Fireworks possible at council meeting; Florence going green; Ems pull plug on April Fools prank.

Fireworks possible at Council Meeting…

The Florence City Council is set to hear the second reading Monday night of a proposed ordinance that would ban all fireworks… legal and illegal… in a wide stretch of Old Town Florence. It’s an effort that’s not generated a lot of public support… if any.
210 – “There is an organized effort amongst, you know, a lot of merchants and businessmen in Old Town to definitely be in attendance at that meeting.”

Bridgewater Restaurant owner Leo Duwell said he and many others are upset not only about the proposed ban, but also the lack of public involvement in the decision. He didn’t even know they council was considering the ban.
211 – “I read it in the paper and I was shocked. That was actually the first I’d heard. I knew the Port of Siuslaw had… didn’t want people to set it off.”

Duwell says the ban would harm tourism and put a damper on the Fourth of July holiday in Florence. And, he says, he’s not clear why the city is considering it. He didn’t see any safety risks from the use of legal fireworks and offered to help organize a cleanup effort after the holiday.

Florence will be going green next weekend… April Tenth… at the Florence Events Center will mark the first ever Florence Green Show.
213 – “We thought, well this would be a great educational opportunity to put on a show, get some different vendors involved. Kind of how it all began. It just started growing from there. It amazes me how many different people are doing stuff that I was unaware of in the community.”

Siuslaw News Publisher John Bartlett said there will be a wide variety of exhibitors at the show, along with demonstrations on how people can save money and energy. That show, April Tenth from ten to five at the FEC.

The new management team at the Eugene Emeralds pulled a prank yesterday… saying that suspended Oregon Quarterback Jeremiah Masoli would be in their bullpen this summer as a relief pitcher. Em’s spokesperson Onalee Carson said it was done in the spirit of the day.
214 – “You have to be aware of the date and we are moving into a brand new stadium with lots of new ideas and a new general manager and a new mascot, lot’s of new promotions. It made sense to kind of give us a bump in marketing and media and we’re definitely getting a wide response.”

Carson admitted that the prank was a last minute effort, put together Wednesday evening. It worked on some… all three Eugene TV Stations and one in Portland carried it on their late night news Wednesday and Thursday’s early morning shows. Other media recognized it for what it was… just another April Fool’s joke.

The National Weather Service has posted a high wind warning through this afternoon for the central and north coasts, as well as the Willamette Valley. Officials say the nice weather of the past couple of days will be long gone by midday and coastal residents need to be aware of heavy surf on the beach… and possible high water in some areas as the storm is expected to bring heavy rainfall.

TAKING A LOOK INTO COAST RADIO SPORTS:
Prep Baseball:
The Elmira Falcons put up three runs in the fourth inning to take the lead for good yesterday, as they beat the Siuslaw Vikings 4-2 in Florence. Siuslaw batters managed seven hits, but the defense yielded three errors.
Prep Softball:
Siuslaw scored one run in the fifth inning, but that wasn’t enough as they fell short, 5-1 against the Elmira Falcons at home yesterday. Head Coach Sean O’Mara said Alysen Boytz was the best pitcher they’ve faced so far this year, she struck out nine Viking batters.
College Baseball:
It took ten innings, but the Oregon State Beavers opened Pac-10 play with a 4-1 win over the USC Trojans yesterday in Los Angeles. The Beavers scored three runs in the top of the tenth to break a 1-1 tie. // The Oregon Ducks started their second conference series with a one-run shutout loss to Arizona State at PK Park.
On the Schedule:
Oregon will host ASU today and tomorrow to wrap up their series; the Beavers face USC today and tomorrow as well. On the track tomorrow… Siuslaw will compete at the Junction City Invitational tomorrow…, Mapleton Track and Field is at the Mountain West Preview this afternoon at McKenzie High School. On the diamond… Siuslaw Baseball is slated for two in Lincoln City tomorrow against the Taft Tigers.