H1N1 Vaccine arrives locally, to be doled out; Sen Merkley says green jobs bill will benefit Oregon; and gas levels out.

H1N1 Vaccine Arriving Slowly…

Vaccine for the H1N1 or ‘swine-origin’ flu has arrived in the Florence area and it’s only available from one source. PeaceHealth Medical Group is dispensing the limited amount of vaccine using the Centers for Disease Control guidelines. According to the CDC pregnant women top the list, followed closely by anyone between the ages of six months and 24 years old. That’s because, they say, those are the groups that have been hit hardest by the virus. Also on the priority list, health care workers and emergency medical services along with immediate family members of infants under six months. The final high risk group: anyone between the age of 24 and 64 with chronic breathing conditions, diabetes or other metabolic disorders and anyone with a suppressed immune system. PeaceHealth officials say they will be following the CDC guidelines for high risk groups and will administer the vaccines by appointment only. They’ve set up a phone number specifically for H1N1… that’s 902-6057.

The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee wrapped up testimony this week on the federal “Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act”. Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley says it contains plenty of benefits for the state.
200 -- "Oregon is very well positioned to be the leader in the renewable energy economy, in fact jobs in green energy are growing seven times faster than other jobs are in our state so we've already seen the impact."

Backers of the bill say it will help America reduce its dependence on foreign oil as well as provide incentives to domestic companies that provide ‘green’ power technology.

Another large quake off the Oregon Coast early this morning did some shaking, but did not generate a tsunami. According to the U.S. Geologic Survey a 5.3 magnitude quake was recorded about 4:38 Wednesday morning 130 miles west of Coos Bay.

The average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline increased by a penny in Florence this past week to $2.61. That compares to a two cent increase to $2.75 a gallon for the statewide average and a penny hike in the national average to $2.69. Marie Dodds with Triple-A of Oregon says retail prices in Oregon jumped by 23-cents a gallon on average during October but prices seem to have stabilized for now. Florence continues to boast the lowest average prices recorded in the state, 17-cents a gallon less than in the Eugene-Springfield area.

TAKING A LOOK INTO COAST RADIO SPORTS:

Prep Volleyball:

It’s playoff time and the Mapleton Sailors will face the Elks this evening in Elkton in the first round of the OSAA 1A state playoffs. A victory tonight would put them on the road to Portland and the Columbia Christian Knights on Saturday.

Prep Cross Country:

The state-wide polls show both the Siuslaw Boys and Girls Cross Country teams as the favorites in this Saturday’s OSAA State Meet at Lane Community College in Eugene. The 4A girls race begins at 11:25 Saturday… the boys run at noon.