Government continuing to deal with falling revenue
Local and regional governments are dealing with the budget process for the coming year and at every level, resources are even scarcer than before. In Florence, census figures showing a drop in population of about 12-to-15 percent could mean the city receives as much as $100-thousand less this year in gas, liquor and cigarette taxes. The building bust has also meant a drastic reduction in fees collected for building permits and development. The challenges in Florence, however, pale in comparison to Lane County where falling revenue and increasing costs have prompted administrators to propose a budget that will trim the work force by three-percent. As many as 55 full-time jobs will be eliminated. Most of those would be in the Sheriff’s Department which stands to lose 26 positions, including two patrol deputies. The District Attorney’s office is targeted to lose four positions and there would also be cuts in several other departments including health services to pregnant women and youth services. Lane County is looking at a proposed budget of $94.6-million… down ten-percent from the current year.
Lane County has joined the City of Eugene in declaring tomorrow as Chris Kilcullen Remembrance Day. The 12-year veteran of the Eugene Police Department was the first line-of-duty police death in Eugene since 1934. As many as 1,000 police and fire vehicles are expected to form a procession through the Eugene-Springfield area on the way to Friday's memorial service at the Matthew Knight Arena at two. Parking is limited in the area so the public is encouraged to use free shuttles that will go back and forth between the U-of-O campus and the Lane Events Center. A 57-year-old Springfield woman, Cheryl D. Kidd, is charged with aggravated murder.
The bulk of the commercial Dungeness Crab harvested off the Oregon Coast is collected during the first two months of the season… in December and January. But, for many crabbers, the work continues through the end of the season in August. Through April 26th Oregon crabbers have landed about 20.3 million pounds, 2 ½ million less than the total take last year. But the value collected so far, just over $45-million, has already exceeded last year’s. 2011 is promising to be the third record setting year for the industry.
A member of a Florence Area pioneer family passed away last week in Central Oregon. Don Houghton passed away in Bend at the age of 83 after a two-year battle with cancer. He was four years old when his father joined in a partnership to develop and operate Sea Lion Caves, 12 miles north of Florence.
Saubert: “And it was started you know… one of the owners was Don’s dad. It was my grandfather and Don’s Dad and Johnny Jacobson as well.”
Steve Saubert says at the time what was then known as the Roosevelt Military Highway was graveled and ferries still crossed the major rivers and streams along the coast.
Saubert: “It was totally a family operation, you know the three families, and you know, it really still is.”
Management has been in the hands of the third generation for several years now. The Houghton Family sold their interest to the Sauberts and Jacobsons five years ago.
Here is the latest Oregon news from The Associated Press
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Most of the questions that Oregon Rep.
David Wu fielded at a Portland town hall meeting yesterday dealt
with the economy, the budget deficit, Medicare and military
spending. It wasn't until nearly the end of the 90-minute event
that one constituent asked Wu why his top staffers left and why Wu
should continue to represent the 1st Congressional District. The
Democrat has previously said that he's "in a good place now"
after treatment for campaign antics blamed on stress.
HILLSBORO, Ore. (AP) - Police say a robber got more than cash
yesterday when he held up a bank branch in Hillsboro - a teller
also handed him a tracking device tucked inside one of the stacks
of bills. That helped a Washington County sheriff's deputy track
him to a U-Haul vehicle about five minutes later. The deputy soon
arrested Andrea K. Gill and Matthew T. Draina for investigation of
bank robbery.
SALEM, Ore. (AP) - The Oregon State Penitentiary has been placed
on full lockdown after more inmate fights. The Oregon Department of
Corrections said yesterday that the Salem prison had also declared
an institutional emergency as a precautionary measure. Fights
Tuesday and yesterday came after two inmate fights broke out on
Sunday in the penitentiary's recreation building and recreation
yard.
SEASIDE, Ore. (AP) - Seaside, Ore., police say a man and woman
who died when their vehicle plunged into a river in the coastal
town have been identified as a Vancouver, Wash., couple. Lt. Dave
Ham said yesterday that 39-year-old Robert Weston MacNeil and
26-year-old Karen Irene Stevens were visiting when they went down a
boat ramp into the Necanicum River late Monday and drowned.
SALEM, Ore. (AP) - The Oregon House today takes up a bill aimed
at prohibiting picketing at funerals. The measure would ban
picketing within 1,000 feet of the property where a funeral, burial
or memorial service is being conducted and would allow funeral
organizers to prohibit all uninvited guests within 400 feet of the
service. The bill is an apparent response to protests organized by
a Kansas church that has picketed the funerals of military members.
The U.S. Supreme Court recently held that the church's protests are
free speech under the First Amendment.
CLACKAMAS, Ore. (AP) - A Clackamas County sheriff's spokesman
says two Golden Retrievers swept 175 feet down a cliff in a
landslide survived their tumble to the edge of the Clackamas River.
Rescuers from the sheriff's Marine Patrol and a local fire district
were able to save 8-year-old George and 10-year-old Doug after they
plunged down the 80-degree slope yesterday afternoon. A neighbor
climbed down the cliff to help the dogs. Rescuers picked him up as
well.
NAMPA, Idaho (AP) - Authorities say an Idaho man who was
reported missing a week ago has been found in Oregon.
Sixty-six-year-old Thomas Allen Lynch was located yesterday morning
by an Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife biologist who was
surveying sage-grouse along the Owyhee River. Officials say Lynch's
car battery died in the Oregon backcountry while he was coyote
hunting. Lynch's family says he is in good health, but regretful
for not telling his family where he was going.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
TAKING A LOOK INTO COAST RADIO SPORTS:
The Siuslaw Vikings fell to the Sutherlin Bulldogs 12-1 yesterday on the baseball diamond. The Vikings managed only two hits and committed five errors in the game that was shortened to five innings because of the ten-run rule.
On the softball diamond, Siuslaw left 11 base runners stranded at home yesterday, including bases loaded in three innings, falling to the Sutherlin Bulldogs 4-3. The Vikings trailed four-nothing headed into the bottom of the seventh inning, but a final inning rally fell short.
Oregon’s Diamond Ducks ended a six game home stand with a 4-2 loss yesterday to the Portland Pilots. Oregon will be back in Pac-10 action tomorrow in Berkley as they open a three game series against #20 Cal.
Round one of the NFL Draft is set for tonight at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. Seven college athletes from the state have registered, including OSU defensive tackle Steven Paea (PI-uh), a potential late first round pick. Two other Beavers are expected to be taken… center Alexander Linnenkolh and running back Jacquizz Rodgers. Three hopeful Ducks are on the list… Casey Matthews, a linebacker, is highly rated. He’s followed by defensive lineman Brandon Bair and wide receiver Jeffery Maehl. Portland State’s Julius Thomas rounds out the lineup from the state. Auburn’s Cam Newton is expected to be the opening choice. The Carolina Panthers have the number one pick.
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