Campaign finance complaint filed; check both sides of ballot; Mapleton health and safety; Florence Budget

Two campaign finance complaints filed in County Commission race

A Eugene woman has filed a second campaign finance complaint against West Lane County Commission Candidate Jerry Rust. Sandy Mattson says she’s concerned about transparency and honesty in campaigns and a pattern of late filings on the part of Rust has drawn her attention. Mattson filed her first complaint with the Secretary of State’s office April 28th claiming that Rust was two months late in reporting a $3-thousand contribution from the union representing Lane County Public Works employees. May 4th Mattson filed a second complaint questioning a $2-thousand contribution from “Heceta Lake Joint Venture”. She says that business name is not on file with the state and wonders who actually made the contribution. In the same complaint Mattson listed 36 other contribution and expenditure transactions that were filed outside of the required deadlines, any where from one to 33 days late. Mattson’s late husband Bob unsuccessfully ran for County Commissioner in 1998. She said he ran a – quote -- “clean campaign” and expected others to do so as well.

Ballots should already be in the hands of registered voters in Lane County. In fact, as of yesterday afternoon roughly seven percent of the county’s 205-thousand registered voters have already returned theirs. Lane County Clerk Cheryl Betschart says voters affiliated with the Republican and Democrat parties need to turn their ballots over because precinct committee races are listed on the back. Unaffiliated voters or those registered with other parties will have nothing on the reverse side. Ballots can be mailed… but postage is required… dropped off at the Elections Division in Eugene… or deposited in one of the 11 drop boxes around the county. In Florence, the box is located on Greenwood Street in front of the Justice Center.

“It’s your community; be involved”… that’s the slogan for Mapleton Fire Department and Neighborhood Watch. Both groups have teamed up to involve the community in a two-part health and safety fair. Part one is today and provides information from a variety of groups to students at Mapleton Schools. Saturday, the public is invited to participate at the Mapleton football field from 11 to three. Ten different organizations including Western Lane Ambulance, the American Red Cross and Citizen’s Corps will be on hand. Organizers say a Life Flight helicopter will be on display and a barbecue hot dog lunch will be provided.

The Florence Budget Committee will see the first draft of the 2010-11 budget this evening when they meet at City Hall. City Manager Bob Willoughby will deliver the annual budget message and provide an overview of the process. It’s open to the public and begins at six.

Here is the latest Oregon news from The Associated Press

COQUILLE, Ore. (AP) - An Oregon man accused of killing his
mother and her boyfriend outside Bandon before fleeing the state is
scheduled for arraignment this afternoon. Coos County District
Attorney R. Paul Frasier says 33-year-old Gabriel Morris arrived at
the county jail yesterday after more than two months behind bars in
Virginia. He's being held in the February deaths of 62-year-old
Robin Anstey and 48-year-old Robert Kennelly Jr.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Portland police have seized nearly 1,000
marijuana plants and about $140,000 cash as they served search
warrants on four area homes. Detective Mary Wheat says pot was
found growing at each of the residences. Thirty-two-year-old Jason
Kalenkowitz was arrested for investigation of manufacturing a
controlled substance, distribution of a controlled substance,
possession of a controlled substance and money laundering.

SALEM, Ore. (AP) - Sheriff's deputies say a woman driving home
from work fell asleep and crashed into a church preschool in Salem.
A sheriff's spokesman says no one was inside the Redeemer Lutheran
Church Preschool when the van hit it about 6:15 yesterday morning.
The Salem woman at the wheel told officers she woke up when she hit
the curb but it was too late to avoid the building. She was not
cited and wasn't injured.

OREGON CITY, Ore. (AP) - Clackamas County has asked the state to
take control of its elections for the rest of the year. The unusual
request from commissioners to Secretary of State Kate Brown follows
an error discovered last week that required the county to reprint
all of its primary-election ballots. The Oregonian reports that
county clerk Sherry Hall placed a race on the May ballot that
should not have gone to voters until November.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - A coalition of environmental groups go
before a federal appeals court panel in Portland today to argue
against offshore oil drilling in Alaska's Arctic Ocean. They're
likely to use the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico to bolster their
case. Shell Oil has been granted permits to drill exploratory wells
this summer

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Oregon State University marine researchers
plan to test a warning device to keep gray whales away from
wave-energy platforms and underwater cables that may pose a danger
to the marine mammals. They hope a whoop-whoop noise emitted by the
device will persuade the whales to stay out of harm's way.
Researchers say it could also be used to keep whales away from oil
spills.

MEDFORD, Ore. (AP) - The Jackson County Board of Commissioners
has voted to remove the Gold Ray Dam from the Rogue River. The
three commissioners for the first time formally chose the $5.6
million removal as the preferred alternative for the 106-year-old
dam. When the dam is gone, the Rogue will flow freely to the coast
for the first time since 1904.

PHOENIX, Ore. (AP) - A four-alarm fire destroyed a vacant
million-dollar home outside the southern Oregon city of Phoenix.
The Mail Tribune newspaper reports the blaze kept firefighters from
across Jackson County busy for hours as smoke billowed over the
Rogue Valley. There were no injuries and the cause has yet to be
determined.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - The Oregon Zoo in Portland says that for
the first time, its butterfly conservation lab has successfully
bred and raised adult Taylor's checkerspot butterflies for release
in the wild. The Washington state Department of Fish and Wildlife
released more than 80 of the zoo's adult butterflies at two sites
near Olympia, Wash., last week.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Taking a look at Coast Radio Sports…
Prep Softball:
The Siuslaw Vikings picked up a much needed win on the road yesterday with a two-run shutout over South Umpqua. Rebekah Kirby gave up one hit in the first inning, then shut down the Lancer batters the rest of the way. Kasey Strenke was two-for-three at the plate with a double and a stolen base. In the infield, Lacey DeSantis had four assists and one putout at second base… over at first, Gabrielle Schaffner had one assist and 11 putouts.
Athletic Boosters
Tickets are still available for tomorrow’s Siuslaw Athletic Booster Club benefit auction at Three Rivers Casino. Doors open at 5:30 with dinner, a silent and live auctions to follow. Proceeds from the benefit go towards providing funds for middle and high school athletic programs. Last year the organization provided $10-thousand for middle schools sports alone. Advance tickets are $40 at Coast Insurance and Siuslaw High School… they’re $45 at the door.