Commissioners to fill Sheriff's vacancy - Flood watch remains despite falling waters - gas goes up - Siuslaw Awards nominations due

Burger confirmed as U.S. Marshall… to leave Sheriff’s post.

Lane County Commissioners will appoint an interim sheriff to replace Russ Burger who was confirmed last week by the Senate as the U.S. Marshall for Oregon. The formal appointment came Monday by President Obama. The 48-year old Burger, sheriff since 2005, applied for the position last year and will be sworn in next month in Washington DC, although a definite date has not yet been set. Undersheriff Tom Turner will take over on an interim basis, the Board of Commissioners will make an appointment to the post sometime in the near future. Whomever is selected will serve until January of next year… the next elected sheriff will be chosen in the 2011 general election. Burger will oversee marshal operations in the state, including security at federal courthouses, fugitive recovery, protection of witnesses and federal judges, as well as transportation of federal prisoners.

A series of very wet storm systems have dropped plenty of rain over Western Oregon in the past two days… more than two inches were recorded in Florence Tuesday alone. The National Weather Service is saying a flood watch will remain in effect for many rivers in Oregon, including the Siuslaw, through late tomorrow. The river gauge on the Siuslaw, three miles upstream from Mapleton, showed the Siuslaw peaked at less than an inch below flood stage at about two AM today and, despite continued rainfall, is likely to continue falling. Forecasters say landslides and debris flows are also possible.

Nominations for Florence’s First Citizen and a half dozen other Siuslaw Awards are due by the end of this week. The Siuslaw Awards banquet is set for Friday, January 14th, but entries are required no later than the close of business December 31st. The entry forms are available online at the Chamber of Commerce website, or can be picked up at the Visitor Center on Highway 101 next to City Hall.

The average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline in Oregon went up by two cents this past week, it’s at $3.08 as measured by Triple-A. That organization says the national average increased by seven cents in the past week, mostly as a result of continued strong demand. In Florence the average price increased six cents a gallon, but remains well below the three dollar mark at $2.92. Drivers in the state are looking at another hefty price increase by this time next week… the legislature approved a six-cent hike in gas taxes two years ago… it takes effect Saturday.

AP-OR--1st NewsMinute,0259

Here is the latest Oregon news from The Associated Press

OREGON CITY, Ore. (AP) - A rock slide is blocking northbound
Highway 99E just south of Oregon City. Highway officials says the
slide began about 3 a.m. and has deposited tons of rock on the
roadway. The northbound lanes are expected to be closed throughout
the day.

LOWELL, Ore. (AP) - A Lane County sheriff's officer has
identified a 36-year-old man fatally shot at a home in Lowell. Lt.
Dennis Ewing says Shawn Gamble was shot by an older male relative
who has not been arrested and is cooperating in the investigation
of the Monday night shooting.

SALEM, Ore. (AP) - Oregon State Hospital says a patient at the
Salem psychiatric facility has been found dead in her room in an
apparent suicide. A hospital spokeswoman says the woman was in the
facility's forensic psychiatric program. Patients in the forensic
program have been found guilty of a crime.

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) - Investigators say a Eugene pilot's flying
errors and marijuana use contributed to the plane crash that killed
him on Aug. 23, 2009. The NTSB says Ben Henderson failed to control
the aircraft during takeoff for a glider tow, and that his
impairment from smoking pot coupled with the flight's low altitude
were contributing factors.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - An anonymous phone call reporting a bomb
in the Multnomah County Courthouse in Portland prompted an
evacuation of the building yesterday. During their search, the bomb
squad found a suspicious-looking device -- but it was an old phone
junction box that could have been in the building more than 50
years.

BAKER CITY, Ore. (AP) -The ghosts at Oregon's Geiser Grand Hotel
are going live. A popular Japanese TV show highlighting the
supernatural will broadcast live New Year's Eve from the restored
1889 hotel in the historic Old West town of Baker City.


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

TAKING A LOOK INTO COAST RADIO SPORTS:

Prep Basketball action continues in Oakland this afternoon for the Reedsport Braves… both boys and girls. The Mapleton sailors will be in Alsea for day one of a co-ed basketball tourney. On the mats… Siuslaw will be at the Myrtle Point Invitational

Race organizer Jim Archer says there are no entry fees, no prizes and no excuses for not participating in the 27th annual “Morning After 5K Fun Run and Walk”. Archer has been organizing, albeit loosely, the annual New Year’s Morning run since 1984. He stresses that it is strictly for fun and no times will be taken… it’s all about getting out and running off the previous night’s celebration… as well as starting the year off. Runners and walkers, and all who enable them, are encouraged to meet on Bay Street under the Siuslaw River Bridge at ten AM New Year’s Day.