Fire Danger increases, Sheriff to reinstate resident deputy program and Heceta Water District institutes low income program

07-30-09 7,8,9 AM; Noon; 5,6 PM
RBS

Fire restrictions stepped up in response to heat…

An abandoned campfire from over the weekend blossomed into a blaze that covered about a quarter of an acre near Sutton Campground Monday afternoon. Assistant Fire Management Officer Aaron Schneider with the U-S Forest Service said the campfire, in an undeveloped area ‘crept out’ prompting a response by the Oregon Department of Forestry. Two additional Forest Service units responded and contained the fire by that evening. Additional mop-up continued through yesterday. Schneider says more than 90-percent of the fires on the Siuslaw National Forest are human caused, the vast majority of those are attributed to abandoned campfires. Fire agencies in Western Oregon stepped up fire precaution levels yesterday in response to the very hot, dry weather experienced across the state. Wildland fires were reported in many areas over the past few days. Despite the heat, fire danger remains in the ‘moderate’ stage and there are no public use restrictions. Most of the additional limitations are directed at commercial and industrial uses in the forest.


07-30-09 7,8,9 AM; Noon; 5,6 PM
RBS

The Oregon Festivals and Events Association named it the “Best Sporting Event in Oregon” earlier this year. Dune-Fest 2009 is a five-day event offering motorized activities on the Oregon Dunes National Recreation area at Winchester Bay. In addition to the sand-drag races, moto-cross and other activities on the sand, there will be a charity auction and other evening entertainment. Dune Fest also offers a ‘vendor row’ offering ATVs and accessories, riding gear and crafts. It’s sponsored by the Reedsport-Winchester Bay Chamber of Commerce and runs through Sunday.

The Lane County Sheriff’s Department is slated to reinstate a ‘resident deputy’ program in three rural communities as the result of a grant award this week. More than three-quarters of a million dollars will go to the Sheriff over the next three years from the COPS Hiring Recovery Program. Police Services Captain William Thompson said the department is currently defining the geographical boundaries of the districts and making plans for deployment.

The Heceta Water District Board of Directors approved an assistance program aimed at helping low income residents pay for water service earlier this month. District Commissioner Debby Todd said the program is intended to offset the impact of rate increases on low-income households and will be coordinated with an existing state program that provides assistance for electrical bills. Qualifying customers will receive a 50-percent discount on the monthly base rate, or about $14. Todd acknowledged that the rate reductions for the low income program will actually mean slightly higher rates for other households.