Florence police long-time users of tasers; No Christmas Decorations on Highway; Tree lighting tonight; Empty Bowls; and Memorial Service

Florence Police old hands with Taser…

A lot of attention has been paid in the news recently to police in other communities and their use of Tasers. Florence Police Officers have carried them longer than at many other departments in the state.
215 – “Every officer has gone through the training, including myself. I personally have been shot with the taser, know exactly how it feels and it gives you a respect for the weapon.”

Chief Maury Sanders says in addition to the training, his department has clear guidelines as to when it’s appropriate to pull the trigger.
216 – “Basically the use of force has to be reasonable to bring any incident under control to protect the safety of the officers and the people and you have to view it under the totality of the circumstances.”

The device fires a dart on the end of a wire and can transfer an immobilizing five-second blast of 50-thousand volts. Like any other tool available to officers, it gets used, but in Florence that’s seldom.
217 – “Maybe three times a year, average. There may be years with more or less.”

Sanders said they don’t track how many times the weapon is pulled from its holster, only when it’s fired.
218 – “We have report forms now that are pretty thorough in determining what force is used, how it’s used, what the circumstances are so that we can review it.”

He says the same standards of use and documentation apply to the Taser as apply to the use of a firearm.

It may be the Christmas Season, but the traditional decorations that usually line Highway 101 won’t be present this year. The colorful lighted bells have deteriorated with years of use and they’re not in any condition to be displayed. Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Kady Sneddon says the bells have already lasted about six times longer than their expected four year life span. A fundraising effort will be mounted in the coming months to buy new ones, but they won’t be available until the 2010 holiday season. In the meantime, the lighted snowflakes will line Bay Street, they’re expected to be put up sometime in the next few days.

Art students at Siuslaw High School worked alongside other artisans in the community to help create hand crafted bowls that will go on sale beginning this evening. Art Instructor Kim Pickell said her students are responsible for at least 100 of the several hundred bowls that will be sold for $10 each. The 14th Empty Bowls runs from 5:30 to 7:30 tonight at the Florence Events Center and then again tomorrow from ten until two.

The public lighting of the Community Christmas Tree is set for this evening in Old Town Florence. Mayor Phil Brubaker will preside over the six pm ceremony at the Old Town Gazebo Park on Bay Street. It’s all part of the Second Annual Dickens Christmas.

A public memorial service has been set for three o’clock tomorrow at Florence Christian Church for School Board Chair Nancy Phelps. She passed away ten days ago following heart surgery. Family members are asking for donations to Siuslaw Schools in lieu of flowers.


TAKING A LOOK INTO COAST RADIO SPORTS:
College Football:
The Oregon Ducks are headed for the Rose Bowl and the Ohio State Buckeyes on New Year’s Day after downing the Oregon State Beavers for the second straight football Civil War. LaMichael James ran for 166 yards and three touchdowns, leading the Number-7 Ducks to a 37-33 victory over the Number-13 Oregon State Beavers. The win clinched an outright Pac-10 championship and a Rose Bowl berth for Oregon for the first time since the 1994 season. Oregon State will have to wait until the rest of the league wraps up play this weekend to find out just where they’ll be ‘bowling’. They’re in line for the Holiday, Emerald or Las Vegas Bowls but will most likely wind up in Vegas on December 22nd.
Basketball Scores:
Prep Basketball last night, Creswell swept a double header against Reedsport… In the Girls game it was Creswell on top 64-21; the Boys 58 – 47. The Mapleton Sailors are at home tonight against Days Creek.

In college basketball this weekend it’s the Pac-10/Big-12 Hardwood Series. Oregon State is at home in Corvallis against Colorado tonight at eight. Airtime on KCFM is set for 7:30. Oregon is in Columbia, Missouri tomorrow at 2:00. The pregame show on KCST is at 1:30. Oregon State will be back on the court at home Sunday at two PM for Cal State Bakersfield. There’s women’s basketball as well… Oregon at home against Boise State tonight and then Sunday against Long Beach State. Oregon State will host U-C Santa Barbara.