Survey says: Florence residents may favor increased taxes for fire service; WL Commission race shrinks; LaMichael James arrested and Fawn Ridge appeal

Survey Says… City Residents Supportive of Fire Service…

Voters in Florence will likely get to decide in May whether or not to annex their property into the Siuslaw Rural Fire District. Elected officials from both entities heard the results last night of a survey of attitudes held by Florence residents about who they want to provide fire protection and how best to pay for it. The survey, sent to 48-hundred households in January and returned by just under 11-hundred, shows “overwhelming” support for continued protection by Siuslaw Valley Fire and Rescue. What’s not overwhelming, but still significant, according to Emergency Services Consulting Incorporated, is the support that property owners inside the city appear to be prepared to pay more taxes to maintain that service. According to E-S-C, 48-percent of respondents expressed that opinion. Florence City Councilors and Fire District Board Members will meet again next Wednesday night to take final action on a proposal that would ultimately reduce property tax rates outside the city by 67-cents per thousand and increase inside city rates by 48-cents. Voters would then have the final say on the matter on the May 18th ballot.


02-18-10 7,8,9 AM; Noon; 5,6 PM
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The Oregon Court of Appeals denied an appeal of the Fawn Ridge Annexation, finalized by the City of Florence more than a year ago. Debby Todd, Thomas P. Link, Citizens Against Annexation and Citizens for Florence appealed the Lane County Boundary Commission’s 2008 decision allowing for extension of the City Limits to encompass the Fawn Ridge Subdivision off Rhododendron Drive. They alleged that the proper procedures hadn’t been followed and that adequate notice of the action was not given. The Court of Appeals took 11 months to render their decision.

The field of candidates for the West Lane seat on the Lane County Comission got smaller this week. Lane Community College Board Member Tony McCown withdrew saying he wanted to give voters a ‘distinct choice’. McCown is endorsing former commissioner Jerry Rust who served for 20-years between 1977 and 1997. Former LCC board member Jay Bozievich, Mapleton volunteer firefighter Fred Starr, retired utility contractor David William Northey and LCC Professor Anselmo Villanueva will all be on the May Primary ballot.

The Pac-Ten offensive freshman of the year pleaded ‘not-guilty’ yesterday in Lane County Circuit Court to five misdemeanor charges stemming from a domestic violence investigation. 20-year old LaMichael James will be under ‘house arrest’ until his next court appearance. He’s accused of assaulting and attempting to strangle a 22-year old woman identified as a former girlfriend outside his Springfield apartment on Monday. University officials declined to comment on James’ arrest. He is one of several Oregon Football players who have had encounters with police in the past 8 weeks.

Here is the latest Oregon news from The Associated Press

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - A man has pleaded guilty to manslaughter
and robbery charges in a Portland home break-in that ended with the
death of a 17-year-old boy. Thomas Konschuh entered his pleas
yesterday and will be sentenced April 2 for shooting and killing
Fernando Chavez along a street last June as the boy chased
Konschuh, who'd broken into Chavez's home.

SALEM, Ore. (AP) - Democratic leaders say they'll release a
state budget plan today that includes all the money Oregon school
districts were promised during last year's legislative session.
That would mean school boards can build their budgets based on a
statewide aid budget of $6 billion and won't have to trim school
years. Democrats control the House and Senate.

VANCOUVER, Wash. (AP) - The governors of Washington and Oregon
say they want no more delays in building a new Interstate 5 bridge
across the Columbia River, but are willing to convene a panel of
experts to review the project. Govs. Chris Gregoire (GREG'-wahr)
and Ted Kulongoski (koo-luhn-GAH'-skee) responded yesterday to a
letter from four local government officials who said they want more
local control, a funding review -- and a review of the design,
which they called unacceptable.

GRESHAM, Ore. (AP) - A MAX train struck and killed a man on the
tracks last night near the Gresham City Hall. TriMet says the man
was trespassing in a wooded area with no approved pedestrian
access. The Oregonian reports shuttle buses took passengers from
the train that stopped for the investigation.
(The Oregonian)

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Portland Police Chief Rosie Sizer says the
officer who killed an unarmed man will ramain on the street in a
limited role. KGW reports Officer Ron Frashour has been moved out
of his job as a sharpshooter and into a neighborhood-response team.
Frashour has been criticized for shooting Aaron Campbell. Frashour
says he believed Campbell was reaching for a gun.
(KGW)

SALEM, Ore. (AP) - The state Senate passed the bill that would
establish annual sessions of the Oregon Legislature. If the House
agrees, the measure will go to voters in November for a final
decision.
(Statesman Journal)

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - The Piedmont Post Office in Portland has
been renamed in honor of Martin Luther King Junior. KGW reports a
plaque was unveiled yesterday at a ceremony that featured a choir
from nearby King Elementary School.
(KGW)

SALEM, Pre. (AP) - The governors of Oregon and California, the
U.S. Secretary of Interior and other officials are gathering at the
Oregon Capitol to sign two landmark agreements for the Klamath
River Basin. They will be joined Thursday by leaders of PacifiCorp,
Indian tribes, conservation groups and farmers to sign documents on
how to remove four dams from the river and share water between fish
and farms.


(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

TAKING A LOOK INTO COAST RADIO SPORTS:

On the schedule… the Mapleton Sailors will be in Marcola for a boys’ Mountain West League basketball playoff game against the Mohawk Indians… The winner will be either the first or second place seed from the league in the OSAA 1A playoffs… the loser will face Siletz Valley or McKenzie for third place on Saturday.

Pac Ten basketball returns to the State this evening when Oregon State takes on the top of the league… the Cal Bears… at Gill Coliseum at 7:30… airtime on KCFM is set for seven. The Oregon Men host Stanford at seven for the last Cardinal appearance at Mac Court… airtime here on KCST is at 6:30. The women are on the road… Oregon State in Berkeley against the Cal Bears… Oregon at Stanford.