Habitat Beachwalk going to the dogs; Highway 101 crash cleared; gas prices going up; and Tsalila celebrates salmon

Habitat Beach Walk going to the Dogs.

The Florence Habitat for Humanity Beachwalk has become a pup-ular event. Dogs are a big part of the fun says spokesperson Gayle Montgomery. When the several hundred walkers begin their trek from the North Jetty to Heceta Beach Saturday morning, many will have four-legged friends with them. In response, they’re offering ‘cabernet colored’ bandanas for sale to match this year’s commemorative T-shirts. The beach walk gets underway at eight AM Saturday. Walkers who collect or donate more than $100 will be entered into a drawing for several prizes. An afternoon event has been added this year. Weary walkers can cool their heels at Wakonda Brewery on Kingwood Street with live music from 1:30 to 5:30.

It turned out to be just one truck this morning that caused problems on Highway 101, four miles north of Gardiner. According to Oregon Department of Transportation spokesperson Gary Leaming, a lone semi-truck carrying fishing and harbor supplies rolled over, spilling much of its load and blocking the southbound lanes just before six AM. Crews removed the wreckage just after eight AM.

The local average price for regular unleaded increased this week by three cents to $2.80 a gallon. Nationally, the average price dropped two pennies to $2.56. Oregon’s statewide average also increased this week, a dramatic seven cent hike to $2.89. Marie Dodds with Triple-A of Oregon says Alaska, Hawaii, California, Washington and Oregon have the top five averages in the nation. Dodds said much of the blame for west coast price increases is due to reduced production at major refineries. Regional prices continue to track higher than in Florence. In Portland the average price for a gallon of regular unleaded is $2.85… in Eugene it’s $2.90… and in Medford it’s $2.97 a gallon.

Plans for the September 25th and 26th Tsalila Festival in Reedsport are firming up. One feature this year: “Songs of the Oregon Trail”, an ‘edu-taining’ musical program that will be presented at the Umpqua Discovery Center during the festival along with several other musical offerings. Salmon is still the star however. Festival coordinator Mike Northrop says Tsalila is a program connecting people with the history and environment of the Umpqua River watershed.

TAKING A LOOK INTO COAST RADIO SPORTS:
Prep Volleyball:
Jenna Hanslits served up a present to the Siuslaw Volleyball team on her own birthday last night. The 17-year old senior was a perfect 19-of-19 at the service line with ten aces as the Vikings swept the Tillamook Cheesemakers in three games. Leigh Aurich (ORR-ick) was also perfect at the line, going 11-for-11 and contributing 23 assists. Seabre Church (suh-BREE) was deadly at the net with 11 kills on the night.

In the 3A ranks, Myrtle Point beat Reedsport three games to one.

Cross Country:
Both Siuslaw teams… boys and girls… are ranked number one in the latest 4A coaches’ poll. They demonstrated why yesterday afternoon at Tugman State Park in Lakeside claiming the team titles at the Far West Preview Meet. Joseph Campbell was the individual winner for the boys, followed closely by three more of his teammates in the top five. For the girls, the individual title went to Sutherlin’s Chelsea Spencer, but the Vikings’ Sam Pummer and Raelyn Robinson were number three and four respectively… once again a very close finish for the duo… only 22/100ths of a second apart.

On the Schedule:
More prep volleyball this evening. Siuslaw will be in Newport for non-league action.