Off-road regulations nearing completion - school board to consider roof options - gas prices up

Work on developing off-road regulations nearing completion

The eighth and final meeting of a group that has been working for the past year to identify off-road areas on the Oregon Dunes is coming up this weekend in Florence. The OHV Designated Routes Working Group, made up of off-road users, conservation groups, wildlife advocates and community leaders will get together at Siuslaw Valley Fire and Rescue this Saturday from 8:30 to 3:30. Their task this week will be review the work they’ve done the past year on identifying those areas that will remain open for ATV use, as well as which areas will be closed off to vehicles. The Forest Service has been shifting the policy on vehicle usage to one that outlines where vehicles are allowed. The working group will review a final draft of a report on their work this Saturday… public comment will be allowed at 11 AM.

They’ve already borrowed $900-thousand at a very low interest rate, now Siuslaw School Board members are trying to decide which type of roof, and how extensive the work should be on the elementary school. Portions of the elementary roof are leaking, but other parts still have a five to six year expected life. Administrators have presented several different options to the school board. They’ll consider them this evening, along with several other business items, when they meet at district offices. That meeting at 6:30.

Retail gas prices are on the rise thanks to higher crude oil prices. That’s according to Marie Dodds with Triple-A of Oregon who notes the average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline in Oregon increased by three cents this week to $2.94. Florence’s average price went up four cents to $2.81. The national average increase by eight cents this week… it’s also at $2.81. Dodds says crude oil is trading five dollars a barrel more than two weeks ago… it’s at $82 this week.

With every technological advance, the capabilities of cell phones and smart phones increase… but so too does the risk of identity theft. 82-percent of American adults own cell phones and nearly half of those use them regularly to access the internet. Robert Andrew, CEO of the Better Business Bureau says disposing of that cell phone when you get a new one is where the risk lies. Andrew says consumers need to take steps to remove all personal information from cell phones. He says the Better Business Bureau has information on how to do that on their website… www-dot-bbb-dot-org.

Here is the latest Oregon news from The Associated Press

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - A white separatist has pleaded guilty to
writing a letter from the Oregon State Penitentiary threatening to
kill President Barack Obama. The Oregonian reports the Secret
Service investigated an alleged group plot against Obama outlined
in his letters but found the group David Earl Anderson mentioned
did not exist.

SALEM, Ore. (AP) - Law enforcement officials say they found
explosive material, blasting caps and burned circuit boards near
the Jefferson home of Bruce Turnidge, who is on trial with his son
for a bombing that killed two officers. Turnidge and his son,
Joshua, are accused of planting the bomb Dec. 12, 2008, outside
West Coast Bank in Woodburn as part of a failed robbery attempt.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - A Morrow County reserve sheriff's deputy
has been indicted on murder charges in the death of a pregnant
woman earlier this month. Steven Montie Crum was arrested last week
in the death of 30-year-old Jessica Rae Killian, whose body was
discovered Oct. 4 on a farm near Ione.

MEDFORD, Ore. (AP) - They can't agree on a second televised
debate in the race for governor, so Democrat John Kitzhaber and
Republican Chris Dudley are going solo in forums aimed at Southern
Oregon voters. Dudley is first up this evening, and Kitzhaber will
follow next Tuesday in appearances on KOBI-TV in Medford. They've
met face to face in one debate televised from Portland.

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

TAKING A LOOK INTO COAST RADIO SPORTS:
Athlete of the Week:
Siuslaw Cross Country standout Raelyn Robinson is Coast Radio Sports’ Athlete of the Week. The Viking senior traversed the course in Philomath in a time of 18:54 winning the Paul Mariman Invitational a full 33 seconds ahead of her nearest competitor. It was the first sub 19-minute run on any course by the Viking Senior and a school record…Honorable Mention this week to Viking outside hitter Brionna DeSantis, who contributed to both Siuslaw volleyball victories last week, picking up ten kills in one game alone.

Prep Volleyball:
The Siuslaw Vikings won the first two games, gave up the third, but came back in the fourth to claim their sixth Far West League Victory last night, this one over the Douglas Trojans. Katie Catalfamo had 14 kills, Maddy McClellan had five service aces. The Reedsport Braves remain atop the Sunset Conference with a three game victory at home last night over the Bandon Tigers. In the Mountain West League, Lindsey Logan had 14 kills and Megan Harry had eight of her own as the Mapleton Sailors won in four over Triangle Lake.