Coastal residents targeted in email scam; school kids clip fins; school and county budgets face bad news

Coastal residents targeted in banking scam

It’s not uncommon for people to go fishing on the Oregon Coast, but it can be tricky when they’re phishing with a ‘p-h’; the target is financial information; and the bait is a local bank. Oregon Pacific Bank President and CEO Jim Clark said a mass email went out early yesterday morning to hundreds, if not thousands of people in Lane, Douglas and Coos Counties.
203 – “At this point we know, coastal communities. Because it’s Florence and down into Coos Bay. It’s a classing phishing opportunity by someone out there and it just says you have a new security message, we’re asking you to read the message, please follow the link below.”

The message also went to residents in the Roseburg area. It didn’t target anyone specific and the message was generic, directing the recipient to a website that asked for account numbers and passwords. None of the bank’s systems were targeted directly and their systems are intact.
204 – “We use an outside security service to monitor all of our systems and they could find no breach of our computer systems at all.”

Clark said anyone who did provide the information should contact their bank immediately. He added the FBI was notified and the bogus website was taken down sometime yesterday.


There were some fishy activities going on at the Florence Salmon Trout Enhancement Program hatchery on Munsel Creek this week. More than 40 volunteers, including Siuslaw Middle School stream team members, worked on clipping the adipose fin… the one closest to the tail… of several thousand young coho salmon in preparation for releasing them into the wild. The salmon were raised from eggs collected by STEP volunteers and are part of the group’s education program. They’ll spend the weekend in holding tanks before being released into Munsel Lake next week. From there, they’ll make their way to the ocean and are expected to return in about three years.



The Siuslaw School District Budget Committee heard three options Wednesday night on how to address a $502-thousand revenue shortfall for the coming year. But what they didn’t hear was how district residents would want them to handle the situation. School Board Chair Tami Butler said there was no public input on the budget proposals. The budget panel discussed their options briefly and will meet again next week. The three options are listed on the District’s website.

The Lane County Budget Committee met last night and heard some unpleasant news… County Administrator Jeff Spartz presented the annual budget message that included the surprising news that revenue for the discretionary general fund will be about $10-million less than projected expenses for the coming year. Financial planners had initially expected a ‘flat revenue’ situation, but a shortfall in rental car tax revenue, increased employee benefit costs and overtime pay, as well as additional spending approved by the Board of Commissioners precipitated the shortfall.

Here is the latest Oregon news from The Associated Press

ROSEBURG, Ore. (AP) - The second man to face charges in the 2004
murder of Matthew Peach won't stand trial until July 2011. Peach
was gunned down at Roseburg's Stewart Park in what prosecutors say
was a case of mistaken identity. Jonathan Crawford is accused of
aiding and abetting the man who fired the shots and was sent to
prison five years ago.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Oregon's Supreme Court has ruled a
century-old ban on concealing the true identity of political
campaign contributors in Oregon still applies in 2010. The decision
comes after a challenge by a multimillionaire who claimed it
limited free speech. The ruling sends the case against Tom Moyer
back to a trial judge.

GRANTS PASS, Ore. (AP) - The federal government has come up with
an extra $2 million in drought aid for the upper Klamath Basin. The
U.S. Department of Interior says the money will pay for pumping
water from wells and to get farmers to let their land go fallow.
That will reduce demand for surface water in short supply in the
federal irrigation project serving the area.

MEDFORD, Ore. (AP) - An American Lung Association report on U.S.
air quality gives Jackson and Klamath counties failing grades. The
association's State of the Air report hands the southern Oregon
counties an "F" for short-term particulate pollution. Fine
particulate matter is made up of tiny particles that can lodge deep
in the lungs and exacerbate health problems such as asthma and lung
disease.

SPRINGFIELD, Ore. (AP) - Springfield officials are investigating
what a newspaper describes as scores of vulgar, race-baiting and
anti-Obama e-mails that some Public Works Department employees have
been circulating in the city's e-mail system. The city manager
confirms that more than one worker has been disciplined for
violating city policies and more employees may face sanctions.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Oregon Secretary of State Kate Brown is
praising the state Supreme Court's ruling upholding a century-old
ban on concealing the identity of political campaign contributors.
Theater mogul turned developer Tom Moyer challenged the 1908 law
after he was charged in 2004 with violating it by allegedly using
his granddaughter and an assistant to donate to a Portland mayoral
candidate.

MEDFORD, Ore. (AP) - Jackson County authorities say two adults
and a 13-year-old bot spent nearly 12 hours stranded in rugged
terrain after taking a wrong turn in their Chevy Tahoe. After a tow
truck they called never arrived, they contacted search and rescue.
Rescuers couldn't drive to where they were stranded, so they hiked
in and walked out with the three who were in good condition
yesterday.

OREGON CITY, Ore. (AP) - A Clackamas County gang member found
guilty of attempted murder faces a minimum of seven years in
prison. A jury convicted 28-year-old Roberto Pantoja Bucio of
Wilsonville yesterday and he'll be sentenced May 7. The Oregonian
reports he's a member of the Sureno gang who shot at a Norteno gang
member last July at a park.

GOLD HILL, Ore. (AP) - Sparks from a generator are blamed for a
fire that left two Gold Hill men homeless. Fire officials say
electricity had been shut off at Bradley Weller's home and he was
using a 5,000-watt generator stored in the garage to power his
house. Weller was trying to start the generator Wednesday night
when it kicked out sparks that caused the garage to catch fire.

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) - Gov. Ted Kulongoski has named longtime Lane
County public defender Ilisa Rooke-Ley as a circuit court judge.
The 49-year-old will be sworn in this spring to the position that
pays more than $114,000 a year. The Register-Guard reports she will
be the seventh woman on the 15-judge bench.


PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - The Portland Trail Blazers have failed to
advance out of the first round of the NBA playoffs for the second
straight year. Last night the Phoenix Suns advanced to the second
round with a 99-90 victory over the Trail Blazers in Portland. The
Blazers tied it at 76 midway through the fourth quarter, but could
not pull ahead.

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

TAKING A LOOK INTO COAST RADIO SPORTS:
On the Schedule…
First up, prep softball. The Siuslaw Vikings will be in Winston this afternoon for a Far West League double-header against the Douglas Trojans. Meanwhile, at home, the Viking Baseball team will host the Trojans for two games at Jiggs Dodson Field. The first game is at three… the pregame show begins at 2:45 on KCST.

At Eugene’s Hayward Field the University of Oregon will be hosting the Oregon Relays for prep athletes. Siuslaw will have several entries in the two-day meet.

On the college diamond this weekend… Oregon State will be in Berkley for a three-game series against the Cal Bears beginning this afternoon. They’ll open the series without head coach Pat Casey who is in Corvallis attending to a family medical issue. Casey is expected to rejoin the team in time for tomorrow’s game. The number 17-ranked Oregon Ducks will host Washington State for three games beginning today. And the Oregon football team will hold their spring scrimmage tomorrow afternoon, two pm, at Autzen Stadium. Admission to the game is three items of non-perishable food that will go to Food For Lane County.

Keep your eyes and ears open on the road; Mind those parking limits in Old Town; Financial literacy and support for Extension

04-29-10 7,8,9 AM; Noon; 5,6 PM
RBS

Keep your eyes and ears open…

Local emergency responders have to deal with a lot of dangerous situations. But, according to Senior Paramedic Al Kreitz with Western Lane Ambulance, one of the riskiest parts of their job can be just getting there. Kreitz said one day last week, an ambulance was approaching an intersection with a green light with their lights and siren on when all of a sudden a car blew the adjacent red light, narrowly missing a devastating crash. Then, a few days later, another crew was responding to a man with a possible heart attack.
211 – “A vehicle in front of them was driving approximately 40-45 miles per hour on Highway 101.”

Oncoming traffic was heavy and, Kreitz said, the crew couldn’t safely pass the car that refused to pull over, delaying care to the critically ill patient.
212 – “So they had to, for about four or five minutes slowly drive behind this vehicle while the cardiac patient, the information that dispatch was sending to the responding paramedic crew was that the condition was deteriorating rapidly.”

Kreitz said drivers need to be aware of their surroundings and their responsibilities. Oregon law requires motorists to slow down, safely pull to the right and come to a complete stop when approached from either direction by an emergency vehicle with lights and siren.

04-29-10 7,8,9 AM; Noon; 5,6 PM
RBS

A recent survey shows 70-percent of Lane County residents feel it’s important to keep a county-based Extension office. It also shows 60 percent of county residents have accessed those services by phone, and 55 percent have done so in person. Lane County Extension Chair Steve Dodrill says the survey confirms the community support of the youth development, personal health, self-sufficiency and sustainability programs offered up by the agency. Lane County is asking for a special operating tax levy on the May 18th ballot to support Extension. If approved by voters it would increase property tax rates in the county by five cents per thousand… or about five dollars a year for a home assessed at $100-thousand.

Annual parking restrictions in the Historic Old Town area go into effect this Saturday. That’s when a strict three-hour parking limit will begin being enforced. Florence Police Chief Maury Sanders says businesses in the area are encouraged to remind employees and customers that compliance with the three-hour limit will help provide ample parking for visitors. Sanders said there won’t be any grace periods. Officers will be writing citations beginning May First when the restriction takes effect. The first offense carries a $15 fine… those fines can ratchet up to $50 for repeat offenders.

Finding the path to prosperity can be difficult. But, accoring to Colleen Stewart, the basics can set you on the correct way. Stewart and the St. Vincent de Paul Society of Lane County are offering a four-part ten-hour financial literacy class beginning next week in Florence. The class runs each Thursday beginning May 6th at the Oak Terrace Apartments from six to 8:30 PM. Information can be had by calling Stewart at 541-682-5920.
Here is the latest Oregon news from The Associated Press

ROSEBURG, Ore. (AP) - State and local health officials are
investigating seven cases of salmonella illness that appear linked
to a Mexican restaurant in Roseburg, Ore. Douglas County Public
Health says the seven people ate at the Los Dos Amigos restaurant
earlier this month. Officials say the restaurant is cooperating
fully.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - A Portland woman accused of teaming with
her husband to swindle an 86-year-old man out of more than $300,000
has been sentenced to more than a year in prison. Cheryl Knight
apologized for her actions during a hearing that had been delayed
for months because of her health problems. She and her husband had
both pleaded guilty to criminal mistreatment and theft.

OREGON CITY, Ore. (AP) - A 13-year-old Oregon boy has been
charged with arson in a March 15 shed burning and detectives are
investigating the Sandy teen in the illegal cutting of 20 trees and
power poles. The tree fellings caused at least two highway crashes
and a power outage.

GASTON, Ore. (AP) - A Washington County, Ore., sheriff's
spokesman says phone service in the town of Gaston was temporarily
disrupted yesterday after a garbage truck driver snagged some
cables as he drove down a road with his rear hatch open. The
spokesman says with the wires down, people couldn't call outside of
the town.
PENDLETON, Ore. (AP) - A car-semi crash on I-84 near Pendleton
has critically injured a woman and the driver of the auto is in
jail. Oregon State police say three pounds of marijuana were found
in the car after yesterday's crash, and they arrested Joshua
McDonald of Newport, Wash. His passenger -- Stacia Lynn Thune of
Spokane -- is hospitalized in critical condition.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - A fire official says an incandescent clamp
light started a fire that tore through a Portland church earlier
this week, causing $850,000 in damage. Lt. Rich Tyler said
yesterday the light ignited items stored in a second-floor room at
the Eastside Foursquare Church.

UNDATED (AP) - A lawyer for the Vatican says the former
archbishop of the Diocese of Portland followed the norms of the 1990s and
properly handled a priest who had molested a 13-year-old boy. Cardinal
William Levada (leh-VAY'-duh) did nothing as the archbishop of San
Francisco to restrict the priest after learning of the abuse in
1995.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - A two-alarm fire at a north Portland home
early today has sent one resident to the hospital. Fire officials
tell The Oregonian firefighters carried the man out of the house.
No one else was inside when the fire broke out about 4 a.m.
Firefighters saw flames in the second-floor windows as they
arrived.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - A 61-year-old Portland woman accused of
teaming with her husband to swindle an 86-year-old man out of more
than $300,000 has been sentenced to more than a year in prison.
Cheryl Knight and her husband both pleaded guilty to criminal
mistreatment and theft. Jerry Lee Knight was sentenced to more than
two years in prison at his sentencing last month.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - A blast-right-by-them style has served the
Suns well against the Trail Blazers. And tempo will likely be a
deciding factor tonight when Phoenix takes its 3-2 advantage to
Portland in hopes of advancing to the next round of the playoffs.
The Blazers have two things going for them. They are at home, and
All-Star guard Brandon Roy says he's going to be in the starting
lineup.


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

TAKING A LOOK INTO COAST RADIO SPORTS:
Prep Sports:
Yesterday’s makeup baseball and softball games between Siuslaw and South Umpqua were rained out once again. Games will likely be made up Tuesday.

The 4A Baseball Coaches poll lists the Astoria Fisherman as the top team in the state. The Siuslaw Vikings, at 6-and-oh in league play and 10-2 overall, are edging closer to the top ten at number 11. The South Umpqua Lancers, 5-1 in Far West play and 13-3 overall are ranked just behind the Vikings at number 12.

Looking ahead to tomorrow and the weekend: select members of the Siuslaw Track and Field squad will be competing at Hayward Field’s Oregon Relays in Eugene. Viking Softball will be on the road tomorrow to face the Douglas Trojans for two games. The Trojans will be in Florence for double-header baseball.

Returning vets face challenges; gas prices; school budget facing challenges; health and PTA fairs set. News from around the state and the Ducks rise

One in five returning Vets face serious challenges…

The transition from Iraq to Lane County was a quick one for members of the Oregon National Guard 41st Brigade Combat Team.
205 – “It’s about eight to ten days from the point that they leave the combat theater until they’re back home with their family.”

For most, that’s not a big problem according to Lane County Behavior Health Services manager Al Levine.
206 – “about four out of five are able to accomplish a pretty successful transition and reentry back into their life. But about 20-percent are going to experience difficulty.”

But, for some, that can be a challenge. It can also be challenging for family members. Levine is calling on mental health professionals to help ease that transition by volunteering. He says there’s a national program called “Give an hour” that helps coordinate those services. In Oregon, there’s a similar program that also includes massage therapists and acupuncturists as well.
207 – “There is a project and a website called the Returning Veterans Project, it’s an Oregon based project out of Portland where those individuals can sign up and make free services available for vets and their families.”

The Lane County Board of Commissioners adopted a ‘welcome home’ proclamation yesterday. Levine says they’re encouraging employers to accommodate the transition and are also posting a variety of available services on their website. The Oregon Guard members were welcomed back last week after spending nearly a year in Iraq.

The Siuslaw School District Budget Committee will hear public input this evening on how to deal with a half-million dollar shortfall for the coming year. Superintendent Jeff Davis presented the draft budget earlier this month. It’s out of balance for a variety of reasons. In his budget message he pointed out the requirement to set aside money for anticipated shortfalls in the retirement system, as well as a loss of some federal stimulus funding and a continuing decline in enrollment and the subsequent reduction in state funding. The budget panel meets at the Elementary School library at 6:30.

Oregon’s average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline is nearing three dollars. Marie Dodds, with Triple-A of Oregon, says the statewide average price held steady this week at $2.98 a gallon, In Medford the average is $3.04; in Eugene it’s just below that at $2.99. Florence’s average price increased two cents this week and mirrors the national average at $2.87 a gallon. Dodds says gas prices are averaging 75 cents a gallon less than a year ago when the global economic climate was still quite soft.

Health will be the focus during this Friday afternoon’s free Florence Health Fair 2010 at the Events Center. Spokesperson Linda Lydick says the intention is to give you the encouragement to – quote – “put one foot forward and take charge of your health”. Several seminars will be presented ranging from diabetic health to cardiac rehab to healthy cooking for people on the go. A special dinner seminar will be presented at five, but only to the first 100 people who register. The fair… and registration for the dinner seminar… opens at one.

If that’s not enough fun for you, check out the Florence Community Parent Teacher Association annual carnival on Saturday. From 11 to two at the middle school gym a variety of traditional school carnival games and booths will be provided. Each are run by various school clubs, classes and organizations and all money raised at the carnival is pooled, then divided between the groups. There’s no admission charge and most activities are only a quarter.

Here is the latest Oregon news from The Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Oregon Health Plan will get a $5.7 million
chunk of a settlement the U.S. government has reached with
drugmaker AstraZeneca. The company has agreed to pay $520 million
for allegedly marketing antipsychotic Seroquel for uses not
approved by federal drug regulators, including insomnia and
psychiatric conditions other than schizophrenia and bipolar
disorder.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Damage from a fast-moving fire at the
Eastside Foursquare Church in Portland is estimated at $500,000.
Portland Fire Bureau officials say investigators haven't yet
determined what caused the Monday night blaze. They say it appears
to have started in the church's meeting rooms on the second floor.

COTTAGE GROVE, Ore. (AP) - Folks who like to sip a cold beer
with their recreation at either Cottage Grove or Dorena lakes had
better enjoy the beverages this summer. Next year, the U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers plans to ban all alcohol at the two reservoirs
and their federally run campgrounds.
The agency said Tuesday the ban is prompted in part by
alcohol-related problems at the lakes, such as litter, vandalism,
injuries and late-night disturbances. Depleted staffing due to county,
state and federal budget cuts is also a factor.
---
Information from: The Register-Guard,

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - A lawsuit has been filed by relatives of
an Oregon couple who died in 2008 after propane from a newly
installed stove ignited in their eastern Oregon vacation home. The
lawsuit seeking $3 million alleges the companies that installed the
propane hearth stove and its gas lines failed to coordinate to
check if there were any fuel leaks.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - A Gresham couple has pleaded not guilty to
murder by abuse charges in the death of the 5-year-old daughter of
one of the suspects. Christopher Rosillo and his live-in girlfriend
Guadalupe Quintero entered their pleas in Multnomah County Circuit
Court in Portland after being arrested Friday. Quintero was Miss
Teen Clackamas County USA in 2006. Rosillo's daughter died April
13.

KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. (AP) - An online college guidance service is
listing the Oregon Institute of Technology as one of the schools
offering the best green study programs. The school powers its
Klamath Falls campus with geothermal heat. The guidance service
WiseChoice has included the school's Renewable Energy program in a
top 10 list of such programs.

CORVALLIS, Ore. (AP) - State police say a 31-year-old woman is
dead after a head-on crash north of Adair Village. They say
Adrianne Ollis of McMinnville was driving south on Highway 99W when
her car crossed the center line and slammed into an oncoming pickup
truck. The highway was closed for about three hours yesterday.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Police say anarchists are behind vandalism
at a Portland Starbucks and U.S. military recruiting station. The
Portland Police Bureau says roughly 50 marchers dressed in black
took to the streets late Monday and targeted the coffee shop and
the recruiting station. No arrests have been made.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - While Brandon Roy's return may have given
the Trail Blazers reason to hope, the Phoenix Suns have the more
tangible advantage in their first-round playoff series: a 3-2 edge.
The series swings back to Portland for Game 5 tomorrow with the
Blazers on the brink of elimination. Roy says he wants to start,
less than two weeks since he underwent arthroscopic surgery on his
right knee.

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

TAKING A LOOK INTO COAST RADIO SPORTS:

College Baseball:

Oregon rose one spot to number 17 in the Baseball America poll this week. The Ducks have won five of their last six games, the latest last night at PK Park when they jumped on the Beavers early, cruising to a non-conference 9-4 victory. The Ducks improve to 28-and-13 on the season; Oregon State falls to 21 – 14.

Prep Sports:

Far West League Baseball and Softball scheduled for yesterday afternoon was postponed because of field and weather conditions. The Siuslaw Vikings will host South Umpqua for baseball this evening at five… that game will air on Coast Radio Sports at 4:45. Viking Softball will make the trip to Myrtle Creek where they’ll face the Lancers at five. Also on the schedule today, Mapleton Track and Field at the Crow Cinder Classic.

KCST Earns Best Newscast Designation

PORTLAND, OR – When people on the Central Oregon Coast want news they turn to KCST FM 106.9 in Florence. When the Oregon Associated Press Broadcasters (OAPB) was looking for the best radio newscast outside of the Portland area, they did the same. Coast Radio News was recently singled out by the association as having the best newscast in the state.

“The selection of KCST’s newscast as the best reflects the station’s long standing commitment to local news” said owner and general manager Jon Thompson. He said much of the credit goes to the hard work and commitment of news director Bob Sneddon. “It validates our standing as one of the best community radio stations in the state”. KCST offers a half-dozen daily news casts, along with the same number on its sister station KCFM.

Sneddon also picked up an additional award during the April 17th banquet. For the third straight year, and the fourth time since 2003, he was selected as the Contributor of the Year by Associated Press management. Portland News Editor Terry Petty said “Sneddon understands the importance of the A-P cooperative and knows contributions from members help us fulfill our mission of delivering news to a state audience as well as to people across the world and around the world.” For his part, Sneddon said things that happen in smaller communities do matter to people who live in other parts of the state. “I’m interested in the news from Baker City, Bend, Medford and Portland. Why wouldn’t people in those communities want to know what’s happening on the Oregon Coast?”

Birmingham, Alabama’s Dan Dailey with WZZK Radio was one of the judges. He said KCST’s newscast entry had “nice, tight writing.” and “Pleasant, animated anchoring.” Dailey also complimented the use of additional sound bites in the reporting. Another entry was singled out by judges. A series of stories about school budget cuts in 2009 was recognized with 3rd place in the “Best Treatment of a Single Subject” category. In judging comments on that series, Dailey noted “in-depth reporting on a story of great local importance”.

Coast Radio is the primary source of daily news and information for many residents in the Florence, Dunes City and Mapleton area. They broadcast two signals, KCST FM 106.9 with a music format that offers a mix of adult contemporary, oldies and hot country music along with ABC news, Charles Osgood’s commentary and Coast Radio News. It’s also the broadcast home of Siuslaw Viking sports and Oregon Duck athletics in Western Lane County. KCFM 104.1/AM 1250 is the home of Beaver Nation on the Central Oregon Coast, offering OSU Football and Basketball along with the syndicated Music of Your Life format that features adult pop standards by iconic American singers like Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Tony Bennett and Michael Buble.

Taxes key to fire annexation; Florence high schooler to sing with Bach Fest; STEP hazes birds; News from around the state and sports.

Temporary Tax Reductions Key to Annexation Issue

If voters in Florence say ‘yes’ on May 18th to the annexation of property inside city limits into the Siuslaw Valley Fire District, the property tax rate for the district will go down from $1.54 per thousand to 87-cents. That’s a reduction of 67-cents that will benefit those living outside Florence. Likewise, the current city council has agreed to reduce their tax rate from $2.86 to $2.47… a 39-cent discount. But, Florence property owners will also see the fire district tax on their statement, meaning they’ll pay a net increase of 48-cents per thousand. Florence Mayor Phil Brubaker says it’s an increase, but it will be money well spent.
201 -- "Everybody knows that taxes can be a burden and they certainly are to many. To me, this is such a critical service that it's worth the money."

Both the Florence City Council and the Fire District Board have agreed to the five-year reductions, but those agreements aren’t binding on future panels. And that means, says Brubaker, voters in future elections need to remember the promise and speak up.
200 -- "That puts another element in the political landscape. One of the first things our voters should ask future city councils running for office, do you pledge to hold the $2.47 rate? And that's a fair question because future councils would have to reaffirm if you will, this contract."

Ballots will be mailed by the end of this week and are due back by May 18th.

A new program of hazing double breasted cormorants began on the Siuslaw River over the weekend. Volunteers with the Salmon-Trout Enhancement Program, working under the guidance of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife will buzz the river in swift-moving watercraft every day between now and June 20th. The object is not simply to harass the birds, but to protect young salmon that are making their way to the ocean. The cormorants eat juvenile salmon and steelhead… at times a lot of them… and in an effort to protect the runs, fishermen have been recruited to put their boats to a little different use. Scientists will try to track where the birds go when they’re moved off the estuary.

For the second year in a row, Florence high schooler April Dimmick will be singing with the Oregon Bach Festivial. Dimmick, a junior with the Oregon Connections Academy High School, wants to be an opera singer and, says her voice coach Laura Merz, that goal is nearing reality. Merz said Dimmick was selected from hundreds of hopefuls as an alto for the summer 2010 Youth Choral, performing between June 24th and July 5th at Eugene’s Hult Center. The Stangeland Family Youth Choral Academy, the program she’ll be in, will also provide hours of instruction and other music courses. Merz said Dimmick’s fee for the program is more than $800. She’s seeking donations to help offset that cost.

The Florence Planning Commission will meet tonight at City Hall to consider a request to initiate adoption of the 2010 Florence Parks and Recreation Master Plan. That approval would require amendments to the city’s 2020 Comprehensive Plan and city codes. That meeting is at seven.

Here is the latest Oregon news from The Associated Press

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) - A man accused of trying to abduct a
2-year-old boy from a Boy Scout family carnival near Eugene pleaded
not guilty.
The Register-Guard reports the 23-year-old Eugene-area man,
Azoulas Yurashunas, was ordered Monday to remain under house arrest
with electronic monitoring until his next court hearing.
Police accuse him of luring the boy away from the crowd April 17
at a church. The boy was found in the parking lot by a woman who
returned him to his mother.
The suspect told police he only tied to help the boy after
seeing him accidentally hit his head on a sign. Yurashunas said he
is a former Eagle Scout who went to the event to meet with a troop
leader. He has no adult criminal record in Oregon.
---
Information from: The Register-Guard,
http://www.registerguard.com

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - A Gresham couple are scheduled to be
arraigned today after they were indicted by a Multnomah County
grand jury in the death of 5-year-old girl. Police say the girl
suffered years of abuse and neglect at the hands of her father and
his live-in girlfriend.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Fire investigators are working to
determine what ignited a blaze at Portland's Eastside Foursquare
Church. About 70 firefighters battled the flames last night at the
wooden building. At one point, fire commanders pulled all their
crews out and called for more help. No injuries are reported.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - A Beaverton middle school teacher whose
"Crash the Tea Party" Internet campaign drew national attention
is back in the classroom after more than a week on paid leave.
Beaverton School District officials continue to investigate whether
Jason Levin used school time or property to work on his site, which
encouraged people to infiltrate the movement to discredit the
conservative activists.

SHERWOOD, Ore. (AP) - A Washington County deputy's home visit to
check on a 15-year-old boy frequently absent from school led to the
arrest of the youth's parents for investigation of child neglect
and marijuana distribution. The deputy says that when the boy's
father answered the door of their Sherwood-area home, he smelled
marijuana. Inside, the officer found 51 plants.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Portland School Superintendent Carole
Smith is proposing to close Marshall High School and make it a
magnet school. In a plan outlined last night, Smith would also
convert vocationally oriented Benson High from a four-year school
to a career-tech center that students around the district could
attend part time as juniors and seniors.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Investigators are studying videotape of a
TriMet bus that struck and killed two pedestrians at a downtown
Portland intersection on Saturday night. Officials say it could
take days to find out what caused the bus to hit five pedestrians
croissing the street. Investigators say the bus had a green light
and that the pedestrians had a walk signal.

GLIDE, Ore. (AP) - Fire has destroyed a two-bedroom home in
Glide and burned two other structures. Fire officials say
firefighters who live near the scene helped residents safely out of
their homes yesterday. No one was injured and the American Red
Cross was called on to help a displaced family of five.

PHOENIX (AP) - The Phoenix Suns overcame an early 14-point
deficit to rout the Portland Trail Blazers 107-88 last night and
take a 3-2 lead in their first-round playoff series. Phoenix can
advance to the second round by beating the Blazers in Portland on
Thursday night.

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

TAKING A LOOK INTO COAST RADIO SPORTS:

Athlete of the Week:

Siuslaw baseball standout Trevor Roberts is Coast Radio Sports’ Athlete of the Week. The Viking hurler pitched a complete game against Brookings-Harbor allowing only two hits and striking out seven on the way to victory. In an earlier start, Roberts allowed two hits and struck out five in three innings of work… this week’s honorable mention goes to Raelyn Robinson, who set a Hans Peterson Track and Central Coast Invitational meet record in the girls’ 1500 meter with a time of 4:50.26.

Duck Basketball:

Creighton basketball coach Dana Altman signed a seven year deal to take over the helm of Oregon Basketball. The 51-year old spent 16 seasons at Creighton, finishing with a 327 and 176 record. He replaces Ernie Kent, Oregon’s winningest coach who was dismissed after 13 seasons at his alma mater with a 235 and 174 record.

On The Schedule:

Rain and field conditions may prompt a delay in a scheduled Far West League baseball game in Florence today between the Siuslaw Vikings and the South Umpqua Lancers. The Lady Viking softball team is set for a game in Myrtle Creek against the Lancers.

It’s Civil War Baseball this afternoon at PK Park in Eugene as the Oregon Ducks host Oregon State at six for non-conference play.

Florence City Council to provide annexation answers; First of two health fairs this week set for tomorrow; Parade entry apps ready; New Ducks coach?

Answers for annexation questions on the table..

A special meeting to provide information on the proposed annexation of property inside the Florence City Limits to the Siuslaw Valley Fire District will be held tonight at city hall. The Florence City Council will be answering questions about the measure that city voters will decide in the May 18th primary election. Siuslaw Valley Fire and Rescue has provided fire protection services to the city since 1999 under what was originally intended to be a three-to-five year agreement. The contract has been extended annually since that time. The city is paying the district just under a quarter-million dollars for the service this year. If approved by voters, the district has agreed to reduce its tax rate for a minimum of five years because of the additional assessed value it would gain in the core downtown area. The current city council has also pledged to reduce the city’s tax rate for a similar time because they would no longer be paying for fire service. Property owners in the city would see a net increase in their property taxes of 48-cents per thousand dollars of assessed valuation. Tonight’s town hall meeting at City Hall begins at 6:30 PM, it will air live on Charter Cable Channel 10 and oregoncities.tv.

Ballots for the May 18th Primary Election will be mailed by the end of this week and Lane County Elections Chief Cheryl Betschart has provided some tips to consider. If you’re not sure whether or not you’re even registered to vote, you can check online at www-dot-can-I-vote-dot-org or call the elections office at 682-4234. The deadline to register is at the close of business tomorrow… forms must be received at the elections office by that time and post marks don’t count. Betschart says if you’ve moved you’ll need to submit a new registration form. If you’ve changed your mailing address you can update that information online or at the Elections Division office anytime.

Application forms for the 103rd Rhododendron Festival Grand Floral Parade are available at the Florence Area Chamber of Commerce. This year’s theme is “You Are Here”. Carnival arm-band tickets for this year’s festival can also be pre-purchased at the Visitor Center as well as official Rhody Festival tee-shirts and sweat shirts. Anyone holding an event during the festival is being asked to notify the Chamber so they can help spread the word. This year’s festival runs from May 21st to the 23rd.

The first of two health fairs scheduled for the community this week will be held tomorrow at Three Rivers Casino and Hotel. From 11 to 6 Three Rivers will be hosting Health Fair partners like the American Cancer Society, Coastal Fitness and Aquatics Center and Cascade Health Solutions. Several presentations ranging from 30 to 60 minutes each will provide information on a variety of health related topics. It’s free and open to the public.

Here is the latest Oregon news from The Associated Press

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) - Sarah Palin praised Republicans at a
fundraising dinner for having the boldness to invite her to speak. The
former governor of Alaska was the headliner in Eugene Friday night
for the Lane County Republican Party's Lincoln Day dinner. She
spoke as about 150 demonstrators gathered peacefully outside. The Lincoln Day Dinner is normally held in February but was changed to accommodate the former VP Candidate’s schedule.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Oregon prosecutors are asking Reed College
to crack down on illegal drug use by students. Reed President Colin
Diver sent an e-mail to the school's 1,300 students warning them
that police and prosecutors will be watching them closely. Two
students have died from heroin overdoses in the last two years.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - The executive director of the Oregon
Student Assistance Commission has resigned after the agency angered
state leaders by budgeting for more student grants than it could
pay. A spokeswoman for Gov. Ted Kulongoski said he did not press
for Dennis Johnson's resignation, but says the governor believes
the agency needs new leadership.

JORDAN VALLEY, Ore. (AP) - Sheriffs in rural Oregon are warning
ranchers, hikers and others to watch out for hidden marijuana
plantations. Malheur County Sheriff Andrew Bentz says pot growers
are setting up camps, preparing soil for planting and laying out
miles of PVC drip-irrigation lines. Authorities are also planning
for a new season of raids.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - An Oregon jury has ordered the Boy Scouts
of America to pay $18.5 million in punitive damages in a sex abuse
lawsuit. It is believed to be the largest award ever granted by a
jury in a sex-abuse lawsuit against the organization.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - For the first time since 2007, sports
anglers will be able to catch chinook salmon in significant numbers
all along the Oregon coast. The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission
set the ocean sport season for chinook from May 29 through Sept. 6
from Cape Falcon, near Manzanita, south to the California border.

YAMHILL, Ore. (AP) - A weekend crash in Yamill County has
claimed the life of an 18-year-old high school student. A sheriff's
news release said Brady Fischer died when his pickup was found on
its side engulfed in flames around 4:00 yesterday morning. Due to
ammunition detonating in the fire, emergency officials had to back
away from the burning wreckage for a time.

GLIDE, Ore. (AP) - Two 22-year-old men have been arrested after
brandishing a gun and trying to rob a small bar they frequent for
poker games in Glide. The News-Review of Roseburg reports that
early Saturday at the Narrows Tavern, an employee said the masked
men were shaking and didn't speak only holding a sign reading,
"Open the safe and give us the money." Both were jailed at the
Douglas County Jail.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Police say it might take a few days before
they determine what caused a TriMet bus to run over a group of
pedestrians in downtown Portland late Saturday. The crash killed
two women and injured three other people. Police say the bus had a
green light and the pedestrians had a walk signal.

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) - The University of Oregon has called a 1 p.m.
news conference today in Eugene to introduce the Ducks' new
basketball coach. Multiple media outlets are reporting Creighton
coach Dana Altman will be introduced as the replacement for Ernie
Kent, who was dismissed last month after 13 seasons.

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

TAKING A LOOK INTO COAST RADIO SPORTS:

Prep Track and Field:

The Philomath Warriors took first place and the Siuslaw Vikings were second on both the boys and girls’ side of the Central Coast Invitational Friday afternoon at Siuslaw High School. Raelyn Robinson set a course and meet record in the girls’ 1500, winning it with a time of 4:50.26. Robinson also claimed th 800 meter. Alexis Reavis doubled up in the Shot Put and the Discus, Seabre Church won the javelin. Brad Finnell (fih-NELL) won the boys 800 and Sonny Tupua the shot.

Prep Baseball:

Trevor Roberts pitched a nine-strikeout two-hit complete game for a four-run shutout win over the Brookings-Harbor Bruins Friday afternoon in the opening game of a double header. In the nightcap, the Vikings spotted the Bruins four-runs before coming from behind for a 6-5 win to remain undefeated in league play. At 6-and-oh, the Vikings remain as the only undefeated team in the league.

Prep Softball:

The Lady Vikings held the Bruins scoreless in the first game for a one-nothing win, but dropped the second half of a league double header 10-2.

College Baseball:

Number 18 Oregon took two of three from the USC Trojans over the weekend, opening with a 12-2 win Friday, losing in ten innings 5-4, then closing with an 8-4 victory yesterday. Oregon State had similar bookend wins in Pullman against Washington State, winning 5-1 and 3-2, losing 12-4.

Administrative changes at Siuslaw schools; Coastal Cuisine nets ten grand; voter registration deadline nearing; boy scout trial to resume monday

Administrative changes will be occurring at some of the Schools in the Siuslaw School District over the summer. The first will be a new principal for Siuslaw Elementary following the retirement of Pam Van der Kley. Superintendent Jeff Davis says an offer has been made and accepted.
210 – “Well, his name is Michael Harklerode and he comes to us from the Hillsboro School District where for the last couple of years he’s been an instructional leader heading up the professional development program across the district.”

Harklerode was selected after a nationwide search that had to be extended because of a scarcity of qualified candidates. Davis said the extension paid off as they eventually had 19 applicants.

The other administrative change will be at the high school where current principal Larry Martindale will share the top job with his current vice-principal Matt Henry.
211 – “It’ll be a changed relationship for both of them as they share responsibilities and work as a team. And really the purpose of this is to create a transition so that Mr. Henry can increasingly take on some of the leadership and instructional leadership responsibilities.”

Martindale will retire by the end of next school year and Henry will assume the top spot on his own by the fall of 2011.

About 300 people enjoyed samples and sips from 32 different food and beverage vendors Tuesday night at Three Rivers Casino. All that hard work resulted in about $10-thousand that will help feed hungry people in the Florence and Mapleton areas. The third annual Coastal Cuisine Gala was a huge success according to co-chair Bob MacDuffee. He announced the award winners from Tuesday’s soiree’… The Green Gables Restaurant from Newport was granted the “Best Bite”; River’s Edge Winery in Elkton the “Best Sip” and The Prime Restaurant at Three Rivers was noted for the “Best Presentation”. The “People’s Choice” award was given to Feast!, a cooperative owned restaurant in Old Town Florence. MacDuffee said in addition to raising money, the event also raised awareness of the importance of Florence Food Share, the emergency food box pantry that regularly provides emergency boxes for more than 500 households each month.

Voters in the Florence area will have several things to decide on the May 18th Primary election, but if you’re not registered to vote, you won’t have a say. The deadline for registering in order to get a ballot is coming up fast. The last day to change party affiliation, register for the first time, or re-register if your address has changed is Tuesday, April 27th at five PM. County Clerk Cheryl Betschart says the completed form must be received by her office by that time. First time voters who are still 17, but will turn 18 by May 18th are eligible to register and vote as well. Several contested primary races for state and county offices are on the ballot, as well as the Siuslaw Valley Fire District annexation question for voters inside the City of Florence.

Students from Siuslaw High School swept the Dramatic Interpretation and Prose Reading competitions at last week’s District Five Speech and Forensics tournament in Eugene. Eight Vikings in all will be competing at this weekend’s state finals in Monmouth. Emalee Joslin, Tyler Garcia, McKenna Holmes, Morgan Seigel and Alysen Vilhena (VEE-en-nuh) each claimed district titles, Garcia and Joslin also qualified with second places in two other events. They’ll be joined by the other qualifier, Hanna Hodulik to round out the entries in interpretive events. Two other Siuslaw students will participate in the Student Congress, Kayla Rickford and Eric Fine. The finals began yesterday and run through tomorrow.

Here is the latest Oregon news from The Associated Press

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - An Oregon woman convicted of dumping her
children off a bridge, killing one, has been sentenced to at least
35 years in prison. Thirty-two-year-old Amanda Stott-Smith told the
judge during a hearing yesterday in Portland that she's sorry.
Investigators believe she dumped her children from the Sellwood
Bridge in May in revenge against her estranged husband. Her
7-year-old daughter lived, her 4-year-old son died.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - A Portland jury will resume deliberations
Friday on whether to award $25 million in punitive damages against
the Boy Scouts of America in a sex abuse lawsuit. Jurors awarded an
Oregon man $1.4 million in compensatory damages last week, saying
the Scouts were negligent for failing to prevent his abuse by an
assistant Scoutmaster in the 1980s. Closing arguments in the final
phase of the trial were presented yesterday.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Authorities say a 72-year-old man who was
rescued from his burning Salem home has died at a Portland
hospital. Firefighters found David Dempsey unconscious on the floor
in his home early Wednesday morning. The Oregonian reports he was
taken to the burn unit at Legacy Emanuel Health Center, where he
died yesterday afternoon. Investigators say the fire apparently
began in some electrical wiring.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Federal officials have arrested former
KOIN-TV news director Jeff Alan after he was indicted on charges of
fraud and making false statements. The Oregonian newspaper reports
that agents arrested Alan at his Portland home yesterday. He's to
be arraigned in federal court this afternoon on charges he
knowingly used false information while doing business with banks,
as well as the IRS and the Social Security Administration.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski and key
legislators are demanding reforms of the state Treasury's travel
and spending practices. The Oregonian reports that state Treasurer
Ted Wheeler said yesterday that agency workers will no longer be
able to claim reimbursements for meals provided for free. Wheeler
has formed a citizens' panel to review the agency's travel
policies.

GRESHAM, Ore. (AP) - After decades of studies, officials have
finally approved a new Multnomah County courthouse for Gresham.
County commissioners voted unanimously yesterday to approve the new
building, with construction to start by early 2012. The Oregonian
reports that the $19.6 million building will have space for three
courtrooms plus district attorneys and administrators.

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) - Sarah Palin could have hardly picked a more
crunchy granola town to give a speech in than Eugene. Despite its
pioneer and logging heritage, the town is high on organic food,
snobby about craft beers and tattoos, and dependably votes
Democratic. Tonight former Alaska governor and Republican vice
presidential candidate is the headliner at the Lane County
Republican Party's Lincoln Day dinner.

NEWBERG, Ore. (AP) - Police and security guards are stepping up
patrols on the George Fox University campus after a woman was
sexually assaulted this week. Newberg Dundee police tell KGW a
masked man rushed inside the woman's apartment Tuesday night and
sexually assaulted her. Police say they're investigating several
leads.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Two men in their 30s have suffered burns
in a house fire last night in northeast Portland. Firefighters
describe burns to one man as moderate and the other, minor. The
fire also killed a pet.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Police say a shooting last night in north
Portland appears to be gang-related. The victim was found in a
paring lot and taken to a hospital. He's expected to recover. The
police gang enforcement team is looking for suspects.

MEDFORD, Ore. (AP) - Jackson County commissioners have agreed to
lend the Southern Oregon Historical Society $200,000 to keep it
from going under. Commissioners had earlier agreed to give $1
million to the historical society from the sale of the U.S. Hotel
in Jacksonville. The $200,000 advance will help tide the historical
society over for six months until the sale is completed.

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

TAKING A LOOK INTO COAST RADIO SPORTS:
On the Schedule…
There’s a lot going on in prep sports today… the Siuslaw Viking Baseball team is in Brookings where they’ll face the Bruins for the first of two games at 3 o’clock. The pregame show is at 2:45 on KCST… both games are scheduled for the air. Viking Softball will host the Brookings-Harbor Bruins for two beginning at 3:00. And, the Central Coast Invitational Track and Field meet gets underway at 4:00 for field events at Hans Peterson Field. Nine teams, including one of the top girls 4A programs in the state… Philomath… will be on hand. Siuslaw Track coach Chris Johnson says one of the premier events will be the boys’ 1500 meter.
215 – “We brought a couple people who are just bringing 1500 meter runners and we’re kind of collaborating on the race strategies and hopefully try to bring about some pretty fast times. I think there’s a good chance we might break the meet and field record for the men’s 1500, maybe even for the women’s.”

Running events begin at five with the 1500s being two of the earlier events.

Oregon State is on the road for Pac-10 baseball this weekend. They’ll open up a three game series in Pullman this evening against the Washington State Cougars. Number 18 ranked Oregon is at home after an extended road trip. They’ll host USC for the first of three this evening at PK Park.

Lane Count Guard unit demobilization set for Friday; Iraq War anniversary to be observed; early Rhody Show set; and input sought for beach monitoring

Lane County to welcome returning soldiers…

Roughly 400 Lane County citizen-soldiers will return home this week after spending 11 months on active duty in Iraq. Most of those will be greeted tomorrow afternoon for a demobilization ceremony for the 2nd Battalion, 162nd Infantry Regiment, 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team. That ceremony is set for 1:30 at the Lane County Fairgrounds in Eugene. Lane County Veterans Subcommittee chair Tim Mueller says helping those guard members reintegrate into civilian life is a major goal. More than two-thirds will be able to take off the uniforms, lay down their arms and get back to what they were doing before being called up. But, says Mueller, 30 to 40 percent will face a variety of challenges such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. For those soldiers, the ten day transition from Iraq to Lane County isn’t enough. The committee was formed to help address the needs of returning National Guardsmen and women… and their families. The Lane County Board of Commissioners will approve a proclamation next week urging all residents of Lane County to support them in their new mission.

Even as that Oregon National Guard unit is returning home, a group of area residents will be remembering those who have not. Citizen’s Democracy Watch is hosting an observance of the anniversaries of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan at Siuslaw Public Library from six to nine PM this evening. Veteran’s advocate Bill McCollum will talk about issues facing returning vets. Folk singer George Mann will perform music for veterans and their kin. The Afghan war began in October 2001, and the seventh anniversary of the Iraq war was March 18th. Tonight’s event is free.

Water quality samples from 25 Oregon beaches will be taken on a regular basis between Memorial Day and Labor Day again for the eighth straight year. The summer program is coordinated by the Oregon Department of Human Services and the Department of Environmental Quality. They’re undergoing the process of finalizing that list of beaches to be monitored. No locations in Western Lane County are included. Public comments are being taken through April 28th.

Hundreds of Rhododendron and Azalea trusses and sprays are expected for this weekend’s ‘early rhododendron show’ at the Florence Events Center. Each year the Florence Chapter of the American Rhododendron Society hosts two shows. The late one is the largest and coincides with the Rhododendron Festival in May. This weekend’s show is aimed at catching the ‘early bloomers’. Entries for judging can be delivered to the FEC between seven and nine AM Saturday. The show opens to the public that afternoon from one to five and then again on Sunday from ten to five.

Here is the latest Oregon news from The Associated Press

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Closing arguments are expected to begin in
Portland this afternoon as jurors consider whether to grant $25
million in punitive damages against the Boy Scouts of America in a
sex abuse. The jury already awarded an Oregon man $1.4 million in
compensatory damages last week after deciding the Scouts were
negligent for failing to prevent his abuse a Scout leader in the
1980s.

SALEM, Ore. (AP) - The Oregon Board of Forestry is expected
today to give final approval to a new management plan for state
forests that allows more logging. The board is considering changes
to the plan adopted in 2001 because it is not delivering as much
timber as expected. At issue is how much forest will be managed to
be like old growth.

GRANTS PASS, Ore. (AP) - The resignation of the head of the
Oregon attorney general's environmental crimes unit apparently
stems from the way a water sample was collected in a pollution case
against a Hood River juice manufacturer. Attorney General John
Kroger would only say that Brent Foster resigned after telling him
he misrepresented his involvement in the investigation of criminal
water pollution charges against the owner of Hood River Juice.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - The United States has an estimated 200,000
alpacas -- and someone has to shear them. Oregonian Robert Morrison
says there are only 15 or 20 itinerant shearers like himself, who
travel from farm to farm to give the animals their annual cuts.
Morrison tells The Oregonian newspaper that understanding the
animals is half the battle - the rest is getting along with their
owners.

BURNS, Ore. (AP) - A National Weather Service meteorologist is
backing away from his belief that a tornado ripped through sparsely
populated southeast Oregon. Boise, Idaho-based meteorologist Paul
Flatt says he'd based his opinion on reports that a roof was blown
off a house southeast of Burns on Tuesday. The house only lost
several shingles, which doesn't indicate tornado-strength winds. He
says the winds were likely 70-to-75 mph.

MCMINNVILLE, Ore. (AP) - A Texas lab has confirmed that a leg
discovered on the banks of the Willamette River belonged to a
58-year-old Corvallis woman who was reported as missing and
suicidal in May 2007. Yamhill County Sheriff Jack Crabtree says the
leg was found in October 2008 -- five months after a different leg
was recovered in the river between Salem and Independence. A Texas
lab matched the legs with Gloria Knoll's DNA.

DAYTON, Ore. (AP) - The city of Dayton is warning people to
avoid contact with Oregon's Yamhill River because of a sewage
spill. The News-Register reports that people are being told to stay
away from water downstream from the city's wastewater lift station
until Saturday. The spill occurred after a truck hit a power pole
just east of town. Power was cut to the station while crews were
repairing lines, sending the sewage into the river.

MEDFORD, Ore. (AP) - Public health officials are urging people
to avoid the water in Oregon's Willow Lake because of unhealthy
levels of algae. The Mail Tribune reports the advisory issued
yesterday was the first time that blue-green algae levels have led
to such a warning for the lake 24 miles east of Medford. High
levels of the algae can produce harmful toxins. Officials say
people should also avoid fish and freshwater shellfish from the
lake.

HILLSBORO, Ore. (AP) - Nearly all the gold that was stolen from
the Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks and Minerals in Hillsboro has
been recovered. Washington County sheriff's detectives said they
were led to the gold at a home in Tigard by a suspect identified as
Jeff Harvey of Portland, the great-grandson of museum founders
Richard and Helen Rice and the grandson of Bill and Sharleen Rice
who donated most of the gold.

GRANTS PASS, Ore. (AP) - Police arrested a man and woman accused
of robbing a Grants Pass liquor store. Witnesses told police the
pair fled in a pickup with flames painted on the fenders. Police
found the truck Tuesday and 48-year-old John Whisenant of Grants
Pass. The next day Jodi Rose Ventrella of Grants Pass was arrested.

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

TAKING A LOOK INTO COAST RADIO SPORTS:

Prep Softball:

Gabbie Schaffner had two doubles and the Siuslaw Vikings picked up their first league victory of the season yesterday afternoon, 8-4 over the Bulldogs in North Bend.

Prep Baseball:

Siuslaw remains undefeated in Far West League play after winning another extra inning contest. Gage Miller scored on a past ball with two outs in the bottom of the eighth to give the Vikings a 6-5 victory over the North Bend Bulldogs. Trevor Roberts started on the mound and was relieved in the fourth inning by Kevin Warren who allowed only two hits and threw seven strikeouts in his five innings of work for the win.

Prep Track and Field:

The Mapleton girls were second, the boys fifth in a six-way Mountain West League meet in Mapleton yesterday afternoon. Liz Harry was the lone individual winner for the girls in the javelin. Jesse Nelson won two events on the boys’ side… the Javelin and the 110-meter hurdles.

College Baseball:

The number 18 ranked Oregon Ducks produced their best offensive outing since reinstatement yesterday, downing Gonzaga 19-10 in Spokane. The Ducks faced five Bulldog pitchers and produced 25 hits. They improve to 25-and-12 on the season.

Hursh rebuts recall effort; recycle your foam; Coffee with the chief; gas up; more news!

Water District Chair denies wrongdoing

It’s difficult for Bob Hursh to understand why he and two others on the Heceta Water District Board are being targeted for recall. An effort to remove Hursh, Debby Todd and Jim Sievers from office became public last week when petitioners began circulating through neighborhoods served by the district.
200 – “They have nothing, nothing on paper as to the reason why we’re being recalled. The newspaper said financial oversight, but that’s just two words. What, you know, what is it supposed to mean? What’s the oversight?”

One likely cause, he says, is the unpopular rate hike taken by the district last summer. It nearly doubled many residents’ water bills but was needed to help sustain district operations says Hursh.
201 – “I don’t think there’s any question about that, it’s all related to the rate increase. And this guy Gene seems to think we’re squandering money somewhere.”

Gene McDermott is the chief petitioner. He says he and 18 other residents have been working on the recall for several months. They received county approval for their petitions last week and have until July 8th to collect 248 valid signatures on each of the three documents in order to force the recall vote.

Do you have several blocks of styrofoam in your garage or hall closet because you just couldn’t bring yourself to throw them away? Recycle them this week. Tomorrow is Earth Day and all week long St. Vincent DePaul’s is accepting blocks or peanuts of expanded polystyrene… commonly known as Styrofoam… for recycling. There’s no cost for individuals, businesses with large amounts need to set up an appointment and can pay a fee.

Do you have an opinion on how well you think Florence Police Chief Maury Sanders is doing his job? You can let him know tomorrow morning during one of his regular ‘Coffee with the Chief” events.
202 – “This is the opportunity for the members of the community to come talk to me informally and ask questions… for me to gain their comments and suggestions and basically for me to make sure that I am on track in meeting the needs of the community.”

Sanders will be holding court at Old Town Coffee Roasters, just behind the Port of Siuslaw Office, tomorrow morning from eight to 9:30. Joining him will be Florence Mayor Phil Brubaker and Fire Chief John Buchanan who will answer questions about the upcoming vote on annexing Florence residents into the fire district.

Pump prices held steady nationwide according to Triple-A with the national average remaining at $2.86 a gallon. Oregon’s average price went up by two cents this week, it’s at $2.98. Florence’s average price went up by three cents, it’s still lower than many other Oregon locales and a penny less than the national average at $2.85. Eugene and Springfield’s average price as measured by Triple-A remains just below the three-dollar mark.

The Port of Siuslaw Commission will hold their regular monthly meeting this evening at seven o’clock. Items on the agenda include appointment of a new budget committee member and discussion on dockside seafood businesses. An executive session to discuss real property transactions is also scheduled.

Here is the latest Oregon news from The Associated Press

COOS BAY, Ore. (AP) - The 33-year-old man accused of killing his
mother and her boyfriend at the home they all shared in Bandon has
agreed to return to Oregon to stand trial. Authorities told The
World newspaper that Gabriel Morris waived extradition yesterday in
Virginia and should be back in Coos County within two weeks. He was
arrested in Virginia two weeks after the February shooting of Robin
Anstey and Robert Kennelly Jr.

KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. (AP) - Klamath County sheriff's deputies are
searching for a 13-year-old boy missing from his Sprague River
home. Deputies told the Herald and News newspaper that Cody Daniel
Jones-Barnard left the home where he lives with his father and
stepmother Monday afternoon after arguing with one of them. The boy
has Asperger's Syndrome, a mild form of autism, and deputies say he
may easily become lost as a result.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Lawyers for an Oregon man who won a sex
abuse lawsuit against the Boy Scouts of America are asking for $25
million in punitive damages. Kerry Lewis' attorneys opened the
punitive damages phase of the trial yesterday by arguing the Scouts
never had a plan to protect boys or prevent abuse. The jury has
already ruled the Scouts were negligent and awarded Lewis $1.4
million in compensatory damages.

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) - An Albany man who pleaded guilty to setting
fire at Pregnancy Alternatives Center in Lebanon has been sentenced
to a decade in prison. The Justice Department said David Allen Rios
started the fire to conceal a burglary. The September 2008 blaze
caused about $500,000 damage. U.S. District Judge Michael Hogan
sentenced Rios yesterday in Eugene.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - A new report says Oregon workers
investigating abuse reports should visit isolated children more
often and not consider older children to be less vulnerable. The
advise follows an investigation into the Dec. 9 death of
15-year-old Jeanette Maples in her Eugene home after child welfare
workers failed to respond to repeated reports of abuse.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - About 200 Oregon Army National Guard
soldiers are stuck in Kuwait because of the volcanic ash that has
blanketed Europe. The Oregonian reports that the soldiers, who have
been serving in Iraq, will have their homecoming delayed by at
least two days. Most of the soldiers are from the 1st Battalion,
186th Infantry Regiment headquartered in Medford.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - The Oregon Zoo says an endangered
California condor chick has hatched, and another is due this week.
The Oregonian reports that the egg, cared for by foster parents,
hatched April 14 at the zoo's breeding facility in Clackamas
County. The zoo has released 10 California condors since it joined
the effort to breed the species in 2003.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - The FBI will investigate the Portland
police shooting last January of Aaron Campbell. KATU reports a
Justice Department letter to Sen. Ron Wyden says appropriate action
will be taken if there is evidence of any criminal violation of
federal civil rights laws. Police say an officer shot Campbell
because he appeared to be reaching for a weapon.

MEDFORD, Ore. (AP) - The so-called "Grandpa Bandit" may have
struck again. Medford police say a holdup man made off with an
undisclosed amount of cash yesterday after handing a note to a bank
teller and lifting up his windbreaker to reveal a revolver. Police
say the middle-aged suspect resembled the man dubbed the Grandpa
Bandit by the FBI.

SALEM, Ore. (AP) - Firefighters rescued an elderly man from a
burning house in Salem early this morning. The fire department says
flames were coming from the house when they arrived about 3:30 a.m.
The man was found unconscious on the floor inside and was airlifted
to the Oregon Burn Center at Legacy Emanuel Hospital in Portland.

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

TAKING A LOOK INTO COAST RADIO SPORTS:
Prep Track and Field:
The Siuslaw Vikings dominated both the boys and girls portions of yesterday’s Far West league matchup in North Bend. Individual winners: Alexis Reavis in the discus and shot put; Linda Paredes won the 400 and the 3,000. Morgan Siegel won the triple-jump and Raelyn Robinson the 800. For the boys, Joe Campbell took the 800 meter, Brad Greenburg the 3,000, Dylan Alameda the 300 hurdles.

College Baseball:
Number 18 Oregon downed Gonzaga 7- 2 yesterday in Spokane, improving Oregon’s overall record to 24-and-12. K.C. Serna was two-for-four with four RBI including a two-run double in the second inning and a two-run homer in the eighth. The two teams meet again this evening.

On the Schedule:
Prep baseball and softball postponed from yesterday are slated to play out on the diamond today… Siuslaw will host North Bend for baseball at five o’clock… that game will air on Coast Radio Sports with a pregame show of 4:45…. Viking Softball will be in North Bend. On the track today… the Mapleton Sailors will host Alsea for a Mountain West League Dual.

Heceta Water Recall Effort building pressure; Sr Center ribbon cutting; Oregon Country Fair Tix; and Heceta Bay?

Heceta Recall Petitioners say they’re nearing goal… after less than a week

The backers of a recall effort against three of the five Heceta Water District Commissioners says after just a few days they’ve already gathered nearly enough signatures to force a vote on whether or not Bob Hursh, Debby Todd and Jim Sievers should be removed from office. Gene McDermott was reluctant to talk about the effort, other than to say he and nearly two-dozen other residents believe the trio has exhibited a – quote – “lack of financial oversight”. McDermott says reactions to the recall petition have been mixed. Some have sought him out expressing support, while the spouse of one of the three cursed at him on the phone. Lane County Clerk Cheryl Betschart says the petition language was approved April Ninth McDermott has 90 days to colledt 248 valid signatures on each petition. Once that’s done, the county has ten days to certify them and then the recall subject or subjects would then have five days to respond in writing or resign. Once that process is complete, Lane County would schedule a special election within 30 days. McDermott said the recall is based in part on a staggering rate increase enacted by the commission last year, but would not specify what additional complaints he and others had against them. Two other commissioners, Jerry Nordin and Wendy Rohner are not subject to the recall effort.

The new Florence Senior Center on Kingwood Street is in its second week of operations with demand for the new expanded lunch offerings sometimes exceeding supply. The Senior Meals Program has offered lunch on Monday, Wednesday and Friday for several years and with the new building the center opted to add lunch on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Because of demand, they’re now asking seniors to call by noon the day before they’re coming for lunch to reserve a spot. Because of a requirement for the grant that funded the center’s construction only those aged 60 and older can use the building. That has been waived for this Sunday’s grand opening and dedication. Center President Paul Culy (KEW-lee) said following the two o’clock ribbon cutting there will be a free ice cream social for all ages.

Early online ticket sales for the 41st Oregon Country Fair in Veneta are available right now. The online option is the only one available until May First. True to the ‘purpose’ of the fair they’re offering the ‘green’ ticket option for the fourth year. You can add a dollar per day to the purchase price with that money being directed towards helping the event become more sustainable. The Oregon Country Fair runs July Ninth through the Eleventh.

A scientist from Oregon State University will begin probing undersea sediments in the Sea of Cortez this spring, searching for evidence of ancient peoples who may have lived there thousands of years ago before melting ice-age glaciers raised ocean levels. Archeologist Loren Davis says he believes what he learns in Mexico will help him find similar sites off the Oregon Coast. 15-thousand years ago Davis said the Siuslaw and Alsea Rivers both drained into what he calls “Heceta Bay” when sea levels were much lower. That rich estuary would have drawn early indigenous people. Davis wants to begin probing off the Oregon Coast for evidence of their fishing and camping sites.

Here is the latest Oregon news from The Associated Press

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Arguments begin today in a Portland
courtroom to determine how much the Boy Scouts of America must pay
in punitive damages to a man repeatedly molested by an assistant
scoutmaster in the 1980s. Last week, a jury found the organization
was negligent and awarded $1.4 million to Kerry Lewis. Jurors also
said it was liable for up to $25 million in punitive damages.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - An Oregon sex offender has been sentenced to
14 months in a federal prison for failing to register in Nebraska.
The U.S. Attorney's Office says 26-year-old Mitchell Ibarra had
been convicted in 2007 of attempted sexual abuse in Medford. When
Ibarra was arrested by Nebraska deputies in November a database
check showed Ibarra was wanted in Oregon for failing to register as
a sex offender there.

TILLAMOOK, Ore. (AP) - The U.S. Coast Guard says crews from its
Tillamook station have rescued an injured man from a sailboat about
four miles off Cape Lookout. Two boats and a helicopter from
Astoria were dispatched yesterday after the report that the man had
fallen and was having trouble breathing. One life boat took the man
to shore, where it was determined that he had two broken ribs and a
punctured lung.

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) - Tight security and a number of restrictions
will be in place when former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin speaks at a
Republican fundraiser in Eugene on Friday. The Oregonian reports
that cameras, sound recording devices, cell phones, bags and
reporters won't be allowed in the room where she will speak at a
$250-a-plate dinner at the Eugene Community Conference Center.

SPRINGFIELD, Ore. (AP) - A Springfield justice of the peace
accused of making sexually offensive comments to her staff has
resigned. A three-month investigation found that Central Lane
Justice Court Judge Cynthia Sinclair made offensive comments that
included remarks about dancing naked, masturbation or sexual
functioning. Sinclair said they were jokes and denied her conduct
was sexual harassment.

MEDFORD, Ore. (AP) - Police have identified a man and woman
killed during an apparent domestic dispute outside of a Medford
duplex. Police say 57-year-old Gregory Phillips and 39-year-old
Evalina Lattoure were found dead in the driveway yesterday
afternoon. Police described the case as a murder-suicide, but the
investigation is not complete.

(NOTE CONTENTS)
SALEM, Ore. (AP) - Marion County sheriff's detectives have
arrested a 32-year-old woman on charges she had sex with two dogs.
The Statesman Journal reports Rachel M. Petterson was arrested
April 14 on two counts of misdemeanor sexual assault of an animal.
Deputies found video of the woman and dogs while investigating sex
abuse and child pornography allegations against her husband.

SPRINGFIELD, Ore. (AP) - A Springfield man with colon cancer who
has been told he has just months to live is selling advertising
space on his urn. Aaron Jamison tells KATU he hopes to raise $800
to help his wife pay for the cost of his cremation. One friend, a
restaurant owner, has already paid $100 for an ad. Jamison plans to
hand-paint the ad on his urn.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - The kingpin of one Oregon's largest-ever
drug organizations has been sentenced to 30 years in prison.
Authorities say 40-year-old Jorge Ortiz-Oliva oversaw three
"super" methamphetamine labs in Marion County and marijuana
plantations on secluded public lands in several states. U.S.
District Judge Anna J. Brown also sentenced 31-year-old Pablo
Barajas-Lopez to 15 years in prison. He had worked for Ortiz-Oliva.

CANBY, Ore. (AP) - A Clackamas County jury has ruled that a
nursing home in Canby was not responsible for the death of an
82-year-old man who fell out of his wheelchair. The Oregonian
reports that the jury Friday ruled against the wrongful death
lawsuit filed by Marie Horvath. She had alleged that Marquis Care
at Hope Village was responsible for the 2008 death of her husband,
Ernest, of West Linn, and had sought $1.1 million in damages.

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

TAKING A LOOK INTO COAST RADIO SPORTS:

Athlete of the Week:

Siuslaw Baseball standout Kevin Warren is Coast Radio Sports’ Athlete of the Week. In two outings on the mound last week he collected two wins. In one of those he struck out ten while only allowing two hits. Warren was also nine-for-12 at the plate in four games last week. Honorable Mention is given to Kevin Strenke. His who’s walk-off home run in the bottom of the eighth inning in the second game of a double-header last week gave the Vikings an 8-7 victory over Sutherlin.

On the Schedule:

Prep baseball and Softball originally scheduled today for the Siuslaw Vikings and North Bend Bulldogs has been postponed until tomorrow afternoon due to field and weather conditions.

The Oregon Ducks are ranked as high as number 18 in two of the half-dozen national polls. They’re in Spokane today and tomorrow for non-league action against Gonzaga.

County Commission Candidates square off; Oregon Transportation brings business and controversy to Florence; Volunteer of the year and Coastal Cuisine

West Lane County Candidates vie for open seat…

There’s a wide variety of political experience in the four candidates for the open West Lane Seat on the Board of County Commissioners. All four were in Florence together Friday afternoon, showing many similarities and few real differences. The most politically experienced is Jerry Rust. He’s already served two decades on the board, although his latest term ended 14 years ago. He has the support of the incumbent, Bill Fleenor and promises to continue Fleenor’s ‘listening tours’ and office hours in Western Lane County if elected. Rust supports more forest thinning and says drugs are the main cause of increasing crime rates in the county. Jay Bozievich agrees that drugs are driving crime, advocates for a revitalization of the timber industry and has political experience. He previously served on the Lane Community College Board and chaired that panel. His guiding principal is to make it easier to do business with Lane County. D.W. Northey wants to open former O&C Railroad land managed by the Bureau of Land Management to more logging in order to spark the economy. He’s a retired contractor with no political experience and says he will refuse any campaign contributions. Another newcomer is 18-year old Fred Starr. He advocates for decreasing government regulation of business, saying the government – quote – “can’t create jobs, only eliminate them”. If any one of the four earns more than 50-percent of the vote in the May 18th primary election his name will be alone on the November ballot. If there’s no majority winner, the top two will square off.

The dispute over changing the name of the Beltline Highway in Eugene will spill over to the Florence Area tomorrow afternoon when the Oregon Transportation Commission meets at the Florence Events Center. The Beltline renaming has drawn a lot of attention… and controversy… since the commission first decided to rename the highway in honor of Randy Pape’, a former member of the commission who passed away in 2008. Opponents of the renaming say they intend to bring their protest to Florence and will be on hand outside the F-E-C. The Commission regularly holds meetings in different communities around the state. Tomorrow they’ll meet beginning at three o’clock, they’ll meet again Wednesday morning.

Florence Food Share volunteer Betty Holden was singled out for her efforts and honored as the Volunteer of the Year by the Florence Area Coordinating Council last week. Food Share director Karen Lyn says Holden was selected from a group of a dozen nominees put up by area non-profits for the honor. In addition to extensive work at Florence Food Share, Holden also assists with the Senior Meals program, Peace Harbor hospital and the Siuslaw Pioneer Museum

32 different restaurants, food vendors, breweries and wineries will offer samples of what they do best tomorrow night in order to feed hungry people in the Florence Area. The third annual Coastal Cuisine Gala runs from six to 8:30 at Three Rivers Casino and Hotel. The $50 entry fee goes 100-percent to Florence Food Share. Food Share provides emergency food boxes for more than 500 households in Western Lane County each month.

Here is the latest Oregon news from The Associated Press

BEND, Ore. (AP) - After 10 months in Iraq, the first of the
soldiers from the Oregon Army National Guard have received a warm
welcome-home. Crowds lined the streets in Bend yesterday to greet
385 soldiers with the 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team as they
rode in charter buses to their demobilization ceremony at Vince
Genna Stadium.

GEARHART, Ore. (AP) - A scientist says a baby whale that washed
up on a northwest Oregon beach died from entanglement with crab pot
lines. KATU-TV reports that a necropsy completed yesterday at
Portland State University also found evidence it was still of
nursing age. The baby whale washed up dead on Clatsop Beach north
of Gearhart Friday.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Oregon State Police have identified a
young man killed in a weekend crash in Lake County. Police say
17-year-old Nicholas Pickering, Jr. of Redmond was killed Saturday
in the crash on Highway 31 two miles north of Valley Falls. His
father suffered non life-threatening injuries. Nicholas' two
younger siblings, 11 and 13, were not injured. State police say
driver fatigue was a factor.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Oregon State Police have identified a
young man killed in a weekend rollover crash in Lake County. Police
say 17-year-old Nicholas Pickering, Jr., of Redmond died Saturday
when the Chevy Blazer he was driving crashed on Highway 31, two
miles north of Valley Falls. His father, Nicholas Pickering, Sr.,
suffered non life-threatening injuries. The Oregonian reports
Nicholas' two younger siblings, 11 and 13, were not hurt.

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) - Quick action by witnesses has helped thwart
the kidnapping of a 2-year-old outside a church in Eugene. Eugene
police spokeswoman Melinda McLaughlin says witnesses heard a mother
calling out for her child outside Bethesda Lutheran Church on
Saturday. Some saw a man attempting to lure a toddler away from the
rest of the crowd. A woman grabbed the child, and the man jumped
into a vehicle and drove away. The Register-Guard newspaper reports
that 23-year-old Azoulas David Yurashunas was arrested and booked
into jail.

SALEM, Ore. (AP) - Voters who don't identify themselves as
either Democrat or Republican now make up one-fourth of Oregon's
registered voters. The Statesman Journal reports that
"nonaffiliated" voters and those enrolled in other parties
account are shaking up Oregon politics. Three decades ago, they
only accounted for 14 percent of voters.

PHOENIX (AP) - Andre Miller scored 15 points in the fourth
quarter and tied his career playoff high with 31 points as the
Portland Trail Blazers stole homecourt advantage with a 105-100 win
over the Suns last night in Phoenix. Blazers scoring leader Brandon
Roy missed the first-round playoff game, but LaMarcus Aldridge
scored 22 points, Nicolas Batum had 18 and Jerryd Bayless added 18
for Portland. Game 2 is tomorrow night in Phoenix.

SEATTLE (AP) - Right-hander Max Scherzer pitched six solid
innings and Miguel Cabrera hit a three-run homer into the second
deck as the Detroit Tigers avoided a three-game sweep with a 4-2
win over the Seattle Mariners on Sunday. Scherzer gave up just a
pair of runs and scattered six hits as the Tigers stopped Seattle's
four-game winning streak. Cabrera gave Detroit an early lead,
clubbing a three-run shot in the third off Seattle's Ian Snell.

SEATTLE (AP) - Seattle Mariners left fielder Milton Bradley was
a late scratch yesterday after being bothered by a sore calf. Eric
Byrnes replaced Bradley in the lineup for Sunday's series finale
against Detroit. Bradley left Friday's game against Detroit with
what manager Don Wakamatsu said was a sore knee. Bradley was in the
lineup Saturday and scored the go-ahead run in Seattle's 4-2 win.
He is 4 for 15 with six RBIs in Seattle's homestand.

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) - Missouri men's basketball coach Mike
Anderson has decided to remain with the Tigers rather than pursue
the same job at Oregon that could have doubled his salary. Anderson
released a statement late Saturday night calling the West Coast
overtures nothing more than a "quick conversation." Anderson
signed a seven-year, $10.85 million contract extension one year ago
after leading Missouri to a record 31-win season.

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

Taking a look at Coast Radio Sports…

Prep Baseball:

It was an exciting day Friday for the Siuslaw Vikings who improved to three-and-oh in Far West League play with a double-header sweep of the Sutherlin Bulldogs in Florence. Game one was tight until the sixth inning when the Viking bats exploded to give Siuslaw a 4-1 lead that held up. Kevin Warren threw ten strikouts and allowed only two hits in the effort. Game two went to extra innings and the Bulldogs scored two runs on five Viking Errors in the top of the eighth. But, the first two Siuslaw batters reached base and Kevin Strenke smacked a towering three-run homer for the ‘walk-off’ win 8 -7.

Prep Softball:

The number five ranked Sutherlin Bulldogs swept the Lady Vikings Friday afternoon in two games, 6-1 and four-nothing.

Track and Field:

Several good finishes for Siuslaw at the Crater Rotary Classic in Central Point Saturday… Raelyn Robinson won an individual victory in the 1500; Alexis Reavis won the shot put and took second in the discus. Seabre Church threw the javelin 132-feet, 5-inches for second place, improving her previous school record personal best by five feet. Top finishers for the boys, Jacob Berkner was seventh in the 1500, Matthew Campbell ninth in the 3,000. He took 12 seconds off his previous personal best with a time of 9:38.8.

College Baseball:

The Oregon Ducks won their second consecutive Pac-10 series and knocked off the number one ranked UCLA Bruins two out of three games over the weekend, winning 5-4 and 8-4 Friday and Saturday before losing 5-1 yesterday. The Oregon State Beavers struggled at home, swept by the Stanford Cardinal 14-6; 5-3; and 10-7.

Oregon closer to a new head basketball coach?

Oregon gets OK to talk with Mizzou's Anderson
Eds: APNewsNow.
COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) - The University of Missouri has given
permission for basketball coach Mike Anderson to speak with Oregon
about a head coaching job with the Ducks.
Missouri spokesman David Reiter says permission was given
Thursday night. Anderson is in El Paso, Texas, to play in a charity
golf tournament run by his former mentor, Nolan Richardson.
Reiter told The Associated Press he expects Anderson to make
some kind of statement later Friday. He says it's fairly routine
for the university to give permission to another school to talk
with one of its coaches.
Anderson coached the Tigers to a school record 31 wins in the
2008-09 season. He was given a seven-year contract extension after
leading the team to the regional finals in the NCAA tournament.

Urban Renewal grants fix up money; Dunes City Council vacancy filled; Honk Junior takes stage

Urban Renewal program improving street image…

Smoother sidewalks in old town, more attractive light poles on Bay Street and a new entry way for a Highway 101 restaurant will be funded by $25-thousand in Urban Renewal money. The Florence Urban Renewal Agency awarded five separate grants of $5-thousand each this week. Richard and Carol Holcomb own three commercial rentals on Bay Street and will get five grand for each of them to replace uneven sidewalks and entries for Traveler’s Cove, Incredible and Edible Oregon and the former location of Old Town T-Shirts. The Merchants of Old Town will receive funding to pay for painting and sealing of 40 vintage light poles and purchase additional hanging flower baskets. One Highway 101 project will improve appearances at the Little Brown Hen Restaurant. Stacy and Ron Brown will use their grant to replace the entry and add brick flower beds on the front of the building. This week’s awards were the second round of a program announced earlier this year. That’s when Florence Urban Renewal set aside $100-thousand to improve the ‘street-image’ of businesses in the district. So far seven projects have been approved totaling just over $33-thousand… leaving $66,625 available.

The Dunes City Council is whole once again. Troy Sathe (SAYTH-ee) was sworn in during a special ceremony Wednesday afternoon by Mayor Eric Hauptmann (HOWPT-munn). Sathe, a self employed home security specialist, was the only applicant for the position left vacant by the resignation earlier this year of Rob Quandt. Under the city’s charter he’ll serve through the end of this year.

Do you have a lot of old pesticide, paint thinner and fluorescent tubes in your garage? The Spring Household Hazardous Waste Collection event is today and tomorrow at the Lane County Transfer Site off Rhododendron Drive. From noon to five, and then tomorrow from eight to two area residents can take up to 35 gallons of hazardous liquids… although no single container can be more than five gallons. They’re even exchanging mercury fever thermometers for new ‘non-toxic’ ones. The event is sponsored by Lane County Public Works and the City of Florence.

It’s a story familiar to many of all ages, with a bit of a twist. The Last Resort Players ‘Storybook Theater Production’ of Honk Junior this weekend at the Florence Events Center.
210 – “It’s a contemporary retelling of the story of The Ugly Duckling set to music and there’s lots of dancing and 32 of our local children are in this production.”

Director Melanie Hurd said the cast and crew have been working for weeks. Their effort will show when the audience finds their seats and the lights go down.
211 – “It’s a hilarious show, it’s great for children of all ages. Your little ones will really enjoy it, all the way up to adults. There’s lots of humor for the older folks as well.”

Honk Junior has four performances set this weekend… seven pm tonight and tomorrow, then two pm matinees on Saturday and Sunday.

Tax Day Rallies draw hundreds around state; First guard units to demobilize over weekend; and a key aide to former Governor Tom McCall passed away.

Here is the latest Oregon news from The Associated Press

BEND, Ore. (AP) - The Oregon National Guard is holding a
demobilization ceremony Sunday in Bend for more than 400 soldiers
returning from Iraq.
They are among the 2,700 soldiers from the guard's 41st Infantry
Brigade Combat Team returning this month from deployments.
Meanwhile, about 200 members from an Oregon National Guard
Engineer Battalion at Salem have received orders to deploy in
December for a year in Afghanistan.


SALEM, Ore. (AP) - Hundreds of protesters waving American flags
and homemade signs made their way to the steps of the Oregon state
Capitol in Salem to ask for less -- taxes and government. The
Oregonian says Salem drew an estimated 1,000 demonstrators
yesterday, reportedly the biggest tax day crowd among Oregon
rallies. In the Portland suburb of Tigard, state Transportation
Department officials briefly shut down Oregon Highway 99W to let
about 250 activists cross the highway to reach a rally at the post
office. Dozens of protests were held around the state, including one in North Bend.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - A Beaverton middle school teacher whose
"Crash the Tea Party" Internet campaign has drawn national
attention is being put on paid leave while school officials
investigate whether he used school equipment or time to work on his
Web site. School officials have been deluged with e-mails and phone
messages since Jason Levin's Web page went public, encouraging
people to infiltrate the tea party movement to discredit it.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - The Linn County city of Lebanon has been
chosen as the site of the Oregon's second veterans' home. The home
was originally slated to be a 250-bed facility, but a site
evaluation committee has recommended the Lebanon home be limited to
no more than 150 beds -- and that a third home be built in Roseburg
to cover the state's southwestern region. Legislative approval
would be needed to build a third home.

SALEM, Ore. (AP) - Ed Westerdahl, a key aide to former Gov. Tom
McCall died last week at his home in Palm Springs, Calif. He was 74.
Westerdahl was a 28-year-old lobbyist when he managed McCall's 1964
secretary of state campaign. Two years later, he directed McCall's win over
Democrat Bob Straub in the 1966 governor's race. Westerdahl was a
top McCall aide during the first term and came up with the idea of
Vortex I, a free rock concert held in 1970 in Clackamas County. His idea was
to divert possible protesters away from the American Legion Convention held in
downtown Portland.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - For the first time since 2007, commercial
and recreational fishermen will get to cast their lines for ocean
salmon from the Canadian border to Mexico. A federal panel set
seasons and quotas for chinook and coho salmon off the coasts of
Washington, Oregon and California yesterday.

OAKRIDGE, Ore. (AP) - The family of a 91-year-old woman killed
last fall when her car collided with an Oakridge patrol vehicle
plans to sue the city. The Register-Guard reports that Virginia
Spalinger's family alleges that officer Daniel Miller negligently
caused the woman's death. Investigators said that Spalinger was
responsible because she violated a state law requiring drivers to
yield to an emergency vehicle.

ALOHA, Ore. (AP) - An Aloha convenience store clerk who was
repeatedly stabbed while chasing down a beer thief is expected to
survive. Washington County sheriff's deputies say the man suffered
non-life threatening stab wounds in the upper body last night while
fighting with the thief who had swiped a half-a-case and was trying
to get away on a bicycle.

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