High percentage of H1N1 deaths in Lane County; Gas prices hold steady; Shore Acres lights prepared; and another storm...

Inordinate amount of H1N1 deaths in Lane County:

The number of confirmed cases of H1N1 flu in Oregon have increased slightly over the past two weeks according to the Oregon Departemnt of Human Services. Since September first, 1127 people have been hospitalized with the illness; 43 have died. IN Lane Conty there have been nine confirmed H1N1 deaths, only one less than Oregon's most populous county, Multnomah. At 343-thousand people, Lane County accounts for about nine percent of the population but just over 20-percent of the deaths. Health officials say they don't know what's caused the spike and say they most likely won't be able to figure it out until after the pandemic has passed. Meanwhile, they're still focused on distributing vaccine to people who are at the greatest risk. PEace Health Medical Group is the sole source of H1N1 vaccine in Western Lane Conty. They have a hot line set up for screening and to make appointments... that's 902-6057.

The average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline held steady in Florence for the third week in a row at $2.61. That compares to a drop in the national average, as measured by Triple-A, of three cents a gallon to $2.63. Oregon's average price, also measured by Triple-A, edged up less than a penny and is at $2.76 this week. In Eugene, the average price also held steady... it's at $2.77.

Since the middle of October there have been dozens of volunteers stringing lights at the Botanical Gardens of Shore Acres State Park west of Coos Bay. When the switch is thrown next week, it'll light the 23rd annual Holiday Lights Show. Since that first one in 1987 the number of lights has steadily grown to more than 275-thousand. The number of visitors has also steadily increased. Last year there were more than 45-thousand. The show officially opens Thanksgiving Day and runs nightly from four to ten pm through New Years Eve.

Even as other communities are still cleaning up after Monday's blow the National Weather Service is saying another string of storms is lined up in the Pacific wating to comne ashore. They they do, they're expected to bring more high winds and plenty of rain. A Marine Storm Warning for South Marine Winds gusting to 50-kinots, and a High Win dWatch with possible gusts to 65 miles an hour is in effect through tomorrow morning. Forecasters say additional storms ar expected to bring more wind and rain on Friday as well.

Taking a look at Coast Radio Sports...

A quartet of junior runners from the Florence Area finished in the top ten at the recent USA Track and Field Junior Olympics Oregon Cross Country Championships in Portland. Running with the Bowerman AC, Mitchell Butler claimed the individual title in the 13-14 year old class, finishing the four kilometer course in 13:21. In second place, Mack Marbas at 13:56 and a second behind him in third place was Matthew Campbell in third. Rounding out the foursome was Seth Campbell in tenth individually. The finishes qualified all the runners for the regional championships this weekend in Spokane.

Pac Ten Football:
Southern California has been to the Rose Bowl five times since any other Pac-10 school has gone, but it appears that streak is at an end. Oregon can make it official Saturday by defeating the Arizona Wildcats. If the Ducks do come out on top, it would also help the Rose Bowl chances of Oregon State. That's because the Wildcats currently hold an advantage over the Beavers and must lose at least one of their three remaining games in order for OSU to get it back. If Oregon wins this weekend, and Oregon State defeats Washington State, that would set up the Civil War December third as the game to decide the Pac-10 Championship.