Third grade teacher Ken Olsen instructs Kalmiopsis Elementary School students Tuesday. The Pilot/Scott Graves

Enrollment at the elementary school has been declining in the last few years and hasn’t reached 700 students for years, Superintendent Brian Hodge said Tuesday.

A few students may still leave the district in the next several weeks, but the school will likely still see an overall gain in enrollment, Kalmiopsis Registrar Nadine Cleary said.

“We’re growing,” Cleary said.

Dodi Antunes

The Parole Board heard from Marvin Dennis Sherman in his first parole hearing, then took responses from those who traveled to the prison.

“Sherman talked from 8:30 a.m. until 1 o’clock with no lunch break,” District Attorney Everett Dial said. “He described his life and how he had changed. After that, he was questioned by three members of the parole board. Then members of the Antunes family spoke and I spoke.”

South Coast Friends members Shirley Crocket, left, Karl Sandstrom, middle and Rose Weiss wash cars Sunday. The Pilot/Marge Woodfin

Donations for the free clinic received by the hard working volunteers were up to $576 at last count, and will help keep the clinic open to provide health care for the uninsured

A steady steam of cars kept the approximately 20 rotating car washers hopping from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. while three local bands took turns entertaining the guests while they ate and socialized.

GOLD BEACH – The Curry County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday approved a resolution stating that any current commissioner is authorized to obtain county account information from Sterling Savings Bank upon request.

That follows similar action a month ago to allow commissioners to obtain account information from Umpqua Bank, the other bank where the county keeps its funds.

County Counsel Jerry Herbage said he drafted the resolution at the request of Commissioner Bill Waddle.

Herbage said he had spoken to the Sterling branch manager in Gold Beach.

GOLD BEACH – C&K Markets is purchasing the tax credit Curry County received from the Oregon Department of Energy for installing an energy efficient heating and air conditioning system in the Curry County Annex.

“Getting that tax credit gives us back money for the capital budget, which allows us to do additional repairs as necessary,” Facility Maintenance Manager David Sanders told the Curry County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday.

Curry County commissioners finally gave up in early 2009, deciding it was costing more to keep the old boiler system going in the county building.

Brookings angler Carolyn Milliman is geared up and ready to catch salmon Friday, the first day of derby fishing action. The Pilot/Arwyn Rice

“I hooked into my fish at 100,” Fran Keith of Brookings said. “I would have landed it, too, but it wrapped around Gary’s wire and all I got back was my swivel.”

According to Keith, anglers on Captain Jim Phillips’ boat brought all three of their fish up from 160 feet and deeper.

The depth of the fish may be an indication as to why the first-day numbers were  low: only 24 Chinook salmon brought in by 19 derby participants.

Challenger Art Robinson and 4th District Congressman Peter DeFazio. Pilot file photos

And not in the format Robinson insists on.

Robinson, in advertisements for Tuesday’s appearance at Brookings, said there would be a debate. Some who attended it have complained they did not get what they expected.

“It was supposed to be a debate. If that would take place, it would define issues,” Jim Hansen said.

Kalmiopsis Elementary School teacher Ria Shanon prepares for Tuesday’s first day of school. The Pilot/Arwyn Rice

On Tuesday more than 1,500 students will return to school at Brookings Harbor High School, Azalea Middle School and Kalmiopsis Elementary School.

They will find changes including new teachers, new class schedules, and new playground equipment.

Students will also find larger class sizes and fewer elective options.

There is good news for those in the Brookings-Harbor community who are uninsured and need health care. Health care is available from 1 to 4 p.m. every Tuesday at St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church.

A dedicated group of volunteers including a doctor two nurse practitioners, four nurses, receptionists, and other helpers, has established a free health care clinic that opened in July.

The Saint Timothy’s Outreach Clinic provides free walk-in health care on Tuesday afternoons with no appointments necessary. Patients will be taken in order of arrival except for the acutely ill, who will be seen first.