Oregon unemployment rate peaks, gas ticks up, crabbers participate in dead zone study and free tickets.

Unemployment rate reaches historical high…

There’s good news and bad news when it comes to Oregon’s record unemployment rate. First, the bad news. The state’s chief economist, Tom Potiowsky (puh-TAO-skee), says the 12.4-percent rate, up from 11.8-percent in April, will likely “top out in the 13-percent range” sometime in early 2010. There are currently about 240-thousand Oregonians actively seeking employment according to estimates by the Oregon Employment Division. That’s twice the number at this time last year. The good news though, is that there are some encouraging signs. There was only a net loss of about 100 jobs across the state in May, the smallest decrease in quite some time. Economists noted that seasonal hiring that began last month helped offset job losses in other sectors of the economy. Oregon’s unemployment rate is a full three percent higher than the national average and is the second highest in the country, right behind Michigan.

Researchers at Oregon State University are working with ten Oregon Dungeness commercial crabbers to gather information off the coast this season that could improve knowledge of “dead zones” those oxygen depleted areas within the ocean. The crabbers have been deploying their pots with sensors attached that measure water temperature and dissolved oxygen levels at various depths. Scientists hope the information gathered will help them to better understand and predict the “dead zones”.

The average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline in Florence increased by four cents this week to $2.64. Meanwhile, the statewide average as calculated by Triple-A went up nine cents in the same period. It’s now at $2.78 a gallon. Oregon pump prices are up 60-percent since the start of 2009 says Marie Dodds with Oregon Triple-A. She adds the increases have come primarily as the cost of crude oil has recovered since dropping by more than $100-per-barrell at the end of last year. Despite the historic climb Dodds expects prices to remain well below where they were a year ago. That’s when the local average peaked at $4.20 a gallon.

Three Rivers Casino and Hotel has set aside about 150 free tickets to a concert later this month featuring the Bluzmen (blues-men) with only one requirement.
205 – “They volunteer in the Florence area. That could be here at Peace Harbor Health, Boys and Girls Club, any of our services like fire, police, coast guard, any of those and they are eligible for one ticket.”

Laurie Grimmett said it’s all part of Three Rivers’ fifth anniversary celebration and their way of saying thanks to the many people who offer their time and skills to the community. Grimmett also said the tickets for the June 26th concert are moving quickly. As of yesterday nearly half of the allotment had been spoken for.
206 – “call 541-999-9997 and I will take down their name and number and put them in for an order and they can pick up their tickets at will-call the day of the performance.”

The show is a ‘high-energy tribute’ to the Blues Brothers, the band created by Dan Akroyd and John Belushi. The Bluzmen appeared at the Casino earlier this year.

TAKING A LOOK INTO COAST RADIO SPORTS:

It was a different kind of game last night, but the results were the same with the Three Rivers Sandblasters coming out on top, 3-1 over the Springfield Titans in Florence. Bryce Weidman came out strong in his 2009 Legion debut, throwing eight complete innings with six strikeouts and only one walk. He gave up five hits including a pair of doubles to Springfield’s Matt Mirano. Zach Laxague continued his ‘extra base’ hitting streak with two doubles and Travis Iverson came through in the sixth inning with a key two run single to break a scoreless tie.
The Sandblasters home stand closes out this evening at Jiggs Dodson field against Salem’s Withnell Dodgers at five o’clock. That game will air on Coast Radio Sports.