Coast Radio News

Revenue Shortfall called… half-billion cuts ordered.

The recession is likely over but current job growth is too weak to overcome losses for at least a year… and state revenues are going to fall a half-billion dollars short of projected levels. Those are the messages delivered yesterday by Oregon State Economist Tom Potiowsky (puh-TAU-skee) to a legislative panel. He said it’s too early to conclude whether or not this is the ‘turning point’ in the economy, but said first-quarter job growth was positive for the first time in several months. The revenue shortfall is due mainly to lower-than-expected personal income tax collections for 2009. Governor Ted Kulongoski wasted no time in responding to the news. He ordered accros-the-board cuts of nine-percent in all state departments over the next 13-months. The governor called on managers to work with state unions to discuss possible furlough days or pay cuts in order to avoid more layoffs. It’s unclear at what level the cuts may impact schools. Nearly half of the projected shortfall will come from education.

Police responded to an early morning alarm yesterday at Florence A&W where they found evidence of a break-in. Later in the morning, employees at Subway in the Dunes Village Shopping Center reported a burglary had taken place at their location as well. Officer Ken Larson responded to the second call with police dog Brasso who quickly picked up the scent of the possible intruder. Brasso led officers to the door of a nearby apartment where 24-year old Joseph Ryan Coldiron was found with cash and items said to have been stolen in the two burglaries. Coldiron is in custody facing several charges.

The pouring rain didn’t stop yesterday’s annual SAFE Kids water safety program at Woahink Lake. Fifth Graders from Siuslaw Elementary School participated in sessions on beach safety, swimming and cold water safety, as well as boating. Western Lane Ambulance Paramedic Al Kreitz started the annual program 13 years ago after the drowning death of a seven year old boy. Kreitz said he didn’t ever want to see that happen again. Crews from Siuslaw River Station and North Bend U-S Coast Guard, Siuslaw Valley Fire and Rescue as well as Oregon State Police assisted.

Gasoline prices usually go up headed into the Memorial Day Weekend… but that’s not the case this year. The national average price for regular unleaded, as reported by Triple-A of Oregon, has plummeted 8-cents this week to $2.78 a gallon. Oregon’s statewide average fell a nickel to $2.92. Florence’s average price fell by four cents, it’s at $2.82 a gallon.

Florence Mayor Phil Brubaker says he’d like to do it again. The veteran local official has announced he intends to seek one more term at the helm of city government. His announcement comes a week ahead of the official filing date. He already has at least one opponent. Former mayor and current councilor Alan Burns announced last month he intends to seek the mayor’s position.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - A new report on graduation rates shows
slight improvements but found that only two of three Oregon
students graduated from high school in four years. Superintendent
Susan Castillo says she hopes the report will be a red flag that
schools need support to bridge the achievement gap among Oregon's
students.

CARVER, Ore. (AP) - A Clackamas County businessman has been
fined $8,500 by the Oregon Agriculture Department, which has
ordered him to keep his 200-plus water buffalo from polluting a
stream. Officials say water samples taken at seven locations last
month showed levels of fecal bacteria that were 60 to 2,700 times
greater than the maximum safe level.

LA GRANDE, Ore. (AP) - Five ranchers in northeastern Oregon have
permits to shoot wolves if they see the animals attacking their
livestock. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife issued the
permits after confirming that wolves killed two calves in Wallowa
County this month. Conservation groups objected to the permits,
saying not enough has been done with non-lethal means yet to
justify this step.

CORVALLIS, Ore. (AP) - Corvallis police are warning residents
about a door-to-door sales crew that works for a company that ran
afoul of authorities in 2008. Police learned that T&B Sales Inc. is
in the area selling a cleaning product called "Advantage" or
"Advantage Wonder Cleaner."

DEPOE BAY, Ore. (AP) - A Coast Guard motor lifeboat has rescued
a surfer in distress off Oregon's Lincoln Beach near Depoe Bay.
Someone on the beach reported a surfer in distress about 500 yards
from shore yesterday. Lincoln County responded and the Coast Guard
dispatched the lifeboat from Depoe Bay and a helicopter from
Astoria. The 46-year-old male surfer was able to swim to the
lifeboat. The unidentified man was not injured.

GRANTS PASS, Ore. (AP) - People keep getting stranded following
directions from their GPS units to follow backcountry roads. The
Grants Pass Daily Courier reports that Melissa Batz of Aumsville
and her two children were about 15 minutes from reaching their
destination at a campground along the Rogue River last Friday when
the unit in her car sent them on a detour. They later called 911
from a cell phone and rescuers eventually found the trio.

PENDLETON, Ore. (AP) - The former Baker City manager who was
fired last June has filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against
the eastern Oregon town, its mayor and several city councilors.
Stephen Brocato alleges wrongful discharge and public defamation.
Brocato's lawyers say they expect to seek at least $1 million in
lost wages, benefits, future earning capacity and other damages.
Current City Manager Steve Bogart declined comment.

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) - Eugene residents who are keeping flocks of
chickens in their backyards have a reprieve.
The city suspended its two-hen limit last week so the city
council can review its farm animal ordinance.
The owner of the Eugene Backyard Farmer store, Bill Bezuk, told
The Register-Guard most chicken-owning residents have more than two
birds.
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Information from: The Register-Guard,
http://www.registerguard.com


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

TAKING A LOOK INTO COAST RADIO SPORTS:
Prep Baseball:
Only half of the scheduled games in the 4A Baseball playoffs were played yesterday… Siuslaw and Sisters will try again this afternoon in Florence. OSAA regulations require schools look at alternate sites. Siuslaw Athletic Director Andy Grzeskowiak said even the alternates have been under water. Today's game will be played. If field conditions aren't adequate, it will be moved to an alternate location. It airs on Coast Radio Sports at 4:15. If Siuslaw wins today’s game, they’ll travel to Scappoose Friday. The Indians shut out Baker yesterday afternoon 3-nothing. In other Far West Results… Philomath downed South Umpqua 3-2 yesterday; Sutherlin and Newport were rained out.

Also on the schedule today… at PGE Park in Portland it’s the Civil War Classic. Oregon and Oregon State Baseball square off at 6:30 for a non league contest.