Cheers and Jeers

Local leatherneck
Cheers to Marine Cpl. Daniel Hickey, a genuine hero. Though he already earned a Silver Star in Afghanistan in 2008, he recently re-upped and will head back to the war zone next summer. Semper Fi, and come home safely.

Medical magic
Cheers to online gamers who helped University of Washington scientists model a “retroviral protease.” Don’t worry if you don’t know what that is. Suffice it to say, the achievement is more useful than killing trolls with your enchanted sword.

Enjoy a short stroll
Jeers to Coos Bay officials, if they surrender to a few downtown merchants’ demands for additional one-way streets. The supposed goal is more parking, but parking already is abundant. Cities can’t (and shouldn’t) guarantee every shopper a spot at the front door.

Summer’s big finish
The Bay Area Fun Festival was a big success and a ton of fun this year. Cheers to everyone involved in organizing it, and cheers to community members who came and enjoyed it. Special cheers to the weather for cooperating.

Ahoy there, Oklahoma!
Those of us old enough to remember the Pac-8 were mystified by the idea: How could Texas and Oklahoma be part of a Pacific anything? Cheers for the decision not to stretch the Pac-12 further east than (ahem) Colorado.

A tidier outdoors
Cheers to you, if you participate in cleanup activities for National Public Lands Day. People are meeting a little before 9:30 this morning at the Empire docks and at Hallmark Creek in Charleston, for a morning of cleanup and camaraderie.

Is this a nanny state?
Cheers to Coos County Commissioner Bob Main, who will defend his goat-milking title today at the Myrtle Point Harvest Festival. It’s great to see a politician squeezing something besides taxpayers. Just remember: It’s for the kids!

Grab some late-summer fun
The Bay Area Fun Festival is the climax of the summer’s community festivals on the South Coast. This year’s event sounds rambunctiously cheer-worthy. Winter’s coming, so grab your fun while the sun shines. See you there.

They’re on a Pre spree
Cheers to the hardy souls with hardy soles, galloping around town for today’s Prefontaine Memorial Run. Whether they run for fun, for glory, or for the satisfaction of saying they did, C&J wishes each one a personal best.

Fly away home
Cheers to Kelly Coolen, a North Bend songbird whose college choir performed in New York for the 9/11 anniversary. We’re always proud to hear of local kids doing well elsewhere. We hope they find their way home.

Heaven on wheels
More than 2,200 bicyclists pedaled through Coos County this week. They spent some money here, learned about what our communities offer visitors, and undoubtedly inspired some locals to saddle up. Cheers for Cycle Oregon, an impressive annual event.

Is this really a road?
Jeers to anyone who travels mountain roads without a map and a preparatory peek at www.tripcheck.com. An Alabama couple that unwisely relied on a GPS spent a lonely night on a logging road last weekend. Thankfully, they’re OK.

When the earth moves …
Cheers to the Coast Guard and the Oregon National Guard, which held joint training last week to prepare for a tsunami/ earthquake disaster. If the Big One comes, our area will need rescue crews at the ready.

A bigger GOP tent
Cheers to Oregon’s GOP, for axing platform language condemning same-sex marriage. Many individual Republicans still abhor gay unions, and that’s their right. But this concession will broaden the party’s appeal to independent and moderate voters, thus helping GOP candidates statewide.

They gave all
Tearful cheers to the memory of Bryan P. Bertrand, Steven A. Stacy, Adrian M. Elizalde and James L. Wiley. As we commemorate 9/11, we honor these Coos County men who gave their lives in the subsequent fighting.

They give daily
After 9/11, Americans came to appreciate the emergency responders who routinely face danger in every community. Let’s always remember to respect and support the hometown heroes who patrol our streets and fight our fires. Cheers and thanks.

Embarrassing error
Nevertheless, jeers to North Bend’s fire chief, Scott Graham, reprimanded by a state ethics panel. Keeping the wood after felling the city’s nuisance trees may have been an honest mistake. But public officials always should ask: How will this look to taxpayers?

Cran-standing
Cheers to the tart, tangy, tasty cranberry. Not so many years ago, most Americans ate it as a Thanksgiving condiment, period. Now it has gone mainstream in dozens of innovative products. C&J salutes Bandon’s weekend celebration of a yummy harvest.

September’s songs
Our area is frequently blessed with euphonious visitors, and this month is prime time. Music On The Bay is free at Mingus Park the next three Tuesdays. Tickets are on sale for The Marshall Tucker Band and Molly Hatchet. Cheers for ears.

Celebrating parks
Speaking of blessings, public parks are a big one. Talented local artists are another. Put them together, and you get “30 Parks By 30 Artists,” on display all month at Pony Village Mall. Cheers to organizer Stephanie Donaldson.

Local flavors
An apple a day may keep the doctor away, but a weekly offering of fresh fruits and veggies helps keep visitors coming. Cheers to a new farmers market, set to open next summer in Lakeside.

Blue skies and greenbacks
You gotta love tourists. They carry money to the Oregon Coast — and leave it here. Local authorities who monitor such things say the vacation season has gone well for local businesses, regardless of the economy’s pitiable condition. Cheers.

A way to spread blessings
Cheers for United Way of Southwestern Oregon, which launched its annual fundraising campaign at last night’s Pirate-Bulldog football game. United Way is an efficient, hassle-free way to help multiple local charities. We hope you’ll consider pledging.

Check it out!
Whispered cheers (shhhh!) to Peggy Christensen, Oregon’s secondary-school librarian of the year. She presides over a storehouse of knowledge at Marshfield High School, eagerly dispensing information and literature, and teaching research skills that kids will use all their lives.

No freeloading, please
Nobody likes paying taxes, but we gamely hoist our share of the load. Cheers to the Oregon Department of Revenue, which will begin billing deadbeats for the cost of collecting back taxes. If you owe, better pay up.

Unhappy trails
Some people shouldn’t drink OR drive, let alone both at once. Police say a guy careened down Seven Devils Road with a damaged fifth-wheel trailer, randomly strewing trailer bits along the way. An entertaining story, but still — jeers.

Strength in numbers
Not everyone loves labor unions. But once a year, America rightly celebrates the labor movement’s heritage of livable pay, decent working conditions, and the dignity that every working person deserves. Those are values everyone can cheer about.

A migrating feast
Summer is a lusciously busy time, with at least one community celebration every weekend. This week it’s Port Orford and Win-chester Bay’s turn. Cheers both arts festivals, and for all the summer events that bring neighbors together.

Ingrate inmate
Bill Sizemore, jailed for tax evasion, showed no gratitude for Marion County’s hospitality. Released after 18 days, he declared the food “disgusting.” What a pity. Maybe he’ll start an initiative campaign to spend more on prisoners’ comfort. Jeers.

Exclusive club?
Anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan blew off her visit to Coos Bay because event organizers invited a — gasp! — Democrat. Sheehan says she wants to “make the world a better place.” Excluding and insulting people is a lousy start. Jeers.

Stupid Cupid
Jeers (or maybe tears) for love gone bad. The Census Bureau says Oregon’s divorce rate is slightly higher than the national average, which itself is dismayingly high. C&J’s amateur marital advice: Wed carefully, then give more than you take.

[cheers[Reflections on 9/11
Cheers to you, if you’ve answered The World’s call for readers’ memories of 9/11. If you haven’t, there’s still time to send us your 150-word reminiscence of that fateful day. (See our ad on page C4 for details.)

Lakeside lollapalooza
Name calling? Threats? Fist shaking? For the second week in a row, jeers to the Lakeside City Council, and particularly to Mayor Ed Gowan. Progress depends on mutual respect, and the man with the gavel must set the tone.

Aid for scholars
Many local children live in households that are hard-pressed to meet basic needs. Cheers to several local groups gathering donated school supplies. (Want to give? Help stuff some pickups at Tower Ford and Pony Village Mall.)

Junction malfunction
Coos Bay’s attempt to fix the Ocean-Central intersection was a good idea, but its execution has drawn complaints from motorists. Cheers to city officials for the initial attempt, and more cheers for their continuing efforts to correct the flaws.

Shameful antics
Coach Chip Kelly praises quarterback Darron Thomas for his leadership. Really? What kind of leadership did he show in the passenger seat while teammate Cliff Harris drove 113 mph? Despite on-field dazzle, spoiled-brat jocks shame Oregon. Grow up, boys.

Pincer movement
Cheers for a lucrative, not to mention tasty, Dungeness crab season. The 325 boats of Oregon’s commercial fleet landed $49 million worth of yummy crustaceans. Recreational crabbers caught an additional, untallied bounty. This certifiedly sustainable harvest is a perennial local treasure.

Sober and strong
The first thing drug and alcohol addicts need is to stop using. After that, they need to build healthy new lives. Cheers for Bay Area First Step, teaching wellness and fitness to recovering addicts. Learn more at www.bayareafirststep.org.

Pirates emeritus
Cheers for inductees to the Marshfield High School athletic hall of fame: Sandy Fraser, Jerry Larsen, Cheryl Bates Duman, Todd Post, Everett Messerle, and the 1991 state champion dance team. (Attention Title IX bureaucrats: Yes, dang it, dance is a sport!)

Double duty
Since colonial days, part-time soldiers have been crucial to America’s defense. Example: Bradley Kohn of North Bend served nearly 40 years in a dual life as teacher-warrior. Cheers to Col. Kohn for a well-earned retirement.

Give a salute
Speaking of soldiers, the Salvation Army’s Empire facility is a vital part of the Bay Area’s network of services for youngsters and the needy. Cheers to Lts. Heather and Kevin Pope, newly installed in their ministry to our community.

Saltwater sensation
Cheers for the sea, which provides a yummy smorgasbord for human tummies. Cheers for our fishing fleet, which braves the briny deep to bring home the bounty. And cheers for the Charleston Seafood Festival, celebrating coastal cuisine today and Sunday.

Badges of courage
A new memorial beside the Coos Bay Visitor Center pays honor to those who shed blood to safeguard America’s security. Cheers to all those wounded in combat, and to the Military Order of the Purple Heart, which erected the stone.

Here they go again
Lakeside can take pride in much progress over the past couple of years, including improved infrastructure, new businesses, and the popular Crawdad Festival. If only the town’s leaders could set aside their persistent acrimony. Jeers for grudges and needless friction.

Tooth or consequences
Everyone needs dental care, but not everyone can afford it. Cheers to the dental professionals who volunteer their time and skills via the traveling Dental Van. They relieve pain and prevent small problems from becoming bigger ones.

Our past builds our future
Cheers for progress on the Coos Historical & Maritime Center. This project will be a key element in revitalizing the Coos Bay waterfront and the local economy. Today everyone can tour the site and hear an update, starting at 10 a.m. See you there.

Guarded optimism
At least six Oregon National Guard enlistees, after being promised handsome signing bonuses in 2007, now are told the Guard erred. Sorry, no bonus. Jeers for bait-and-switch recruiting. Sadly, young Oregonians may become wary of enlisting.

Fit to be tide
Given rapid turnover in the Coos County Courthouse, the county’s forgotten promise to fix a Coos River tide gate is not surprising. Cheers to the current commissioners, for taking responsibility and initiating action to prevent further damage to nearby land.

Exciting development
Heavy equipment finally is at work on the Coos Historical & Maritime Museum’s future site. Cheers for progress toward this important step in reinventing and revitalizing Coos Bay’s waterfront. When the museum’s complete, it will be a prized community asset.

It’s a rural romp
When the sweet smell of cotton candy mingles with the earthy aroma of livestock, it can mean only one thing: a county fair! Cheers for the Coos County Fair & Rodeo. Five days of fun starts Tuesday in Myrtle Point.

Unbridled envy
Jealous jeers, however, for the fair’s 2011 motto: “Stirrup some fun.” Ouch. C&J has heard a lot of lousy puns, but that one is a true stinker. Pee-yoo! We just wish we had thought of it first.

Tuneful time of year
Perched out here on the continent’s left hip, we’re far from the city lights. Yet dedicated volunteers make sure our cultural life is rich and diverse. Cheers for the Oregon Coast Music Festival, fine performances in a fine locale.

Drive by, stop in, link up
Free wireless Internet service is a boon to local residents, tourists and businesses in the affected area. Cheers for a proposal to expand downtown Coos Bay’s wireless zone, and double cheers for creating a zone in Empire.

Boom! Boom! Boom!
Shhhh. Can you hear the silence? That’s the sound of Bay Area Hospital, no longer driving piles for its new foundation. Let’s whisper a cheer for the hospital’s exciting expansion, and especially for completion of the project’s bass-drum phase.

A healthy start
Speaking of health care and construction, cheers for groundbreaking on a health clinic at Marshfield High School. It will serve not only students, but any community member who lacks insurance and/or access to private-sector medical care.

North Bend big
You don’t have to be a Bulldog to enjoy July Jubilee. Everybody’s welcome at North Bend’s anniversary bash. Today’s fun starts with a parade at 9 a.m. and ends with musical entertainment tonight. See you there!

Fishy business
Fie on fake, phony, falsified, fallacious, fraudulent, fictitious fish. Another university study has found more Puget Sound restaurants passing off farm-raised Atlantic salmon as their wild-caught Pacific cousins. DNA evidence exposed the piscatorial pettifoggery. Jeers.

Ahoy and hurrah
Cheers and a snappy salute to local military veterans Rene Rowe and Will Kerr, for working to revive the local Sea Cadets program. Having benefited from the previous program, they hope to give a new generation the same opportunity.

New directions
Street projects are always annoying while they’re in progress. But if Coos Bay’s work on several downtown streets yields improved traffic flow, it will be worth some temporary inconvenience. Cheers for making the town a little easier to navigate.

Finders keepers?
He was just walking along, when some guy ran into him and dropped a bag of money. What luck! Jeers to convicted bank robber Bradley Monical, for wasting a local court’s time (and taxpayers’ money) with an audaciously silly defense.

Learning to share
Necessity is the mother of collaboration. Cheers to school districts in Bandon, Coquille and Myrtle Point, for pooling resources to open an alternative school. In times of tight budgets, other local governments could benefit from a similar cooperative spirit.

It’s a mall, mall world
Today the Pony Village Mall celebrates 50 years as the Bay Area’s indoor Main Street. More than just a business, the mall has been a nexus of the community’s evolving social and cultural life. Cheers and best wishes for a fruitful future.

Not to be forgotten
Cheers to Local 12 of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union. Though diminished in number these days, the longshoremen have made huge contributions to the Bay Area. One of the best was their visionary role in creating a college.

The wheel deal
The bumper stickers are right: Skateboarding isn’t a crime. Coos Bay city leaders were smart to reject an expansion of the downtown “no skate zone.” Skaters, motorists and pedestrians can share the pavement safely, if everyone exercises mutual respect.

Rude reporters
Jeers to certain out-of-town news reporters, behaving boorishly at the Nick McGuffin murder trial. One complained loudly about Coos County’s “negative energy.” (Um, it’s a murder trial. You expected cupcakes?) Dear colleagues, you’re guests here. Be courteous.

Swinging at glory
The U.S. Amateur Public Links Championships brought some fine golfers to Bandon this week. Better, it brought national attention to the South Coast. No one can measure the long-term economic impact of this kind of event. Cheers.

Striding through history
Cheers for the Sawmill & Tribal Trail, due for its inaugural walk a week from Sunday. The trail, reaching from North Bend to Empire, celebrates local history, while providing another great recreational amenity for our community.