Two days worth of news... Bears, barges and a whole lot more...

Un-“bear”-able summer?

Conflicts between human residents and the large furry four-legged variety are on the rise once again.
200 – “This time of the year not as many food sources, natural food sources around for the bears. That’s one reason why they’re becoming such a problem.”

Wildlife biologist Doug Cottam says changes in weather and pollination patterns have delayed much of the fruit that bears traditionally feed on in July. That’s moved them, he says, to other areas where they know they can get an easy meal. Cottam and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife knew pretty much what to expect this year.
202 – “I was expecting to have more problems this year than last because we had so many young cubs last year that are now yearlings, older, and more or less becoming separated from their mothers.”

While bear conflict reports have been steady… he’s handled nearly a dozen in the past two days alone… he hasn’t had to resort to trapping and killing the errant beasts… yet.
202 – “We have been able to speak with all these people, and managed so far to give them enough good advice that the individuals are more or less solving their own problems, you know, at least temporarily, and hopefully permanently by removing whatever attraction the bears are getting at.”

Cottam admits there are at least two bears north of Florence that have become chronic problems and he’ll likely have to trap and dispose of them in the near future.

A federal task force report released yesterday says major obstacles, including a deep mistrust of policies demanding protection of threatened species, still stand in the way of increasing logging in Western Oregon. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar created the task force a year ago after dissolving the Bush administration plan to boost logging on U.S. Bureau of Land Management timberlands. At the time, Salazar said the Western Oregon Plan Revision… also known as WOPR (whopper)… was indefensible under the Endangered Species Act. Part of this week’s report concluded that non-controversial thinning projects accounting for most of the recent logging is running out and called for a ‘time-out’ on logging in spotted owl habitat until more study could be conducted. Timber industry backers criticized the plan, saying it calls for several more layers of bureaucracy. Members of the environmental community leveled similar charges.

The races are on in Dunes City, or at least will soon be. So far five candidates have expressed interest in running for four open spots on the Dunes City Council. Long-time incumbents Peter Howison, Susie Navetta and Richard Koehler have all indicated they want to return to the panel as has Troy Sathe (SAYTH-ee) who was appointed to the council this year. Duke Wells is reportedly seeking a seat. Four positions are open, three four-year terms and a single two-year term. So far no word on whether or not Dunes City Mayor Eric Hauptman (HOWPT-munn) will be seeking reelection. The filing period for the November 2nd election ends August 24th. Nominating paperwork is available at Dunes City Hall.

An interesting piece of history is available in Reedsport. A video with photos, information and oral histories from several area residents detailing the history of the “City on Stilts”… early Reedsport days of 1912 through 1930… is available for both viewing and purchase at the Umpqua Discovery Center. Production of the video was paid for by grants and proceeds from the sale of videos will be used to continue educational programming and exhibits at the center.

The City of Florence will forego hiring an interim Finance Director, and instead has contracted with a Portland area consulting firm to aid them in developing a long-term financial plan. That firm, City-X, will also assist the city in recruiting, interviewing and selecting a permanent director to replace David Armstrong who resigned last month. The cost of utilizing the consultant will be ‘revenue neutral’ according to a report reviewed by the Florence City Council Monday night. City-X’s price tag for their work, $41-thousand, will be roughly equivalent to the amount of salary that would be paid to a finance director during the five months it’s estimated to complete the project. Mayor Phil Brubaker says the task is one that’s been on the council’s list of goals to accomplish this year and is expected to be an ongoing task.
215 – “A long range multi-year financial plan is a living document. It’s gotta change and be updated as events occur. But it’s a continuous forward look from three to five years out.”

Brubaker anticipates that the city’s budget committee will meet in September of each year to review and revise the plan as needed. Then, in the spring during the traditional budget season they’ll meet again to assemble the final budget for the coming year.

Florence police are investigating nine burglaries from commercial buildings along the Highway 101 corridor reported over the last 30-days. The two most recent, at Subway on 42nd Street and the Florence Moose Lodge on Quince, were both reported on July 14th. Siuslaw Stop Crime has offered up to a $1500 reward for information in either crime.

Dredging operations by the Dutra Group on the Siuslaw River above the Highway 101 bridge could resume as early as tonight. A replacement barge for the one damaged two weeks ago was expected to have arrived late yesterday, but high winds have slowed progress. A Port of Siuslaw spokesperson said they were informed by Dutra that the new barge, coming from Los Angeles, could arrive later this afternoon. The original barge was damaged just after it crossed the Siuslaw River entrance when it struck a submerged object near the jetty. Work on the $1.4-million project is expected to take another two to three weeks once progress resumes.

A recent spike in the number of reported meningococcal infections in Douglas County has prompted a vaccination advisory. Public Health officials in Roseburg say there have been seven cases of meningitis reported so far this year, accounting for one-third of all cases statewide. Five of the seven cases may have been prevented had the patients been vaccinated properly. Division Director Dawnelle Marshall says meningitis is not highly contagious but can be spread from person to person by coughing, kissing and sneezing. She says symptoms can include fever, headache, neck stiffness and/or rash. It’s usually treatable, but can progress very quickly and can be fatal in ten to 15 percent of cases.

Northwest League Baseball:
Five walks by Emeralds starter Pedro Martinez in the first inning set the stage and gave the Vancouver Canadians a lead that turned out to be insurmountable. The Canucks went on for the 5-2 win and Martinez only made it a third of the way through that first frame. The Emeralds did outhit Vancouver, but was unable to capitalize. The two teams wrap up the first half of their split-series this afternoon in Vancouver, then will rejoin tomorrow in Eugene for the first of a three-game stint in the Emerald Empire.