by Lowell Thomas

The pool project committee is in the  final stage of gathering signatures on petitions  supporting their request for an Urban  Renewal Agency commitment of $250,000.  For individuals who haven’t yet signed a  petition, they are available at both Judy’s  New Image on Central and at the Sentinel  office on First. Another grant request for  $500,000 is in the process of being prepared  and expected to be submitted next  month. The project is also waiting to hear  back on the grant application for $10,000  that was submitted last month. Meanwhile  the new swimming season has gotten  underway.

Because of the slowing of grant  funding due to the nationwide economic  recession this will not be the last season for  the existing pool. There will be at least one  more season for the existing pool before  new pool construction could possibly get  under way. Depending on how soon economic  recovery occurs it may be even  longer before enough funding commitments  can secured so that actual construction  scheduling can be accomplished.

Last week t Terrance O’Connor and  Dennis Graham were in Sun River to present  Coquille’s River Walk trail project proposal  to the state committee which is deciding  which of 68 projects applying for funds  will actually get funded this year. The project  committee had hoped to be able to pave  as much of the multi use pathway as the  grant and locally raised funds would allow  this summer. Dennis reports that he doesn’t  feel very optimistic after giving the presentation.  The project continues selling honor  bricks to raise funds for the project.  Purchase forms are available at the community  center, city hall and the Sentinel office.

These bricks will ultimately become a part  of the trail surface between the parking area  near Fat Tuesdays and the old railroad trestle. 
Two sizes are available (4"x8" and  8"x8") at $50.00 and $75.00 respectively.  Sample bricks can be seen at the Sentinel  office and in the community center near the  entry to the large auditorium. The project  committee is exploring several additional  fund raising activities.

The hanging flower basket project committee  says that they can still use a few more  volunteers for manning the watering truck  this summer. Watering is done on Tuesday  and Thursday each week and takes about 1 ½  hours to make the rounds. The committee  says that the more 3-person crews that are  signed up, the less frequently each crew has  to be on duty. Interested persons can sign up  at the Coquille Garden Shop on Central  between Curves and the Motel.  The Coquille Valley Historical Society  reports that interest remains high for area history  books. It expects to have sold all copies  currently available before the end of summer.  Since sales are on a “first come, first serve”  basis, the Society suggests local residents  come in early before the normal out of town  tourists buy up the remaining copies of the  several local history books they have available  for sale.

They are at the Coquille Valley  Museum on Central next to Truffles. The  museum is now open weekdays during the  summer.  Operation Welcome provides newcomers  special bags containing information about  services and merchants in Coquille. Earlier  this year bags were going out at the rate of  about one per week. Newcomers, or those  knowing of newcomers, are invited to call  the Sentinel phone number (396-3191) and  ask for Dian with their requests for these  welcoming bags.  Operation Coquille Inc. needs more volunteer  members willing to help carry out  community benefit projects for improving  our quality of life. Individuals can become  members by coming into the Sentinel office  on First St., completing a membership form,  and leaving the form with a dues payment on  our desk. (Dues are only $20 per year.)