FBI says Oregon becoming less violent; Read for Need collecting books; Car Seat Safety and 11th "Stringer" tourney set.

FBI Crime Report Says Oregon Cities Are Safer

Violent crime rates in three of Oregon’s four largest cities dropped in 2009. FBI statistics released yesterday showed fewer murders, sexual assaults and other violent crimes in Portland, Eugene and Gresham last year, but rates remained flat in Salem. The report shows property crime rates in the top three, Portland, Salem and Eugene, dropped dramatically. Those changes in rates reflect a national trend. The FBI says the national violent crime rate has fallen for three straight years and the property crime rate has dropped over the last seven. The FBI Crime rates for smaller communities were released earlier this year. In Florence, which typically has a very low violent crime rate, offenses in those categories dropped slightly. Property crimes remained fairly static.

Collections are under way for the June Fifth “Read for the Need” book sale to aid Food for Lane County. Originally organized by now 12-year old Taylor Graham, the sale has raised more than $50-thousand over the past six years. This year’s sale will be at Prairie Mountain School in Eugene. Graham’s mom, Shannon Graham, says ‘gently used’ books, audio books, DVDs or videos can be dropped off at several Eugene locations as well as Grocery Outlet in Florence through June First.

Several factors play into the proper use of a child safety seat. Number one is making sure it’s the right size to fit a child; number two is installing it properly and making sure the straps are correctly arranged. Area firefighters and medics will be teaming up tomorrow afternoon from 4:30 to 7:00 PM at Siuslaw Valley Fire and Rescue for a car-seat safety clinic. Western Lane paramedics can also tell you if there are any open recalls on your car-seat model. They can also provide low or no cost replacement seats for qualifying families.

Several different businesses around Siltcoos Lake have teamed up to present the 11th annual “Siltcoos Lake Stringer Tournament”. It’s aimed at anglers who go after any variety of fish. Cash prizes will be awarded for the most fish by weight during the Saturday and Sunday tourney. Organizers say any legal variety of fish, within prescribed catch limits, will count towards your total. Weigh-ins begin at Six AM Saturday and end at noon Sunday. Entry forms and the weigh-ins are at the Lakes Edge Marina in Westlake.

Here is the latest Oregon news from The Associated Press

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) - A Lane County grand jury has indicted a
Christmas Valley man in the March traffic death of a commercial
truck driver killed when several large bales of hay fell off a
passing big rig. Bonnie Puckett was arrested yesterday and charged
with criminally negligent homicide and felony failure to perform
the duties of a driver involved in a crash. The hay truck did not
stop.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - A man described by Portland authorities as
the kingpin of a Crips gang cocaine-trafficking ring has been
sentenced to 13 years in prison. A federal judge yesterday called
James Yoakum the brains behind an operation that investigators say
used a Portland restaurant to launder money. Authorities say that
each month the ring sold $300,000 worth of cocaine.

CORVALLIS, Ore. (AP) - Oregon State University scientists are
testing a model of what could be a tsunami-resistant City Hall for
Cannon Beach on the Oregon coast. The gap between an earthquake off
the Pacific Northwest coast and the arrival of a tsunami could be
about 20 minutes, which isn't enough for all visitors to reach
higher ground. But some could go up into a new, tsunami-resistant
City Hall.

COQUILLE, Ore. (AP) - A 45-year-old man accused of killing his
sister-in-law in Coos County has pleaded guilty to aggravated
murder. The Register-Guard reports Patrick Horath admitted sex
abuse and murder in a plea deal with prosecutors. He faces 30 years
in prison when he is sentenced today in the death of 31-year-old
Jayme Austin last November in the bathroom of her mother's home.

SALEM, Ore. (AP) - Oregon corrections officers will forfeit
their holiday pay for the rest of the state's current budget cycle
after an arbitrator ruled against them in a contract dispute.
During the next 13 months, officers will forgo holiday pay, take
four mandatory furlough days and have their latest pay increase
rolled back. The terms of the state's contract will save taxpayers
an estimated $12.6 million.

TUALATIN, Ore. (AP) - A 56-year-old woman who founded an arts
education program for children in Tualatin has been convicted of
sexually abusing a boy. The Oregonian reports a Washington County
jury found Melissa Louise Stephens guilty yesterday of rape and
sodomy. She was arrested last June and accused of raping the boy
five years earlier when he was 10 or 11.

KEIZER, Ore. (AP) - Keizer police are investigating the hanging
death of a 13-year-old boy. Police tell The Statesman Journal the
boy hanged himself Friday in his bedroom in front of a younger
neighbor. The younger boy apparently thought the teen was playing a
joke, went home and told his father that his friend was scaring
him. The father notified the teen's parents who found their son
hanging.

BOISE, Idaho (AP) - Back in March, Idaho Gov. Butch Otter sent a
"love letter" to out-of-state businesses, trying to coax them to
move to his state. Now, the state's chief executive is taking this
courtship to the Internet. Otter's http://justmaketheshift.com site
invites Washington and Oregon companies to consider relocating
after their states raised taxes to cope with budget shortfalls.

ASTORIA, Ore. (AP) - Authorities say a 54-year-old man has died
in an apartment fire in Astoria. His body was found inside the
apartment late Saturday, in a hallway leading to the door. Police
Chief Pete Curzon says the fire stemmed from a cooking accident.
Investigators are trying to determine if the victim had a medical
issue beforehand. Four other people were evacuated from an
adjoining unit. The victim's name hasn't been released.

MILL CITY, Ore. (AP) - A woman found dead in the North Santiam
River near Mill City has been identified as 50-year-old Veronica
Ann Willis of Salem. Her roommate had reported Willis missing on
May 11, and her body was found last Thursday. Linn County Sheriff
Tim Mueller says an autopsy showed no obvious cause of death.
Detectives are awaiting toxicology results as their investigation
continues.

MOLALLA, Ore. (AP) - Molalla police say they're confident that
skeletal remains found in an old blackberry patch are those of an
Alzheimer's patient who vanished nearly three years ago. Ruby
Larson was 75 when she wandered away from a Molalla assisted living
facility on July 23, 2007. Molalla police said yesterday they're
sure the remains are those of Larson. A final report from the
Clackamas County medical examiner's office is pending.

MEDFORD, Ore. (AP) - A Jackson County sheriff's deputy and his
wife helped save the life of a neighbor whose wrist was slashed.
Medford police Lt. Bob Hansen says Deputy Michael Hermant was
awakened Sunday by a commotion in his living room. He found
32-year-old Hugo Gonzalez choking a woman whose wrist was bleeding
profusely. The woman fled to the home after a struggle. Gonzalez
faces assault and attempted murder charges.


(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 Linda Paredes is Coast Radio Sports’ Athlete of the Week. The Viking junior competed in four events at the Far West District meet, three of them occurring within the same hour, capping her run by coming from behind in the anchor leg of the girls 4x400 relay to finish first in the event. Despite being the defending Far West League Champion in the 400 meters, Paredes switched to the 800 where she could potentially score more points for the team. She qualified for the State meet in the 800 meters and as a member of the relay team. Honorable Mention goes to her teammate, Brad Finnell, who ran the boys’ 800 meter in 2:01.83 to claim the district title and qualify for state.
Prep Baseball:
Siuslaw’s Kevin Warren was named the Far West League’s Most Valuable Player last week by the league’s coaches. Teammates joining the Viking Pitcher on the first team roster are pitcher Trevor Roberts, outfielder Kevin Strenke and infielder Ryan Smith. Second team honors for Siuslaw include Hagen Holmes behind the plate, infielder Tim Raybould, and utility player Hayden Hiatt. Honorable Mention was given to John Wesley Earl. First year coach Josh Thomas-Dotson was voted Far West League Coach of the Year.
On the Schedule:
The second round of the OSAA 4A Baseball Playoffs will open up in Florence tomorrow. Initially slated for today, the game was pushed back 24-hours because of weather. First pitch is at 4:30.