Loss of community and school leader saddens many; Prisons, parks and liquor stores open Friday, but not much else; and gas prices hold steady.

Community and School Leader passes suddenly…

Many in the community were saddened this week on hearing the news that the chair of the Siuslaw School District Board of Directors had passed away suddenly.
210 -- "She could take an issue and make everybody feel like they had been heard and yet she was never a pushover. She was never anybody's patsy and she never did anything just so you'd like her. Even though everybody liked her.

Rachel Pearson said the impacts that Nancy Phelps had on education and the community in general were greater than what many might realize.
211 -- "We who were close to her in the recent years appreciate her for everything she does but people who didn't know what she did, suddenly in a year or two, will find out, wow she did that? And she was involved in that and things we don't even know about. It was the pebble in the water effect."

Pearson, the volunteer coordinator for the district was encouraged and mentored by Phelps, as were many others. She said the 74-year old looked and acted decades younger than what she really was. Still, Pearson said, when she remembers Phelps she thinks of a quote from Maggie Kuhn (KEWN) the founder of the "Gray Panthers Movement".
212 -- "Speak your mind, even when your voice shakes. Her voice often shook but it was never from fear. It was usually righteous indignation or she knew she had to do the right thing and speak for the voiceless, so, that is her legacy."

Phelps passed away late Monday after heart surgery over the weekend. A public memorial service is planned for early December.

Prisons, parks and liquor stores will be open on Friday, but if you thought you might be able to renew your vehicle registration over the counter, ask a question about your income taxes or talk to someone about your unemployment compensation you’ll have to wait until after the weekend. That’s because this Friday is the second of ten closure dates scheduled over the next two years to save money. It’s part of the cost-cutting package enacted earlier this year when state workers, as a group, were asked to select ten days off without pay. According to figures released by the Oregon Department of Administrative Services by furloughing an estimated 27-thousand workers on the day after Thanksgiving the state will save about $2-million. Essential services are still offered that day and many departments with online services will still be available.

Retail gas prices continue to hold steady with the beginning of the holiday travel season upon us. According to Triple-A the national average for a gallon of regular unleaded gained a penny to $2.64 this week, but Oregon’s statewide average remains at $2.76. Locally, the average for regular unleaded remained at $2.61 for the fourth week in a row. Marie Dodds with Triple-A of Oregon says they project that nearly 38 ½ million Americans will be traveling this weekend and 86-percent of those will be travelling by car.

TAKING A LOOK INTO COAST RADIO SPORTS:

College Basketball:

The Oregon Women have raced to a perfect start… they’re three-and-oh after winning their latest, an 88 – 71 victory at home last night over Santa Clara. Amanda Johnson scored a career high 19 points and pulled down 13 rebounds for Oregon.

Youth Sports:

A youth wrestling program aimed at kids six years and up will begin in Florence December First. Evening practices, from six to 7:30 PM will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays at Siuslaw Middle School. Registration is available online at USA Wrestling-dot-com and the cost is $35. Parents are asked to make sure to attend the first practice next week to review team provisions and rules.