Electricity rates going up; Interior Secretary says he'll fast-track logging; more seasonal flu vaccine on way; and heavy rains a'comin'.

Electricity Rates Going Up…

If you heat your home with electricity, you’ll be paying more for that along with the rest of your electricity this winter. A rate increase by Central Lincoln PUD will begin showing up on bills in November. PUD Spokesperson Chris Chandler says it’s in response to an increase in wholesale rates taken by Bonneville Power Administration.
210 – “That’s going to pay for more salmon and steelhead support, system maintenance and new transmission lines, which we’ve been hearing are so important for the grid nationally, and, also for renewable energy projects such as wind projects. So, all those costs add up in a massive way and so that’s why Bonneville has raised our rates 7 percent.”

Not all of the seven percent increase will be passed directly to residential customers. There will be a one-dollar bump in the basic monthly charge… from $15 to $16… and the rate for consumption will go up by 4.6%.
211 – “Someone receives a bill on average of about a hundred dollars a month it’ll probably be about $106 with the increase.”

Central Lincoln PUD buys all of its power from Bonneville and Chandler says it’s still the least expensive in the country.

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar says it’s a ‘new era’ of cooperation when it comes to federal timber sales. Salazar announced plans this week to get more timber into western Oregon mills in the coming year. He says it can be done without sidestepping environmental laws… and without challenges from the environmental community.
212 – “We’re in this for the long haul, and we’re gonna get it done to achieve both the economic interests so important to Western Oregon; but also to make sure that we are doing what we have to do to restore the ecosystem and to comply with the environmental laws.”

The B-L-M and Federal Fish and Wildlife Service have teams working to ‘fast-track’ 62 new timber sales that create hundreds of jobs. (thanks to Oregon News Service for audio)

Demand for the regular, seasonal flu vaccine has been higher than anticipated, prompting some outlets to curtail, or even cancel vaccine clinics outright. But that is expected to change. Additional seasonal vaccine is on the way and should arrive by late November. So far only about a quarter of the 1.4-million doses of seasonal flu vaccine headed for Oregon have been distributed. Dr. Paul Cieslak (SEE-zlak), immunization director for the Oregon Public Health Division, says normally people don’t think about getting flu shots until later in the season but all the attention on H1N1 and fears of widespread flu this year has increased early demand.

The National Weather Service is saying the heaviest rains of the season so far are expected early this weekend. The bulk of the rain, up to two to four inches in higher altitudes, could begin falling late this afternoon continuing through midday tomorrow. A stalled cold front is expected to tap into tropical, moisture laden air.

TAKING A LOOK INTO COAST RADIO SPORTS:

Running:
A new ‘fun run’ and 5-K will run on Halloween to raise money for athletics at Siuslaw High and Middle Schools. The “Move Your Bones” run will begin and end at the Florence Municipal Airport. The kids fun-run, with every kid under age six getting a treat, starts at nine, the 5k is set for 9:30. Registration forms for the October 31st race are available online at www.kcst.com. They can be returned, with payment, to Coastal Fitness, On Your Feet, or Coast Insurance.

Prep Volleyball:
In the Sunset League last night, the Reedsport Braves defeated the Glide Wildcats in five games.

On the Schedule…
Prep football: The Siuslaw Vikings are at home for Far West League Football against the number six ranked Douglas Trojans. That game will air on Coast Radio Sports beginning at 6:45. In the Sunset League, the Reedsport Braves will be in Coquille. And in the Mountain West the Mapleton Sailors will host the Crow Cougars. All games kick off at seven.