Boys and Girls Club facing ‘perfect storm’…
With fundraising off by an estimated 40-percent overall… and the news that a former employee may have embezzled money, the Boys and Girls Club of Western Lane County is in trouble. The theft was discovered by the former club director, Bob Teter, who notified authorities and implemented changes to prevent a reoccurrence. That’s still under investigation. The biggest hit to the club though, according to treasurer Dan Gilday, has been because of economic conditions. Gilday calls it the -- quote -- "perfect storm". Funding shortfalls helped lead to the resignation last week of the club's interim director Jerry Matheny, as well as layoffs of other administrative and program staff. The club is currently looking at every option such as the possibility of selling their 15th street clubhouse. That would reduce their debt and ease cash flow problems. For now, though, they're calling on volunteers to help with administrative duties and they're also making a concerted effort to generate cash donations so they can continue to operate.
The fiscal crisis at the Boys and Girls Club has had other effects in addition to reducing the size of staffing and programs. Board President Eric Tanikawa says it's also hampered their search for a new permanent executive director. A long time board member, Cindy Cable, will fill in as part time interim director on a volunteer basis. Tanikawa says they're going to do everything possible to protect programs that serve more than 500 kids.
207 -- "These kids do not understand what the word recession means or unemployment or any… all they care is go to boys and girls club to be there to have fun with my friend and get my homework done and do a little bit more exercise."
Tanikawa says while the club relies on the community for support, so does the community rely on the Boys and Girls Club to meet the needs of so many children in the area.
When the household dollars get tight, sometimes pet owners have no choice but to find another home for a valued cat or dog. Norma Vestey, a member of the Florence Kiwanis, says animals are being dropped off at the Florence Humane Society because owners can no longer afford to feed their pets. That’s also apparently put the animal shelter in a similar situation. Vestey is calling on other club members and the community to drop off pet food at Florence Food Share and they’ll in turn forward it to the Humane Society.
Gas prices started off the new year with a sharp jump… the national average for a gallon of unleaded went up eight cents this week to $2.75 according to Triple-A. The statewide average in Oregon went up seven cents and stands this week at $2.81. Locally, the Florence average also went up, but only by two cents and is at $2.63 a gallon. By the way, that’s 22 cents less, a gallon on average, than in the Eugene Springfield area.
Here is the latest Oregon news from The Associated Press
JEFFERSON, Ore. (AP) - A 32-year-old man has been struck and
killed by a southbound Union Pacific train in the small town of
Jefferson, south of Salem. The man killed Monday night was
identified as Alfredo Savalza of Jefferson. Authorities say
witnesses reported the man walked around the lowered crossing arm
and onto the track.
HONOLULU (AP) - An Oregon man has drowned off Maui after he and
a companion were caught in a rip tide. The 49-year-old man's name
is being withheld pending notification of relatives. The drowning
occurred yesterday off Oneloa Beach, also known as Little Beach,
near the town of Makena. The companion was taken to a hospital.
ROSEBURG, Ore. (AP) - A prosecutor in Pacific County, Wash.,
says the owner of an Oregon-based boat company had been deemed
competent to stand trial on a first-degree murder charge. Deputy
prosecutor David Bustamante told the News-Review newspaper of
Roseburg that Brian Brush will be arraigned Friday. He's accused of
shooting 45-year-old Lisa Bonney in broad daylight on Sept. 11,
during a classic car rally in Long Beach, Wash.
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Portland police say a man handed an
apologetic robbery note to an employee at a FedEx Kinko's store,
then waited for police to arrive. Employee Paul Rhoney says the
note read: "This is a robbery, I'll wait outside for police,
sorry." Police say no robbery charges will be pursued because the
man had no weapon and didn't rob the store. He was jailed for
investigation of initiating a false report. His name wasn't
released.
SALEM, Ore. (AP) - A man walked into the Point After bar in
Salem, ordered everyone to get down on the floor and then fired two
shots into the ceiling. He took money yesterday afternoon from the
cash register and fired two more shots, breaking a mirror, before
he fled. The sheriff's office says deputies with dogs attempted to
track the robber but he got away. No one was injured.
SALEM, Ore. (AP) - The man who shot at a Keizer police officer
and crashed his pickup truck into the Marion County Courthouse and
set fires inside will be considered for early release from prison
at a hearing tomorrow in Lane County. Christopher Lee Mills was
given a 16-year sentence in 2006 after pleading guilty to charges
of attempted murder and arson. The Statesman Journal reports it
cost $15 million to repair the courthouse.
(Statesman Journal)
EUGENE, Ore. (AP) - Thieves hit Howard Elementary School in
Eugene over the weekend and took 47 Apple MacBook laptop computers.
Last May burglars stole 95 laptops from classrooms at the same
school. The Register-Guard reports Howard is a "technology
immersion" campus where students are assigned their own laptop.
(Register Guard)
MEDFORD, Ore. (AP) - Oregon officials fined the federal Bureau
of Land Management $5,000 for spraying polluted water onto land in
the Hyatt Lake recreation area near Ashland. A state Department of
Environmental Quality investigation turned up the violation at the
BLM's sewage treatment facility. The treatment system processes
discharge from a campground at the lake. The BLM is not obligated
to pay the $5,000 because it's a federal agency exempt from state
fines.
MEDFORD, Ore. (AP) - A 24-year-old Klamath Falls man has been
sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for being a felon in
possession of a firearm. Matthew Derby was arrested in December
2008 following a standoff at a Klamath Falls trailer park. He had
prior felony convictions for violent crimes and drug trafficking.
MEDFORD, Ore. (AP) - A drunken driver whose crash killed one
passenger and injured another has been sentenced to nine months in
jail. Douglas Anderson Jr. and his two passenger had been
attempting to flee an altercation when they struck a tree in
Jackson County on July 4.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
TAKING A LOOK INTO COAST RADIO SPORTS:
Prep Basketball:
First the girls… The Douglas Trojans led the entire way and put down the Siuslaw Vikings 80 to 37 on the road last night in Winston. Around the Far West League, North Bend downed South Umpqua 65 – 27 and Sutherlin handed the Brookings-Harbor Bruins a 33 – 31 loss.
And in the Mountain West Mapleton downed Siletz Valley 46 – 32. Liz Harry and Andrea LeClaire each with 12 points.
For the boys… The Siuslaw Vikings led part of the way, but the Douglas Trojans put on some late game pressure and came away with a 51 – 42 Far West League Victory last night. Brad Greenburg led the Vikings with 13. In other Far West Games, South Umpqua defeated number two ranked North Bend 83 – 74 in overtime. Brookings-Harbor beat Sutherlin last night 66 – 55.
In the Sunset Conference Reedsport fell to Coquille 79 – 40.
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