Council breaks fireworks ban tie; Water District Chair chastises council; principal search extended

Fireworks prohibition clears first hurdle…

A draft city ordinance that will prohibit all fireworks, legal and illegal, in most of Old Town Florence moved closer to approval last night. It was hung-up on a two-two vote earlier this month. The return of Councilor Dave Franzen broke that tie in favor of a broader ban throughout most of the area between Highways 101, 126 and the river. Because passage wasn’t unanimous the council will have to revisit the matter at the April 5th meeting. Unless one of the majority votes changes however, it will take effect by early May and will mean even sparklers and smoke bombs will be subject to confiscation and anyone caught using them could face stiff fines. The council is making the move despite no apparent public support for the ban. Only those in opposition have spoken out in public. Leo Duwell is an Old Town business owner.
200 – “I just think it’s a little absurd to think about banning fireworks completely in the Old Town Area. After all we do promote it to start with. We promote bringing people here for the Fourth of July, for Independence Day.”

Florence has historically promoted the Old Town area as a destination for Fourth of July and he says the fireworks prohibition would have a negative effect.
201 – “This seems to be more anti-business restriction, regulation, rules, new codes, limitations on what’s been going on.”

Duwell suggested hanging a sign out that says – quote – “come to Florence and have no fun.”

The Heceta Water District Chair took the Florence City Council to task last night. Bob Hursh was critical of the city and a decision to suspend further negotiations on an agreement that would regulate who would provide water service in areas currently served by the district but within the city’s Urban Growth Boundary. Hursh was also critical of the city’s reaction to Heceta Water’s efforts to influence Lane County’s approval of the city’s Comprehensive Plan that applies to the same territory. He said many residents in the UGB have heard the city’s promise to not force annexation, but haven’t seen anything in writing.
203 – “The mayor and councilors have publicly stated that their policy is no forced annexation. If this statement is true then why aren’t you willing to include it in an agreement that publicly binds you?”

City officials however say they can’t put the promise in the comp-plan because state land-use regulations won’t allow it.

So far only eight or nine applicants have responded to the call for a new principal at Siuslaw Elementary. Superintendent Jeff Davis says he’d like to have a pool of up to three times that to draw from. Last week’s application deadline has been extended according to Davis. The exact cutoff date hasn’t been set, but will be determined by tomorrow and will likely be the first part of April. Davis said the district has published the opening nationally and will be seeking the best candidate they can find. The current principal, Pam VanderKley is retiring at the end of this school year.

Here is the latest Oregon news from The Associated Press

TACOMA, Wash. (AP) - An Army specialist with ties to Washington
and Oregon has died in Iraq. The body of Spc. Erin L. McLyman
arrived yesterday at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware. The Air
Force Mortuary Affairs Operations Center at Dover released her
identity. She had lived most recently in Federal Way, Wash. She
graduated from Sheldon High School in Eugene, Ore.

SALEM, Ore. (AP) - A Marion County sheriff's deputy says two
people have been found dead inside a car in the Pudding River.
Deputy Don Thomson says a witness reported seeing a red Honda Civic
go off the Mount Angel-Gervais Road into the river yesterday
afternoon. Law enforcement dive teams later found the car
submerged.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Two Northwest Airlines pilots who got
distracted and overshot the Minneapolis airport last October have
agreed not to fight the revocations of their licenses but could fly
again under an agreement they reached with federal authorities. The
deal reached with the Federal Aviation Administration will allow
Richard Cole of Salem, Ore., and Timothy Cheney of Gig Harbor,
Wash., to apply for new licenses in late August.

SEASIDE, Ore. (AP) - Investigators say an essay contest to win a
Seaside beach house was a scam. The Clatsop County sheriff says
Theodore Zennie took the $99 entry fees and spent them on drugs,
and that he claimed on a Web site he would give the winner his
beach house in Seaside. The state attorney general ordered Zennie
to take down the Web site, but he continued the scam. He was
arrested last week.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - The two Democrats running for governor of
Oregon didn't disagree on much last night during a debate sponsored
by the Multnomah County Democrats. John Kitzhaber and Bill Bradbury
agreed on most issues -- such as the need for budget reform, jobs
growth and support of public education. Three Republicans also are
vying for governor.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Two Northwest Airlines pilots who overshot
the Minneapolis airport have agreed not to fight the revocations of
their licenses but could fly again under an agreement they reached
with federal authorities. Under the settlement released by the FAA,
Richard Cole of Salem, Ore., and Timothy Cheney of Gig Harbor,
Wash., can apply for new licenses in late August.

KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. (AP) - Some Klamath Falls residents are
trying to raise $800,000 or more to stop further development of a
50-lot subdivision near the Link River. The Herald and News of
Klamath Falls reports the Klamath Greenways Foundation is crafting
a plan to buy 28 acres owned by Rogue River Mortgage of Grants
Pass.

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

TAKING A LOOK INTO COAST RADIO SPORTS:

Softball:

Monyk Duchscher was two-for-two at the plate with one run scored and an RBI, pacing the Siuslaw Vikings to a season opening 20-to-one victory over Cottage Grove at home last night. Branna Knapp pitched two innings and was credited for the win.

Baseball:

Trevor Roberts pitched four innings with nine strikeouts as Siuslaw Baseball picked up a 7-4 road victory over Cottage Grove last night. Eric Tipler, Kevin Strenke and Ryan Smith each hit doubles for the Vikings

College Basketball:

For the third time in nine seasons the Oregon Women will be making a post-season basketball appearance. The Ducks, 16-15, were selected to open the WNIT at home Thursday evening against Eastern Washington. Oregon last appeared in the WNIT in 2007, they won it all in 2002.

On the schedule

Reedsport opens up their baseball and softball seasons at home this afternoon against Oakland.

The Siuslaw Ice Breaker Track and Field Meet is set for Thursday afternoon and volunteers are being sought to help out. Anyone interested in being a backup timer, event judge or official should contact Siuslaw High School.