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Sentinel
AN
VOL. XXXIX.
INDNPBNÓSMT
N|W8PAPIB
NO. 33.
Frank Statement
Of County Policy
In Tag. Matters
Most Successful
Ä(r Raid Practice
One of the most successful air raid
practices ever held in Coquille was
staged last Thursday by the Civilian
Defense Council. This practice dif­
fered from the usual plan in that in­
stead of being called at the custom­
ary time of 7:30 p. m., it was called
at 9:10 p. m., with none of the mem­
bers of the participating units having
any advance information as to the
time.
The yellow alarm, upon which the
telephone operators call all chiefs of
service to stand by in case of n^ed,
came at 8:45. The blue alarm by
which all chiefs of service call their
respective crews into headquarters,
was sounded at $ p. -m., and the red
alarm which indicates actual bomb­
ing and is indicated by three blasts
of the city siren, was sounded at 9:10.
All control board workers incident
officers, fire polloe, ambulance and
messenger crews were on duty by
the time the red alarm sounded and
six incidents at five-minute intervals,
beginning at 9:15 p. m., were handled
in a nearly perfect manner.
It is hoped to hold future practices
in this manner providing it is possible
to obtain permisiosn from army offi­
cials to do so.
Chief Bill Barrow was highly
pleased at the showing made in last
week's practice and wishes to express
his appreciation to all block wardens;
district wardens, central headquarters
workers and telephone operators who
took part in it
(By L. D. Felsheim, Copnty Judge)
. Probably the most important and
far-reaching undertaking in official
county business in a number of years
is the present program of reorgani­
zation and modernization of the tax
department. This is being done un­
der the authority of Sheriff Wm. F.
Howell in coordination with the as­
sessor’s department and the County
Court, and satisfactory progress is
being made.
a,
Taxpayers of Coos county, at least
those who have been paying, or at­
tempting to pay, their taxes with any
degree of regularity, are well aware
of the difficulty they have faced in
recent years when endeavoring te
determine what they actually owe
and how and when they might pay to
get the greatest possible benefit un­
der current tax laws.
This statement is not made as a
reflection on any person or persons
connected with the tax department.
No such reflection' is intended, nor
is it justified, because the situation
is more or less the outgrowth of a
combination of circumstances brought
about by the ever-changing tax laws
enacted%y succeeding legislatures in
attempting to meet the problems that
arose during the depression years of
the early ’80s.
So many different ways to pay
taxes were devised and put into ef­
fect by legislation that the adminis­
trative machinery and the personnel
of the tax department, under the old
system In operation, was Inadequate
A letter from Mr. and Mrs. Jack
to cope with the situation. It took
trained employees of several years Laird, she was Gretchen Clinton be-
standing to keep advised of the fore.her marriage, written from Pen­
changes taking place, and to main­ sacola, Florida, has many items of in­
tain coordination between the vari­ terest to their friends here:
“The South has lived up to many
ous methods of tax payment. Such
employees could not always be held; of our expectations, but I know noth­
in fact, there were numerous changes ing can compare with Coos county
in personnel over a period of critical in our estimation. It’s beautiful down
____ here, but after being raised in a
years, and at times the department
, The
was considerably under-manned.
----- mild climate wWget awfully uncom­
cry for “economy” at that time when fortable. And I can understand why
people couldn’t pay their taxes and the Southerners are called ‘lazy’—if
everyone thought expenses should be you moved too fast -in this climate
cut to the limit, proved detrimental you would just melt away.
“We get quite a kick out of seeing
to - the tax department because it
struck at a time when there was cotton, tobacco, peanuts, sugar cane,
etc., growing.
But as to Florida
more work than ever to do.
As a result of the circumstances ex­ oranges—the only decent ones we get
plained in the foregoing, the actual down here have ’California' stamped
on them.
(Continued on page two)
“Jack is kept quite busy instructing
but he says it is an interesting job.
We expect to be here until next
spring but you never know just what
the Navy will decide. '
J. E. Norton, who had not been at
“I must say how much the Sentinel
all well this week, is feeling some­
means to us, now we're so far from
what better this morning but still has
home. Tony and Frances Estes pass
to remain very quiet and make no the current issues on to us and my
exertion.
We
mother sends us copies, too.
____ A.
read it from cover to cover."
Mrs. Hale B. Eubanks is expecting
Capt. Eubanks home for a short
Concert, Dance By Army
visit this evening, or soon. The boat
on which he is chaplain in transport Band at Bandon, Aug. 27 -'
service is docked at San Francisco
A free, public concert and dance,
for a few days and he wrote he ex­ the music to be furnished by the
pected to have a few days* furlough. U. S. Army band, is advertised to be
held in the grade school gymnasium
Lud Scharfer went up to Myrtle at Bandon tomorrow (Friday) eve­
Point yesterday morning and brought ning. The concert will start at 7:30
home from the Mast Hospital, Mrs. and the dance will follow.
Scharfer and that new baby daughter,
Anyone who can get there is in-
Barbara Elaine.
vited to attend. There will be no
charge for either concert or dance
Mr. and Mrs. Frank Thrift left:
--------------------------
Sunday on a two weeks’ vacation Good shipment of Chrome
trip, he from duty with the Mt. States
From the Independence Mine
Power Co. and she from the Lorenz
A fine shipment of chrome which
Department Store.
They went to
Long Beach to visit Tom Thrift and tested 46.7 per cent was received at
the government stockpile here this
family.
week from Frank Fish’s Coos Inde­
Joe Fortier, youngest brother of pendence Mine, Stanley Fitzgerald
W. H. Fortier, accompanied by his reports.
wife came in Monday from Eugene
for a few days' visit. They are out First Circus To Show In
at Verrill McCurdy’s where the Coquille For Many Years
Fortiers have been staying the past
The advance agent for Arthur
few weeks and the men were busy
Tuesday helping Verrill shingle his Brothers' big three-ring circus was in
Coquille last Saturday and stated that
barn.
the circus would show in Coquille on
The Eagles Auxiliary will initiate Tuesday, Sept. 14, with an afternoon
a class Friday evening and it is im­ and evening performance.
Letter From The
Sunny South
Personal Mention
portant that everyone who can at­
Mr. and Mrs. O. B. Harriman re­
tend do so.
All of the birthdays
which fall in August will be cele­ turned Tuesday afternoon from their
six weeks stay in Portland. Mr. Har­
brated.
x
riman says he is feeling<very fit again
Mm. Mapon R. Clayton and two though still a little jhaky on ids
sons, John and Paul, left last Friday legs. He spent five of the ¿lx weeks
evening for Peoria, Ills., where her flat on his back in the hospital
father, Wm. Miles, is quite seriously
ill following an operation. He was a
Postmaster M. O. Hawkins is tak­
Coquille visitor three years ago. ,
ing a week off from duty in the post­
office here and
Saturday he and
Mrs. Joyce Owen and son, Richard, Mrs. Hswklns went down to Curry
left yesterday morning for Corvallis, county tp spend the time with their
where Mrs. Owen is to teach the daughter«, Mrs. Tom Dimmick and
fourth grade the coming school year. | Miss Ann.
$400 Now In Fund
For The Boys
And Girls Clubs
There was a splendid attendance at
the dance last Saturday night, in the
Community Building, which enjoyed
until an early morning hour the
music of Shady's orchestra.
The dance netted $200 or the Co­
quille Yputh Advisory committee and
the funds will be used for purchas­
ing equipment for the Girls Club and
the Boys Club which are being or­
ganized and which will have their
headquarters in tne Community
Building.
Gene Johnson with a sale of 33
tickets is to receive the Na 1 mem­
bership card in the Boys Club and
George Litzenberger receives the No.
2 card, he having sold 32 tickets.
Others who participated in the ticket
selling campaign were Raymond Kay,
Robert Simpson, Vernon Owen, Dick
Martindale, Art Kelch, Neal Milligan,
Donald Minard, Jack Axtell, George
Johnson, Bob Dykes. Bill Berry, Pete
Ireland.
The Youth Advisory Council, which
now has about $400 to spend for
getting the two clubs started with a
good assortment of games and equip­
ment, Is composed of representatives
from the various adult clubs, church­
es, and other organizations in Co­
quille. The executive committee is
composed of Mrs. Jack Dolan, chair­
man; Rev. Robert L. Greene, O. L.
Wood, R. L. Stewart and Clarence
Oslka.
Mrs. Mabel Whereat has donated a
ping pong table for the club’s use,
W. H. Fortier has loaned the use of
a bi I lard table, and other equipment
will be gratefully received by the
committee.
"So Is The Enemy
Far Away
Our Treasury
test sum
of money yet raised from individuals
in this country, obviously every per­
son will have to do more.
It is a project that calls for care­
ful self-analysis and planning. Oc­
casionally it is pointed out to us that
our per capita purchase of war bonds
does not nearly approximate that
in England, and is far below that in
Germany. England has had the ne­
cessity of such purchases driven
home by the actual devastation of
enemy bombs and by nearness to the
entire war scene.
The recently publicized phrase
from an American soldier’s letter is
worth repeating. He wrote to his
family that **I am still far away, but
remember, as long as I am far away,
so is the enemy."
One way for us to keep the enemy
far away, one way for us to keep our
right to determine for ourselves what
our bond purchases shall be is to
voluntarily, willingly, gladly do our
full share when the call comes.
No Summer
This Year
Speaking of weather—These morn­
ings have a decided feel of fall! And
there has been no summer at all in
Coos county The thermometer has
not been higher than 80 the past three
months.
Occasional reins, too, have tended
tb reduce the fire hazard and Oregon
has been kept green But the preci­
pitation has been spotted. Last Sat­
urday was cloudy and gloomy all day
but the few minutes rain between
two and three o’clock was all that fell
herp, yet 100 miles to the north rain
fell on the coast all day long.
The Geo. Swinney Family
Here For A Few Days
County Fair To
Open At Myrtle
Point September 4
Coos Valuation Up
$480,000 This Year
[ a $| ern Q m | tyan
Visits Coos County
Coal Regions
The taxpayers of Coos county will :
be pleased to know that although the
Coos county budget estimate, as ad­
vertised for the final hearing oh
August 27, and for the 1943-44 fiscal
The 32d annual Coos County Fair, year, is only slightly higher, $23.66 to (By L. D. Felsheim, County Judge)
which will open on Saturday of next be exact, than the previous year's
Prospects for successful develop-
week, Sept. 4, is to be a three day tax levy, the levy itself will show ap- ment of various coal areas in Coos
affair this year, continuing through proximltely a three-tenths of a mill county through strip mining, were
Labor Day. Sept. 8, bdt there will be
reduction. The actual millage drop­ enhanced materially during the past
as much activity cramimed into those ping from 15 mills to 14.73. This is week by the visit here of K. G. Spen­
three days as there h<ks been hereto­
due to the fact the assessed valuation cer, president of the Pittsburg Mid­
fore in a week. ,
of the county was greatly increased— way Coal Mining company of Kan­
Friday, the 3rd. is Entry Day for according to figures just compiled in sas City. Mo.
general exhibits, Victory Garden and the office of Assessor Charles W.
After visiting several areas where
Food Conservation displays, and else­ Forrest.
the Coos county coal exploration
• ‘
,
where in this issue appears a coupon
The ussessed value of the county ierew' under direction of the Oregon
which those planning on entering ex­ for the 1943-44 tax year, just com­ . Department of Geology and Mineral
hibits- are requested to fill out and
piled, shows an assessed value of , Industries, has been boring test holes,
mail prior to Sept. 3.
$26,794,087 or a net increase of $480,- Spencer, accompanied by Earl K.
The general exhibits premium list 461 over the previous year's assessed I Nixon, director of the state depart-
is the same as was shown in the 1941 valuation. The records also show a ment, visited the County Court Fri­
booklet.
net increase in assessed valuation in day. They were accompanied by J.
A Rodeo is to be one of the big Coos County for the past three years , K. Kernson and J. B. Isgrig, mining
attractions this year. Christiansen of $2,131,299.00.
men of Grants Pass, and by a repre-
■ros of Eugene are bringing in the
The assessor states “although there , aentative of the War Production
stock, after a two weeks’ successful has been some criticism of the slight Board, Portland office, in charge of
show at Jantzen Beach. The stock increase in the expenditures of this priorities.
A
includes Brahma bulls, cows and office in the past there years—the
Spencer stated that he had road
calves and this will be the first time above figures are ample proof that about the Coos county exploration
and Brahma stock has been shown in that money has been well spent, with project in one of the mining journals
Coos county. The Rodeo will be an the taxpayers each year receiving the and, while on a business trip to Wy­
open show with all local riders in­ benefits in a more equalized assess­ oming. decided to fly to Oregon and
vited to participate.
look over the Cooe county field, His
ment and a lower tax levy.”
B
Another feature is to be the local
A large portion of the above in­ company has beep strip-mining coal
saddle hone show, all three after­ crease in assessed value is attributed throughout certain areas of the
noons, with lady and men saddle to the assessment of property which Middle West, including the states of
horse races and contests, similar to had not previously been on the tax Kansas. Missouri and Illinois.
the great show at the ball park here rolls due to lack of sufficient field
Spencer was much interested in
ow July 4. Smith who arranged that help.
what has already been revealed
show here is chairman in charge of
In the year 1940 the assessed valua­ through the cooperative exploration
the Fair program for the local horse tion of the county was $24,662,788.00 work and complimented the people
exhibitions and contests.
with the county levy being 21.9 mills of Coos county upon their progressive­
Night watchmen, stalls and feed as compared with today’s assessed ness in inaugurating such a movement
for the horses will be provided by valuation of $26,794,087.00 and a While in no position to comment on
U»e fair association.
‘his findings here, he did say that
levy of 14.78 mitts.
! An additional 300 feet of bleachers
The assessor states, according to he was intensely interested in seeing
seats has been provided and the law, it will be necessary for his office strippin*-areas of considerable size •
grandstand and bleachers will seat to increase the levy to the nearest where comparatively large veins of
between four and five thousand. tenth of a mill over the requested coal can be reached by the removal
There is. also ample free parking amount to be raised by taxation. of comparatively shallow overburden.
space for cars on the Infield.
However, should the county Budget In contrast, he mentioned that his
: _ The Browning Consolidated Car­ Committee in its final hearing»oh company has stripped aa much as 87
nival is also billed to add to the at- Aug. 27, reduce the requested amount feet of overburden successfully to
to'"tee raised Jpy .taxatton fay $803.82,
Director Nixon is giving a great
the levy would then be exactly 14.7
deal of personal attention to the local
mills.
■ J « .
Bob Zumwalt’s seven-piece or-
exploration project, and more par­
chestra Is to furnish the music for
ticularly at this time to the stripping
Daughter And Family Visiting
the dancing in Oaks Pavilion each of
areas because machinery for open
the three nights and that assures that At The F. A. Pook Home
pit surface mining is becoming more
the crowds will enjoy the dancing.
Capt. and Mrs. R. F. Roake and rapidly available as various large
Admission is to be 99 cents for children, Judy and Peter, arrived government military projects are be­
adults, including tax; 40 cents for the here last Friday for a visit at the ing completed. Strip mining requires
12 to 18 year old young folks and home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. a minimum of manpower and lends
children under 12 are admitted free. F. A. Pook. Capt. Roake was on itself to production In the shortest
Among the eating concessions will furlough but on Saturday received possible time.
—L ’-
be one provided by the Coquille word to go on a special mission to
Eagles lodge and Auxiliary.
Idaho, with only 15 minutes in which Phyllis Bunch To Take Throe
to catch the bus. When that job is Year Nurse’s Training Course
completed he will be back here for
the rest of htr furlough. Mrs. Roake . Miss Phyllis Bunch left Saturday
and the children are here for an In­ for - southern California, where she
definite stay. After leaving his poet is to enter Loma Linda, a college of
Medical Evangelists
and
Nurses’
A portion of the program time at in California the Roakes visited his
training,
for
a
three-year
course.
the weekly luncheon meeting of the parents in Portland before coming
The college la 65 miles east of Loe
Rotary club at the hotel on Wednes­ to Coquille.
Angeles and the course will include
day was taken up by reports on the
practical work in the hospitals of
annual stag dinner held last Friday Self-Confessed Murderer
L. A. Dr. and Mrs. J*. R. Bunch took
evening at the J. Arthur Berg cabin Is Taken Back To IoWa
her out to Eugene last Saturday and
at Laurel lake, some of which were
Russell Garris, who has been in she took the train from there, they
quite interesting.
the county jail since Aug, 14 after he returning home Sunday.
The balance of the time was taken
had confessed to police officers at
over by Rev. Robert O. Greene, who
the Bay that he had committed a Is Helping Guard Italian
led a song session..
murder in Iowa, back in the 1930’s,
Prisoners at Ogden, Utah
A challenge was received from the
Was taken from jail yesterday morn­
Eagles for a softball game and a
Victor Farris Fitzgerald, nephew
ing and started back to the Buckeye
committee was appointed to arrange
state with officers who came west of Stanley Fitzgerald, who formerly
a date for the latter part of next
was*with the Pacific Feed & Seed
for him.
week.
A peculiar matter in connection here, came in Monday evening for a
O. B. Harriman was welcomed
with his confession is that the officers week’s visit. He is one of the Mili­
back to the club after an absence of
Escort Guards, stationed
set the date of the murder about ten tary
- Police
-
several weeks in a Portland hospital. years prior to what Garris stated in '•» Ogden, Utah, where he is a guard
John Jayes was introduced as a his confession which he said was in- »» «»• Italian interment camp. He
new member, having been elected at duced by remorse. _
haM be*n in the bc *
last week's meeting.
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F ■. — W 1
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2— ■ ~ JI
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Visiting Rotarians present were
Harry Nasburg, of Marshfield, John
E. Runyon, of Roseburg, and John
D. Carl and Wallace Dement, of Myr­
tle Point.
Rotarians Hold
Song Session ,
"Unavoidable," Was
The Inquest Verdict
Coroner W. O. Campbell, District
Attorney Ben Flaxel and Dr. J. D.
Rankin, who conducted the inquest
last Friday over the body of Mrs. C.
V. Smith, who was killed when the
Coquille mail truck was overturned
last Wednesday afternoon, rendered
a verdict that the accident was “un­
avoidable” and thgt there was no
criminal negligence -on the »art at ■
Gerald Lillie, who was driving the
lagging truck.
Mr. and Mrs. Geo. W. Swinney and
son, Raymond, came in Saturday
from Eagle Point, where they have
resided for the past year, and they
left again for there yesterday morn­
ing. George has been a guard at
Camp White for^ the past year and
while he te Ilot a* drafted nor enlisted
man, he wears the uniform and is
subject to all Army rules and regu­
lations while on duty,
Ray Jeub last Thursday purchased
He mentioned some of th« high
prices prevailing around Medford, the F. 8. Emery home on East Second.
cherries selling for 15 cents a pound Mr, Emery expects to leave early next
and green beans at 11 or 13 oenta. A week to enter upon his duties as man­
ranch of ten acres belonging to a ager of the pine mill at Elgin in east­
relative of his recently sold for 1750 gem Oregon and Mrs. Emery will join
| him there within a month.
t
VICTORY GARDEN EXHIBIT: Adult and Junior Division
Prizes: 1st, $15; 2nd, $10; 3rd, $7.50; 4th, $5; 5th, $2.50; Sth. $1.
Display: Five different vegetables judged on quality, variety,
uniformity, market size, condition and attractiveness of
display.
Reserve space for my Victory’ Garden Display
Name
Addr<
FOOD PRESERVATION BOOTH EXHIBITS by Organizations
t
Prizes: 1st, $25; 2nd, $15; and $10 or each organization making a
dispfijjr
creditable display.
Display: Any aceptable method of Food Preservation, Including
canning, freezing, drying, brining, curing, smoking, etc.
Reserve spape for our Food Preservation Exhibit
Name of Organization
>4<
Address ...,.
(Fill out this application blank and mail it te Bob Sheedy,
Myrtle Point, as soon as possible)