Coast Radio News

Council delays discussion on fireworks prohibition

In a surprise move last night, the Florence City Council abruptly removed the proposed fireworks prohibition from the agenda and put it off until June. Councilor Nola Xavier said the delay was to allow proponents of the ban a change to provide input.
201 – “We have people who have been able to testify why they want the fireworks, but we have people who haven’t had the opportunity to come and say why they don’t want them.”

Xavier seemed unapologetic that the more than two-dozen people in the council chambers who were prepared to comment on the proposal to ban all fireworks in a widespread area of Old Town weren’t allowed to speak.
202 – “Well actually, in hindsight, they could have had their say tonight because once it was removed from the agenda they could have come and spoke at public comment because public comment allows for anything that’s not on the agenda to be spoken.”

That option wasn’t explained before many in the audience left in disappointment. The council approved the delay with no explanation nor discussion other than Mayor Phil Brubaker’s comment – quote – “it wasn’t ripe”.

The Florence City Council will no longer pursue an intergovernmental agreement with the Heceta Water District that would allow the district to continue serving water customers that are annexed into the city. After three years of talks with nothing to show for the effort, councilor Sue Roberts said she is tired of the animosity and mistrust that has been generated by the water district board of directors.
203 – “They wear two hats, a lot of them, anti annexation with Bulldogs or Rottweilers or whatever that logo is, and then they sit on the water district too.”

She spreads the blame around… saying it’s not just the directors but district residents who are to blame.
204 – “At this time, well, do not want any, us to have any agreements with the Heceta Water District. The Heceta Water District, their elected officials, apparently the citizens in the Urban Growth Boundary, or who are served by the Heceta Water District concur with the policies that are going on now or they would be doing something about it.”

One agreement the city does want to pursue however, is how to handle the transfer of water in the event of an emergency. But as far as day to day operations go, Roberts said the continued stalling tactics used by the district have cost the city nearly $60-thousand in legal fees.

The good news is that the number of closed and pending sales in the Florence Real Estate Market appear to be on the rise. At least in the first quarter of 2010 says local real estate market analyst Tawfik Ahdab. The bad news, at least from the perspective of those on the selling side he says, is that it continues to be a buyer’s market with downward pressure on pricing. In his quarterly market report, Ahdab says the latest median sale price in Florence and Dunes City reached a record low of $150-thousand. That’s down from the recent historical range of $199-thousand. Ahdab adds there does seem to be a bright spot in that area. Several area brokerages have reported recent increases in showings of residences in the upper end of the price range.

This weekend’s Green Show at the Florence Events Center will offer a variety of tips and how-tos to area residents. One exhibitor in the show will offer some big money savings potential with a very positive environmental spin. In 2009 alone St. Vincent de Paul diverted five million pounds of metal from area landfills. Much of that was in the form of appliances. Many of those are recycled and reconditioned by the society and offered for sale at their dozen or so retail outlets in Lane County. Those landfill diversions aren’t limited to just scrap metal. Each year the non-profit agency recycles furniture; clothing and household items; and even remanufactures mattresses and box springs. The Florence Green Show is Saturday from ten to five at the FEC.

Here is the latest Oregon news from The Associated Press

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - A Portland officer says in newly released
documents on a police shooting death that he didn't think his Taser
would be effective on a homeless man who came toward him with a
knife because the man was wearing a heavy coat. Officer Jason
Walters also says he rejected pepper spray or a baton during the
encounter with 58-year-old Jack Dale Collins because Collins was
too close, and Walters didn't have any backup.

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) - Lane County Jail officials say a man charged
with using a homemade knife to kill a homeless man has been found
in possession of makeshift weapons three times as he awaits trial.
Lloyd Ervin Austin is charged with attempted assault of a jail
deputy for Thursday's incident. Jail officials say Deputy Neil
Woolsey wasn't hurt. Authorities say Austin was also caught with a
knife in February and again last Wednesday.

SPRINGFIELD, Ore. (AP) - Springfield police say a man who shut
off the lights on a stolen car in an attempt to elude them has died
of injuries suffered when the car crashed into a tree. Sgt. Tom
Borchers said Monday that 21-year-old Christopher Lee Rose died at
Sacred Heart Medical Center. The Springfield man crashed Saturday.
Police say they were pursuing a stolen vehicle before losing sight
of it when the lights were shut off.

NORTH BEND, Ore. (AP) - North Bend police say a 21-year-old man
sought on a probation violation raced away from them across a
rotting pier -- then disappeared when the pier gave way. Police
called the Coast Guard for help early yesterday, fearing Rodney
Yeiter might have fallen into the water. The crew of a Coast Guard
motor lifeboat located him hiding under a dock about two hours
later. Yeiter was treated and released to police custody.

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) - Lane County Republicans have sold all of
their $250 tickets to Sarah Palin's April 23 appearance in the
Hilton Eugene's main hall, which can hold 750. Now a $100
pay-per-view option is available for those who want to watch the
former vice presidential candidate on a big video screen. The party
is offering 280 of those tickets.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - For the second time, a former Portland
high school basketball coach has been convicted of drunken driving.
The Oregonian reports former Jesuit High coach Kathryn Adelman Naro
was convicted Thursday in Washington County and will be sentenced
April 16. Her lawyer says he'll appeal. Naro is the daughter of
former Trail Blazers coach Rick Adelman.

TIGARD, Ore. (AP) - A man in a wheelchair says two men assaulted
and robbed him early yesterday in Tigard. Police say the
44-year-old says his money spilled when he was pulled out of the
wheelchair in the Greenway Town Center. He was treated at a
hospital.

MEDFORD, Ore. (AP) - A 39-year-old Medford man is hospitalized
with critical injuries suffered when he tried crossing Interstate 5
last night. Trooopers say Sean Daily was struck by a northbound car
driven by a 71-year-old California woman as she approached the
Highway 62 overpass. Police say Daily walked in front of the car.

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

TAKING A LOOK INTO COAST RADIO SPORTS:

Athlete of the Week:

Siuslaw Track and Field standout Joe Campbell is Coast Radio Sports’ Athlete of the Week. The senior distance runner captured the individual title in the 3,000 meters at the Junction City Invitational with a personal record time of 4:16.68. Campbell also ran one leg in the Vikings’ first place 4x400 relay team. Honorable mention is given to Siuslaw sophomore Marisha Reavis (muh-REE-shuh REVV-iss), who extended her previous personal record in the shot put by more than three feet, putting it 33’10” for second place at the same meet. Reavis also ran a leg on Siuslaw’s 2nd place 4x400 relay.

On the Schedule…

Oregon State will host the University of Portland for non-league baseball.