Wrestling Invitational honors Nick Lutz' Memory - Megan Connor future first citizen -

01-14-11 7,8,9 AM; Noon; 5,6 PM
RBS

Local man remembered during tomorrow’s wrestling tournament

For the second year in a row, the annual January wrestling invitational tournament at Siuslaw High School will honor the memory of one of the program’s many outstanding products. Head Coach Neil Wartnik says Nick Lutz was special.
210 – “He just had an amazing spirit about him. He, uh, he was a hard worker. He told me when he was a freshman or a sophomore, coach, I’m going to win a state championship. And he had a look in his eyes that told me, I think he might do it. And, sure enough, he did.”

Five years ago, in his senor year, Lutz claimed the title at 189 pound weight class. After graduating, he worked with a Yachats man, Bill Bodewig and the two spent a lot of time together away from work, enjoying the outdoors. Just before Thanksgiving, 2009, they went fishing on the rocks above the Pacific Ocean north of Florence… Bodewig’s body was recovered several weeks later, but no trace of Lutz has been found.
211 – “When he had a tragic accident a year ago it was a big blow to the whole community and this is just our way of remembering him and all that he meant to the community and to the wrestling program.”

Last year’s designation as the Nick Lutz Invitational came naturally… and this year’s tournament will honor his memory once again.


01-14-11 7,8,9 AM; Noon; 5,6 PM
RBS

You could say this year’s recipient of the annual Future First Citizen Award is active… Megan Connor is the President of the Associated Student Body at Siuslaw High School, she’s actively involved in Honor Society, Key Club, the yearbook and was the leader of the Junior-Senior prom committee last year. This year she’s been an active participant in KCST’s Viking Hour. Connor is one of four students nominated, she’ll be introduced as the award recipient this evening during the Fourth Annual Siuslaw Awards, but the other three nominees have impressive credentials as well. Keenan Bishop, Lyndee Center and Logan Bliss rounded out the list. Also honored this evening will be First Citizen designee Fred Jensen, along with 11 other local businesses and organizations up for four other awards Tickets are available at the Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center.

A health advisory for Tenmile Lake, in place since September 23rd for high levels of blue-green algae, has been lifted. Testing by the Oregon Public Health Division and Coos County officials showed reduced levels last week.

When Paramedics and EMTs from Western Lane Ambulance District recently conducted CPR and First Aid classes for Siuslaw Valley Firefighters recently, there was a good reason. Fire department personnel are essential, says Western Lane’s Al Kreitz, in helping ambulance paramedics and EMTs when they respond to calls, especially if there is more than one patient. Car crashes can often generate multiple patients and medics appreciate the extra eyes and hands that arrive on scene with the fire engines. Kreitz says that’s why it’s so important to train and prepare firefighters to help out.

Here is the latest Oregon news from The Associated Press

KEIZER, Ore. (AP) - A 39-year-old Keizer man has been arraigned
on a charge of murder in the death of his wife. Peter John
Zielinski was ordered held without bail at yesterday's Marion
County Circuit Court appearance. Officers found 38-year-old Lisa
Zielinski's body at her home Wednesday after her husband drove to
the police station and said she needed an ambulance.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - A 42-year-old Sandy man who shot his
mother to death with a rifle on Christmas Day 2009 has been
sentenced to at least 25 years in state custody. The Oregonian
reports that Michael Scott Bighaus pleaded guilty except for
insanity to the murder of Vivian Bighaus. He was placed under the
supervision of Oregon Psychiatric Security Review Board and sent to
the Oregon State Hospital. He suffers from schizophrenia. His
father was not hurt.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Memorial services for Rainier police Chief
Ralph Painter are this afternoon at the University of Portland
Chiles Center. Painter was shot and killed last week in the small
Columbia River town north of Portland after he responded to a
report of an attempted car theft. A Kalama, Wash., man has been
charged with aggravated murder in the Jan. 5 death.

SALEM, Ore. (AP) - Gov. John Kitzhaber is putting off the
release of his initial plans for the state budget in order to
attend the funeral of slain Rainier police chief Ralph Painter.
Spokesman Tim Raphael says more details will be announced next
week.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - A federal judge hears arguments next week
about whether an Oregon man convicted of plotting to smuggle money
to Muslim fighters in Chechnya should be set free while his lawyers
seek a new trial. Lawyers for Pete Seda of Ashland say the
government failed to disclose that the FBI paid $14,500 to a couple
helping it in the investigation of the Al-Haramain organization.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - A former sheriff has been sworn in as the
new U.S. Marshal for Oregon. Onetime Lane County Sheriff Russel
Burger is a 22-year law enforcement veteran who was nominated for
marshal by President Barack Obama and confirmed by the U.S. Senate.

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) - A Springfield man who pleaded guilty to
burglarizing six churches in the city last fall has been sentenced
to nearly six years in prison. The Register-Guard reports Ryan
Schroder apologized in Lane County Circuit Court yesterday and
blamed his methamphetamine addiction.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - A man who was assaulted on New Year's Eve
in Portland has died of his injuries. Police say 40-year-old Robert
Williams died yesterday at Oregon Health & Science University
Hospital in Portland. Police are looking for witnesses to the fight
at Northwest Sixth and Davis Street.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Portland Trail Blazers star Brandon Roy
will have surgery on both of his knees next week. The team says
there is no timetable for the All-Star guard's return. Roy has
missed 16 games this season because of soreness in his knees, which
he has said is caused by a lack of cartilage.


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


TAKING A LOOK INTO COAST RADIO SPORTS:
Prep basketball: The Mapleton Sailors boomed past Alsea last night 79 – 32. Micah Espinosa put up 28 points. In the Girls’ game, Alsea came out on top by ten, 63 – 53. Andrea LeClaire led the Lady Sailors with 23.
On the wrestling mats tomorrow, action in the second annual Nick Lutz Invitational begins just after nine o’clock. Between 15 and 20 teams will be competing in both gyms. Final rounds are expected to begin by six pm.
Back to prep basketball, tonight the Lady Vikings will host the Newport Cubs for non-league play. That game at six. The Viking Boys will be in Newport against the number three ranked Newport Cubs. Airtime for that game is at 6:45… tipoff at seven. Reedsport will host the Glide Wildcats tomorrow for boys and girls basketball, Mapleton will be in Blue River against the McKenzie Eagles.
It was a full house… nearly 12,400 people were on hand for the opening for the new Matthew Knight Arena at the University of Oregon. It took nearly three minutes before anyone scored and when Garrett Sim dropped a 15 foot jump shot in, the place erupted. The Ducks beat USC 68 – 62. Oregon built an improbable 20 point lead in the second half, only to lose it all, then scramble back for the final six point margin. The win was their first in Pac-10 play and snapped a six-game losing streak. In Corvallis, Oregon State erased a first-half 17-point deficit, then squandered a late game lead to fall to UCLA 62 – 57. The Beavers will host USC Saturday evening at 7:30… that game will air on KCFM. Oregon will face UCLA tomorrow afternoon at Matt Arena… tipoff is set for three… that game will air on KCST.