JC NEWS by Matt Jarvis

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Sunrise/Sunset, Coos Bay, OR
Coos Bay, OR, Friday, May 29, 2026 – Sunrise: 5:40 a.m., and Sunset: 8:48 p.m., offering 15-hours & seven-minutes of daylight.

Tides, Coos Bay, OR Estuary
Tides for the Coos Bay, OR Estuary, Friday, May 29, 2026 – High tide: 12:22 a.m., 7.26 ft.; Low tide: 7:25 a.m., -0.6 ft.; High tide: 2:01 p.m., 5.43 ft.; Low tide: 7 p.m., 2.62 ft.

CBPL Events
Coos Bay Public Library, 525 Anderson Ave., Coos Bay, OR - Pickup/Drop-off Eastside, Friday, May 29 at the Eastside Fire Station, 365 D Street, Coos Bay, 9:00am – 9:30am. Return or pick up library materials every Friday in front of the Eastside Fire Department. Age Bracket: Everyone. Pickup/Drop-off Empire, Friday, May 29 at the Empire Fire Station, 189 S Wall Street, Coos Bay, 10:00am – 10:30am. Pickup or drop-off library materials in front of the Empire Fire Station. Age Bracket: Everyone. Community Yoga, Saturday, May 30 in the Myrtlewood Room, 9:00am – 10:00am. Who is this class for? Beginners and experienced yogis alike! All levels are welcome. Teens and Adults. What to Bring: Comfortable clothing, yoga mat, and water bottle. Age Bracket: Teens & Adults. Sole Mates Community Walk, Saturday, May 30 at the Mingus Park, 10:00am – 11:00am, May Trail: Mingus Park. Meet the Sole Mates! In May of 2023, Coos Bay Public Library, Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), and twenty members of the Coos Bay community formed the Sole Mates. This partnership began a two-year research study to learn the effects of walking as a group and engaging civically to improve public health and walkability in our community. The Sole Mates decided to use funds awarded by OHSU to create a free walking guide to inspire other community members to get outside, walk, and improve their health. Coos Bay Public Library and the Sole Mates, will co-host Sole Mates’ Community Walk on every fourth Saturday (due to holiday, we’ll meet on 5th Saturday in May). May walk will be held at Mingus Park. Meet and park by baseball field, 230 N 10th St, Coos Bay). Every month, we will meet at the next trail in the Walking Guide. Walks are FREE to join and open to everyone! Let's walk! Age Bracket: Everyone. Ongoing Programs: CBPL Community Fridge; Volunteers Needed; Ark Project Food Drive.

Sole Mates' Community Walk: Mingus Park
Coos Bay Public Library and local walking group, Sole Mates, will co-host Sole Mates’ Community Walk every fourth Saturday (due to holiday, we’ll meet on 5th Saturday in May). Next month’s walk will be held at Mingus Park on Saturday, May 30 at 10:00am. Meet and park by baseball field, 230 N 10th St, Coos Bay. In May of 2023, Coos Bay Public Library, Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), and twenty members of the Coos Bay community formed the Sole Mates. This partnership began a two-year research study to learn the effects of walking as a group and engaging civically to improve public health and walkability in our community. The Sole Mates decided to use funds awarded by OHSU to create a free walking guide to inspire other community members to get outside, walk, and improve their health. You are invited to walk these trails with the Mates. Let’s walk! Every month, we will meet at the next trail in the Walking Guide. Walks are FREE to join and open to everyone! Get physical copies of the guide at the library or download it @ https://www.coosbaylibrary.org/sole-mates

Huge Book Sale at the North Bend Public Library
NBPL release - The Friends of the North Bend Public Library will hold a book sale on Saturday, May 30 starting at 10:00 AM. Members of the Friends get exclusive access to the sale during the first hour from 10:00-11:00 AM. The book sale will open to the public from 11:00 AM-4:00 PM. The sale will include hundreds of gently used hardback and paperback books and DVDs all priced at $1! Friends’ membership can be purchased at the book sale or in advance at the North Bend Public Library for an annual membership of $15. The Friends of the North Bend Public Library is a group of volunteers that exists to support the needs of the library. Past donations from the Friends have been used to support NBPL Summer Reading Program, Title Wave, the Library building renovation, and to supplement the library’s book and media collection with special purchases for adults, young adults, and children. For more information about the Friends of the North Bend Public Library, please contact [email protected] or (541) 756-0400. Event Details: What: Friends of the North Bend Public Library Book Sale; When: Saturday, May 30 from 10:00-4:00 PM (Members only from 10:00-11:00 AM); Where: North Bend Public Library; Who: All ages.

Southwestern Hall of Fame Honors Former Athletes
SWOCC release - COOS BAY, OR – Southwestern Oregon Community College’s (SWOCC) Hall of Fame honors former athletes, teams, coaches, and those that have had a large impact on the school and its athletic programs. Two teams covering a wide range of Laker history will make up the Southwestern Oregon Community College Hall of Fame's class of 2026. This year’s inductees are the first Women’s Wrestling National Champion, Kendra Nelson, and the first official Women’s Wrestling Team from the 2011–2012 season, coached by Bo Icalia and assisted by Gilbert Perez. Team members included Alejandra Paez, Biri Mendoza, Caroline (Crawford) Parent, Hannah (Moon) Narguis, Joelle Wheeler, Katy (Dawson) Nokes, Liezl Mondoc, Shay Way, Sarah Kimble-Moore, and Hannah Francis. The Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will take place in Prosper Hall on the Coos Campus (1988 Newmark Ave., Coos Bay) Saturday, May 30, 2026, at 3:00pm following the annual sports awards. There is no fee to attend this event. A reception will follow at Gino’s Pizza, located at 1324 Virginia Ave., North Bend. For questions or to RSVP to this event, please email [email protected]. To learn more about Southwestern’s athletic programs visit: https://swoccathletics.com/.

Quake
A 3.0-magnitude earthquake was recorded at the southern end of the two fault lines that run parallel with the Oregon Coast, Thursday, May 28th. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the quake was located west of Ferndale, CA, near Cape Mendocino in Northern California.

Manulife to end participation in Access and Habitat Program
ODFW release - SALEM, Ore.—Manulife will not renew its cooperative agreement with ODFW's Access and Habitat program, the company informed ODFW late last week. This means Manulife properties in northeast Oregon and Jackson County that are currently open to hunter access through the Access and Habitat "Welcome to Hunt" program will no longer be open for hunting through the program after May 31, 2026. Hunters applying for fall controlled hunts need to be aware of these changes as lands where they plan to hunt may require separate fees or be closed. Hunters will need permission from Manulife to enter their property as of June 1, 2026. Manulife has informed ODFW that they intend to launch a fee permit program where hunters or other recreationists can purchase a permit to access their lands. More information about the program should be available from Manulife in coming weeks, prior to the May 15 controlled hunt application deadline. The decision will impact about 270,000 acres in northeast Oregon and a little over 12,400 acres in southwest Oregon. The list of impacted areas includes: Southwest Oregon: Jackson Cooperative TMA in the Rogue and Dixon wildlife management units: "We are saddened to see Manulife leave the program," said Amy Patrick, Access and Habitat Board Chair. "We want hunters to know that our board worked tirelessly and negotiated in good faith to keep Manulife in the program, including offering the highest per year payment of any A&H property due to the large amount of property enrolled in the program, and negotiating on their concerns over state insurance requirements. "Ultimately, this was their business decision," added Patrick. Manulife's lands have been open to public access under the A&H program for several decades, including under different owners (the lands were managed by Hancock Forest Management and Forest Capitol Partners prior to 2017). Manulife's exit from the program will free up approximately $1.1 million in program funds over three years, which the A&H Board will consider for use to open new properties, improve habitat, or maintain current agreements. The A&H program is funded by a $4 surcharge on hunting licenses and the auction/raffle of special deer and elk hunts. It currently provides hunter access to 2.2 million acres statewide. For more information on A&H properties open to hunting, visit https://myodfw.com/articles/hunting-private-lands-access-habitat-program.

Vaccination rates for Oregon students reach new low; nonmedical exemptions at new high
Most families choose to vaccinate children, but more than a third of Oregon schools at risk of measles outbreak - OHA release - PORTLAND, Ore.—State health officials urge parents and guardians to check their school’s vaccination rate to help families understand the local risk of a disease outbreak, especially for children who are not up to date on the MMR vaccine for measles. Parents and caregivers can see vaccination rates for individual schools on OHA’s School Immunization Data dashboard. Kindergarteners and nonmedical exemptions - For the 2025-2026 school year, Oregon’s rate of nonmedical exemptions for required school vaccines for kindergarteners has climbed to a record high of 10.9%—up from 6.9% in the 2021-2022 school year. Only 85.6% of kindergarteners were up to date on required vaccines, according to data, continuing an overall downward trend that began a decade ago. The steepest decline happened during the last four years—a 3-percentage point drop since the 2021-2022 school year, when the rate was 88.4%. “Although the vast majority of families in Oregon are still choosing to protect families through vaccination, the downward trends are deeply concerning,” said Howard Chiou, M.D., PhD., medical director for communicable diseases and immunizations at OHA’s Public Health Division. “We risk seeing the return of diseases such as measles and polio—diseases of the past that once caused widespread harm but are entirely preventable with vaccines.” The vaccine with the highest rate of kindergarten nonmedical exemptions is the second dose of the measles vaccine (MMR) at 9.4%, up from 4.9% 10 years ago, a 92% jump. Measles is one of the most contagious diseases in the world, and the best way to prevent infection is to get vaccinated. The vaccine with the second highest rate of kindergarten nonmedical exemptions is the DTaP vaccine, which protects against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (whooping cough). Pertussis rates in Oregon hit a 75-year high in 2025—1,475 cases. Pertussis and measles cases have also risen to record highs in the past year nationally. K-12 students - While the majority of K-12 students statewide, 90.2%, is up to date on required vaccinations, pockets of risk remain in individual schools. These pockets of risk at schools exist in all 36 counties in Oregon. “Even when overall vaccination rates are high at the state or county level, that can sometimes hide significant risk at an individual school, so parents should not assume their local schools will also be well protected,” Chiou said. “We encourage families to look at the immunization rates for their child’s school to better understand personal and community risks.” According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, 92% to 94% of the population needs to be immune to measles, through vaccination or previous infection, to prevent or limit the spread of infections in a community. Chiou says Oregon’s public health system strives for a 93% vaccination rate to achieve herd immunity. Currently, more than one in three (36%) Oregon schools with 10 or more students in grades K-12 report MMR vaccination rates under 93% and are therefore at high risk of a measles outbreak.

Recreational use advisory issued for Upper Klamath National Wildlife Refuge
OHA release - PORTLAND, Ore.— Oregon Health Authority (OHA) issued a recreational use health advisory Thursday for Upper Klamath National Wildlife Refuge due to the presence of a cyanotoxins above recreational use value. The wildlife refuge is in Klamath County. People should avoid swimming and high-speed water activities, such as water skiing or power boating, in areas of the wildlife refuge where blooms are present, as the major route of exposure is ingestion or inhalation of water. Toxins are not absorbed through the skin. However, those with skin sensitivities may get a puffy red rash. OHA encourages people to visit Upper Klamath National Wildlife Refuge and enjoy activities such as fishing, bird watching and canoeing. Boating is safe as long as speeds do not create excessive water spray. Sprays could lead to the risk of inhaling cyanotoxins.

Kroger to Cut Prices
Is it a start of a consumer desired lowering of grocery prices at a major Oregon market? Or, is it just a publicity stunt to get more shoppers to Fred Meyer Stores in Oregon and Washington? Word comes from the parent company, Kroger, that CEO Greg Foran has announced plans to cut prices on thousands of items within its 50 stores in Oregon and fifty-four in Washington. Foran says they need to win back their market share from other chains, such as Costco, Trader Joe’s, Walmart and others who have outperformed Fred Meyer. Kroger also operates four QFC stores in Portland and more than 2,700 stores nationwide.

Arrested on Multiple Sex Crimes, Lane Co.
On May 28th, investigators with the Lane County Sheriff’s Office received information, leading to the identity of the suspect in this case. The suspect has been identified as 37-year-old Jeremy Allen Johnson of Eugene. Deputies located Johnson and his vehicle at his place of employment, southwest of Eugene. Johnson was arrested and later lodged at the Lane County Jail for the below listed crimes. Sodomy in the first degree; Kidnap in the first degree; Unlawful Use of a Weapon; Coercion; Menacing. This case is still being investigated by Lane County Sheriff’s Detectives. Anyone with information connected to this case is asked to contact the Lane County Sheriff’s Office at 541-682-4150. There is no ongoing threat to the community and there is no further information at this time.

Charged with Abusive Sexual Contact, Tillamook Co.
U.S. Attorney's Office - District of Oregon release - PORTLAND, Ore.— Gene Arnold McLenithan, 58, of Salem, Oregon, has been charged by criminal complaint with kidnapping and attempted abusive sexual contact in Tillamook County. According to court documents and statements made in court, McLenithan allegedly kidnapped the two victims around midnight on July 4, 2024, camping along a public hiking trail in Tillamook County. McLenithan bound the victims, covered their eyes, and, after a period of time passed, told victims he had planned to sexually assault them. Prior to the assault, the victims did not know McLenithan. McLenithan made his first appearance in federal court today before a U.S. magistrate judge. He was ordered detained pending further court proceedings. U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford for the District of Oregon made the announcement. The FBI is investigating the case with assistance from Tillamook County Sheriff’s Office and Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kate Rochat is prosecuting the case. If you have any reason to believe you or someone you know may be a victim or have additional information about other potential crimes involving McLenithan, please contact the FBI at (503) 224-4181 or submit a tip online at https://tips.fbi.gov. A criminal complaint is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Coos Bay Banker Charged with Embezzling $1.9 Million
U.S. Attorney's Office - District of Oregon release - EUGENE, Ore.—A federal grand jury in Eugene returned an indictment charging a Coos Bay, Oregon, woman after she allegedly embezzled money while working as a bank manager. Heather Lynn Casas, 44, has been charged with bank theft, embezzlement, or misapplication by a bank officer or employee. According to court documents and statements made in court, from August 2024 through December 2024, Casas, while working as a bank manager for a bank in Coos Bay, stole approximately $1.9 million from the bank. Casas made her initial appearance in federal court today before a U.S. magistrate judge. She was arraigned, pleaded not guilty, and ordered released pending a jury trial scheduled to begin on August 24, 2026. If convicted, Casas faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in federal prison, 5 years of supervised release, and a fine of $1,000,000. U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford for the District of Oregon made the announcement. The FBI is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Huynh is prosecuting the case. An indictment is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Police Logs
Release from CBPD – “Dispatch has been unable to generate any press logs since Friday, May 22, 2026, due to a system error. Our administration is aware and working to resolve the issue.”

WX
A Small Craft Advisory along the South Oregon Coast. Cloudy skies, a stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Highs in the upper 50s and winds from the North to Northwest at 10-20 mph. Considerable cloudiness tonight, a stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Lows in the upper 40s and winds from the Noth at 10-20 mph. Partly cloudy on Saturday with highs near 60 and winds from the North at 10-20 mph.

Sports

Prep tr
After one day at the OSAA/OnPoint Community Credit Union 2A State Track & Field Championships at Hayward Field, Eugene, Thursday, the boys and girls from Bandon have the lead. The Tiger girls tallied 23-points on the first day to lead Crosshill Christian (22), and Clatskanie (18). On the boy’s side, Bandon racked up 23-points as well to lead Weston-McEwen (22) and Knappa (20). Siuslaw (21) leads the boys’ 3A and Dayton (26) the girls. In the boys’ 3K, Knappa went one-two & seven with Wyatt Jacobson winning 8:49.76. Bandon’s Beckett Pahls was fifth (9:09.43). In the 3A boys’ 3K: Henry Stone, Siuslaw, was second (8:42.49). In the girls’ 3K: Bandon’s Jael Legutki won (10:39.53). In the girls’ 3A: Coquille’s Ella Henthorne won (9:51.14). In the boys’ 2A Pole Vault, Bandon’s Noah Brown won (14-02.50), followed by Jonah Brown in fourth (13-03.50) and Beckett Pahls fifth (13-03.50). Siuslaw’s Aidell Cadet won the 3A girls High Jump (5-04.50). Bandon’s Caitlyn Michalek was second in the girls’ 2A Javelin (130-09). Addison Jones, Bandon, was eighth (103-01). In the 2A girls High Jump, Myrtle Point’s Delaney La Franchi was third (4-11.75). Girls’ 3A Pole Vault, Ada Millett second (11-01). Boys’1A Shot Put, Cole Lehnherr third (48-11.75). Girls’ 1A High Jump, Hannah Long, Pacific, fourth (5-00.25). Boys’s 3A Long Jump, Will Johnson, Siuslaw, first (21-08.25). 2A girls’ Discus, Jamye Padgett, Myrtle Pt., second (120-08). Marley Carmack, Bandon, seventh (99-02). Girl’s 2A Long Jump, Jane Moon, Gold Beach, third (16-02.25). Girls’ 1A Javelin, Danika Bushnell, Powers, first (136-04). Girls’ 1A Pole Vault, Hannah Long, Pacific, fourth (9-00.25). Finals in the rest of the events are set for Friday. The 4A, 5A, 6A first day is Friday, with finals on Saturday.

Prep bvb
The first OSAA/OnPoint Community Credit Union Boys’ State Volleyball Tournament is set for Friday & Saturday, May 29 & 30, at West Salem HS. In the 6A/5A: No. 4 Silverton vs. No. 1 So. Salem, 7:30p. No. 3 Summit vs. No. 2 Central Catholic, 7:30p. In the 4A/3A/2A/1A: No. 4 Westside Christian vs. No. 1 Portland Adventist Academy, 5:30p. No. 7 Central Christian vs. No. 3 Estacada, 5:30p.

Prep sb
It’s the quarter-final round Friday, May 29th, for the OSAA/OnPoint Community Credit Union 4A State Softball Championships. No. 9 Estacada at No. 1 Scappoose, 5p. No. 5 Marist Catholic at No. 4 Astoria, 5p. No. 11 Gladstone at No. 3 The Dalles/Dufur, 5p. No. 7 Henley at No. 2 St. Helens. Scappoose, Astoria and St. Helens are all from the Cowapa Lg. 3A quarter-finals: No. 8 Harrisburg at No. 1 Vale, 2p. No. 5 Banks at No. 4 Dayton, 5p. No. 6 Scio at No. 3 Yamhill-Carlton, 5p. No. 7 North Valley at No. 2 So. Umpqua, 5p. 2A/1A quarter-finals: No. 16 Country Christian/North Clackamas at No. 8 Clatskanie, 5p. No. 12 Pilot Rock/Nixyaawii at Heppner/Ione, 1p. No. 6 Union/Cove at No. 3 Regis, 4p. No. 7 Perrydale at No. 2 Weston-McEwen, 4p. Semi-finals for all classifications set for June 2nd.

Prep bb
Quarter-final rounds also in the OSAA/OnPoint Community Credit Union 4A State Baseball playoffs Friday, May 29th. No. 8 Pendleton/Nixyaawii at No. 1 Henley, 3p. No. 13 Estacada at No. 12 Tillamook, 2p. No. 11 Phoenix at No. 3 Marist Catholic, 4:30p. No. 7 Stayton at No. 2 Scappoose, 5p. 3A quarter-finals: No. 8 Sisters at No. 1 Taft, 4:30p. No. 5 Warrenton at No. 4 Vale, 4p. No. 6 Burns/Crane at No. 3 Creswell, 5p. No. 7 So. Umpqua at No. 2 Cascade Christian, 4p. 2A/1A quarter-finals: No. 8 Grant Union/Prairie City at Kennedy, 4:30p. No. 5 Myrtle Pt. at No. 4 Monroe/Alsea, 4:30p. No. 11 Heppner/Ione at No. 3 Umpqua Valley Christian, 3p. No. 10 Country Christian/North Clackamas at No. 2 Crosshill Christian, 4:30p. Semi-final round for all classifications set for June 2nd.

Newport Marathon
The 27th Annual Newport Marathon, a qualifier for the Boston Marathon, takes place Sunday morning, May 30, around Newport’s Yaquina Bay. Nearly a thousand runners are expected to challenge either the 26.2-mile course, or the half-marathon’s 13-mile course. The run usually attracts runners from throughout the United States as well as several foreign countries.

UO tr
The NCAA West Track & Field Regional continues in Fayetteville, AR for the University of Oregon. Friday, quarter-final round in the men’s 800: Freshman Bodey Lutes won his heat of the 800 meters in 1:47.75 to move on to the quarterfinal round. The Coos Bay, Ore., native led at the bell and steadily increased his lead over the final lap. Lutes will go into Friday's quarterfinal (5:05 p.m. PT, ESPN+) with the 12th-fastest time from day one's heats.

UO/OSU bb
Oregon hosts the NCAA Eugene Regional baseball tournament at PK Park, Eugene, beginning Friday, May 29, with Oregon State playing Washington State at noon. The Ducks will play Yale at 5p. Both games televised on ESPN+.

Mariners
The Seattle Mariners (28-29) host the Arizona Diamondbacks (31-24) in a MLB series beginning Friday, May 29, 7:10 p.m., T-Mobile Park, Seattle, WA, televised on Mariners.TV.