Investment deal sours, two rescued, Dunes City budget on tap and lawmakers could wrap up this weekend

Investment deal goes sour…

The son of the man being targeted by fellow investors says the real culprit is in Southern California. Don Huntingdon says the anger, as well as two lawsuits directed at Doug Huntingdon over what could ultimately exceed $23-million in local losses is misdirected. The younger Huntingdon acknowledged his father did act as an agent for Sunburst Properties, selling interests in second mortgages. But he too has lost most of his retirement savings in the deal. Don Huntingdon said interest payments came like clockwork, twice a month for many years, but when Jim Borstelman, the owner of Sunburst, said all of the trust deed instruments failed at virtually the same time, it was time for some closer inspection.
215 -- "We all started looking around. We meaning me and other investors started doing some independent noodling. And it didn't take but a couple of days before we realized, you know, that we'd been duped."

Huntingdon said once he determined that something had gone seriously wrong, he called together all the local investors to share what they had learned before going to authorities.
216 -- "I put together the complaint. I am the one that called the meeting of all investors at our home to advise them so everyone was on the same page as to what was happening and what was going to happen. And, I'm the one that day that got it to the FBI in Portland."

The FBI does not confirm nor deny an investigation in the matter, but Huntingdon says he has verification. He adds most of the investors have been working together while only a handful have been targeting his father.

The U.S. Coast Guard rescued two men from a fishing boat early yesterday morning. Petty Officer Kelly Parker says the crew aboard the 36-foot “Hot Tuna” reported they were taking on water about 1,000 yards from the Siuslaw River entrance at six am. A helicopter crew from North Bend and a pair of motor lifeboats from the Siuslaw River Station responded. Attempts to keep the boat afloat were unsuccessful and the two crew-members were transferred to one of the lifeboats. The coast guard did not release their names.

The Dunes City Council will be meeting in a special session tomorrow afternoon. They’ll open with a private executive session to consult with legal counsel regarding litigation. Following that, however, they’ll hold a public hearing on the coming year’s budget, then discuss appointments to two city committees. That meeting, 12:15 tomorrow afternoon at Dunes City Hall is open to the public with the exception of the executive session.

Tenth District Representative Jean Cowan says the legislature is still on track to complete their work by the end of this week. But, failing that, she adds, they will adjourn no later than June 30th. Lawmakers approved the largest piece of the general fund budget Friday afternoon by setting aside $5.8-billion for K-through-12 education. There’s a possibility that another $200-million could be added in the long run if economic conditions improve. The Governor has said he would veto any bill that authorized more than $5.6-billion.

TAKING A LOOK INTO COAST RADIO SPORTS:

Sandblasters Baseball:
The Three Rivers Sandblasters used three pitchers and came from behind for an 8-5 league victory over the Titans in Springfield Friday evening. Three Rivers led until the bottom of the eighth, but three runs in the top of the ninth preserved the victory. Saturday, Bryce Weidman threw a complete game with 11 strikeouts and allowed only three hits as Three Rivers blanked the Mid Valley Rockets 3-nothing.

The Sandblasters are back on the diamond again today at Corban College in Salem against the Post-9 Highwaymen.

Northwest League…
The Eugene Emeralds opened up what could be their final season at Eugene’s Civic Stadium with a pair of losses this weekend. Salem-Keizer came out on top in Saturday’s game 5-4, then again yesterday afternoon 8 – 4. The two teams wrap up their three-game series tonight in Eugene.