Port completing improvements, Dunes City budget approved, gas levels off? And, Jesse Owens on screen at Hayward Field

Port improvements nearing completion…

The final pieces of the Port of Siuslaw’s new transient dock are being put in place. When the work is complete, Port of Siuslaw Manager Mark Freeman says it will wrap up about a decade and a half of planning and fund-raising for the $1.5-million project.
210 – “It’s been in gestation, figuratively speaking, for about 14 years or so, from the first set of appropriations. But it takes a long time to put together funding.”

If the gestation period was 14 years, that means labor pains for the replacement of the Maple Street Landing and 720-feet of float docks began several months ago.
211 – “It’s been more than several months and if anyone has done a home construction project, there’s always going to be delays.”

Initially, Freeman had hoped to have everything complete by this spring but he’s not really surprised at the delays that have combined to push that off.
212 – “Late July for completion, for final hookup of everything. There’s electrification, there’s hookup of water lines, there’s also a new pump-out.”

The work will coincide with completion of the new ice facility. All of the improvements, he said, should make Florence an attractive draw both for commercial vessels and touring cruisers. Freeman also said the Port of Siuslaw investment in the entire improvement project will amount to less than $100-thousand… with state and federal funds combining to contribute the other $1.4-million.

Dunes City tightened its collective belt yesterday, but two city councilors say it may not be tight enough. The 09-10 budget was approved in a special midday session. Voting no were Rebecca Ruede and Jaime Mills. Mills expressed concern the city, which relies on user fees, grant funding and pass-throughs from other agencies, may not have enough money to support the staff at city hall. Mayor Eric Hauptmann (HOWPT-mun) countered that. He said they’ve budgeted conservatively and staff understands they’ll have to watch expenses. He also said Dunes City would not be able to provide services by using volunteers.

The national average price for a gallon of regular unleaded leveled off this week at $2.68. That’s after nearly two months of daily increases. In Oregon, the average went up by three cents this past week to $2.81 a gallon while in Florence, the increase was six cents to $2.70 a gallon. Marie Dodds with Triple-A of Oregon says she expects prices to hold steady or possibly decrease slightly over the next several weeks as wholesale prices are expected to do the same.

Jesse Owens will be appearing at Eugene’s Historic Hayward Field today. The documentary, “Jesse Owens Returns to Berlin”, containing archival footage of the legendary runner at the 1936 Olympics, will be shown on the ‘Trackvision’ screen at Hayward during the final practice session before tomorrow’s opening of the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. The screening begins at 5:00, it’s free and open to the public.

TAKING A LOOK INTO COAST RADIO SPORTS:

American Legion Baseball:
Nathan Williams’ walk-off three-run homer in the bottom of the eighth inning made it a ten-run difference, clinching an 11-1 Richey’s victory over the Three Rivers Sandblasters last night in Corvallis. Richey’s Market is the only undefeated team remaining in Zone Three American Legion ball. Kevin Warren was tagged for the loss on the mound, Ryan Hansen threw a complete game with four strikeouts and gave up five hits for the win. Matt Fritz and Bryce Weidman each doubled for the ‘Blasters who are back on the diamond this evening at five against the Withnell Dodgers in Florence. That game will air on Coast Radio Sports beginning at 4:45.

Northwest League Baseball:
Highly touted Matt Davidson went 2-for-2 with a home run to lead the Yakima Bears to a 6-5 win over the Eugene Emeralds last night in Central Washington. Considered one of the top high school hitters in the recent Major League Baseball draft, Davidson was picked 35th overall by the Arizona Diamondbacks. The third baseman showed Eugene why he merited such attention, reaching base in all five of his trips to the plate last night. The two teams continue their five game series tonight in Yakima.