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North Bend Police Welcome K-9 Athena to Narcotics Detection Team FROM THE CITY OF NORTH BEND
The North Bend Police Department has introduced K-9 Athena, a Dutch Shepherd trained in narcotics detection, who will serve alongside her handler, Officer Ben Martin. The addition marks the return of the department’s K-9 program, which has been inactive since 2017. “Athena is a Dutch Shepherd a little over halfway through her training and certification process and doing very well with Officer Martin,” said Chief of Police Cal Mitts. “We are sincerely grateful for the major donors and broad community support that made this possible. The investment our residents and businesses have made in this program means a great deal to the department.” Officer Martin said Athena is certified to detect four narcotics odors—cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and fentanyl. “We’re scheduled to take the MAKOR K-9 certification on Thursday and begin working immediately afterward,” he said. “In two weeks, we’ll attend the Oregon Police
Canine Association fall seminar in Lincoln City for state certification, and we plan to maintain International Police Canine Association credentials throughout her career.” What a drug-detection K-9 brings to North Bend—and the region A trained narcotics K-9 like Athena offers several public-safety benefits for North
Bend and neighboring agencies: • Faster, safer interdictions: Canine sniffs can quickly identify the presence of illegal narcotics in vehicles, parcels, and buildings—reducing time on scene and improving officer safety. • Fentanyl response: With fentanyl among Athena’s trained odors, the team can help intercept a potent synthet-
ic opioid linked to overdoses throughout Oregon. • Case strength and efficiency: Accurate, documented canine indications—when used in accordance with policy and law—can aid probable cause determinations, support search warrants, and strengthen prosecutions. • Mutual aid and regional coverage: The K-9 team can
assist surrounding law enforcement partners on targeted operations, traffic safety missions, and investigations, expanding impact beyond city limits. • Community engagement: Demonstrations at schools and civic events build trust, educate the public about See ATHENA Continued on Page 3
Bay Area Chamber Presents Heritage Award to North Bend City Council FROM THE CITY OF NORTH BEND
Recognition highlights 122 years of local service; Farr’s Hardware and Englund Marine among early honorees The Bay Area Chamber of Commerce has presented a Heritage Award to the North Bend City Council, recognizing the city’s long-standing service to residents and businesses and marking 122 years since its 1903 incorporation. The Chamber recently launched its Heritage Award program to honor community institutions and businesses that have served the region for more than 50 years. Early awardees include Farr’s Hardware, now in its 108th year, and Englund Marine, which recently celebrated 80 years. Presenting the award on behalf of the Chamber were Executive Director Rosey Thomas and Jolene Krossman, the organization’s Office Manager and Leadership Coos Coordinator. The recognition was made during a recent City
Council meeting in the Council Chambers. North Bend’s roots trace back to July 6, 1903, when Louis Jerome Simpson petitioned Oregon’s Secretary of
State to incorporate the townsite of Yarrow and an adjacent area developed by his father, Asa Simpson, at the north bend of Coos Bay. While such petitions were typically granted
quickly, legislative workload delayed action until December 28, 1903, when Senate Bill 5 officially created the City of North Bend. The Heritage Award under-
scores the city’s role in supporting a resilient local economy and a network of long-running, family- and community-centered enterprises that continue to anchor the Bay Area.
Bay Area Hospital’s Interim CEO Outlines Turnaround Plan After a loss of $24 million over FY2024, and $32 million in FY2025, the hospital is in poor standing on a $45 million loan with the Bank of Montreal (BMO). In default on that loan, BAH has failed to meet the three covenants with BMO for the loan: the debt service coverage ratio, cash on hand, and liquidity. $35 million of that loan is required to be paid in December of 2030 due to a balloon payment, upping the pressure to increase revenue and reduce cost. The most emblematic of the hospital’s struggle is the cash reserves, which are running dangerously low in the face of what Morgan estimates could be $61 million in capital needs for the hospital (meaning new or replacement machines for essential services, the expiry of the EPIC records contract, necessary building and system updates, etc.). In June of 2022, the hospital had $104 million in cash reserves which year on year has fallen, to the point where it reached $59 million in 2024 and is now $42 million. In the face of the mounting financial reality, Morgan brought forward a three-tiered
BY NATE SCHWARTZ Editor
Bay Area Hospital’s (BAH) interim CEO Kelly Morgan charted a course through stark territory during the September 9 meeting of the hospital’s Board of Directors. Morgan,
with great clarity and transparency, outlined the very serious challenges that are laid out before a hospital that has maintained its independence for over fifty years. “So, we’ve been here a little over a month now, and every week is a little bit of an adven-
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ture with finding out additional information,” opened Morgan’s report. Getting to grips with the situation was the obvious first step, and alongside interim CFO Doug Dickerson and the rest of the executive team, it has not made for fun reading.
The first figure outlined was the max capacity of the hospital versus the actual level of service. BAH has 172 licensed beds and is staffed to treat 129 of them. However, over the last three years the hospital has only averaged 58 to 75 of those beds being filled.
See BAH Continued on Page 3
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