Parks plan draws fire; Coast Guard rescues surfer; Are You Ready?; and 211 info

Parks Master Plan Draws Fire…

One critic of the draft proposal of Florence’s new Parks Master Plan says it’s not only confusing, but it’s incomplete. James Genereaux said the Florence Planning Commission sent a negative and disrespectful message to property owners in Florence during Tuesday’s hearing on the new plan when they refused to continue the hearing for another two weeks and allow additional oral testimony on July 27th. Genereaux, who wasn’t at Tuesday’s hearing, but was represented by Pam Hickson, asked for the continuation because he considered the plan to be incomplete. At issue is the amount of property to be set aside in future developments for parks, as well as the formula that would determine how much property owners would be required to pay for parks. That leaves several questions about how much would be passed on to the ultimate homeowners who may purchase a new residence. Genereaux also questioned the formula that would be used to calculate how much park and open space currently exists in the city saying it was unclear. The Planning Commission responded to Genereaux’s request by granting an extra seven days for submission of written testimony only and opted to not take further oral testimony on the 27th. Florence Community Development Director Sandra Belson responded to some of Genereaux’s concerns in an email and said many of them would be addressed when the plan goes to the Florence City Council for hearings.

A Coast Guard helicopter and a 47-foot motor lifeboat from Newport responded yesterday afternoon to the report of a surfer trapped in heavy surf at the mouth of the Yachats River. The 45-year old man was plucked from the waves by the helicopter crew and delivered to medics onshore where he was checked out shortly after three pm. The man, who was not identified, was treated for hypothermia but had no other injuries.

Florence resident Vicki Easton will be a little more prepared if there’s a large scale disaster along the Central Oregon Coast. She was one of 40 people who participated in the first “Are You Ready” class last Saturday at Siuslaw Valley Fire and Rescue that taught residents how to prepare themselves and their neighborhoods for a large-scale catastrophe. Easton was so impressed with the information she learned that she said she would have paid for it. She didn’t have to, it was provided by emergency services responders at no cost. Not only did she get it for free, but she came away even more prepared. Easton won a $100 emergency water filter in a drawing at the end of the class. Additional classes will be held the second Saturday of each month.

Most everyone knows a call to 9-1-1 will bring an emergency response, but in many parts of the country there’s another “one-one” number available that can help callers access a variety of services such as emergency housing, employment and even child care and health insurance. It’s 2-1-1 and residents in the Portland Metro and Bend areas have had access to it for several years. Now, through the efforts of United Way, a move is on to extend that service to the rest of Oregon and specifically Lane County. It would be funded by local governments and would utilize the existing call center in Portland. Doris Towery is the Chief Operating Officer of United Way Lane County. She’ll talk about the plan during today’s monthly Florence Area Chamber of Commerce Noon Forum at Pier Point Inn. Lunch is available and the forum is open to the public.

Here is the latest Oregon news from The Associated Press

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - State police say two brothers collided in
a head-on crash south of Hood River that left one of them
critically injured and his wife dead. Lt. Pat Ashmore says a tow
truck driven by 25-year-old John Arthur Harvey II was southbound on
Highway 35 late Tuesday when it hit a Toyota Corolla driven by his
20-year-old brother, Westun Lee Harvey. Westun Harvey was
critically injured; his 28-year-old wife, Rosario, died.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - The husband of a Portland woman whose
remains were found June 30 in woods east of the city has pleaded
not guilty to murder. Brian Cole returned to Portland this week
after his July 1 arrest at his home in Sagle, Idaho. His wife,
Heather Mallory, disappeared in 2008. Cole's tentative trial date
is Aug. 25.

OREGON CITY, Ore. (AP) - An Oregon judge has refused to return a
7-month-old girl to a couple who belong to a faith-healing church.
Clackamas County Circuit Court Judge Douglas Van Dyk made that
decision yesterday after hearing testimony that the child could
lose the sight in one eye because she didn't get medical care.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - The search for the next general manager of
the Portland Trail Blazers reportedly includes Oklahoma City
assistant GM Rich Cho. Blazers president Larry Miller confirmed to
The Oregonian newspaper that he met with Cho in Las Vegas on
Tuesday. Cho started out as an intern with Seattle.

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

TAKING A LOOK INTO COAST RADIO SPORTS:

Northwest League Baseball:
The Eugene Emeralds extended their win streak to four with a 3-1 win at home last night over the Tri City Dust Devils. Keyvius Sampson, the Northwest League’s top pitcher, didn’t allow a single hit through five innings of work. Three Ems relievers combined to allow only two hits through the final four innings as Eugene took the second straight win in their five game series against the Devils that continues tonight.

American Legion Baseball:
The Three Rivers Sandblasters are on the road tonight to Grants Pass where they’ll face the Nuggets in non-league action. Three Rivers will be at home Sunday afternoon for the final two regular season games of the year against Springfield.