Urban Renewal gets an idea of funding capability - Conservation group pursuing legal action to protect leatherback -

02-09-11 7,8,9 AM; Noon; 5,6 PM
RBS

Urban Renewal to hear bonding report…

The Florence Urban Renewal Agency will hear a report tonight that should tell them how much bonding authority they have to work on public works projects in the downtown area. Assistant City Manager Jacque Betz says the report is well grounded.
202 – “And the consultants took a very conservative approach and with zero growth right now, so that the agency feels very comfortable with the bond they're going to go out with and they have some decisions to make whether it's going to be 1.5 or 2-million."

Along with the report by Elaine Howard Consulting, agency board members will hear from city staff on a possible list of projects.
201 – “Public Works Director Mike Miller is also going to present some project proposals and costs. The focus is on infrastructure, water and sewer down in the district area. And so he's going to propose some different scenarios of what the agency can do."

The intention, she says, is to provide projects that will encourage private development…
203 – “Water, sewer, there might be some street improvements down there too and then they'll decide a package, you know, of what they want to go after. And that infrastructure will be the focus for the bond."

Ultimately the goal is to spark redevelopment that would not only bring new property taxes into the area, but also create jobs. The Urban Renewal Agency meets at City Hall tonight, 6:30.



02-09-11 7,8,9 AM; Noon; 5,6 PM
RBS

An environmental group is threatening a lawsuit against the National Marine Fisheries Service aimed at setting aside a large portion of the Pacific Ocean off the California, Oregon and Washington Coasts to protect giant sea turtles. The group Oceana says the giant Leatherbacks can grow to more than a thousand pounds and make the trip from Indonesia to the northeast pacific to feed on jellyfish. The federal agency was asked four years ago to set aside about 70-thousand square miles and missed a January deadline for doing so. The National Wildlife Federation is not part of the proposed legal action, but is watching the case. Spokesperson Patty Glick says the Leatherbacks face a lot of potential hazards.
205 – “They face threats from harmful fishing practices, from marine debris, they can swallow things like plastic bags, thinking they’re jellyfish, and that can kill them. Also, as we witnessed this past summer, things like oil spills, as well.”

Glick says designating ‘critical habitat’ doesn’t mean all activities would be restricted, but opponents of the plan say it would likely restrict commercial fishing.

The average price for a gallon of regular unleaded edged up a penny in Florence this past week, it’s at $3.09. Wholesale prices have stabilized near $90 a barrel according to Triple-A, leaving Oregon’s average price and the national average unchanged in the past week. Motorists in Oregon pay on average $3.21 a gallon… the national average is $3.10


TAKING A LOOK INTO COAST RADIO SPORTS:

The Viking boys fell last night on the road to the Bruins in Brookings 83 – 53. Brendan Schmoll led scoring with 13 points, Mitchell Butler had 12. Other Far West League results… Douglas picked up their second league win of the year last night, 51-40 over South Umpqua. North Bend downed Sutherlin 57-49. In the Sunset League… Coquille got by Reedsport 80 to 20.

For the girls, the number three ranked Brookings Harbor Bruins beat the Lady Vikings last night 80-34. In other Far West results, Sutherlin shut down North Bend 37 – 14; Douglas beat South Umpqua 59-37. In the Sunset League, Coquille beat Reedsport 48-21.

University of Oregon senior forward Joevan Catron was named Pac-10 Men's Basketball Player of the Week for last week. Catron led the Ducks to a sweep of Washington State and then-No. 20 Washington. The Phoenix, Ill., native averaged 18.5 points, 9.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.0 steals in the two games.