
Department of Human Services (DHS) would allow the program to hire an additional Aquatic Safety Officer also known as Lifeguard I. This expansion would significantly increase the program’s coverage area,
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Firefighters from the North Bend Fire Department participated in specialized training this week with the Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF) team at the Southwest Oregon
See AQUATIC SAFETY Continued on Page 5
Regional Airport. The collaborative training focused on preparing firefighters to handle aircraft-related emergencies. Key components of the training included aircraft
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familiarization, managing aircraft incident operations, and responding to crash scenarios, such as See TRAINING Continued on Page 3
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