Radiation levels monitored - Beach Cleanup coming - Florence man walks away from jail... again.

RBS

Authorities continue to minimize radiation hazards…

Oregon officials say there is no health risk to the state from radiation released by a damaged nuclear plant in Japan. At the same time, federal environmental regulators say they are adding more radiation monitors as concerns rise. The Environmental Protection Agency already monitors radiation throughout the area as part of its “RadNet” system which measures levels in the air, drinking water, milk and rain. Officials with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission say they do not expect harmful radiation levels to reach the U.S. Oregon Public Health officials agree. They held a press conference yesterday to reassure residents that they were closely monitoring developments as crews continue trying to cool overheated reactors at the Daiichi Nuclear facility. They say they’re closely monitoring those federal radiation detectors.

Florence police are looking for a 22-year old prisoner who failed to return from a dentist appointment. This would be the second time that Keith Brown walked away from the Florence Jail. Authorities say Brown is 6’2”, 215 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes. He still had 70 days remaining on a 102 day sentence stemming from several probation violations, resisting arrest and a DUII. Brown was supposed to return to the jail yesterday after the dentist’s visit. It is the second time he’s walked away from the Florence lockup… in 2009 he was serving another sentence, was released to see a doctor and took off. He was later located and earned another 30-days in jail. Police say not to approach the man if you see him, rather call 911 and give dispatchers as much information as you can about his location and what he’s wearing.

Spring break is set to begin this weekend and for most of the past 25 years that’s meant the annual Spring Beach Cleanup sponsored by SOLV and the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department. Parks beach ranger Trisha Wymore says the cleanup will take place a week later than normal this year.
215 – “That’s because we have a high tide coming on the day that it’s typically on. During the time when volunteers would be on the beach.”

Wymore says beach safety is of utmost importance, but a low tide also leaves more space for volunteers to maneuver. There will be a half dozen locations in Western Lane County for volunteers to work, as well as two in Douglas County. Wymore says information is available online.
216 – “We have preregistration online now so we can save paper and save time for people showing up. And that’s at www.solv.org.”

Volunteers will also be on hand at Siuslaw Bank in Florence and the Oregon Dunes headquarters in Reedsport to help direct workers. That beach cleanup is set for March 26th.

Here is the latest Oregon news from The Associated Press

CORVALLIS, Ore. (AP) - Police in Corvallis now say that while
gunshots were heard near a rooming house early yesterday, no
bullets actually hit the house. Investigators initially said they
found exterior wall damage consistent with gunshots, but Sgt. Jef
Van Arsdall says those holes had actually been drilled as part of a
construction project. One bullet was recovered. No injuries have
been reported.

BEND, Ore. (AP) - Bend police say the 71-year-old husband of a
woman missing for nearly a week has been found dead in his home
with a gunshot wound. Capt. Jim Porter says officers responding to
a report of a dead man at the home of John and Sandra Meyer found
John Meyer dead yesterday morning. KTVZ says police are not
releasing details about the nature of the gunshot wound.

SALEM, Ore. (AP) - Police have arrested an 18-year-old man
accused of breaking in to the Oregon state Capitol. Oregon State
Police troopers say Ellis C. Dishion of Salem was arrested for
investigation of criminal mischief and criminal trespass. He was
taken into custody about 7 last night after officers responded to a
report of a break-in at the Capitol's employee entrance on the west
side.

LAKEVIEW, Ore. (AP) - A teenager who broke into southern Oregon
homes and stole young women's underwear has been sentenced to 4 1/2
years in prison after a judge revoked his probation. Lake County
District Attorney David Schutt says Rodger Clint Lee Vanwormer Jr.
burglarized homes in Lakeview in 2009, taking only female
underwear, which was found in labeled plastic bags in his room.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Congressman David Wu crashed his vehicle
into a parked car in Portland last year, but the incident never
showed up in a police report. The Oregonian reports no one was
injured in the February 2010 accident and Wu passed a field
sobriety test. His spokesman, Erik Dorey, says Wu fell asleep while
driving.

SALEM, Ore. (AP) - An Oregon Senate Committee is set to consider
legislation to prohibit government agencies from disclosing the
names of people with permits to carry concealed weapons. The bill
sponsored by Republican Sen. Doug Whitsett of Klamath Falls stems
from a dispute between the Medford Mail Tribune and the Jackson
County Sheriff over releasing the county's concealed weapons permit
list.

LA GRANDE, Ore. (AP) - Wildlife officials have not been able to
determine the cause of death for a wolf that had recently been
captured and fitted with a radio tracking collar. Blood was found
in the wolf's chest, but investigators couldn't find the cause.
Wolves are an endangered species in Oregon.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - A Gresham man is pleading guilty in the
torture death of his 5-year-old daughter. The Oregonian reports
24-year-old Christopher Andrew Rosillo faces a 25-year prison term
when he is sentenced next month. The girl, Oleander Labier, had
multiple broken bones and internal injuries and weighed only 28
pounds because of malnutrition when she died last April.

TOPPENISH, Wash. (AP) - The Yakama Nation plans to release the
details of a major casino expansion and hotel development today.
Across the Columbia River, the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla
Indian Reservation are working on a $67 million project of their
own to add more casino space, a Cineplex and high-rise hotel.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - A judge has sentenced a 64-year-old
Portland man to three years' probation for installing a hidden
camera in his bathroom. The Oregonian reports Ronald Kent Schaffner
was accused of recording women, including his sister and
daughter-in-law, in the shower. The Multnomah County Circuit judge
also ordered the former lawyer to undergo counseling.

MEDFORD, Ore. (AP) - The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission is
scheduled to meet by teleconference today after its meeting in
Florence last Friday was canceled as coastal residents braced for
waves from the tsunami caused by the earthquake in Japan. The Mail
Tribune reports the commission is scheduled to review management
plans for big-game animals.

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

TAKING A LOOK INTO COAST RADIO SPORTS:

Oregon’s Joevan (jo-VONN) Catron (KAY-tronn) had 24 points and 12 rebounds as the Ducks held off Weber State to win 68-59 last night in an opening round game of the College Basketball Invitational at Matthew Knight Arena in Eugene. E.J. Singler had 16 points for the Ducks who are now at 17-17 on the year and won their first post season game since 2007. They’ll host Duquesne in the CBI quarterfinals Monday evening.

On the track this afternoon the Siuslaw Ice Breaker gets underway at Hans Peterson Field. The Siuslaw Vikings will open up the season with a limited squad at four P.M.