Charges filed in Florence Burgs; Eugene police cite concern about a string of abduction robberies and dust off those county roads!

Local Burglary Suspects Arrested and Charged…

A string of burglaries in vacant homes in a subdivision under construction just off Munsel Lake Road have led to six arrests. The first incident was reported last week. Three unoccupied homes in the Spruce Village Subdivision were reportedly damaged when doors were forced and hand tools valued at less than $500 were taken. A break in the case came at 3:30 yesterday morning when a private security firm reported suspicious circumstances in the same area. Florence Police Officer Len Larson spotted a group of males running toward a car parked in the area and was able to detain two of them. Four others escaped on foot. An investigation yesterday determined that the two burglaries were related, and also led to the identification of all suspects. Three adult males were cited and released in relation to yesterday’s incident… all 18-years old, all of Florence… Roy Sigmund, Nathaniel Potts and Trevor Smith. Two Florence juveniles and one from Veneta were referred to Lane County Juvenile Court in the matter. The two Florence juveniles also face charges relating to the May 27th episode.

Police in Eugene are now saying that a string of abduction robberies… three of them in the past six days… indeed may be related. Detective Dan Braziel (bruh-ZILL) says all three of the robberies involved two suspects who compelled women to give them an ATM card and drive the men to banks or cash machines to withdraw money.
200 – “I cannot indicate whether or not a weapon was shown, I can say that the suspects did threaten violence. These victims were scared for their lives at the time, they are emotional and upset as anybody would be.”

Braziel says he’s very concerned and in ten years he’s never experienced this type of robbery. Two of the incidents were after dark, but another was in broad daylight. In each case the suspect information was similar… one of the alleged robbers is a white man in his early to mid 20s, between 5’5” and 5’9” with a slender build. The second suspect is described as having darker skin and is between 5’7” and 5’9” with a muscular build.

Lane Count Public Works maintenance crews will be applying dust abatement treatments to several West Lane County roadways over the next few weeks. The material, Lignin Sulfate is an organic non-petroleum product approved by the National Marine Fisheries Service. Applications will begin on gravel county roads in the Florence, Mapleton and Dunes City area Monday the eighth. The following day crews will be applying in the Swisshome area and then in the Deadwood area on Wednesday, June 10th.

A contractor is set to begin work stripping and repainting the draw-span portions of the Siuslaw River Bridge as early as this week. Equipment for the work is being assembled in a staging area on the south end of the Highway 101 span. When work begins, most of the traffic impacts will take place between eight pm and seven am, although crews will be reportedly on the job 24-hours a day. It’s part of a two-year $5.3-million renovation of the 73-year old structure.

Oregon’s beach monitoring program is up and running for the summer season. Water samples were taken at 72 coastal locations up and down the coast last week with those same locations being monitored every two weeks. Locations are selected on past incidents of possible contamination from coastal septic systems or livestock runoff. No beaches in Lane or Douglas Counties are included in the monitoring program.

TAKING A LOOK INTO COAST RADIO SPORTS:

If the 1,850 foot gain in elevation doesn’t take your breath away, the stunning panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean will for sure. The seventh annual Cape Mountain Ten-Mile Trail Run is set for Saturday, June 20th. Access to the race start is at mile-post 3.5 on Horse Creek Road, just south of Sea Lion Caves. Organizer Jim Archer says pre-registration is available online at www-dot-goodrace-dot-com. The $35 entry fee includes a Nike Dri-Fit shirt. Proceeds from the race benefit the Siuslaw Track and Cross Country teams.

Free sports physicals will be available one more time for central coast athletes. Siuslaw Athletic Director Andy Grzekowiak (grizz-KO-ee-ack) said the Dunes Family Health Clinic in Reedsport will be offering no-cost checkups a week from today, June 9th, at 6:30 PM. He says student athletes need to have a physical form signed by their parents.