Coast Radio News

Tabernacle replica to reside at Miller Park next month…

There’s no word on whether or not there will be manna in the morning, but members of a local congregation say just about everything else about the “Messiah’s Mansion” will be true to the original. Members of the Florence Seventh Day Adventist Church are sponsoring a visit next month by a full-scale replica of the ancient Hebrew tabernacle. More than three-thousand years ago the two-million members of the Hebrew nation built the traveling tabernacle to their God and carried it with them as they travelled through the wilderness between Egypt and Israel. The modern day tabernacle spends a lot of time traveling as well. It’s based at the Oklahoma Academy in Harrah, Oklahoma, but travels around the country for about a dozen appearances each year. The construction and makeup of the tabernacle is based on historical and biblical accounts and requires nearly 300 local volunteers to set it up. The Messiah’s Mansion is surrounded by colorful tent-like walls, and everything inside has a specific meaning and significance according to Linda Lydick. Lydick says the display will nearly fill the southern portion of Miller Park. It will open for display on September 18th and run through the 26th. It’s expected to draw several thousand visitors during its stay.

Pump prices held steady in Florence this week with the average price for a gallon of regular unleaded at $2.89. That’s 13-cents less than the Oregon average as measured by Triple-A. It fell a penny this week to $3.02. Gas prices typically begin declining after Labor Day, but according to Marie Dodds with Triple-A a dip in retail prices began last week. The national average price fell four cents in the same time period and is at $2.70. The average price for gas in the Eugene and Springfield area is $3.03.

The Oregon State University Extension Service will close its offices and conclude all educational programs at the Lane County Fairgrounds next Thursday. Steve Dodrill with OSU Extension says a lack of local revenue is the cause. The Cooperative Extension Service needs local funding to match up with state and federal dollars. Lane County Commissioners withdrew their financial support two years ago, then voters turned down a low-cost bond this spring. Dodrill says the Nutrition Education Program will continue as it is funded exclusively by federal money.

A move to provide ‘back to school’ clothing and supplies to area families that may be struggling financially has been under way all this month. The group “Auriel”, with the cooperation of the Florence Moose Lodge, has been collecting, laundering and sorting outfits for kids entering kindergarten through 12th grade. Aurora Drysdale says the distribution is set for this Saturday from ten am until two pm. There is no income verification requirement and while supplies last each child will up to get three outfits. The distribution will be at Heceta Beach RV Park at Heceta Beach Road and Rhododendron Drive.

Here is the latest Oregon news from The Associated Press

ASHLAND, Ore. (AP) - A wind-whipped wildfire that burned 11
homes outside Ashland was finally brought under control last night.
No injuries were reported in the blaze, which also damaged two
other houses and forced evacuations along four streets on the edge
of the tourist and college town best known as home to the Oregon
Shakespeare Festival.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Three Oregon Department of Energy workers
have been placed on leave while state and federal agencies
investigate "contracting irregularities." Published reports said
the contract involved a Bend consulting company run by Cylvia
Hayes, girlfriend of the Democratic candidate for governor, John
Kitzhaber. Hayes denied wrongdoing. Kitzhaber said he's not part of
the story.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Federal prosecutors in Portland have
announced convictions in several cases involving miners who
unlawfully maintained homes in federal forests. U.S. Attorney
Dwight Holton said yesterday most miners play by the rules, but
those who do not threaten natural resources and damage forests. All
face up to six months in prison when sentenced.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - The last member of the McMinnville High
School football team to remain hospitalized with a rare and painful
upper-arm ailment has been released from Willamette Valley Medical
Center. The boy was one of 24 players hospitalized last week after
a preseason workout. Health officials have yet to determine what
triggered the medical problem known as compartment syndrome, a
soft-tissue condition that caused soreness and swelling in the
triceps.

SALEM, Ore. (AP) - Oregon Attorney General John Kroger has named
a special counsel for environmental cases and a narcotics
prosecutor to help combat drug trafficking. Kroger said Paul
Garrahan will act as special counsel for the environment and
natural resources and Jennifer Gardiner will serve as a narcotics
prosecutor with the Criminal Justice Division of the Oregon
Department of Justice.

TAKING A LOOK INTO COAST RADIO SPORTS:

Northwest League Baseball:
This time the bullpen held … the Eugene Emeralds picked up a 3-2 win over the Spokane Indians last night. They had posted an early three-run lead, then watched as the Indians picked up two runs late in the game. This time reliever Deiber Sanchez got the final two outs of the inning to stop the rally. Xavier Esquivel pitched two hitless innings to close out the game and preserve the win for Dexter Carter, his first in 16 outings. The Emeralds return to PK Park for a three game home stand against Everett that begins tonight.

College Football:
New Mexico football coach Mike Locksley says B.R. Holbrook has earned the right to be the Lobos starting quarterback when they open the season September Fourth at Autzen Stadium. Holbrook, a 6-foot-3, 195-pound sophomore from Stevenson Ranch, California, beat out two freshmen for the job. Oregon head coach Chip Kelly is still working out who Holbrook will be facing in the Duck’s opener. Kelly has said he likely won’t announce whether it will be Nate Costa or Daren Thomas calling the signals until late next week.


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