Coast Radio News

A Florence Fourth…

A horde of visitors and residents alike converged on Old Town Florence Saturday for what turned out to be a good old fashioned Fourth of July celebration, complete with a pie and watermelon eating contest. One contestant, seven year old Josiah Lorenz from Veneta, was preparing himself for the competition.
200 – “Well, basically my strategy is to… well… basically I don’t have a strategy.”

The Last Resort Players had a stage set up in front of the Port of Siuslaw office on Bay Street that kept crowds entertained all weekend. Joshua Greene was enjoying the festivities and was himself impressed with the crowd.
201 – “It’s fantastic, the place is great, the wind seems to be cooperating, the barbecues are going, the band’s set up it’s all looking great. And the market! Look how great the market is!”

The second annual Arts and Crafts Association show at the FEC drew visitors to that facility. Saturday was capped by the fireworks display fired off from a barge in the middle of the Siuslaw River. Fog began moving in late in the afternoon and threatened to obscure the show, but the ceiling raised just enough so that most of the display could be seen from anywhere in the Old Town District.

Several public agencies in the Florence area will be holding meetings today… their first of the fiscal year. The Florence City Council has a regularly scheduled meeting at seven tonight… among the agenda items will be consideration of awarding a bid for construction of two pedestrian crossings on Highway 101. The first, a mid-block crossing between seventh and eighth; the second would be at 30th street. Both projects include new concrete work and flashing lights.

The Dunes City Council will have a special session today at noon. They’ll immediately go to private, executive session to consult with legal counsel regarding litigation. Dunes City has a regular session set for Thursday evening.

Also on tap for tonight, the Siuslaw School District Board will hold a special session at 6:30 in the District Office. It will be the first meeting with new superintendent Jeff Davis who officially took over last week. Davis will present organizational requirements for the coming year as will as review his transition and entry plan with the board. A summary of state funding will be presented by the district’s business manager.

A dispute over a contract for government services has the potential for a court test involving an Oregon city and a sovereign tribe. The Coquille (ko-KWILL) Tribe operates The Mill Casino in North Bend and pays for city services through lodging revenue, matching the rates paid by other motel and hotels in an occupancy tax. But the tribe, after a $40 million expansion, has laid off 7 percent of the casino's workforce, and it is pressing the city for better contract terms. It has withheld $88,000 in payments this year. Last year, it paid $440,000. The city won't say whether it would take the tribe to court, which could raise the prospect of debate over the tribe's sovereign status.

TAKING A LOOK INTO COAST RADIO SPORTS:

American Legion Baseball:

The Three Rivers Sandblasters completed their three game series against the Beaverton Allstars Friday with a pair of wins in Florence. The ‘Blasters took the first game 14-4, ending it in five innings. Game two went seven innings with Three Rivers coming out on top 10-7. The Beaverton crew trailed 10-3 going into the seventh inning and mounted a four-run rally but fell short. Sunday, the Sandblasters picked up another non-conference win over Grants Pass 10-7. Kyle Davis went seven innings on the mound for the win, helping himself out with a solo home run. Bryce Weidman finished on the hill and picked up the save. It’s back to work tomorrow afternoon at 1:30 for league action against Corvallis in Florence.

Northwest League Baseball:

The Eugene Emeralds wrapped up their home series against Everett with a 4-3 loss to the Aqua Sox Friday night. Then, they hit the road where they split the first two games of a six game series against Boise, beating the Hawks Saturday 8-4; losing yesterday 8 – 9.