All men are created equal... free to explore coastal trails... celebrate with illumination...

We hold these truths to be self evident… all men are created equal.

John Adams said July Second would likely be celebrated by succeeding generations as Independence Day; that Americans would – quote – “solemnize the day with pomp and parade; shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires and illumination” He was correct on how we would spend the day… but was off by 48 hours. Of course we all recognize July 4th now as Independence Day… the anniversary of the day the document was officially adopted by the Continental Congress. It was two days earlier that the congress voted 12-nothing to approve the final wording. Then the signatures were affixed throughout the summer of that year before it was sent on to King George in the fall. The 13th colony to vote for approval of the Declaration was New York… that state’s representative actually abstained from voting July 2nd because New York hadn’t voted to join the independence movement yet. They did that on July 19th . Oh, one other thing… there’s no historical proof that John Hancock justified his bold signature by saying he wanted to make it large enough for King George to read it without his spectacles. It has been suggested that his signature is the largest because he was the president of Congress.

Have you had a hankering to get out and explore some of the coastal trails, but you’ve never done it before and may be just a little timid about it? Beginning tomorrow afternoon, and continuing every Tuesday at one pm through the end of August the Cape Perpetua Scenic area is offering “EcoTreks”; guided hikes along the area’s trails. Field ranger Carol Daviscourt says it’s a “more in-depth nature experience” than just hiking alone and can open up whole new dimensions of exploration in the coastal rain forest. All of the hikes are about two hours in length and are of easy to moderate difficulty. Tomorrow’s destination, the Giant Spruce Trail… about two miles. It was closed for much of last year…
Daviscourt-- "It was actually closed off for several months this last year, going right on through February, I think, of this year. However, it is entirely open now."

Daviscourt says the main topic of tomorrow’s hike will be Ethnobotany… an indepth discussion of how the native people along the coast lived off the plants of the forest. There’s no cost for the EkoTreks themselves, but visitors to the center do need a valid federal recreation pass.

Looking for something to do tonight… well the Florence Area Chamber of Commerce will be celebrating the Independence Holiday with the traditional fireworks display fired from a barge in the middle of the Siuslaw River. HDB Marine provides the use of the barge, along with the crew to position it just offshore of the Port of Siuslaw Marina. The show will be preceded by two hours of patriotic music beginning at eight pm on KCST. The display itself will also be accompanied by the music… that gets underway at ten.


Here is the latest Oregon news from The Associated Press
VANCOUVER, Wash. (AP) - EUGENE, Ore. (AP) - The state is closing
a stretch of the Willamette River for the summer because the area
of the Interstate 5 bridge is too dangerous for boaters. The river
is flowing faster than usual and debris is getting caught on
temporary pilings. Officials say it's dangerous even for boaters
familiar with the river, let alone novices.

SEATTLE (AP) - Many conservationists welcome the return of gray
wolves into the Pacific Northwest, but ranchers want to shoot them
if they harm their livestock. The conflicts that marked wolf
debates in Montana, Idaho and Wyoming are now focused on the
animals that have moved to Oregon and Washington. Wildlife
officials are working on management plans to try to resolve heated
feelings.

FORT BELVOIR, Va. (AP) - Jeff Mellinger didn't join the Army
willingly, but he's grateful he found his calling. The command
sergeant major received a draft notice at his Eugene, Ore., home 39
years ago to fight the Vietnam War, and the Army believes he's now
the last draftee to retire. Most did their two years and left, but
Mellinger says he loves being a soldier.

VANCOUVER, Wash. (AP) - The 25-year-old Columbia River Gorge
National Scenic Area Act appears to have largely succeeded in
containing sprawl. More houses have been built, but spectacular
Gorge vistas remain largely pristine, and new commercial and
industrial development is concentrated in the 13 urban areas
designated for economic growth.

SEATTLE (AP) - Manager Eric Wedge made a point of calling his
Seattle Mariners together yesterday morning to apologize for not
catching a mistake in the count that helped cost his team a game.
San Diego's Cameron Maybin drew a walk Saturday night on what
really was a 2-2 pitch. The count on the stadium scoreboard read
3-2 when Doug Fister's pitch missed high. Maybin eventually scored
the only run in San Diego's 1-0 win.

SEATTLE (AP) - Blake Beavan pitched seven impressive innings of
one-run ball in his major league debut, Ichiro Suzuki had two hits
and scored twice and the Seattle Mariners beat the San Diego Padres
3-1 yesterday. Seattle took five of six against San Diego in
interleague play and the Mariners pitching staff was at their best
versus the Padres.

SALEM, Ore. (AP) - When Oregon lawmakers return to the Capitol
in February, they'll have to pick up the cans they kicked down the
road. They face tough decisions on the major education and health
care changes that they halfway adopted this year. And they'll have
to do it in just 35 days while also keeping at least one eye on the
November election. Lawmakers adjourned the 2011 legislative session
after making mostly modest changes to state law.

NEWPORT, Ore. (AP) - A 28-year-old Grand Ronde woman has begun
serving a four-month sentence on charges filed after she drove her
SUV with three children into a creek. In November 2009, rescuers
pulled Amber Gandy and her youngsters aged 3, 2 and 6 months from
Widow Creek east of Lincoln City. The Oregonian newspaper reported
that an hour after the crash, blood alcohol test results were three
times the legal limit.

PENDLETON, Ore. (AP) - In Eastern Oregon, bicyclists in
Pendleton report they're getting dive-bombed.
It's a male hawk, they say, who's guarding a nest in an old
cottonwood tree. And the bicyclists are getting too close for his
comfort.
One rider tells the East Oregonian the bird came in from behind
like a fighter plane and whacked his helmet. Another, also hit on
the helmet, said it felt like a baseball bat.
The raptor is identified as a Swainson's hawk. The riders say
he's been vigilant for a few nesting seasons, but not so aggressive
as this year.
Birders say the hawk will ease up on the bicyclists once the
brood his mate has hatched learns to fly.

UNDATED (AP) - The owner of a Texas-based scouting service tells
Yahoo! Sports that Oregon coach Chip Kelly personally approved a
$25,000 payment to him that's the focus of an NCAA investigation.
The payment to Will Lyles in February 2010 has been questioned
because of his relationship with running backs Lache Seastrunk and
LaMichael James. Lyles was paid soon after Seastrunk signed a
letter of intent. The school maintains it has done nothing wrong.


Looking at Coast Radio Sports…
The Three Rivers Sandblasters broke an extended losing streak in the bottom half of a non-league double header against the Nuggets in Grants Pass yesterday. Grants Pass came out on top 11-4 in the opener… then in the nightcap the ‘Blasters jumped out to an early 17-nothing start… and ended up winning 19-11. Tristan Metcalf had a homerun in game one, then went 3-for-4 at the plate in game two.

The steak has been extended for the Eugene Emeralds… they won their 12th straight yesterday afternoon, but it took them 12 innings to do it, tying the Vancouver Canadians in the 9th inning then picking up four runs in the top of the 12th for a 6-2 win. The Ems started the Vancouver road trip with a 5-2 win Friday night; then won again 10-8 Saturday. The two teams are in Eugene tonight where they’ll play the first of three at PK Park.


For Florence and the Central Oregon Coast…

Some patchy fog early this morning, otherwise mostly sunny today with a high near 65 degrees… look for a north northwest wind seven to ten miles an hour increasing to between 17 and 20… and gusting as high as 26.
For tonight… mostly clear skies with a low around 50 degrees… expect some patches of fog after 11 pm. The north northwest wind eight to 19 miles an hour gusting as high as 25.
Patchy fog early tomorrow… otherwise sunny and a high near 64.

Looking down the week… mostly sunny Wednesday, a slight chance or rain or drizzle Thursday, then partly sunny for next weekend again.

The marine forecast shows a north marine wind 15 to 20 knots gusting to 25 knots today. Low tide… a minus 1.1… at 9:57 this morning. High tide at 4:27.