Articles
40 articlesEvery piece we have published, newest issue first. Each one also appears in the printed edition.
October 2026
See it in print-
The Real Divide Isn't Policy... It's the Refusal to Listen
Shasta Pearson writes to her Liberal Democrat friends that the real divide is a refusal to hear half the state, and asks voters to take a beat before filling out their ballots.
-
Fact-Check: Oregon's $32.8 Million Consumer Recovery Claim
Rob Taylor finds the state's $32.8 million in consumer recoveries credible, but calls the claim that Oregon is filling a gap left by the federal CFPB overstated.
-
Candidate Endorsements
The Coos County Republican Central Committee's endorsed candidates, from North Bend City Council and mayor to state legislative seats, US Congress and governor.
-
Upcoming Meetings & Events
A meet-the-candidate evening with Christine Drazan on October 30, the November 18 executive committee elections, and recurring city, county and port meetings.
-
Common Sense Isn't Common Anymore: C.S. Lewis and the Tao
Gayle Farrel on the shared moral code C.S. Lewis called the Tao, found across world civilizations, and the danger of teaching it as merely optional.
-
What Got You Involved in Politics?
Local Republicans and candidates say in their own words what drew them in, from government bullies and pandemic-era leadership to a push from a friend.
-
A 15% Tax for "Affordable" Care? The Numbers Behind Oregon's Draft Plan
Perry Holman on draft funding numbers for Oregon's Universal Health Plan, under which up to 60% of adults could pay nothing while others face a 10–15% tax.
September 2026
See it in print-
Port Orford Banned FLOCK. Maybe Coos County Should Too
Port Orford's council voted unanimously to keep automated license plate readers out of the city. Coos Bay, North Bend, Coquille and the Board of Commissioners have the same authority.
-
Declare an Emergency, Now. The Jail Crisis: When Will It End?
Three years after the proposal was first put to the Board of Commissioners, no jail emergency has been declared — though state law and county code both permit redirecting funds.
-
In Praise of the Coostucky Chronicle
The Coostucky Chronicle trades in “fake local news, real Coos County nonsense” — and humor rooted in the place keeps the powerful honest and politics bearable.
-
Candidate Endorsements
The Coos County Republicans' list of endorsed candidates, from North Bend City Council and mayor to state legislative seats, US Congress and governor.
-
Easy Action Steps for Common Sense Citizens
Eleven suggested steps for Coos County residents, from checking party registration to attending city council, county commissioner and port meetings.
-
Some Photos of Our Recent Events
A full page of photographs from recent Coos County Republican events: outreach booths with flags and campaign banners, people filling out forms at a table, and an audience at an indoor meeting.
-
What Does MAGA Mean to You? Coos County Neighbors Answer
Coos County residents answer in their own words, describing MAGA as patriotism, traditional values, closed borders, limited government and pride in America.
-
The Hypocrisy of the 'No Kings' Protests
An opinion piece arguing the 'No Kings' protests are not a defense of democracy but a refusal to accept the 2024 election, since Trump is delivering the promises he campaigned on.
-
Upcoming Meetings & Events
Dated September listings and recurring monthly meetings, including a sheriff candidate forum, a September 11th flagwave, and city, county and port board sessions.
-
This Month’s Doggy Delinquent: Vada — A Girl With Expensive Taste, Terrible Timing, and the Face of Someone Who Would Never, Ever Do Such a Thing
A 12:30am porcupine encounter sent Vada to a 24-hour emergency vet in Springfield, where a $2,000 bill brought the family’s “free” dog to $12,000 in four years.
-
Why We Should Follow the Law, Even When We Don't Like It
Prohibition and the 55 mph limit show what widespread defiance costs; seat belt and indoor smoking laws show grudging compliance works. Change bad laws by vote and in court.
-
Tactical Tea Party Ends in Complimentary Release
Satire from the Coostucky Chronicle: a North Bend dog complaint reportedly became an alleged crossbow standoff, ending with the suspect booked at the county jail and released.
July & August 2026
See it in print-
Freedom Through Forgiveness: Healing From Within
Forgiveness releases resentment without erasing the hard-earned memories that keep healthy boundaries — a call to drop grudges, free yourself and your debtor, and reset relationships.
-
Public Safety in Coos County: We Deserve Better
Jail capacity cut from about 98 beds to 49 after the public safety levy failed, emergency releases up from around 7 a month to over 80, and sheriff's staffing down from 94 to 69.
-
Coos Bay's Building Safety Month: Promoting Costly Codes
A four-week city campaign urged residents to lobby for the latest International Code Council standards while omitting Coos Bay's own costs and the fact that ICC membership is optional.
-
Some Photos of Our Recent Events
Photographs from recent Coos County Republican events: parade flags, roadside flag waves, a packed indoor meeting, a booth under the county Republicans banner, and new chairman Steve Nye.
-
Fleece and Desist: Two Sheep Gone Full Rebel
Two sheep mount a household crime wave: Nibbles raids Dad's garden twice for tomatoes, corn and raspberries, while Kiwi ignores the pasture entirely and steals dry dog kibble off the porch.
-
Meetings & Events for July
The July calendar of county commissioner and city council meetings, a July 4 flag wave on the Coos Bay Boardwalk, a candidate meet and greet on the 29th, and the party’s fair booth.
-
Meetings & Events for August
The August calendar of county and city meetings, the Republican BBQ Social on the 12th, the Central Committee meeting on the 26th, and National Night Out at the Riley Horse Arena on the 4th.
-
Why Party Rules Aren't Just Red Tape
Bylaws and Robert's Rules are the guardrails of local party politics, and bending them for a short-term win risks resentment, lawsuits, walkouts and lost turnout later.
-
Oregon Spends More on Each Homeless Person Than the Average Taxpayer Earns
Welfare and social programs average about $60,000 a year per homeless person counted in Oregon's Point-in-Time tallies, while the average working adult in the state nets $55,000.
-
From Doubt to Hope: A Letter to My Future Daughter and the America We’re Fighting For
A letter to an unborn daughter on how a couple who never wanted children changed their minds, and how showing up over Coos County crime turned doubt into hope.
-
It’s Time to Shut Down the North Bay Urban Renewal Area
Nearly 40 years on, the district's tax increment financing keeps diverting property tax growth away from the County General Fund and core services like public safety.
May & June 2026
See it in print-
Local Republican Party Endorses Rick Coleman and Brandi Martindale for Coos County Commissioner
The party's case for Rick Coleman, a North Bend mechanic and Army veteran, and Brandi Martindale, a third-generation resident and executive coach, as candidates for Coos County Commissioner.
-
We Keep Pretending This Time Will Be Different
The House voted 399-5 to reauthorize the Secure Rural Schools Act through September 2026, leaving three permanent fixes on the table: a land endowment, county land transfers, or PILT.
-
Some Photos of Our Recent Events
A full page of photographs from the county party's recent events: a packed theater audience, a roadside flag wave, meeting-room gatherings and a large crowd at an indoor forum.
-
Doggy Delinquent of the Month: Jax and the $800 Porcupine Snack
A 4ft fence, a midnight run to the marsh and a mouthful of quills add up to an $800 vet bill and mandatory night-leash lockdown for an unrepentant dog.
-
Conservative Events for May
Six conservative events this month: three Saturday Coffee with Conservatives, a Republican BBQ social, the Election Day BALLOT BASH in Coquille, and the HQ grand opening.
-
Conservative Events for June
The June 2026 calendar of Coos County conservative events: commissioner and city council meetings, a Republican BBQ social, a Flag Wave for President Trump's birthday, and Executive Team elections.
-
A Message for Our Local "Liberals"
An appeal to average liberals to get involved with their local Democratic Party and denounce the extremists, and to conservatives to encourage them, as the way to lower the political temperature.
-
They Called It a Conspiracy Theory — A Jury Just Proved Them Wrong
A federal jury convicted a Bronx man of running an unregistered Chinese police station in Manhattan's Chinatown — a warning about what happens when local officials blur national sovereignty.
-
Dueling Protests Expose Deep Divide in Civility
Two protests an hour apart on June 14th — one described as vulgar and full of hate, the other a respectful flag wave — point to a community that has lost the habit of civil disagreement.
-
What It Means to Be a Strong Conservative in Today's America
Limited government, self-reliance, free markets, a strong defense, traditional values and the rule of law—the principles of strong conservatism, applied to Coos County.