Senior and Disable Services reduce coverage; Relay for life four weeks away; Dunes City Stormwater Ordinance explored; and the State of the Port

Senior and Disable Services availability reduced…

Because of budget constraints, access to Senior and Disabled Services in Lane County will be reduced by one day each month. Agency director Kay Metzger says, through the end of this year, offices in Florence, Cottage Grove and Eugene will be closed the third Friday of each month. The closures will have no impact on nutrition sites or Meals on Wheels… those services will continue on their normal schedules. Metzger says funding reductions ordered by the legislature last month eliminated ‘cost of living’ and ‘merit’ pay increases for union represented employees, plus requires all employees to take six ‘furlough’ days through the end of this calendar year. That amounts to a 3.5% pay reduction overall. Metzger added the pay and service reductions were efforts to stave off other broader personnel cuts. Senior and Disabled Services are provided in Lane County by the Lane Council of Governments under contract with the State Department of Human Services. L-COG Executive Director George Kloeppel (KLEP-pel) said funding formulas from the state have still not been finalized and more budget adjustments may be required in the fall.

When you check in for the tenth Florence Relay for Life at Miller Park August 14th, chances are good that you’ll run into one of the co-chairs of the registration committee… Clara Simons or Jean Schmaling. The duo met in 2005 when Simons was having a mammogram done. Schmaling was the technician. She didn’t waste any time when Simons expressed an interest in volunteering with an organization that might be active in cancer research. Simon had lost three friends to cancer in her previous hometown and had been active in fund-raising before moving to Florence. Since that encounter, the pair have worked together registering participants in the Relay for Life. The 2009 version in Florence kicks off at Noon, Friday August 14th.

The Dunes City Committee for Citizen Involvement is set to meet tonight at Dunes City Hall to continue discussions on a proposed stormwater ordinance. Early drafts of the rules have been criticized by several residents and officials as being confusing and difficult to enforce. The Dunes City CCI is open to any Dunes City resident… that meeting is at six pm.

Incoming Port of Siuslaw President Joshua Greene will present a brief talk on the ‘state of the Port of Siuslaw’ today during the monthly Chamber of Commerce Noon Forum. Green presented similar comments last night at the port’s regular monthly meeting. The Chamber Forum is open to the public, it’s at Three Rivers Casino and Hotel.

TAKING A LOOK INTO COAST RADIO SPORTS:

Northwest League Baseball:

The Eugene Emeralds used a five-run second inning to gain the lead for good and then held on for a 7-2 win over the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes last night. The win was Eugene’s fourth straight and brings their record to 12-13, a half game below .500 for the first time since the first week of the season. Game two of the three game series in Keizer is tonight.

American Legion Baseball:

The Three Rivers Sandblasters have a non-league contest this evening at North Eugene High School against the Challengers. Airtime on Coast Radio Sports will be at 4:45 with the first pitch at 5:00.

Pac-Ten Football:

Fall practice officially begins August seventh, but it’s a midnight special tonight for single-game reserved tickets to Oregon football games for the coming season. Online sales begin at midnight tonight with only a limited number of spaces available for home games against Cal, USC and Oregon State. Selections are better for the home opener against Purdue on September 12th as well as games against Utah, Arizona State and Washington State.