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No Kings Rallies draw hundreds

North Bend man arrested on two counts of attempted murder

By Nate Schwartz World Editor

The nation-wide No Kings Protest on March 28, 2026, was the third of its kind and involved over 3,300 organized rallies in all 50 states. An estimated 8 to 9 million people participated in protests against the current administration, including over 1000 in Coos Bay according to headcounts by organizers Indivisible Coos County. Coos Bay wasn’t the only town nearby holding demonstration, there were a reported 500 protesters in Bandon, another 100 in Reedsport, and a collection of folks with signs in Elkton. The issues at the forefront of the demonstration included the administration’s attempts at voter suppression, the war in Iran, and the alleged cover-up of the Epstein files. Despite the serious nature of the concerns, the demonstrations were entirely peaceful and full of community energy and comradery. There were counter protesters on hand in Coos Bay in the form of a patriot flag wave that garnered

Staff Report

More rally photos on page A12

During an eviction attempt by deputies of the Coos County Sheriff’s Department, a North Bend man, Jimmy Oiterong (27), was arrested following what the department is calling attempted murder. The deputies, alongside members from the county’s civil department attempted to carry out an eviction at 2398 Broadway Avenue in North Bend, when they were met with resistance from Oiterong. According to a release from the Sheriff’s Office, Oiterong was in possession of a compound bow with an arrow notched and ready to fire. Oiterong was said to have been threatening to shoot the deputies who responded with force. The deputies shot the suspect with non-lethal rounds from a bean bag shotgun, in an exchange that saw an arrow fired back at the deputies. To break the standoff, the Coos County Emergency Response Team was called to the scene to assist and deployed chemical munitions into the apartment. This caused Oiterong to attempt an escape out the back door of the residence resulting in a pursuit that saw officers take down the perpetrator with the help of a Coos Bay Police Department K9 Unit. After a medical evaluation at Bay Area Hospital, Oiterong was transported to the Coos County Jail where he would be booked on a litany of charges. Two counts of attempted murder for loosing arrows upon the deputies along with three charges for unlawful use of a weapon, in addition to charges for menacing, attempt to elude on foot, resisting arrest, and reckless endangerment. The Sherrif’s Office thanked the Coos County ERT team and the Coos Bay Police department for their assistance, and reminded that police action is not an indicator of guilt, with all charged presumed innocent until proven otherwise in a court of law.

Courtesy of Indivisible Coos Bay

a small handful of supporters. There were verbal jabs sent in both directions from the competing groups, but overall, no reported incidents took place.

With the May primaries around the corner, it is of the upmost importance to check your voter registration. Civic engagement goes well beyond

protest and political discourse; it is vitally important that we all exercise our right to vote for our representatives.

The Little Theatre on the Bay’s production of Steel Magnolias opens April 17 For the World

Most people recognize the title Steel Magnolias from the 1989 film, starring Dolly Parton, Sally Field, Shirley MacLaine, Daryl Hannah, Olympia Dukakis, and Julia Roberts. But Steel Magnolias began as a stage play written by Robert Harling in remembrance of his sister, Susan Harling Robinson, who died from complications from type 1 diabetes. Still, fans know this isn’t your run-of-the-mill drama. Despite some emotionally-charged moments, this play is a comedy about the depth of female friendships. “It’s told in such a timeless way that any generation can relate to it,” says Shirley Kintner, who’s helping to produce the show. The play, set in a beauty parlor in Louisiana, follows the successful business operated by loveable Truvy Jones (portrayed by Amanda Stark) and her assistant, not-sure-if-I’m-married-or-

Photos Courtesy of the Little Theatre on the Bay

not Annelle (Ariel Hicks). All the ladies in the neighborhood congregate here – including the former first lady of the town, Clairee Belcher (Cindy Terry), the neighborhood grump, Ouiser Boudreaux (Michelle Moore), career woman M’Lynn (Naomi

Ulsted), and her daughter Shelby (Jasmine Azure). Shelby’s engagement is the talk of the parlor, but soon everyone’s joy turns to concern as she faces a risky pregnancy. That’s when director Lisa Terranova’s favorite scenes arrive.

“The women rally around Shelby and M’Lynn,” she says, “And you see the essence of the love and concern these women have for one another. It’s a very life-affirming moment.” When tragedy strikes, the friends are there to help each other through in solidarity. “You have no idea how wonderful you are,” M’Lynn tells her friends at the end of the play. With a smile, Truvy responds, “Of course we do.” Terranova says, “I want audiences to leave the theatre feeling optimistic about our humanity and our ability to carry one another through life’s hardships with great friendship, tenderness, and humor.” Steel Magnolias, with its wit and wisdom, is sure to do just that. Running three weekends, shows will be at the Liberty Theater in North Bend on April 1719, 24-26, and May 1-3 at 7 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, with 2 p.m. Matinees on Sundays. Tickets are available online at TheLibertyTheatre.org.

ODOT upgrades Myrtle Point sidewalks — again By DEAN BRICKEY For the World

MYRTLE POINT — Residents who think they’ve seen double — when it comes to handicap-accessible sidewalk improvements in the community — should believe their eyes after all. An Oregon Department of Transportation official says two intersection improvements recently were redone because they didn’t meet new federal requirements. Dan Latham, an ODOT public information officer in Roseburg, said a recent project involved reconstruction at the northwest “corner” of Oregon 42 and Snyder and the southeast corner of Oregon 42 and Kincheloe. “It appears that several

(handicap-accessible) curb ramps through Myrtle Point were built around 2019 and 2020, and two of those locations are being reconstructed as part of this project,” he said. Latham said most of the work in Myrtle Point has been completed. The contractor, Canyon Contracting of Stayton, worked there in December and has moved on to similar projects at other Southwest Oregon sites. “We still have landscaping and seeding, and probably sign removal, but I don’t know when that will take place,” Latham said, regarding the work in Myrtle Point. He explained there usually are two situations that will prompt the agency to replace what appears to be a new or good ramp.

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“Some ramps that were built five, ten or twenty years ago might not meet federal requirements, so we have to replace them,” Latham said. “To the casual observer they may look OK, but to someone in a wheelchair there may be something wrong that makes the ramp difficult to navigate.” “The ramps that were built in 2019 and 2020 met all state and federal standards at that time and passed inspection,” he said, “but in the past few years, some of those federal standards have changed, which requires us to bring these ramps up to the new standards.” Secondly, Latham said, sometimes contractors’ work doesn’t pass inspection and doesn’t meet contract specifications.

“When this happens, the contractor will have to replace the new ramp and they are responsible for the cost.” Latham said ODOT tries “to offer the best facilities we can for folks who either are using wheelchairs now or those who will someday.” In the past several years, the federal guidelines have changed, he added, and the two ramps in Myrtle Point were not compliant with the new ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) standards. The overall project that includes the work in Myrtle Point involves improving pedestrian access by building ADA-compliant sidewalk curb ramps at 31 intersections in Myrtle Point, Brookings, Gold Beach and Roseburg. The

new ramps allow smooth and safe travel along sidewalks and streets for individuals in wheelchairs, parents pushing strollers and people making deliveries, Latham said. They include “yellow truncated domes” to provide a tactile walking surface for people with visual impairments. The project includes six intersections in Myrtle Point along Oregon Highway 42 from Bothwick Street to Carlisle Lane, Latham said, adding that construction began in November with ramps in Roseburg. “In December, the contractor moved to Myrtle Point and they are now finishing up the ramp construction in Gold Beach,” he said. “In early April, they will move to Brookings for the final ramp

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work.” All new curb ramps in Roseburg and Myrtle Point have been completed, Latham said, and so have most of the ramps in Gold Beach. “The contractor will have to apply final striping and some landscaping around the ramps, and this will likely be completed in the next month or two,” he said. The contract completion date for the entire four-city project is July 16. “We expect most work to be completed ahead of schedule, hopefully before June,” Latham said. “The only work that might extend later is applying seeding to the landscaped areas.” The entire project also is well below its $2,309,828 budget, he said.

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