Coast Radio News

Earthquake and Tsunami awareness promoted in April…

Officials say all month long there will be special efforts to promote awareness of earthquake and tsunami preparedness. That’s always a challenge, says Oregon Department of Geology Earth Sciences Information
204 -- "We try to come up with ways to engage people, to get people's attention, make them focus on the fact that we have the potential for these great earthquakes and tsunamis at the Oregon Coast and get prepared. Put a plan together, put a kit together, know where high ground is… be prepared."

Schools and state agencies will be practicing required “drop, cover and hold” drills or tsunami evacuation excersizes. Coastal communities will also be focusing on preparedness. State geologist Vicki McConnell says multiple state agencies are working on a number of initiatives that will help save lives in the event of an earthquake or tsunami. Those include enhances and updated tsunami hazard mapping along the coast as well as a multi-year outreach and education program.

Administrators at Siuslaw School District made the decision this week to begin adding college credit advanced placement classes in the fall. Superintendent Jeff Davis said the move is aimed at challenging the students. English teacher Chris Johnson was recently awarded a grant from the Florence Rotary Club that will fund his work through the summer to prepare the first A-P offering. Davis said the Corbett School District in Eastern Multnomah County served as an example in the move. Over a decade they have gone from a district that had a 50% suspension rate to one of the highest rated high schools in the nation. Davis said the move to A-P classes will be a gradual one. It’s the district’s intention to add a new one each year.

Beginning today Big Creek Road, north of Florence, will be closed and the closure is expected to last about six weeks. A slide this past winter reduced the roadway to one-lane in one area. Crews will begin the process of stabilizing the slide and restoring two-lane traffic. Lane County Spokesperson Amber Fossen said Big Creek Road serves as a bypass from Highway 101 to North Fork Road.


The upcoming May 18th primary election is expected to generate a considerable amount of campaign activity. That’s prompted Jared Castle with the Oregon Department of Transportation to remind residents that election signs are not allowed in highway right of way at any time. Castle also says there are restrictions on signs placed on private property in view of highways. They’re limited to no more than 12 square feet; no flashing lights or animation are allowed; signs must not imitate an official highway sign or device; and they are not allowed in scenic corridors. Castle said signs that violate state rules will be removed without notice and held at local O-DOT district maintenance offices for 30-days.

Here is the latest Oregon news from The Associated Press

COOS BAY, Ore. (AP) - A Coos County, Ore., sheriff's deputy in a
boat was able to rescue a man and his dog from a pickup truck stuck
in six feet of flood water. Dispatchers say 59-year-old Albert Lee
Sherman called for help early yesterday after attempting to cross a
flooded road in his Dodge Dakota pickup. His truck became disabled
on Arago-Fishtrap Road, west of Myrtle Point and Coquille
(koh-KEEL'). No injuries have been reported.

OREGON CITY, Ore. (AP) - Rescue crews are searching for the body
of a man who fell into the water near The Wall, a popular fishing
spot in Oregon City. Emergency dispatchers received a 911 call
Wednesday reporting that a man wearing a Kansas City Chiefs jacket
was seen floating down the Willamette River. Shortly before 4 p.m.,
Oregon City police said 47-year-old Ricky Lee Bond of Springfield
is presumed to have drowned.

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) - A letter from the University of Oregon's
general counsel to state education officials reveals what led to a
$2.3 million severance package for departing athletic director Mike
Bellotti. It confirms that there was no written agreement with
Bellotti, but also suggests that his resignation after nine months
in office may have been hastened by university president Richard
Lariviere.

SEASIDE, Ore. (AP) - The director of the Seaside Aquarium has
some words of reassurance for Oregon beach walkers. If you
encounter an elephant seal breathing hard, spotted with sores and
missing patches of hair, don't worry, it's just molting. Director
Keith Chandler says this is the time of year it happens.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - The Portland Police Bureau is trying to
shave about $3 million from its budget, and one program that may be
shut down is the horse patrol unit to save $570,000. Assistant
Chief Brian Martinek said this week the mounted patrol unit is a
wonderful ambassador program for both the bureau and the city. But
he added it's not the most cost-effective way to provide police
services.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - The Oregon Court of Appeals has ruled that
physical evidence of sexual abuse must accompany a medical
diagnosis when presented to a jury. The rulings yesterday sent two
cases back to trial, including that of a man serving a sentence of
early 19 years.

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - A federal judge has ruled that government
investigators illegally wiretapped the phone conversations of an
Oregon-based Islamic charity and two American lawyers without a
search warrant. The judge in San Francisco said the Al-Haramain
Islamic Foundation of Ashland provided enough evidence to show
"they were subjected to warrantless electronic surveillance."

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

TAKING A LOOK INTO COAST RADIO SPORTS:
Prep Baseball and Softball:
It wasn’t the weather this time, but field conditions that prompted delay of yesterday’s scheduled baseball and softball matchups between Siuslaw and Marshfield. Siuslaw will try once again today to make up a couple games. The Elmira Falcons will be on both diamonds at Siuslaw High School this afternoon at 4:30… weather permitting.

Also on the schedule… Pac-10 baseball gets underway for the Oregon State Beavers. They’ll be on the road for the first of three against USC in Los Angeles. Oregon is at home against Arizona State.