Property owners still free to use sparklers in Old Town…
It will remain legal to light a sparkler on private property in Old Town Florence, but streets, sidewalks and public property are off limits immediately. The Florence City Council revised their proposed ordinance last night that would have prohibited the use of legal fireworks across a broad stretch of commercial and residential neighborhoods near the river. In a move suggested by city staff, they took a two step approach. The first was an interpretation of an existing 26-year old city code that makes it illegal to obstruct public rights-of-way. City manager Bob Willoughby said he believed that would allow police officers to stop people from using fireworks in streets and on sidewalks. The second step included revising the areas that would be impacted by the proposed ordinance under consideration since March. The Council unanimously agreed to make the fireworks prohibition apply only to publicly owned property… both Port and City … and declared an emergency making it effective immediately. That puts the Boardwalk and the city’s Gazebo Park off limits. Willoughby wanted to point out that neither of the actions taken last night, nor any other discussions by the council this year would have impacted the public display organized by the Florence Area Chamber of Commerce.
The proposed prohibition of fireworks across a large stretch of Old Town Florence struck a chord with many people and seemingly everyone had a different reason for supporting or opposing it. The Port of Siuslaw Commission cited safety concerns but focused on the mess left by fireworks users along the Boardwalk during the Fourth of July celebration. Some saw it as an infringement of private property rights, others saw it as a negative economic impact and still others saw it as a health and safety threat. Members of the City Council were in that camp. Councilor Nola Xavier said that was always her primary concern.
202 – “It’s not ever been for me an issue about cleanup. I know that that’s a problem, but that has never been my concern.”
Mayor Phil Brubaker agreed that it was about safety and creating an atmosphere that was welcoming to all.
204 – “I think that there’s a compelling reason to change the concept enough so that this event becomes more attractive for families.”
The council lauded efforts announced last night by the Florence Area Chamber of Commerce and the Port of Siuslaw to offer a public concert and family-friendly event the evening of July Fourth to add to the atmosphere leading up to the public fireworks display over the river.
If you’ve been one of those who have been sneaking your phone to your ear while driving down public streets and roads, Florence Police Chief Maury Sanders says you better watch out.
210 – “We’re shifting now, we’re going to begin issuing the citations for those violations when we see them. Just last month we had 56 people stopped specifically for that who were warned about it.”
A law making it illegal to phone or text while driving unless you have an appropriate hands-free device went into effect at the beginning of this year. Sanders says warnings will no longer be issued.
AP-OR--1st NewsMinute,0287
Here is the latest Oregon news from The Associated Press
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Nearly two dozen state, local and federal
agencies are following up on more than 1,200 tips in the search for
a 7-year-old Portland boy who's been missing for four days. Kyron
Horman vanished from Skyline Elementary School on Friday. Multnomah
County sheriff's deputies and volunteers have been looking in a
densely wooded area near the pastoral school since then, and
talking to people who were at the school.
HEPPNER, Ore. (AP) - A 70-year-old White City woman is in good
condition despite spending a night in the Morrow County wilderness.
Sheriff Ken Matlack says Arleen Kusel was missing for 17 hours in
the Shaw Grade wilderness before a U.S. Forest Service employee
found her Sunday. Kusel traveled to the area with relatives, and
stayed with the family's cars Saturday while the rest looked for
mushrooms. She was gone when they returned.
ROSEBURG, Ore. (AP) - A Douglas County jury has convicted a
Tiller man of sexually abusing a 7-year-old girl.
Twenty-one-year-old Donald Wayne Hamilton faces up to 25 years in
prison when he's sentenced on July 1. Prosecutor Shannon Sullivan
says the charges stem from incidents that occurred in a Winston
residence in June 2009. Hamilton is not related to the victim.
BAKER CITY, Ore. (AP) - Baker County officials will ask Gov. Ted
Kulongoski (koo-luhn-GAH'-skee) to declare an emergency after heavy
rain and melting mountain snow triggered severe flooding. The Baker
City Herald reports flooding in Richland and Halfway destroyed two
bridges and damaged more than a dozen roads. No injuries were reported.
County emergency manager Mark Bennett says almost 58 homes have been affected.
SALEM, Ore. (AP) - Oregon Senate President Peter Courtney and
House Speaker Dave Hunt say the Legislature should hold off calling
itself into special session to rebalance the current state budget,
which has fallen $577 million in the red. The two Democrats say
lawmakers should wait until they've had a chance to study the 9
percent across-the-board cuts ordered by Gov. Ted Kulongoski.
EUGENE, Ore. (AP) - Oregon's new ban on most field burning takes
effect this summer. However, grass seed farmers and environmental
lawyers are still sparring over how to determine who's entitled to
a burn permit out of a small allotment for farmers facing extreme
economic hardship.
EUGENE, Ore. (AP) - The pastor of the Eugene Christian
Fellowship doesn't know the man accused of breaking into the church
Sunday evening and setting a fire.
But Pastor Mark Harpham told The Register-Guard he'd like to
know what was going on in the man's head.
Firefighters saw a man run from the building. Police tracked
down and arrested a 34-year-old resident of Sixes.
He's in the Lane County Jail for investigation of arson,
burglary and criminal mischief.
Sprinklers kept the flames from spreading from a hallway. Most
of the damage is from smoke.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
AP-NY-06-08-10 0401EDT
TAKING A LOOK INTO COAST RADIO SPORTS:
The Florence Rotary Club will host a benefit golf tournament Saturday, July 31 at Ocean Dunes Golf Links. Proceeds from the “Cool at the Coast” will go toward Rotary’s Polio Plus Project and scholarships for local high school students. Cost is $69 per person, entry deadline is July 15. Entry forms are available on Rotary’s website and at Ocean Dunes Golf Links.
On The Schedule Tonight:
The Three Rivers Sandblasters are scheduled to face North Coos this evening at Clyde Allen Ballpark in North Bend. Airtime for the American Legion Baseball broadcast is at 4:45… first pitch at 5 o’clock.
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