Port Commission to finally discuss Public Market; Pioneer Museum unveils legacy wall; volunteer firefighter injured off-duty still critical.

Old Town Public Market topic of Wednesday noon meeting.

After listening to people on both sides of the issue last week, the Port of Siuslaw Commission will finally talk amongst themselves tomorrow about the future of the Old Town Public Market. The commission will hold a special work session tomorrow at their office at 1499 Bay Street. Commissioners received a petition in July from 15 business owners demanding an immediate termination of the market on the grounds that it was unfair competition and was having a negative impact on Bay Street businesses. Port Commissioners heard from market backers and detractors during their regular meeting last week. Debbie and Andres’ Ruiz told commissioners the market competes directly with them, in some cases selling the very same merchandise for only a fraction of the price. Market director Richard Wigget said the majority of the merchandise sold… things like hand crafted jewelry, produce and other items… are mostly locally produced. He estimated that only about ten-percent of the goods offered for sale come from outside of Oregon. Port Commissioners meet tomorrow at noon to discuss the matter.

For the last four years the Siuslaw Pioneer Museum has been quietly conducting a ‘legacy drive’, raising money to pay for the move to the former school building on Maple Street. Museum president Del Phelps said the location has been good for the museum and the community. Thousand-dollar donors have been promised they would be properly recognized for their efforts and last Friday Phelps did just that when he unveiled a ‘Legacy Wall’, a metal sculpture depicting an aerial view of the Siuslaw Valley. Artist Rosie Clark explained the concept.
210 – “We actually googled the river to make sure the river is really correct in every way. So that had great significance. And the simplicity and the grace and the elegance of everything. The beautiful frame made by Michael Jarmann, the gold frame. I think it turned out beautifully.”

Using input from Phelps Clark came up with the design which was then executed by her husband Pancho and framed by Michael Jarmann.

The victim of a serious car crash on Highway 36 last Wednesday is still on a respirator and in critical condition. Doctors are slowly bringing 23-year old Israel Stratton out of a drug induced coma in order to check neurological function. The off-duty volunteer firefighter was critically injured when he was ejected from a car that he was riding in August 19th.

Somewhere out there, a Dungeness crab is crawling around, unaware that it’s worth $1,000. Earlier this summer 100 specially tagged and numbered crab were released into Winchester Bay. One of those numbers was secretly selected and locked in a vault at Umpqua Bank. So far, only 20 of those crab have been caught and registered with the Winchester Bay Merchants Association, leaving 80 out there… and chances are good the winner is amongst them. The winning number will be revealed on Labor Day, September Sixth at two pm. If it’s not been caught and registered, a random drawing will be held for three cash prizes.

TAKING A LOOK INTO COAST RADIO SPORTS:

Babe Ruth World Series
Cranston, Rhode Island scored one run in the second inning and that’s all it took as the New England regional champions beat the South Coast All Stars one-nothing in the third day of play at the 14-under Babe Ruth World Series in Appleton, Wisconsin. The South Coast team, made up of players from the Florence area and Coos County, are now oh-and-three and will play what most likely will be their final game of the series today against the host team.

Northwest League Baseball:
The Eugene Emeralds are now acting as spoilers. The Ems beat the Everett Aqua Sox 5-4 last night, preventing the Sox from pulling themselves back into the Northwest League’s West Division race. Everett is trailing the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes by five games and missed a chance last night to capitalize on a Salem loss to cut the margin. The Ems and the Sox wrap up their three game series tonight in Everett. Eugene and the Vancouver Canadians open up a six game ‘split’ series tomorrow night at Civic Stadium. By the way… it’s now official. Emeralds officials announced yesterday that they have reached an ‘agreement in principal’ with the University of Oregon to play their home games at P-K Park in the 2010 season.