The Chetco River is highlighted in this month’s edition of National Geographic magazine in an article titled “The Glory of America’s Wildest Rivers.”

The story describes early efforts leading to establishment of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act in 1968.

The Rogue River was one of the original eight rivers protected by the legislation, which was signed by then President Lyndon Johnson. The Chetco was added in 1988.

Salmon Run General Manager Ed Murdock is optimistic the golf course will survive its financial difficulties and prosper. The Pilot/Jef Hatch

Salmon Run golf course is close to financial collapse and is asking the city of Brookings to delay the beginning of lease payments for the land for two years.

The golf course joins others across the nation that are in crisis because of slumping membership, and the continuing recession.

The course lost an average of $41,000 annually from 2006 to 2010, according to its 2012 business plan. Lease payments to the city were to begin in 2010, but Salmon Run gained a two-year extension from the city due to financial problems.

GOLD BEACH – Bill Waddle, elected to the Curry County Board of Commissioners in 2008 and taking office in January 2009, on Thursday announced his candidacy for re-election.

“It is official. I am running for re-election. I filed with the clerk’s office yesterday,” Waddle said as a meeting of county elected officials ended.

“I am committed to finding solutions for this county’s impending financial crisis,” he said. “Working with my fellow elected officials, we have the experience, knowledge and leadership skills necessary to successfully resolve this emergency. Coordination, cooperation, compromise and, most important, communication will be required to obtain the best results for the citizens of Curry County.”

The start of the commercial crab season has been delayed at least until Dec. 15, but a Brookings fishing official says that’s not necessarily bad.

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife announced Thursday that crab season from Point Arena, Calif., to the Canadian border will be postponed for at least two weeks.

The decision, in cooperation with the California Department of Fish and Game and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, was made because crab tested recently did not have enough meat, said Kelly Corbett of ODFW.

GOLD BEACH – Curry County Commissioners voted unanimously Wednesday to scrap the Mixed Use Master Plan zone (MUMPz) that has been in the works since 2007 and start over.

“I hope you move ahead and get a plan to define what we can and what we can’t do,” developer Leroy Blodgett told the commissioners.

“I would like to see us come up with a new master zone ordinance that meets the right criteria so we can get on to do it the right way,” Commissioner Bill Waddle said.

GOLD BEACH – Curry County citizens have until 5 p.m. Wednesday to apply to be a member of the Citizens’ Committee which will explore options to address the county’s pending financial crisis.

Members of Oregon Consensus at Portland State University are helping to organize the committee, which will have at least 12 members drawn from a cross-section of interested people from various parts of the county.

Commissioners will appoint the committee at a special meeting at 10 a.m. Nov. 22. The first committee meeting will be from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 30, at the County Fairgrounds, with the second from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 15 at the fairgrounds.

Bryce Bond, 13 with his brother Nate, 10, at Doernbecher. Photo submitted by the Bond family

The Brookings boy who fell from a high rock into Macklyn Cove last week remains in fair condition at Doernbecher Children’s Hospital.

Bryce Bond, 13, has been hospitalized since a seven-hour surgical session at Doernbecher on Nov. 3.

His mother, LeeAnna Bond, said Tuesday her son  is still “very” heavily medicated because of pain from a shattered ankle and broken leg.

GOLD BEACH – The Curry Healthy Communities project is now under way to determine the health needs of the county, then work toward meeting those needs.

“What we’re doing right now is looking at what the core health issues are,” said Annette Klinefelter-Dingle, manager of community health programs and development for the Curry County Public Health Department, who is heading the project.

Klinefelter-Dingle is heading a five-member team which will work with the communities of Brookings, Gold Beach and Port Orford on the project.

GOLD BEACH – The Curry County Board of Commissioners has invited members of the public to apply for membership to the Citizens’ Committee which will explore options to address the county’s pending financial crisis.

“The purpose of this committee is to identify and explore all viable revenue and expenditure opportunities to achieve fiscal solvency and stability for Curry County Government now and in the future,” the commissioners said in their announcement.

Members of Oregon Consensus at Portland State University are helping to organize the committee, which will have at least 12 members drawn from a cross-section of interested people from various parts of the county.

They say there’s no free lunch in life, but that adage won’t hold true Friday.

Mattie’s Pancake and Omelette Restaurant will offer free breakfast or lunch to military veterans to celebrate Veterans Day.

Owner Dale Rettke started the tradition seven years ago and has no plans to discontinue the salute to local military personnel. He’s not a veteran, but he appreciates the freedoms the military protects.

“Without those who’ve gone before, I couldn’t do what I’m doing,” Rettke said.