When Coos County Neighborhood Watch invited public officials to attend a town hall  concerning homelessness and the rise of property crime in our area, I went.    August, 2023:

The full 3-hour meeting can be viewed in a number of places, including here on NextDoor's Fireworks Hill, where I live.

CCNW is a Facebook page with over 6000 followers, including myself, that is unaffiliated with the national program, but important to our community, nonetheless.  I estimate that around 100 people from all walks of life gathered to discuss this national issues that is hitting our area hard, too. Our community gathers together to discuss issues -- something to be proud of. 

North Bend Fire Gets $250K Grant to Combat In-City Wildfires, July, 2023 : 

Believe it or not wildfires happen within the city limits of North Bend (10 last year alone on the Pittam Loop area)! Because of the success of City Administrator David Milliron program to build finding and writing grants a priority for all departments, Chief Brown and Mr. Milliron collectively wrote a grant that secured the city $250,000 to be spent in the next 3 years or less. That grant funded the purchase of a $150,000 brush hog along with enough to secure services to clear out some of the understory in Pittham Loop that has become a fire hazard as climate change dries out our rainforest.

The city had public commentors and councilors very concerned that the removal of the understory would be a catastrophic change. At lease one citizen knowledgeable in this area worked directly with Chief Brown on the plan which ended in more public support for this project.

Unfortunately, human v. nature is at the heart of this difficult choice to change our local environment. 

North Bend City Pool at NBHS Reopens, June, 2023 : 

Through a number of grants, donations and volunteer time from skilled city residents, our pool was renovated from top to bottom at no cost to us, the tax payers. At about $1.2 million, the 70-year-old, 4-inch, rusty cast iron pipes were replaced with much bigger, much more durable pipes alongside a completely new heating and sanitizing system that is filled with energy-efficient appliances and processes, as well as new LED lighting and a handi-capable lift with a chair that can accommodate residents who need help getting into the pool without walking (up to 500 lb capacity). 

Lots of us grumbled about why the city had pool expenses when it was open. This is why. I think it was worth it. 

Almost 2000 calls to police in January: (Page 6 of Bi-weekly Administrator's Report)

"During January 2023, the Police Department responded to 1,902 calls for service. Here is a look at some of the categories of calls that police responded to in January: • North Bend Police Officers conducted 236 traffic stops and handled 33 vehicle collisions during January. Additionally, police had 127 contacts with homeless people consisting of eight community-policing contacts, 93 contacts related to criminal trespass complaints, ten illegal camping reports, and 16 random contacts by our Community Resource Officer (CRO). Property crimes during January consisted of 24 stolen property reports, 10 Burglaries, and nine stolen vehicle reports..."

Skating Rink averaging 400 skaters per week despite very few hours!  (Page 1 of Bi-weekly Administrator's Report)

"...The North Bend Ice Rink had a successful first month of being open. During December, the ice rink averaged over 400 people per week. Attendees included locals and tourists from as far as San Francisco. The Ice Rink has also received multiple bookings for private rentals. On Christmas Eve, Les’s Sanitary Service sponsored the entire day, offering free skating for the community. Sponsorships are available while the Ice Rink is open through Valentine’s Day. Sponsorship and Private Rental information can be found on the City’s website at northbendoregon.us..."