Dunes off road plan nearing completion….
Work on a new plan, that will likely limit the areas on the Oregon Dunes that off-highway vehicles can ride, is nearing the final stage. Central Coast District Ranger Pam Gardner with the U.S. forest Service says a working group made up of riders, government agency representatives and environmental interests finished up a year of work identifying areas where riders have historically been allowed to ride. Part of that process also included defining vegetated areas that were formerly open sand but have now become overgrown by invasive species. Gardner says those areas may benefit by having more traffic. The next step is to take the process inside the agency for refinement.
215 - "We have assembled a team of our resource specialists that includes all of the environmental issues and social and economic issues that we think will be associated with this process."
Gardner says the rough draft, or "scoping" should be completed by early spring.
216 - "We expect probably by the first of March we will have a proposal out. It won't have a lot of detail, it's kind of our first step, but it helps us identify issues that we might have over looked."
Critics say they fear the plan will be used to further reduce the areas that can be accessed by off-roaders, thereby forcing more riders into a smaller space. That would degrade safeties well as possibly deter riders from even coming to the coast. The final decision on the "designated routes" program will be made by the Siuslaw National Forest Supervisor, probably by Earl fall.
You may think it's a little early to think about what to do with your Christmas tree. But it's never too early to think about fire safety. Christmas trees can dry out quickly and by the time the holiday arrives many trees are more of a hazard than a decoration according to Siuslaw Valley Fire Marshall Sean Barrett. That's one reason why firefighters will be picking up trees again this year. Barrett said three days have been set aside for pick ups this year. The first is Wednesday, December 29th, then Sunday January 2nd,with the final pick up set for Saturday, January 8th. All trees, including flocked trees, will be recycled. Barrett says a five dollar minimum donation is requested. Pick ups can be scheduled by calling Siuslaw Valley Fire And Rescue any time during business hours
Nearly 2300 people from 460 households have the makings for a holiday meal after Saturday's Community Christmas Basket distribution at Three Rivers Bingo Hall. Carol Bennett, a member of the Florence Soroptimist Club, said people began lining up Friday evening and by early Saturday the queue was backed up more than a mile. Despite the early turnout, or possibly because of it, most everyone wanting a box had picked one up by noon. Bennett said they had planned for as many as 550 households. The left over supplies won't go to waste... It all goes to Florence Food Share.
Here's the latest news from Associated Press
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Oregon state troopers are investigating a
crash on Interstate 5 in Wilsonville that killed a pedestrian.
Trooper Naymon Frank says 26-year-old Julio Sezar Valentin, of
Gervais, was killed early yesterday after a commercial truck hit
him. Frank says the truck's driver, 57-year-old Blaise G. Anderson,
of Farmington, Wash., was unable to avoid him.
SUNRIVER, Ore. (AP) - Authorities say a pilot is unhurt after
his small plane flipped onto its roof after landing on the snowy
runway at Sunriver Airport yesterday morning. A Sunriver Fire
spokesman says responders found the single-engine Piper Cub
upside-down about 20 feet from the main runaway. He says the pilot
got out of the plane and activated his fuel shutoff.
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Several hundred people showed up for a
rally against violence held Sunday at the Pioneer Courthouse Square
in Portland. That's where federal authorities say a Corvallis
teenager plotted to set off a bomb at a Christmas tree-lighting
event. KATU-TV reports some 300 people turned out for the rally,
some with signs reading "Hate is Not Welcome Here."
EUGENE, Ore. (AP) - Two years after a veteran died in the cold
in Eugene, community members say more warming shelters are open to
prevent such deaths. The Eugene Register-Guard reports that the
shelters open as needed from November through March and are run by
a coalition of nonprofit groups, churches and social service and
government agencies.
TILLAMOOK, Ore. (AP) - State wildlife officials are
investigating a probable outbreak of canine distemper among
raccoons along the north coast from Seaside to Astoria. The Oregon
Department of Fish and Wildlife says there have been numerous
complaints in recent weeks about sick and injured raccoons. KATU-TV
says canine distemper is a contagious viral disease that infects
raccoons, coyotes, skunks and unvaccinated dogs. It does not affect
humans.
SEATTLE (AP) - Matt Ryan threw for 174 yards and three
touchdowns, Jonathan Babineaux (BAB'-ihn-noh) recovered a fumble
for a touchdown and the Atlanta Falcons wrapped up an NFC playoff
spot with a 34-18 win over the Seattle Seahawks yesterday. Atlanta
won its eighth game in a row and improved to 12-2. Seattle fell to
6-8, tied with St. Louis atop the NFC West.
BEND, Ore. (AP) - Oregon wildlife managers are trying to boost
the bighorn sheep population. Biologists released 20 bighorn sheep
near the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument earlier this month,
returning the animals to that area for the first time in more than
a century.
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - About 300 people rallied against violence
yesterday at the Pioneer Courthouse Square in Portland. That's
where authorities say a Corvallis teen plotted to set off a bomb at
a Christmas tree-lighting. Some of the ralliers held signs reading
"Islam for Peace" and "Hate is Not Welcome Here."
SEATTLE (AP) - Seahawks cornerback Marcus Trufant left with a
back injury suffered late in the first half against Atlanta
yesterday. The team said his return was questionable. Trufant left
on Atlanta's final drive of the first half. He was replaced by
Kennard Cox, because Walter Thurmond -- the usual backup cornerback was inactive on Sunday with a hamstring injury.
MEDFORD, Ore. (AP) - Authorities still aren't releasing the
names of sheriffs' deputies who fatally shot a man in an illegal
marijuana growing operation in the Salt Creek area in August.
Investigators tell the Medford Mail Tribune that the deputies are
still in danger because the suspects remain at large.
LA GRANDE, Ore. (AP) - Wolves are not bloodless killers, but
they can appear to be. Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
biologist Russ Morgan explained why and much more during a recent
Oregon Hunters Association meeting. Morgan says wolves kill with
multiple bites that often do not break an animal's skin. The bites
trigger massive internal bleeding.
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - The field in the 2011 Iditarod Trail
Sled Dog Race is growing. Race officials say they received two more
entries to bring the number to 62. The Iditarod Trail Committee
says they received entry packages from Iditarod veterans Matt
Hayashida from Willow, and Gerald Sousa from Talkeetna. The
1,100-mile race is set to begin in early March.
TAKING A LOOK INTO COAST RADIO SPORTS…
In Prep tournament play the Siuslaw Girls lost to Myrtle Point 44-32 Friday night. Kasey Strenke led scoring with ten points, Raelynn Robinsonscored eight. Saturday, they downed the Marshfield JV, 55-31 to take the consolation game. Robinson had 24 points, Strenke 15.
In Boys action Siuslaw Coach DanGray said "everything worked" Friday as Siuslaw beat Myrtle Point 62-34 in the opening game of the Bobcats' Holiday tournament. The Vikings were up 15-nothing after the first quarter and never looked back. Saturday, they claimed the tournament championship with a 51-45 win over the Marshfield JV squad. Gray pointed out Saturday's game was more of a challenge as the Vikings didn't take the lead for good until less than three minutes remained. Mitchell Butler was 7-of-8 at the free throw line Saturday and put up a total of 25 points for the weekend. Jacob Thompson scored 11 and 9 points respectively, both were named to the all-tournament team.
Freshman K.T. Harrell scored 20 points and Sammy Zeglinski hit two big 3-pointers Friday night, lifting Virginia to a 63-48 victory against Oregon. Oregon had its three-game winning streak snapped. The Ducks got 16 points from Joevan Catron but little from anyone else as they shot just 34.5 percent overall.
Tony Taylor had 19 points, 11 assists and five rebounds to lead George Washington to an 87-79 victory Saturday afternoon victory over Oregon State. Jared Cunningham had 21 points and four rebounds for the Beavers, who have lost four of their last five.
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