Durham manhunt enters day 4 - Police say danger part of the job - Mural code going to council

Durham manhunt enters day four…

Police say they’ve searched more than 250 homes, the Coast Guard is overflying the area, and armed police still control access in and out of the Bayshore area north of Waldport as the search continues for the man accused of shooting a Lincoln City Police officer multiple times Sunday night. The dog belonging to 43-year old David Durham of Portland was found yesterday with an injured leg. Police say the 40-pound Blue Heeler Australian Cattle dog was found east of Highway 101, but they’re still focused on the area west of the highway. The officer who was shot, Steve Dodds, is improving but is still in critical condition in a Portland hospital. Meanwhile, say officials, they say it is extremely unlikely that Durham got south of Waldport. Two reported sightings of the man in the Florence area did cause some concern this week. Tuesday someone called authorities after seeing a transient on the dunes near Fred Meyer. Police didn’t find the man, but a review of store security video did show him. It was determined that he did not in fact match the Portland man. Another sighting yesterday prompted a police response who checked out a hitchhiker. Local police say people should be vigilant and report anything suspicious.

Recommendations to change the city’s rules governing murals will go to the city council next month. The planning commission gave a thumbs up Tuesday night to the proposal that splits murals away from the sign code and expands the definition of what a mural is. According to the draft, a mural is categorized as a work of visual art that is tiled, painted or affixed to a fence or wall and exceeds the maximum size of an allowable wall sign. It’s also considered to be more aesthetic and not so much informational and may reflect an historic, cultural or natural heritage and engage the viewer. Sam and Karen Dantone, co-owners of Treehouse Signs and Decorative Arts have been participating in the code adoption process. They support the new rules saying they are a – quote – “great step forward”. The Florence City Council will conduct a hearing on the proposals at their February 28th meeting.

In November 2009, four Lakewood, Washington police officers were shot and killed in a coffee shop. Earlier this month, the Police Chief in Ranier, Oregon was shot and killed trying to take a car theft suspect into custody. Sunday night, a Lincoln City police officer was shot multiple times and remains in critical condition in a Portland hospital. Florence Police Lieutenant Ray Gutierrez says officers try not to let that get in the way of doing their job.
200 – “You don’t let it effect you, but obviously you’re going to be more alert. That was so close to home that I know our officers are taking an extra look, being extra cautious. Because of the training received they do that.”

Law enforcement officials are more alert than ever to the dangers, but he adds… it’s part of the job and they have to rely on their training. Gutierrez agreed the biggest impact is on the family members and spouses.
201 – “I imagine it would be. I would say yes. They’re always concerned when their husbands put on that vest, and put on that gun belt and go out and protect this community.”

Here is the latest Oregon news from The Associated Press

ST. HELENS, Ore. (AP) - An arraignment for the 21-year-old man
charged with aggravated murder in the Jan. 5 fatal shooting of the
Rainier police chief was called off yesterday after the defendant
angrily interrupted his lawyers in court. Those attorneys told a
Columbia County judge they weren't sure Daniel Butts was competent
to enter a plea in Ralph Painter's death.

MILWAUKIE, Ore. (AP) - Several passengers on a Portland-area
transit bus helped restrain a man accusing of roughing up the bus
driver. A Milwaukie police officer says witnesses told him a man
screamed while waiting for a TriMet bus yesterday afternoon, then
began barking orders once on the bus, stormed to the front and
began harassing and shoving the driver. The Oregonian reports that
Milwaukie police arrested Jeffrey Todd Pavey following the
incident.

BROWNSVILLE, Ore. (AP) - Oregon State Police say a Vancouver,
Wash., man driving a big rig tractor cab on Interstate 5 lost
control yesterday, went airborne and ended up on the bank of the
Calapooia River. A trooper says 54-year-old Patrick W. Smith had
only minor injuries.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Portland police Sgt. Willie Halliburton's
cause isn't funny, but he hopes he will be. Police say Halliburton
is set to be the featured act Thursday through Sunday evenings at a
Harvey's Comedy Club fundraiser to benefit the families of slain
Rainier Police Chief Ralph Painter and wounded Lincoln City Officer
Steve Dodds.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - A Bulgarian man who pleaded guilty to
stealing the identity of a murdered Ohio boy is set for sentencing
today and says he'll meet with the boy's family. Since 1996,
Doitchin Krastev has used the name and social security number of
Jason Evers, a 3-year-old boy killed during a kidnapping in 1982.

ASTORIA, Ore. (AP) - Parents of children attending a
113-year-old Catholic school in Astoria have been told it will
close at the end of the school year because of escalating budget
deficits. School officials told parents by letter that the decision
to close St. Mary, Star of the Sea was made by the Archdiocese of
Portland.

BEND, Ore. (AP) - Police are looking for the vehicle that struck
and killed a man walking a bicycle across a street in Bend late
last night. Police say 48-year-old Anthony John Martin died just
before midnight near an intersection. The vehicle left the scene.

SALEM, Ore. (AP) - Oregon's new state forester is Doug Decker, a
24-year veteran of the department who started as assistant director
of public affairs and rose through the ranks. Decker replaces
Marvin Brown, who resigned last October after the board decided it
wanted a new leader.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)


TAKING A LOOK INTO COAST RADIO SPORTS:

It’s all on the schedule today… Siuslaw Wrestlers are in Myrtle Creek for a Far West Dual Meet against the South Umpqua Lancers.

And, in college basketball…. The Oregon men are in Palo Alto against the Stanford Cardinal… airtime on Coast Radio Sports is set for 6:30 with the tipoff at seven. Oregon State has the late game… they’ll tip off at eight against the Cal Golden Bears in Berkley… the pregame show on KCFM is ay 7:30.