Five years later, ice machine nearing completion - gas high in Coos; low in W.Lane - Hot 100 auction and budget deficit

A five year effort is nearing completion…

One of the final components of the industrial sized ice maker perched on the edge of the Port of Siuslaw’s Old Town Wharf is being installed this week and when it’s done, commercial fisher and Port of Siuslaw Commissioner Bud Saulsgiver will be ready to take a break.
215 – “Augur’s here, the delivery system is, uh, got the metering hopper, everything’s here.”

Securing donations, volunteer labor and even grant funding for the $350-thousand project has been a strenuous effort, but it’s one that Saulsgiver never gave up on.
216 – “We’re as close right now, as we’ve been in five years. But, I still have this to do.”

When the chute is complete there will still be work to be done. There’s the matter of the final electrical connection, programming the ice maker and making sure there’s a qualified operator to dispense the ice. Looking back a half-decade Saulsgiver says he would do it all again if he had to.
217 – “It had to be done. This town and this port is nothing without fishing boats here… and that’s my main concern.”

When the old ice maker broke down in 2004, it left local fishers without a supply of ice, forcing them to either Newport or Charleston. Many boats just moved completely, but a few hung on. Saulsgiver and other members of the Siuslaw Fisherman’s Association are hoping some will rejoin that core fleet.






08-18-10 7,8,9 AM; Noon; 5,6 PM
RBS

The brief respite from budge worries given by last week’s multi-million federal aid package has come to an end. Oregon’s top economist warned the governor this week that the next revenue forecast could show a shortfall in tax collections any where between $200-million and a half-billion dollars over the next ten months. That could mean another round of difficult cuts to schools, human services and public safety although legislative leaders say they intend to hold the budget ax and dip into reserves. No action will be taken until the official results are released August 26th.

The average price for a gallon of unleaded gasoline dropped by a penny in Florence this week and is among the lowest in the state at $2.89. Meanwhile some of the highest prices on average are just 60-miles south where motorists in Coos Bay and North Bend pay $3.11 a gallon… fifth highest in the nation according to Triple-A. Oregon ‘s statewide average fell about a half cent this week to $3.03 and the national average dropped by four cents… it’s at $2.74 a gallon.

100 items, valued at more than $23-thousand will go on the auction block Friday as KCST and KCFM host the Summer Hot-100 Radio Auction. It’s one of two annual auctions by Coast Broadcasting that offers up goods and services from advertisers to listeners. Coast Radio General Manager and owner Jon Thompson says some items will go for as low as 25-cents on the dollar, but on average, listeners save 40 to 45-percent. Both radio stations forego their regular format for the day… the auction begins at 9:15 Friday morning

TAKING A LOOK INTO COAST RADIO SPORTS:

Northwest League Baseball:
The Eugene Emeralds overcame an early deficit to lead the Yakima Bears heading into the stretch yesterday afternoon at PK Park, but four unanswered runs in the final three innings lifted the Bears to a 5-3 victory to end the Ems two-game winning streak. Eugene’s bats were relatively silent on the day with only three hits, while Yakima posted seven, including a two-run Justin Hilt home run in the seventh to start the Bears’ comeback bid. The two teams will wrap up their five-game series tonight in Eugene before the Ems head out tomorrow for an extended road trip.