This column was updated at 8:55 a.m. March 31 to correct the job title for Brent Kaseman.
The community had an opportunity to chat with Philomath’s law-enforcement folks Thursday morning in the lobby of a local bank as part of a Coffee with a Cop effort to break down any barriers that may exist between the police and citizens.
Plus, it was a chance to enjoy free coffee and doughnuts.
“In my mind, a part of this is appreciation for the police department and for the community to know the police chief and his officer,” said Citizens Bank Branch Manager Brent Kaseman said as the event got underway. “If there are any concerns that the community has, this is a kind of very informal, low-pressure way to discuss them in a neutral environment.”
Citizens Bank and the Philomath Police have done this in the past — also teaming up in April 2023 with Ken Rueben as the chief.
Dave Gurski, who took over as chief of police last year, said efforts to connect with community members in more formal settings can have its challenges. At one event, the police did a presentation and then fielded questions but he sensed that some in attendance were reserved and unwilling to engage.
“This is more low key and people just kind of mull around and you just chitchat,” Gurski said. “It’s a lot easier.”
In addition to Gurski, others participating from the police department included Sgt. Brandon Thurman, Officer Jim Weikel and Administrative Assistant Katie Miller.
Coffee with a Cop is not specific to Philomath but a national nonprofit organization that dates back more than a decade. In 2011, the Hawthorne (California) Police Department launched a Coffee with a Cop program as part of its mission to interact more successfully with the citizens they were serving.
The national Coffee with a Cop Day occurs on the first Wednesday in October each year but Philomath’s police find it difficult to hold such an event at that time of the year because of a busy schedule.
“In our area, we’ve got so many other things going on … so this seems to be a good point in the springtime to host something like this,” Gurski said.
Philomath Police have a run of events during that stretch of the year that includes Safety Town (August), Public Safety Chili Cook-off (September) and Trunk or Treat (October).
2. McBee Campground project
For those who enjoy getting away for a hike or overnight camping, Hubert K. McBee Memorial Park, which is not far from Alsea Falls, seems to be an interesting spot.
Personally, I’ve never been out there but as my kids start to wonder what it’s like to go camping, I’ve been sort of looking around for potential spots for a quick getaway. The park is located less than 30 miles from Philomath — roughly a 40-minute drive — if you go around on Bellfountain Road and Alpine Road.
However, right now, McBee is not available for camping. Benton County Natural Areas, Parks and Events received a $645,000 grant to improve the park and campground, which is on land donated to the county by Hull-Oakes Lumber with support from the Alliance for Recreation Areas.
The campground is closed to allow those folks to focus on repairing roads and trails, improving campsite amenities and installing new toilet facilities and on-site water. The day-use area is still open, however, so picnicking, hiking, biking, fishing and such are still available.
The county is in the midst of making decisions on the design and will be hosting an open house from 5:30-7 p.m. at Willamette Community and Grange Hall — that cool-looking historic building on the corner of Greenberry Road and Highway 99W. There is also an online survey available if you want to share your input.
3. Popular tree coming down
Philomath residents who lived here back in 2007 will remember when the community’s traditional Christmas tree near Main and 19th was cut down as part of the highway couplet construction project. The 90-year-old tree was a 105-foot sequoia.
With that in mind, a story about a popular tree in our general region that will be removed caught my attention. Called the Yaquina Muscle Tree, it is located in a median near the entrance to Yaquina Bay State Recreation Site but was declared a hazard due to widespread decay throughout the tree, which is a Sitka spruce.
So, sometime in June, it will be removed entirely or possibly cut back significantly to create a snag for wildlife.
“It was a difficult decision to make especially with this iconic Sitka spruce that has become a friend to us all over the years as the gatekeeper to the Yaquina Bay Lighthouse, but we have to balance between the beauty of nature and the safety of our visitors,” Park Manager Burke Martin said. “We know that this tree is not only special to us but to the local community as well.”
There is a place online where people can share their memories of the tree and submit suggestions on how to commemorate it.
The spruce lost a large limb during a winter storm, which led to an inspection and discovery of the decay.
(Brad Fuqua is publisher/editor of the Philomath News. He can be reached at News@PhilomathNews.com).
