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About North Douglas herald. (Drain Or) 2023-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 1, 2024)
North Douglas Herald Continued from Front Page Pass Creek Park of funds. It did turn out that revenues from liquidated parks were diverted to a project at Winchester Bay. Resulting in Town hall meetings and the planners were met with opposition. The County leaned on their Parks Advisory Board (PAB) and Parks Department to push their plan. Many concerned citizens were denied vacancies on the PAB, even after the PAB devised a test for applicants, and the concerned citizens scored the highest and the County went ahead with their plans. The controversy between the County and Park closures does not seem a new developement and not for all of the same issues or intentions. Well if the loss of public resources to the enrichment of certain parties, then maybe they are. Mildred Kanipe Park, Stanton Park, Busenbark Park and now Pass Creek Park all seem to lend their story to a trend in the dismantling of public resources , not for the betterment but for the profit. The rezoning of Pass Creek Park was approved by the Planning Commission at their SEPT 19th meeting. There was a scheduled Parks Advisory Comittee meeeting for October 17th and it was the target of a large contingent of opposition until it was cancelled. In turn, the BOC cancelled it’s own October 21st meeting. It is not clear if meetings were convened in private but the next scheduled meeting was then said to be November 17th. The current commissioners have been accused of ignoring almost all public input. Critics of the County claim that the Parks Advisory Board (PAB) was hand picked by the Commissioners, who exclude anyone who may object to them. They once gave applicants a test, but still excluded those who scored highest because they didn’t want them on the PAB. The main problem is the advisory board actually has no power or authority. They just rubber stamp & sign off on what the parks director and commissioners are presenting, and then walk the county to gathering public input and provided opportunities for comments. The DC Board of Commisioners is currently scheduled for it’s next meeting on December 4th. It is to be seen as to what outcome or revelations are to be be presented but there is certainly a concerted effort of citizens to be at that meeting to voice concern, opposition and even some outrage. The PAC, seemingly bowing out of the line of fire, is also tabling a meeting, but not until March 20th, 2025. It is mindboggling to try to follow the logic of the County, through it’s commissioners, on the reasons to deny the public of a needed and valuable public resource. The county is selling the park because they claim that there’s not enough revenue generated for many years. If you look at the corner of the freeway exit and entrance to the park you are assaulted by the delapidated structure previously known as the Coach House. Since it’s abandonment and subsequent destruction and blight, it has been nothing but an eyesore and empediment to the Pass Creek Park visitors coming there and wanting to stay there. They see that building there and they’re not staying there or coming back. Supposedly, the only reason given by the county for Pass Creek Park to be sold is that it operates at a loss. Alternatives have never been brainstormed with the general public. And if the County truly valued the interest and concerns of the county residents and projected visiters they would have long ago addressed some answers to a property so distressed that it so negatively impacts the entrance to Pass Creek Park. With that kind of effort on the part of the County they might more readily find partners in the community, that can work towards rejuvinating, reviving and even elevating the space in so many ways. There are many good and even really great ideas that deserve being at the tabler regarding what really should be done and what should’nt be done reguarding the Park. Besides the dissatisfaction and opposition to the loss of the resource and the benefit it can and should bring to North douglas County and Curtain residents, is the notion of who benefits financially from the privatization and sale of the property and, according to a source who says there are already finalized plans to use those funds from the sale to fund the expansion and development of the Winchester Dunes, who or why are they profiting from that. It has been challenging to understand the process and to determine if fairness and transparency are part of the County system. I, personally, know of numerous, in the dozens, of folks who are actively trying to exercise their rights to voice concerns and elicit answers reguarding legitimacy, fairness and accountability of officials of Douglas County. It would, bt any account, amount to ‘Stonewalling”. I have come into possesion of a letter sent by one group of, I believe, dozens of individuals to all or most of the commissioners and other officials. The letter seems concise, pertinant and incitefull. Certainly containing points that seem like they should be at least part of the conversation. The single Commissioners response I could find seems to bear that in mind. It portends a continued rocky road ahead. More to report after the Decem- ber 4th meeting. December 2024 Page 13 School Days North Douglas Elementary School Student of the Month North Douglas Middle School Student of the Month 1st Grade: Everett Lindsey Everett exemplifies gratitude as he is al- ways the first to use his manners when asking for help and reminds others to do the same. Everett can find the good in every situation and never complains about what he has or is able to do. He celebrates his own wins without shaming others and the wins of others without complaints. Keep up the good work Everett! 7th Grade: James Hoyt James is a positive, cheerful guy. He is al- ways appreciative of help and the little things people do for him. His outlook on life makes it so other students enjoy being around him. North Douglas Herald is pleased to feature Students and their achievements. Please submit to schoolnews@ndherald.com North Douglas Warriors finish 2nd in Finals Story by Rusty Savage 2024 1A-8 State Championship The 1A-8 Championship finals were held at Summit High School in Bend on November 30th. The no. 3 ranked Warriors were defeated by the Adrian Antelopes to 66-12. The Antelopes finished with 509 yards total offense, 481 yards rushing and 28 passing. “We knew we had to keep No. 4 (Hunter Vaughn) inside the box,” Antelope Coach Bill Wortman said. “Our defensive ends executed well, turning the running back into our linebackers and defensive linemen.” Hunter Vaughn finished with a team-high 269 all-purpose yards, 19 yards rushing, 111 yards receiving, and 139 yards in kick returns. North Douglas went into the game missing 2 senior Linemen and had to rely on several freshmen and sophomore players. “Hunter had no room tonight and he got beat up pretty good,” according to Coach Mast. “He’s as explosive a football player as there is out there. He kept fighting and took a lot of shots, but he never gave up and … sometimes that’s the way it goes.” “Our boys should be really proud. They put together a great season. It just didn’t happen for us tonight. We’ll try our best to get back and see if we can come up with one in the future here.” North Douglas High School Warriors football team finished the 2024 season with an 11-1 record.
