Coast Radio News

Lane offers wide variety of health profession training

For the past several years, the demand for nurses has threatened to outstrip the supply. At the same time, says Lane Community College President Mary Spilde, the competition for the limited space in LCC’s nursing program has prompted any where between four and five applicants for every one of the 80 instructional spaces available. Despite the demand for nurses locally, before this year any nursing student from Florence had to leave town.
210 – “This year because of our partnership with PeaceHealth Siuslaw Region we were able to add eight slots in Florence so that people can stay on this side of the tunnel for their education and then hopefully stay on the coast rather than move to Eugene and never come back.”

Spilde says the nursing program at Lane has proven to be effective with a success rate that outpaces national trends.
211 – “The pass rate at Lane is 98 to 99 percent. The statewide average is 92, the national average is 84. So, you can see why we have close to 400 applicants every year. Lane is the place that people want to come for their nursing education.”

In addition to nursing certifications, Lane also offers training for related fields in health professions such as physical therapy and medical office assistants. Most of the classes in those programs can be had at the Florence Center.

The two major candidates for governor in Oregon are reaching out to voters in the state through a variety of methods. But for those who want something more than 30-second commercials and out of context quotes can get it tomorrow night. KGW-TV and the Oregonian Newspaper in Portland are hosting a debate between Democrat John Kitzhaber and Republican Chris Dudley. It will be carried live on Coast Radio… listeners can tune in to KCFM AM 1250/FM 104.1 tomorrow night from seven to eight pm.

If you still have one of those old mercury fever thermometers laying around the house, don’t just throw it in the trash if you don’t need it any longer. In fact, there are dozens of things typically found around the house that should not be thrown away. Florence Senior Planner Wendy Farley says many people have oil-based paints, weed killers, household cleaners or other hazardous materials that won’t be used. The City, along with Lane County are teaming up to collect many of those items this weekend in another Household Hazardous Waste Collection. Farley says residential quantities can be dropped off at the County Waste Transfer Site on Rhododendron Drive from noon to five Friday, then again Saturday from eight to two.

Retail prices for unleaded gasoline fell slightly this week. In Florence the average price for a gallon of unleaded fell by three cents to $2.77. Oregon’s Statewide average, as measured by Triple-A dropped by two cents and is at $2.94 a gallon. The local drop mirrored the reduction in the national average, it fell by three cents this week and is at $2.69. Marie Dodds with Triple A says while retail prices fell slightly, the price for crude oil has held fairly steady.

Here is the latest Oregon news from The Associated Press

VANCOUVER, Wash. (AP) - The Vancouver woman who falsely claimed
a stranger threw acid in her face is due in court today and is
expected to plead not guilty to three theft charges. Bethany Storro
will be making her first public appearance since she held a
hospital news conference nearly a month ago with her head swathed
in bandages. She's accused of accepting donations for help with
facial burns.

CRESCENT LAKE, Ore. (AP) - Authorities have not released the
name of a man found dead after fire destroyed a single-wide mobile
home in Klamath County southeast of Crescent Lake. Oregon State
Police say criminal and arson detectives are investigating
yesterday's fire, as is a deputy state fire marshal.

RENO, Nev. (AP) - Horse protection advocates are back in court
in Reno to try to block federal roundups of wild horses after the
government quietly gathered nearly 400 mustangs last week at a
national wildlife refuge on the Nevada-Oregon line. They say the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service gathered the horses at the Sheldon
Wildlife Refuge without public notice and without any
accountability.

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) - The University of Oregon and coach Chip
Kelly have agreed to a contract extension through 2015 that is
worth $20.5 million. Kelly led the Ducks to a 10-3 overall record,
the Pac-10 championship and a Rose Bowl berth in his first season
as head coach a year ago. The fourth-ranked Ducks are 4-0 this
season heading into a key game against No. 9 Stanford on Saturday.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - A new court settlement means private
timber owners and loggers in much of Oregon's Coast Range will face
tougher environmental regulations to protect streams. An
environmental group said it filed a federal lawsuit after noting
weaknesses in Oregon's regulation of logging in the coastal area
since 1998 but failing to force changes. So she says her
organization filed suit.

LA GRANDE, Ore. (AP) - Union County prosecutors say sheriff's
detectives are investigating the weekend death of a LaGrande man
shot by a hunting arrow. The district attorney says Paul Rudd and
another man were hunting for a bull elk Sunday when the second
man's compound bow discharged. The arrow hit Rudd in the head,
killing him almost instantly.

SALEM, Ore. (AP) - A father and his son are set to stand trial
in Salem for the December 2008 bomb at a Willamette Valley bank
that killed two law enforcement officers. Bruce Turnidge and his
son Joshua are accused of aggravated murder and could face the
death penalty. Opening statements begin today. State Police bomb
technician William Hakim and Woodburn Police Capt. Tom Tennant
died.

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

TAKING A LOOK INTO COAST RADIO SPORTS:

Prep Volleyball:
The Siuslaw Vikings improved to two-and-oh in Far West League with a four-game victory over the Brookings-Harbor Bruins in Florence last night. Katie Catalfamo had 11 kills for the Vikings, Leigh Aurich and Kaitlyn Logan had five each. In the Sunset League, the Reedsport Braves improved to five-and-one with a three game victory over the Glide Wildcats. The Mapleton Sailors extended their win streak to four matches in the Mountain West League with a victory at home last night over Siletz Valley. The Sailors swept Siletz in three games. Megan Greene had seven aces; Chelsea Simington added 17 assists.