City Fee Increases ~ Debit & Credit Card Security ~ Highway 126 Construction ~ Alaskan Earthquake

Fees and utility rates going up July First…
What do aircraft owners, water users, property owners and concert promoters have in common? Well, if they do any of those activities in Florence after July First, they’ll all pay more. Beginning the first of July, water and sewer customers in Florence will see an extra 8.9% tacked onto their utility bills, plus an extra buck or two for stormwater management. Plane owners that lease hangar space from the city could see an increase of up to $150 a year. And, if you use the Florence Events Center for a concert, banquet, reception or other special event, expect to pay more there too. It’s all about making ends meet says Florence City Manager Bob Willoughby.

205 – “I think it should be of interest to the people who live in Florence as well in terms of the city having a sustainable budget and avoiding in the future all of the budget gaps that we see in a lot of other government entities.”

One thing that you will see go down, if you own property in the city, is the line item for property tax paid to the city. The council is taking a voluntary reduction… promised as part of the fire district’s annexation of property in the city last year. Since city hall won’t be paying directly for fire protection any longer, they won’t pass that charge on to property owners. But don’t worry… city property owners will see a new line item on their tax statement in November to make up for it… Siuslaw Valley Fire and Rescue will now be levying taxes directly for their services.

Credit card and debit card fraud has become all too common. If you use your debit card, and someone gets access to your account number and your personal ID number, you would likely only have to pay up to $50 per occurrence. But, says Carl Hultenberg, Chief Operating Officer with Siuslaw Bank, you could reduce that to zero.

215 – “You know as far as protecting themselves, all signature based transactions, the consumer has no loss.”

Just one simple action can limit or eliminate the amount you might owe because of fraud.

216 – “What a lot of people don’t know is with your debit card you can use it as a signature based. When you swipe your card and it says debit or credit, just hit credit and then it’s a signature based transaction, rather than a pin based. Don’t use your PIN number.”

Hultenberg says you need to protect your card and your numbers just like they’re cash. Even though your financial loss may limited, it can still mean a major headache closing cards and re-opening new ones in the case of fraud.

Speaking of fraud. It appears that there may be some going on in the Florence area. Office staff at Siuslaw High School says they’ve received calls from people checking on a fund-raising activity that has been going door-to-door. Janet Perkins said some residents have been approached for donations to help fund a trip to Hawaii for the football team. It’s a scam. The team isn’t going anywhere. She said school athletic programs do not engage in that type of solicitation.

Headed to Eugene on Highway 126 this weekend? The Oakhill Bridge, just west of Eugene has been under reconstruction for the past several months. This weekend crews will be working on realigning the roadway, as part of the final stages. Motorists travelling between Fern Ridge Reservoir and Greenhill Road should expect one lane traffic… with delays… between ten AM and seven PM on Saturday and Sunday.

A 7.2 magnitude earthquake in the Aleutian Islands triggered a tsunami warning for that region last night, but officials said there was no danger for the west coast of the U.S. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center initially issued a warning for the area near Adak and Dutch Harbor, Alaska, but cancelled it a little bit later.

TAKING A LOOK IN TO ASSOCIATED PRESS REGIONAL NEWS…

BEND, Ore. (AP) - Three central Oregon men accused by federal prosecutors of misusing more than $44 million of their customers' money have been indicted on fraud conspiracy charges. A grand jury this week indicted Mark Neuman and Lane Lyons, both of Bend, and Timothy Larkin of Redmond. The U.S. attorney's office says their
company was supposed to hold the proceeds from sales of customers' income-producing property while customers purchased other property.

DUNDEE, Ore. (AP) - The Newberg-Dundee Police Department says officers shot a man early this morning when he charged them with a knife. He was airlifted to Legacy Emmanuel Medical Center in Portland, condition unknown. Officers had been called to a report of a disturbance and say they were immediately confronted by the man. Police say they fired when he refused commands to stop and drop the knife.

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) - The federal Bureau of Land Management says that several hundred paint cans that were dumped in a pile on public forest lands oozed out a spill that will cost taxpayers $10,000 to clean up. Officials say the paint chemicals could cause environmental damage if not cleaned up properly. KVAL says a criminal investigation is under way.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Prosecutors say a 16-year-old Portland youth admitted to his father that his gun just "went off" and he fatally shot a 14-year-old girl who disappeared in March. The Oregonian reports that Parrish Bennette Jr.'s alleged admission is detailed in a court document prosecutors filed this week. Bennette
has denied knowing what happened to Yashanee Vaughn. Prosecutors plan to argue today that the teen should be denied bail and remain jailed on charges of murder and first-degree manslaughter. The girl's body still has not been found.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - The longtime federal public defender for Oregon has been reappointed to an eighth term. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco announced the new four-year term for Steven Wax yesterday. Wax has served as the chief federal public defender in Oregon since the office was established in 1983. He is currently among the longest-serving federal defenders in the
nation.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Nike is being blasted for T-shirt slogans that critics say endorse drug use. But the shoe and athletic apparel company based in Beaverton says expressions such as "Dope," "Get High" and "Ride Pipe" are part of the lingo used
by the skaters, snowboarders and participants in other extreme sports.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Police have arrested a man suspected in a series of "cat burglaries" in southwest Portland. Officers spotted 26-year-old Charles Earl Howell walking down a street last night and arrested him on an outstanding robbery warrant.
Investigators had identified him as a suspect in break-ins at more than two dozen homes since April in the West Hills neighborhood.

SALEM, Ore. (AP) - The Oregon Senate has voted to curb the growth of hookah lounges. The Senate voted 18-11 to approve the bill yesterday after emotional debate from lawmakers who lost relatives to smoking-related illnesses. The measure would require
that new hookah lounges have no more than four seats.


PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - The Portland Trail Blazers had a busy night acquiring guard Raymond Felton from the Denver Nuggets in exchange for Andre Miller. Also, Blazers selected point guard Nolan Smith out of Duke with the 21st pick in the draft.

SEATTLE (AP) - Second-half substitute Roger Levesque scored twice to give the Seattle Sounders a 4-2 win over the New York Red Bulls last night. The game set the Sounders' attendance record at 46,505. Also, Seattle's Qwest Field - home of the Seahawks and Sounders - officially changed its name to CenturyLink Field yesterday.

WASHINGTON (AP) - The surprising and surging Nationals beat the Seattle Mariners 1-0 last night for their 11th win in 12 games - but it was the abrupt resignation of Washington manager Jim Riggleman that stole all the headlines. Riggleman quit in a dispute over job security. He wanted more time on his contract and the club declined. General manager Mike Rizzo says the team was stunned by the move.

TAKING A LOOK INTO COAST RADIO SPORTS:

The Sandblasters fell hard last night at home in a 10 run rule shortened game to the Springfield Titans 16 / 1. A road game originally scheduled for Saturday has been canceled. The Blasters return to the diamond Sunday afternoon to host Grants Pass at Jiggs Dodson field, game time is 2 o’clock.

Donovan Tate continued his domination on the diamond Thursday night driving in the games first run, in a four run third inning to lead the Emeralds to a 5 – 2 victory, handing the Salem Keizer Volcanos their sixth straight loss. The opening road series of the season closes out tonight at Volcano Stadium in Kaiser. The Emeralds head further north tomorrow for action against the Everett Aquasox. The series continues through Monday.

Homeless Coalition ~ Debit & Credit Card Security ~ Walk For Trevor

Hands hoping to help homeless…
There’s no exact count of just how many people there may be in Western Lane County that are homeless. They’re difficult to keep track of, because they could be living just about anywhere.

209 – “There’s a lot more than most people realize. Probably any wooded area there’s probably somebody there camping out.”

Debbie Hamilton is with a group called Helping Hands Coalition. They recently came together and opened a center aimed at providing services for the homeless.

210 -- "We just started the first part of May. We opened the doors to a day center for the homeless and others in need."

Those services include a hot shower, a telephone, maybe a place to use as a mailing address; or a hot meal every now and then. Right now they’re in a space provided by the Florence Christian Church. But, says Hamilton, they’re eager and anxious to get out on their own. In order to do that, they need cash. The coalition is nearing completion on their non-profit status with the IRS and is actively fund-raising. One of those… a concert July 15th.

211 -- "James Twyman is known as the international peace troubadour. He has given concerts in a lot of war-ridden countries like Serbia and Iraq. He has done concerts for the UN.

He’s also written a dozen books and recorded numerous CDs, all with his message of peace. Tickets for the July 15th concert at the Florence Events Center are $25. $50 includes a VIP reception and reserved seating.

When it comes to ripping people off, hackers, scammers and con men change their tactics to meet the modern day realities. A recent case affected hundreds of people in Oregon when hackers got access to the credit and debit card transactions at Michaels Crafts… Many of those who had fraudulent charges live in Western Lane County. In that case, it was likely a computer hacker that got the information electronically. But, says Siuslaw Bank Chief Operating Officer Carl Hultenberg, the bad guys are capable of just about anything. One method uncovered recently, is an attachment that scammers put over the card slot on a walk-up ATM.

212 -- "If you walk up to a, like say an ATM machine or something like that, and you notice that there might be an attachment to it, you certainly wouldn't want to use it… if there was a device hooked onto the machine."

The device reads the information on the card’s magnetic stripe and a nearby camera, focused on the keypad, records the PIN. After several hours, scammers can collect their tools and walk away with information that is very valuable. Hultenberg says its imperative that consumers keep a close eye on their credit and debit card transactions and call their financial institution immediately if they spot something amiss.

It’s estimated that more than 600 people turned out Tuesday night for Trevor’s Walk, an opportunity for friends and neighbors of 15-year old Trevor Denning to show their support. The 15-year old Florence boy suffered a spinal injury a week ago when he was thrown from an ATV he was driving. Walk organizer Shannon Graham said the turnout was great, but perhaps as important was the amount of money raised to help with family expenses. She said they collected $10,629.34 between nine pm and midnight. That does not include deposits made directly into an account in Denning’s name that has been set up at Oregon Pacific Bank. A spaghetti feed will be held at the Little Brown Hen Café July 7th to raise money as well. Denning’s condition was upgraded from critical to serious earlier this week and has already transferred from Doernbecher’s Children’s Hospital to the rehab unit at Legacy Emanual Hospital in Portland. He’s expected to be there about 90-days before coming home.


TAKING A LOOK IN TO ASSOCIATED PRESS REGIONAL NEWS…

BLY, Ore. (AP) - Oregon State Police say a motorcycle rider is dead after she rear-ended a car that had stopped to make a left turn on Highway 140E near Bly, east of Klamath Falls. The 51-year-old woman was thrown from the cycle and died at the scene.
No one in the car was hurt.

CORVALLIS, Ore. (AP) - A man charged with rape and sex abuse was acquitted in a trial before a judge in Corvallis. The Gazette-Times reports 22-year-old Fernando Antonio Gonzalez of Hillsboro had been accused of raping a woman he met at a 2009 party.

GRANTS PASS, Ore. (AP) - The Josephine County sheriff's office says the body of a 26-year-old Crescent City, Calif., man has been recovered from the Rogue River near Grants Pass, Ore. The body of Robert Allen Grevious Jr. was found Wednesday about a mile downstream from where he was last seen.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - The defense team of an Oregon terrorism suspect has asked for the FBI surveillance records of their client as part of his due-process rights. The federal public defenders representing 20-year-old Mohamed O. Mohamud have argued in a brief filed late yesterday afternoon that they need to see the classified surveillance material gathered by the FBI so they can decide whether the surveillance was legitimately obtained and properly used.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - A man rescued by firefighters from a burning Portland apartment was taken to Oregon Burn Center with life threatening injuries. Firefighters say they were met by heavy smoke when they responded to the fire last night, and found one bedroom door blocked. Firefighters had to force their way inside
where they found the 72-year-old victim suffering from smoke inhalation. Another adult who lived in the apartment is OK.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Starting July 1 Portland firefighters will start their shifts with a 10-to-15-minute stretching exercise. The Oregonian reports the Portland Fire Bureau is requiring the program in an effort to reduce injuries. The city's public safety disability fund is giving $23,000 to support the program. About 25 peer fitness trainers will encourage the morning stretching at each station.

SALEM, Ore. (AP) - Salem police say a man sought on arrest warrants crashed his pickup truck into a police patrol car, then led officers on a 12-mile chase before crashing in some brush and being arrested. Lt. Dave Okada says police detectives and patrol officers had tried to box the man's vehicle in with their patrol cars Wednesday but he accelerated and plowed into the front quarter panel of Cpl. Mark Croll's car.

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) - Decathlete Trey Hardee describes the state of his sport in the United States as "a tsunami of talent." Hardee, along with veteran Bryan Clay and newcomer Ashton Eaton, are the decathlon's current stars, and they are competing at this week's national championships at Hayward Field in Eugene.

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Washington Nationals found yet another novel way to keep their winning ways going, beating the Seattle Mariners 2-1 last night with a pair of unearned runs off Erik Bedard. The Nationals scored in the first and fourth with the help of errors against the game's top interleague pitcher to win for the 10th time in 11 games.

TAKING A LOOK INTO COAST RADIO SPORTS:

The Three Rivers Sandblasters are at home this afternoon for American Legion action against Springfield. Airtime over Coast Radio Sports is 4:45, first pitch between the Blasters and Titans is set for 5 o’clock at Jiggs Dodson Field…


A late inning rally lifted the Emeralds past the Volcanos last night in a 4 /3 comeback victory. Eugene center fielder Donovan Tate carried two of the Em’s four hits, including the game tying RBI double in the eight inning and the winning run. Tonight’ the series continues with game two of three at Volcano Stadium.

Brubaker Tourism ~ Gas Prices ~ The Prophet of Doom Road Show

City to instigate economic recovery efforts…
Phil Brubaker believes Florence residents should take matters into their own hands and try to spur their own economic recovery. The Florence Mayor convinced the city council Monday night to allocate $50-thousand in room tax money in the coming year to help devise a plan to draw more visitors who might be likely to become permanent residents.

200 – “I’m hoping to go back to basics, with what, as far as I can see until was the transition that Florence made, uh, well now it was over 20 years ago, from a wood products and fishing town to a tourism and retirement town.”

With a good hospital, plenty of services, reasonable real estate prices and a mild climate, Florence became a magnet for retirees through the 1990s. Brubaker wants to take some of the 50-grand and use it to survey recent arrivals.

201 – “The idea is to find out first hand from people that have been here a while but never-the-less are new: why the decided on Florence in the first place?”

The mayor says an economic recovery is beginning to take hold in other parts of the country… he wants to capitalize on that and draw some of that business to the central Oregon Coast.

The prophet of doom is coming to the Oregon Coast. James Roddey has been recognized nationally for his expertise in earthquake and tsunami readiness. The Oregon Department of Geology spokesman will be in Florence July 6th, then again the next night in Reedsport, with what he calls an “eye-opening multi-media presentation” about getting ready for the “big one”. Roddy will recount native American folklore and talk about ‘ghost forests’; both of which provide very real evidence that the Oregon Coast has been subjected to a massive earthquake and tsunami more than once over the past several hundred years. He also says the Japanese quake and wave in March provides some “real lessons” that will apply to us in the northwest. The Florence presentation is set for seven PM, Wednesday July 6th at the Florence Events Center. The entire road show will move to the Pacific Auditorium in Reedsport the next night.

Retail gas prices continue to fall as summer officially begins and the driving season shifts into high gear. The national average for regular unleaded gasoline fell six cents this past week to $3.64; while the Oregon average price, according to Triple-A, slipped by about a penny and a half and is at $3.83. The average price in Florence continues to track considerably lower than the rest of the state. It dropped by about two cents this week and is at $3.68. That’s still sixty cents a gallon higher than it was at the first of this year… but it’s 16-cents below this year’s high recorded last month. Marie Dodds with Triple-A says recent high prices may have helped reduce overall demand.

TAKING A LOOK IN TO ASSOCIATED PRESS REGIONAL NEWS…

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) - A judge says a Eugene, Ore., man accused of killing his landlady and burying her body in her backyard is competent to stand trial after more than two months in Oregon State Hospital. Circuit Court Judge Debra Vogt has scheduled a July 6 hearing to set a trial date for 24-year-old Miguel Angel Chavez, who is charged with murder in the December death of 55-year-old Deborah Ann Stone.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - An Oregon man has been sentenced to nearly a half century in prison after earlier pleading guilty to federal child pornography charges related to photographing his sexual abuse of his 6-year-old stepdaughter and 14-year-old disabled stepson. On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Ancer Haggerty sentenced the
43-year-old man from the Portland suburb of Aloha to a 49-year term. The Associated Press is not identifying the man to avoid identifying the sex abuse victims.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - The National Insurance Crime Bureau reports auto thefts declined about 6 percent last year in Oregon to about 9,200 vehicles, nearly 75 percent of them in the Portland area. That auto theft rate - the number of thefts per 100,000 population - ranks Portland 65th in the nation, up from 77th the
year before. The auto theft rate also climbed in Bend but dropped in Eugene and Salem.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - The Oregon Zoo is singing the praises of a caracal named Peggy, who recently gave birth to three healthy kittens. Senior Africa zookeeper Asaba Mukobi says Peggy is protective, makes sure all three get fed and "sets boundaries for the kittens now that they're moving around."

SALEM, Ore. (AP) - Salem police say they've arrested a woman who apparently drove through a parking lot with a person clinging to the hood of her car. Police say three people tried to leave a T-Shirt Outlet with stolen items after they were confronted by security. They got into a car but a store employee followed, and
Lt. Dave Okada tells the Statesman Journal it appears that the car was driving around the parking lot with the employee hanging onto the hood.

SALEM, Ore. (AP) - The Oregon House and Senate have both passed a series of education bills that will provide more money for schools and significantly remake the structure of education in Oregon. The bills are now on their way to Gov. John Kitzhaber, who has said he will sign them.

SALEM, Ore. (AP) - A national civil rights group has sued the state of Oregon, claiming it denied insurance coverage of a medical procedure for a transgender state worker. Lambda Legal filed the suit in Marion County for Alec Esquivel, a law school graduate who is an Oregon Court of Appeals clerk. The group said Esquivel is a
woman who is making the transition to a male gender identity. Doctors recommended that Esquivel undergo a hysterectomy to cut the risk of uterine and ovarian cancer but their request for insurance coverage was denied.

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - A Soldotna, Alaska, man has taken the lead with a 350.5-pound whopper in the Homer Halibut Derby, which runs through September and offers more than $190,000 in prizes. The Anchorage Daily News reports that Chad Aldridge caught the fish Sunday while with his father near Seldovia.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - The University of Oregon has released documents related to its use of recruiting services that suggest the school paid for information that was outdated. The documents include a "2010 National High School Evaluation Booklet" that
actually includes prep athletes who were part of the 2009 recruiting class. It was part of a package that purportedly was for athletes entering school in 2011.

TAKING A LOOK INTO COAST RADIO SPORTS:

Three Rivers split games last night with the Salem Highwaymen in Florence. The Blasters opened the afternoon double header with a 7 / 1 victory. Kyle Davis threw 9innings for the W with 6 strikeouts and added a three run Home Run to help his cause. The Highwaymen back in game two with a 9 /6 final. Mike Bennett went 3 for 4 at the plate for the Blasters, Ryan Smith scored a two run home run, while Joey Jacques and Jake Thompson two hits each. The Sandblasters return to the diamond Thursday for action against the Springfield Titans.

The Em’s might have taken the opening series of the young Northwest League season, but it was the Boise Hawks who took game five at PK Park last night 11 / 6. Eugene’s first year coach Pat Murphy worried at Eugene’s inability to get guys home, saying, “ A few guys left a small village on base.” It’s the first road series for the Emeralds tonight as they move up I-5 for the first of three games against the Salem Keizer Volcanos.

Gathering To Sypport Injured Teen ~ Port Of Coos Bay Railway ~ Wet Spring

Community event to provide emotional support for injured teen.
When the news came that 15-year old Trevor Denning had been seriously injured in an ATV accident last week, many members of the community instantly began looking for things they could do to help.

205 – “I think that’s what’s so great about Florence is that everybody feels affected by it and, you know, we love the family and we love Trevor and everybody just has the feeling that we want to do something.”

Shannon Graham, a friend of the extended Barnett and Denning Family said one of the things that came to mind was an event that would show their emotional support, as well as provide some economic support. Many of Denning’s friends will be converging on the track at Hans Peterson Field tonight… from nine pm to midnight. Graham says there’s no cost to get in.

206 – “We’re just encouraging people that if they would like to help the Denning-Barnett family there’ll be a donation jar, but also there’ll be an opportunity for people to videotape a message to Trevor and they can sign posters for Trevor as well as write a message that we’re going to put in a book.”

She said the late evening time frame was intentionally designed to target other youth in Denning’s age-group. Doctors have told family members that the active 15-year old will likely never walk again… but he has been able to use his arms and that, say friends… is a positive sign.

The wet spring in Oregon has made it to number 2 in the record books. Acording to information released this week by the National Climatic Data Center this has been the second wettest spring in 117 years of record keeping. It’s also been the fifth coolest. The springtime weather included mountain snowpacks that kept growing well into May this year… when they usually peak by April 1st. Oregon was not alone for wet weather. Montana also had the second wettest spring in recorded history, while Washington and Wyoming had the number one wettest springs on record.

Governor Kitzhaber signed legislation yesterday allowing the Oregon International Port of Coos Bay to own and operate the rail link between Danebo, just West of Eugene and Coquille in southern Coos County. It’s a good thing, because the port has already spent millions of dollars on acquiring and repairing right of way and tunnels along the route. The legislative move is the latest in a series of actions that have been under way since the previous rail operator… Central Oregon and Pacific… embargoed the line in September of 2007. Other than completing the physical repairs and restorations, the legislative approval is one of the final requirements before the port can begin operating the Coos Bay Rail Link and providing freight service to several different central and south coast manufacturers.

TAKING A LOOK IN TO ASSOCIATED PRESS REGIONAL NEWS…

COOS BAY, Ore. (AP) - An Oregon man who police say suffered a severe head wound in a fight with an acquaintance has died in a Portland hospital. The World newspaper says 45-year-old Kelly Mintz of Coos Bay died Sunday. Coos County District Attorney R. Paul Frasier told the newspaper yesterday that he planned to upgrade a charge against the man arrested in the case from attempted murder to murder.

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) - Relatives and friends plan a candlelight vigil for a 20-year-old Springfield man killed in a personal watercraft crash. KEZI says the vigil for Shea Slayton is scheduled for 8:30 tonight on the North Eugene High School football field.
Lane County deputies say Slayton was killed Saturday at the Blue River Reservoir when his watercraft slammed into a tree stump sticking four feet out of the water.

NEWBERG, Ore. (AP) - Newberg police say a man who accidentally shot himself in the groin with a .40-caliber pistol is expected to recover. Capt. Jeff Kosmicki says the shooting happened yesterday in the parking lot of an auto supply store. Newport-Dundee Fire Department medics happened to be inside the store and quickly located
and treated the man once they got the emergency call.

ROSEBURG, Ore. (AP) - Searchers have been looking for an 18-year-old Roseburg man who disappeared while swimming in the Umpqua River while swimming with friends on Sunday. Douglas County deputies say the missing man and some friends decided to swim
across the river 11 miles northwest of Roseburg. KVAL reports that Drake Wallace was pulled into swift water, went under and never came back up.

SALEM, Ore. (AP) - Gov. John Kitzhaber now has control of a bill he requested offering low-cost loans to retrofit schools with energy efficient technology. The Oregon Senate approved the measure yesterday, sending it to Kitzhaber, who says he will sign it. The measure is known by supporters as Cool Schools.

SALEM, Ore. (AP) - Legislatures went home for the night without passing any of the major education bills that were supposed to consume the day yesterday. The state House deadlocked on a compromise plan to vote on 14 education bills after one Republican priority died in a 30-30 split. The bill would expand access to online charter schools, and lawmakers will take up the measure again today.

SALEM, Ore. (AP) - The Oregon Legislature will try again to vote on a slate of education bills. House lawmakers vote on 14 bills today, a day after the first effort flamed out. Altogether, the bills would provide more money for schools and would significantly remake the structure of education in Oregon.

SILVERTON, Ore. (AP) - Marion County sheriff's deputies have seized two malnourished horses that had been kept in a 15-by-40-foot pen near Silverton, east of Salem. Mud in the pen was a foot deep and the horses had no shelter. Deputies and animal
rescue workers say the animals are also suffering from skin ailments, muscle loss and hoof rot. The property owner called deputies, saying he rented the space to the horses' owner but she failed to care for them. He told deputies he tried to reach the
owner, but she blocked his calls.

SEATTLE (AP) - The Mariners start a three-game series today against the Washington Nationals on the road. The M's left home after a 2-0 victory over the Phillies. At 37-and-35, the Mariners are just a half-game behind Texas in the American League West.

SEATTLE (AP) - Qwest is becoming CenturyLink, and that applies to the Seattle stadium where the Seahawks and Sounders play. The company says the new logo for CenturyLink Field will be unveiled at a news conference Thursday at the stadium.

WASHINGTON (AP) - A group of NFL Hall of Famers is backing a class-action lawsuit against the NFL, demanding better benefits for former players. Defensive end Carl Eller is one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit and he says the league has not done what is "fair and right" in supporting the financial and medical concerns of
former players.

TAKING A LOOK INTO COAST RADIO SPORTS:

Three Rivers swept both halves of a double header against the single A - Salem Senators in Florence, 6-4 and 5-2.The Blasters are on the diamond this afternoon in Florence for a double header against Salem Post 9. Airtime for game one is 1:45 over Coast Radio Sports…

It was a wild game last night that included 13 runs on 22 hits and three errors. But a seventh inning rally lifted the Emeralds past the Hawks 9 / 4. Now at 3 and 1, the victory secures the first series of the season for the Ems. The series closes out tonight at PK Park in Eugene. The Em’s move up I-5 tomorrow for the first of five games against the Salem Keizer Volcanos.

ATV Accident ~ DMV Office Closure ~ Coho Salmmon Regulations ~ Firework Sales open Thursday

ATV Crash causes severe injuries…
A 15-year old Florence boy remains in critical condition in a Portland hospital after an ATV accident Thursday afternoon. Trevor Denning, his brother and a friend were riding in a field when Denning was thrown from his four-wheeler, landing on his head. The boy was air-lifted to Doernbecher’s Children’s Hospital where he underwent emergency surgery Thursday night. Doctors have told his family he will likely never walk again. There were encouraging signs over the weekend however when he said he did have some feeling in his arms. The injuries have prompted an outpouring of support for the popular and athletic boy. A 9 PM walk to raise money for his care and support has been organized for tomorrow night at the track at Hans Peterson Field. An account has also been set up in his name at Oregon Pacific Bank. Donations can be made at any branch.

Oregon Coastal Salmon will retain threatened status under the Endangered Specied Act. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheris announced a ruling Friday reiterating the status for coastal coho, originally listed as threatened in 2008. Because of the decision, critical habitat designations and related regulations for the popular game fish will remain in effect.

Looking to renew your drivers license or vehicle registration later this week? Do it early… or online. Repairs to the Florence DMV office will require closure of that facility Thursday. Officials have not specified what repairs will be made during the closure but they say the Coos Bay office will be closed this week as weel. Located at 1155 5th Street in Coos Bay it will close today at the end of the business day and then reopen Friday morning…

The Oregon State Fire Marshall is urging residents to “keep it legal and keep it safe” when it comes to fireworks. June 23rd is the first day to legally buy and sell fireworks in Oregon. That’s when more than 800 retailers will begin selling the goods. Many of those will be from temporary tents and booths just for the occasion. It’s legal to sell fireworks in Oregon only between June 23rd and July 6th. Oregon law forbids possession, use or sale of fireworks that fly, explode or travel more than six feet on the ground or 12 inches in the air… that means bottle rockets, roman candles and firecrackers are illegal in the state.

TAKING A LOOK IN TO ASSOCIATED PRESS REGIONAL NEWS…

ASTORIA, Ore. (AP) - The city of Seaside has fallen short in its bid to be designated an "All-America City." The city was among 26 finalists for the national award given to communities that demonstrate the ability to solve problems with the assistance of residents, organizations and city officials. Seaside representatives talked about accomplishments that include creating a skate park, building a library and developing a tsunami evacuation plan.

MEDFORD, Ore. (AP) - An abandoned well unearthed during the construction of a Medford car dealership headquarters turned up some unusual finds from the 1800s. Among them were test tubes, beakers, a bottle marked "poison" and shards of a chamber pot. Archaeologists from a Eugene firm say they could have likely turned
up more artifacts, but the digging crews hit a water table about 15 feet under street level.

PENDLETON, Ore. (AP) - A 25-year-old Pilot Rock hunter whose truck got stuck on a mountain road last month came away with a pretty good reward. Chris Harer took a shortcut up the mountain to find a place where his cell phone would work and stumbled upon a pair of six-point, roughly 360-inch bull elk sheds with 22-inch
sabres. He says he has been offered a truck, two guns and $1,000 cash so far for the elk sheds.

PENDLETON, Ore. (AP) - Plans for an elder-housing complex on the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation are going green. The East Oregonian reports the Umatilla Housing Authority is considering sustainability and energy efficiency in its plans for the 27,000-square-foot complex. Some of the sustainability plans
include using refrigeration lines to transfer warm air between rooms instead of using air conditioning.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Police have arrested a man suspected of firing 16 shots into a Portland house. Four people were inside the home at the time early yesterday but no one was injured. Officers stopped a vehicle minutes later and arrested a 33-year-old man for investigation of attempted murder. Police say they also recovered a semiautomatic rifle.

REDMOND, Ore. (AP) - For months, police in Redmond, Ore., got calls about a tall stranger roaming the highways of central Oregon. He was shaggy, unkempt and wily enough to evade his pursuers. But yesterday, the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office reported a capture. Bahama the llama is in custody. Callers had reported seeing the llama on Oregon Route 126 for at least two months.

ROSEBURG, Ore. (AP) - Searchers are looking for a 19-year-old Roseburg man who disappeared while swimming in the Umpqua River. The Douglas County sheriff's office says the man and some friends yesterday decided to swim across the river about 11 miles northwest of Roseburg. KVAL reports one of them was pulled into swift water,
went under and never came back up.

SALEM, Ore. (AP) - A handful of teachers in the Salem-Keizer school district were given a few days to clean up and say goodbyes as the district cut 248 of their positions. A total of 420 district jobs were eliminated to help plug a $54 million budget shortfall. The layoffs were long awaited.


ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - A former University of Alaska Anchorage runner is the winner of the 2011 Anchorage Mayor's Marathon. David Kiplagat covered the 26.2 miles in two hours, 30 minutes and 52 seconds. He won by nearly 16 minutes and earned two round-trip tickets anywhere Alaska Airlines flies. More than 4,300 runners entered in the 38th annual Mayor's Marathon & Half-Marathon, which also features a marathon relay and half-marathon.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Dwayne De Rosario scored on a penalty kick in stoppage time and New York played to a wild 3-3 draw against the Portland Timbers last night in a match that saw the ejection of Red Bulls captain Thierry Henry. Portland (5-6-3) got goals from Jack Jewsbury and Kevin Goldthwaite (GOLTH'-wayt), and benefited from an
own goal by the Red Bulls (5-2-8).

SEATTLE (AP) - Jason Vargas tossed a three-hitter for his second shutout of the season, outdueling Philadelphia left-hander Cole Hamels to lead the Seattle Mariners to a 2-0 win over the Phillies yesterday. Vargas (5-4) not only kept pace with Hamels, he exceeded and outlasted him in his third career complete game. He allowed
just two singles and six base-runners.

Taking A Look Into Coast Radio Sports:

Three Rivers Sandblasters won Friday’s nightcap at the Grant Smith Baseball Tournament taking down the Eugene Challengers 6 to 4. Ryan Smith and Logan Goins had one hit each for the team. Jake Thompson scored three of the six runs for the sandblasters. Kyle Davis went all 7 innings on the mound. He struck out 3 batters, gave up only 5 hits and only allowed 1 earned run. Sunday the Blasters fell 9 to 2 to Springfield in the semi finals. The Sandblasters are at home this afternoon for a double header at Jiggs Dodson Field against the Salem Senators. Game open begins at 2 o’clock.

The Northwest League Baseball season opened Friday night at PK Park, the Eugene Emeralds taking the opening game with a 5 – 4 walk off victory over the visiting Boise… The Hawks came back Saturday night to claim the win after scoring eight runs in the fifth inning to take down the Em’s 10 / 2….Eugene took game three of the five game series Sunday night with an 8 / 1 defensive victory over Boise. The series continues tonight at PK Pakr in Eugene.

DHS Budget - Ure gets 35 Year Sentences - Flroence Talk dot com

Oregon Legislature spares senior services… for now.

Advocates for Oregon seniors and people with disabilities got a "good news - bad news" message from the state Legislature last week. The Department of Human Services budget made it through the Joint Ways and Means Committee, preserving the current funding levels for long-term care, in-home care and Medicaid providers...at least through the end of this year. Rick Bennett with A-A-R-P Oregon calls that a "significant achievement." However, he says, it addresses only part of the next two years.

200 – “There is still a significant risk in this budget. While they’ve managed for the most part to maintain the current funding levels in the first year of the budget, there is a need to find additional funds or savings to maintain those services in the second year of the budget.”

Compared to the original budget, in which providers faced rate cuts of 16 to 19 percent for their services, advocates say this one looks great. Those who voted 'no' in committee voiced concerns that they hadn't had enough time to study it. The D-H-S budget still needs Senate and House floor votes before going on to the governor.

A 35-year old Reedsport man is facing no less than 35 years in prison, plus lifetime post-prison supervision for sexually abusing two 12-year old boys during late night video game sessions at his apartment in 2007 and 2008. Following a six-day trial in April, Justin Vail Ure (YU-ree) was convicted of four counts of Sodomy, plus one count each of Sex Abuse and Attempted Sodomy. Each sodomy charge carries a minimum 300-month sentence, but Douglas County District Court Judge Ronald Poole determined that a portion would run concurrently, but did require 420 consecutive months. Ure also faced several other charges in April of which he was found not-guilty. A final charge of Endangering the Welfare of a Minor ended in a hung jury.

Florence area residents have an online place to go and talk about anything, anytime.

210 -- "They can go on there and they can talk about anything they want. They can talk politics, they can talk what's happening in the city, they can talk about events, uh, breaking news stories across the nation. Anything, anything."

Ave Bernard, the founder of the site, says there are few restrictions… there are certain words that are off limits and you can’t make it personal. Other than that… it’s whatever visitors to the site want to talk about. He hopes to have ongoing discussions at the site about local restaurants, local politics and local events.

TAKING A LOOK IN TO ASSOCIATED PRESS REGIONAL NEWS…

ALBANY, Ore. (AP) - Embers buried deep in the insulation of an
Albany home reignited a fire that had already consumed much of the
home. Neighbors called 911 early yesterday to report the fire had
broken out again, about 16 hours after the initial blaze did about
$60,000 worth of damage to the building and $40,000 to the home's
contents. Authorities say the house wasn't damaged much more in the
second fire. No one was injured.

ALBANY, Ore. (AP) - A collision east of Interstate 5 near Albany
left four people injured, one critically, and an Alaska driver now
faces charges. The Albany Democrat Herald reports 29-year-old
Alimpiada Kalugin of Homer, Alaska, faces two counts of
second-degree assault and one count each of fourth-degree assault,
reckless driving and driving under the influence of intoxicants.

BEND, Ore. (AP) - A hiker who injured his ankle and tried for
several hours to crawl off of the trail finally gave in and called
911. The Deschutes County Sheriff's Office reports the 23-year-old
was hiking near Boyd Cave when he got hurt. Five deputies were
dispatched to the scene and the hiker was taken from the cave area
by ambulance.

GRANTS PASS, Ore. (AP) - The discovery of dozens of marijuana
plants in a Selma woman's home has not only led to busts in
southern Oregon. Authorities say they now have an accounting of
marijuana prices on the East Coast and an admission from the woman
that she packaged and sent marijuana to Boston. The Grants Pass
Daily Courier reports the 45-year-old woman has not been charged,
but information she gave to police led to raids, arrests and the
discovery of her diary, in which she is alleged to have thanked God
for a safe pot delivery.

KENNEWICK, Wash. (AP) - The FAA is headed to the wreckage of an
airplane that crashed in rugged terrain in eastern Oregon. The
Tri-City Herald reports that the plane was reported missing early
yesterday with three people on board. The Civil Air Patrol found
the wreckage near Ukiah, about 50 miles south of Pendleton.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Oregon State Police say a Forest Grove
driver clocked at 103 mph narrowly avoided plowing his car into a
herd of mule deer. A state trooper used his siren and horn to scare
the deer off Highway 138E moments before 21-year-old Ji Wang sped
through the area. He was charged with driving in excess of 100 mph
and faces a $1,100 fine.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Portland police have arrested a suspect in
a gang-related shooting on the city's northeast side. Police say
19-year-old Pierce D. Woods has been charged with attempted murder,
second-degree assault and unlawful use of a weapon. He is being
held on a $775,000 bail.

SCAPPOOSE, Ore. (AP) - The man who fell out of a moving pickup
and died near Scappoose has been identified at Alex Montoya, the
dean of enrollment services at Clark College in Vancouver, Wash.
The Columbian reports Montoya fell Saturday night from a truck
driven by Nicholas Kay of Vancouver. He was booked into the
Columbia County Jail on suspicion of criminal negligent homicide
and DUI. The school said Montoya and his wife, Clark associate vice
president of planning Shanda Diehl, had twin sons earlier this
year.

Sandblaster Baseball:
The Three Rivers Sandblasters opened the American Legion Baseball season with a split of games in Redmond yesterday. The Blasters opened the double header with a
4 / 3 victory, then dropped game two 6 / 1. The Sandblasters return to the diamond Wednesday against Roseburg.

Oregon State Beaver Baseball:
Their NCAA post season appearance ended for the Oregon State Beavers over the weekend. Friday night OSU fell 11 / 1 to the Vanderbilt Commodors. On Saturday Parker Berberet drove in two, but Oregon State saw its 2011 season come to an end with a 9-3 loss to Vanderbilt Saturday night at Hawkins Field. The win advanced Vanderbilt to the College World Series, which starts June 18 in Omaha, Neb. Oregon State saw its season come to an end with the loss, dropping to 41-19 on the year.

School year extended - Memorial set for Eugene police officer - Five projects get underway on Highway 101 - Estuary Trail vision unveiled

Financial good news extends school year

Students at Siuslaw Schools will face a few extra days in the classroom. Superintendent Jeff Davis says ‘better than expected’ revenue figures will allow them to add back four instructional days that had been cut at the beginning of the year.
Davis: "When we felt comfortable, then we decided to restore those days. And so it was based on an agreement with our teachers association and it was also based on the fact that we achieved our threshold and we also felt comfortable that the state wasn't going to withdraw funding for the remainder of the school year."

The last day of school had been set for June 9th. Now, it will last through the 15th with teachers working June 17th.
Davis: "adding four additional days and the teachers will be working a couple of days in addition to that at the end of the school year."

Davis says the extension comes at a time when many other districts are facing even more cutbacks. He credits a local option levy approved by voters two years ago for providing extra funding that is ‘essential’. Without that money, instead of adding back days, it’s likely the district would be considering additional cuts. Davis softens the optimism somewhat however. He says tough times are not over and Siuslaw Schools are facing even more cutbacks in the next two years.

The memorial service for a Eugene motorcycle police officer who, shot and killed in the line of duty last week, will be held at two PM this Friday afternoon at Matthew Knight Arena in Eugene. 43-year old Chris Kilcullen was fatally wounded during a traffic stop Friday afternoon. The 57-year old Springfield woman charged with aggravated murder in the killing, Cheryl D. Kidd, is being held in the Lane County Jail. A .38-caliber revolver recovered from her car is believed to be the weapon used in the shooting and will be tested at the Oregon State Police lab in Springfield. The slain officer was a 12-year veteran of the force and is the first Eugene police officer killed in the line of duty since 1934.

Crews from three different contractors will be working at five locations along Highway 101 beginning today. Traffic restrictions will be minimal at most, but the largest impact according to Florence Public Works Director Mike Miller, will be between 13th and 20th streets where traffic may be limited to one lane in each direction. That’s because a long-delayed project to replace a manhole at 15th street will require shifting both directions of travel on the highway to the east side. Miller says once that work is complete, the other jobs… ADA sidewalk improvements at Rhododendron Drive and three crosswalk installations… at 2nd, between 7th and 8th, and between 18th and 19th; will have minimal impact.

The preliminary vision of the proposed Siuslaw Estuary Trail will be discussed this afternoon and evening at the Florence Events Center. Residents are invited to make comments and suggestions to the route of the trail that will extend from Highway 126 along the estuary east of Quince Street and ending in Old Town. The trail is a product of the Siuslaw Estuary Partnership. An open house at the Florence Events Center this evening from four to seven is planned. Formal presentations begin at five.

Here is the latest Oregon news from The Associated Press

SALEM, Ore. (AP) - Police say five teenagers have been arrested
for vandalizing a Salem church over the weekend. Marion County
sheriff's spokesman Don Thomson says the teens, ages 13 and 14,
were arrested Saturday afternoon. He says they broke into the Salem
Bible Church, smashed items throughout and caused considerable
damage. The teens have since been released to their parents.

SALEM, Ore. (AP) - A measure would give the Oregon State
Hospital rather than a state review board the authority to
determine when a patient is fit for release from the state
psychiatric facility. The Statesman Journal says Senate Bill 420
cleared the Senate judiciary committee last week. Proponents say
the state's strict approach to releasing patients results in
facility stays that are too long and costly.

PENDLETON, Ore. (AP) - Biologists have confirmed that tracks
found in the Wallowa Mountains of northeast Oregon are from a North
American wolverine. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife says
a researcher found the wolverine tracks in the snow while hiking to
a remote camera site set up to detect wolverines. A wildlife
biologist says it's the first confirmation of a wolverine in
Wallowa County.

SALEM, Ore. (AP) - Authorities say a fight among dozens of
inmates at Oregon State Penitentiary has left some of the prisoners
and staff members with minor injuries. The prison was placed on
lockdown after the fighting yesterday afternoon and is expected to
remain that way through today. The violence began with a smaller
fight involving about six inmates. The prison says as guards used
chemical spray to control that altercation, some 75 inmates began
fighting in a recreation yard.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Triple-A reports the average price of a
gallon of gasoline in Oregon is $3.88, 2 cents higher than the
national average. Some metro prices in the state -- Portland $3.85,
Eugene-Springfield $3.93, Salem $3.84, and Medford-Ashland $3.93.

SALEM, Ore. (AP) - The Oregon Senate is scheduled to vote today
on legislation creating a health insurance exchange to benefit
individuals and small businesses. The bill would create an online
marketplace known as an exchange for consumers to shop for health
insurance. A governing board for the exchange would create minimum
standards for the plans offered under the exchange.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - The governors of Oregon and Washington
hold a news conference today aimed at getting the two states
started on building a replacement for the Interstate 5 bridge
across the Columbia River. They'll choose either a design that's
functional and quick to build or alternatives that would be more
appealing visually but might not be so easy to get under way.
They've been signaling they'll go for functional and quick.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - A highway construction boom in Oregon
funded by federal stimulus money and state bonding is coming to an
end. The Oregonian reports that spending on new projects peaked in
2009 at $800 million. Now, annual spending is projected to drop to
about $300 million by 2015 - the same level as 10 years ago.

NEWPORT, Ore. (AP) - Lincoln County sheriff's dispatchers say a
man wounded by a deputy in Newport was taken to a hospital in
Portland. There's no word yet on the condition of Troy Holmes of
Newport. Police say he was shot early yesterday because he
brandished a knife at a market and could not be subdued without
lethal force.

DALLAS (AP) - Just a week into the postseason, the Dallas
Mavericks are in jeopardy of adding to their long track record of
winning big in the regular season and losing painfully in the
playoffs. Dallas went to Portland with the chance to pull off a
sweep, but returned home licking its wounds following one of the
most humiliating losses of the NBA's shot-clock era. The Mavericks
spit up a 23-point lead with 13 minutes left to lose Game 4 and
knot the series at 2. Game 5 is set to tip off in Dallas later
tonight.

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

TAKING A LOOK INTO COAST RADIO SPORTS:

Lindsay Wright of Reedsport was named the outstanding female jumper at the 2011 Prefontaine Rotary Invitational at Marshfield High School over the weekend. The junior won the high jump; long jump; matched the top height in the pole vault with three others; and finished second in the Triple Jump. For the Siuslaw Vikings, Neal Larson was second in the 800 with a personal best time of 2:03.43. Matthew Campbell won the 3,000, also with a personal best time of 9:07.7; and Katy Potter was second in the girls’ 3,000 with a personal best time of 11:19.09.

On the Far West baseball diamond the Siuslaw Vikings and the North Bend Bulldogs split Friday afternoon in Florence. The ‘Dawgs’ came away with an 11-nothing shutout in game one. The Vikings picked up a 6-4 win in the nightcap. Both teams remain tied atop the league standings with 4-2 records this week.

On the softball diamond, the Siuslaw Vikings picked up their first Far West wins of the season Friday in North Bend, stringing together a total of 28 hits in two games, winning 18-5 and 13-2.

Number three Oregon State’s 11-game win streak came to an end yesterday, losing 2-0 to Washington State in Corvallis, but the Beavers still came away with the series win 2-games-to-one. In Eugene, the Ducks claimed the series over #23 Arizona, ‘bookending’ a pair of wins on Friday and Sunday around a Saturday loss.

The Siuslaw Athletic Booster club raised well over $500 for the Ian Foster Fund Saturday during an exhibition Rugby Match at Siuslaw High School. The Western Oregon University Wolves squeaked out a win, 118-3 over the Lakers of Southwestern Oregon Community College.

Japan's Quake, Marina Damage, Storm, and Pet Licenses

Japan Quake brings a strong message…

Friday's devastating earthquake in Japan had a lot of similarities with one that occurred off the Oregon Coast 310 years ago.

202 -- "and this event is what we call a mega-thrust or subduction zone earthquake. Similar to, but probably smaller than the one that occurred off our coast on January 26th, 1700. And so I think it gives us a good cautionary tale of what could happen off of our coast."

Dr. Ray Weldon is the head of the University of Oregon Geological Sciences Department. He says the geology is very similar, and the results, should there be a massive quake along the Cascadia Fault line off the Oregon Coast, would be similarly devastating.

201 -- "Believe or not, it's actually a subduction zone interface just as we have offshore here in Oregon."

In fact, he says, things here could have been much worse this past Friday if the tides hadn't been so low when the tsunami surges began arriving.

203 -- "so these swings, these eight foot swings such as you see at crescent city, or four or five foot swings that you see at Port Orford, if that had happened six hours earlier at high tide there would have been substantially more damage. So we sort of dodged a bullet in a sense that we were at such a low tide."

Both situations point out the need, say emergency officials, to maintain earthquake and tsunami preparedness programs along the Oregon Coast.

Harbors and marinas in California and Oregon bore the brunt of the damage Friday from the series of tsunami surges triggered by the Japanese earthquake. Boats crashed into each other, some vessels were pulled to sea and docks were ripped out when the waves finally washed ashore. Authorities in Brookings and Crescent City estimate the damages to be in the millions of dollars, but admit it isn’t anything like the damage in Japan where the death toll could exceed ten-thousand.

Forceful winds and heavy rains caused power outages and downed trees across a wide swath of Oregon yesterday afternoon. Trees fell across Highway 126 at midday in several locations yesterday temporarily blocking traffic. Power lines came down as well, triggering scattered power outages in Western Lane County as well as across much of the State.

Licensing fees for dogs in Lane County is a major source of revenue for the Lane County Animal Shelter. That's one reason why Lane County has now hired a License Compliance Officer who will be traveling door-to-door in unincorporated Areas of the county as well as in the City of Eugene checking for unlicensed dogs. Animal Services Manager Rick Hammel says the officer, working from a list of current and previous licensees, will provide pet owners with information about licensing and will be capable of issuing them on the spot. If unlicensed dogs are present and the license is not purchased on the spot, a ten-day grace period will be provided before a citation is issued. The cost of a one-year license is $15 for a spayed or neutered animal; $35 for an unaltered dog. That's far less, says Hammel, than the $287 fine that would accompany the citation.

Associated Press Regional News

CURRY COUNTY, Oregon (AP) - Curry County commissioners voted at special meeting Sunday to declare an emergency at the county's three ports - Port Orford, Gold Beach and Brookings - because of damage when Friday's tsunami hit the Oregon coast.
There's no estimate of the damage to docks and infrastructure. But Port of Brookings Harbor Executive Director Ted Fitzgerald guessed $10 million to $13 million. Brookings says it's the busiest recreational port on the Oregon coast. It also harbors commercial fishing boats.

KLAMATH, Calif. (AP) - A former Oregon man is believed to be the first person killed by a tsunami on the West Coast since 1964. Twenty-five-year-old Dustin Weber is thought to have been swept out to sea at the mouth of the Klamath River in Klamath, Calif., in a tsunami generated by last week's earthquake in Japan. Authorities
say he is presumed dead, though his body hasn't been found.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Power company crews were working overnight to restore electricity following a powerful wind and rain storm. Pacific Gas and Electric spokesman Patrick Stupek said about 12,000 customers remained without power early Monday, with most of the outages in Clackamas County. There were also scattered reports of downed trees blocking roadways.

SALEM, Ore. (AP) - Oregon lawmakers are nearing a vote on a bill designed to make it easier to open a charter school. The proposal by Republican Rep. Matt Wingard of Wilsonville is scheduled to go up for a vote today in the state House. The measure would allow proponents of a new charter school to appeal to the state Board of
Education if they feel a local school board isn't negotiating in good faith.

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Nuclear Regulatory Commission says harmful levels of radioactivity are not expected in the United States due to damaged nuclear reactors in Japan. Given the thousands of miles separating Japan and the U.S., including Hawaii, Alaska, U.S. territories and the U.S. West Coast, officials say no harmful
levels of radioactivity are likely after the Japan earthquake and tsunami.

Fresh off winning the Pac-10 Conference tournament, Washington has received a No. 7 seed for the NCAA tournament and will play Georgia in Charlotte, N.C., in Round 2
Friday. Last year, the Huskies were seeded 11th and played in San Jose, Calif. Now, they must cross the country and face a possible second-round matchup with No. 2 seed North Carolina in the Tar Heels' backyard.

PULLMAN, Wash. (AP) - Washington State has received a No. 2 seed for the NIT and will host Long Beach State in a first-round game. The Cougars will host the 49ers on Wednesday. The winner will face the Oklahoma State-Harvard winner in the second round. Washington State's hope for an NCAA tournament bid ended when the Cougars were
ousted by Washington in the Pac-10 tournament.

TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) - Jason Vargas pitched four innings of three-hit ball, extending his spring scoreless string to seven innings, and the Seattle Mariners beat a Los Angeles Angels split-squad 2-0 yesterday. Vargas struck out three. He mixed in a
few curveballs against the Angels, then went to the bullpen to finish his day. The Angels' Ervin Santana allowed five hits and two walks in four innings.

Taking A Look Into Coast Radio Sports

College Men’s Basketball:
Oregon ended their Pac Ten appearance Saturday evening with a Semi Final game loss to Washington’s Huskies 69 – 51. Joevan Catron led the Ducks with 18 points, the Huskies went on to win the Pac Ten Title Saturday with a 77 – 75 victory over Arizaon…Oregon, Boise State, Davidson and Central Florida are among the teams that will host first-round games in the 16-team College Basketball Invitational. The Ducks will play Web-ber State on Wednesday at their new $227 million, on-campus basketball arena. Oregon, from the Pac-10, is the only school from one of the traditional power conferences in the CBI.

On the Schedule:

Will mother nature win out over the start of the prep baseball season? The Siuslaw Vikings open the 2011 prep baseball season this afternoon at home against Cottage Grove. This afternoon’s game airs at 3:15 on KCST, first pitch between the Viks and Lions is set for 3:30… The Lady Viks are on the road to face the Lions in non-league softball in Cottage Grove at 5 o’clock…both games are weather and field conditions permitting.

Comp Plan, Charter Review, House Rebalances

City to approach Lane County for Comp Plan endorsement

It was a contentious two-year process that never led to any concrete agreements, but now the Florence City Council is considering once again asking Lane County for approval of the city’s 2020 Comprehensive Plan. City Manager Bob Willoughby says it’s a pretty narrow discussion.

200 – “The good news is we’re down to just one issue. That one issue appears to be one that we could resolve at the local level.”

That one issue is the process that would be used to trigger annexation proceedings on vacant land outside city limits, but within the urban growth boundary. The city wants to use the “triple majority” method which would take into account the wishes of property owners… both by area and value. County Commissioners never spelled out why they didn’t like that option. Willoughby says in the absence of a local agreement, that leaves the matter up to someone else.

201 – “If not, then it will have to be resolved by the state and that will take staff time and money trying to resolve that at the state level. I think we’re hoping that we can come to an agreement with the County Commissioners on something that we both can live with.”

City Councilors were asked last night whether or not they supported the idea of broaching the subject… once again… with Lane County.

A Citizen’s Review Committee will begin work this week on reviewing the Lane County Charter for possible updates and revisions. Committee member Dianne Burch says it’s been a while…

210 – “The home rule charter for Lane County was approved by voters November 6th, 1962 and so that’s what they’re looking at.”

Voters approved a couple of minor changes last year that would establish the review committee. Before that, there was no process spelled out in the charter for doing so. Burch says the group will meet on the first and third Thursday of each month in Eugene. Any recommendations would be presented to the County Commission who would have to get voter approval before making any changes.

The Oregon House approved a series of bills yesterday that provide promised funding for schools and other critical services for the remainder of the 09-11 biennium. The bills include $35.5-million for schools as well as for prisons, the Oregon Youth Authority and other programs that provide assistance for seniors. House Democratic Leader Dave Hunt, a Democrat, says the unanimous passage fulfils an agreement from last fall that critical services would be protected as much as possible. The bills must also pass the Oregon Senate.

There’s still one opening on the Dunes City Parks and Recreation Commission. Applications are available on the Dunes City website or at Dunes City Hall.


Taking A Look into Associated Press Regianla News…

ALBANY, Ore. (AP) - Albany police say an Ashland hockey coach is
accused of trying to mail a 20-pound box of marijuana to New
Jersey. They say postal workers grew suspicious about the package
dropped off in Albany Friday and alerted police. Erik Hamlet
surrendered to police on Saturday. Police say Hamlet mailed the box
of weed when the team bus passed through Albany en route to a game
in Vancouver, Wash.

BEND, Ore. (AP) - Bend police have accused a 37-year-old man of
attacking a woman he met through an online dating site. The
Bulletin newspaper of Bend says the police have accused Thomas
Harry Bray of rape, sodomy, assault, menacing and strangulation.
Police say a 23-year-old woman told them she met Bray for a drink
Friday night and then went to his apartment, where he assaulted
her

McMINNVILLE, Ore. (AP) - Rescuers have located and freed a
family whose vehicle got stuck in deep snow in Oregon's coastal
mountain range. Yamhill County authorities said last night that the
family was being brought out of the mountains. A man says he, his
wife and their 10-month-old child drove into the mountains Sunday
but got the vehicle stuck in the snow as night fell.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Reed College officials fear that a
fictional university's website bearing apparently copied content
from Reed's online home could be a scam to fleece students of
application fees. KGW-TV reports that mail sent to the so-called
University of Redwood's address in California is forwarded to
China. Reed officials suspect a Chinese con artist may be posing as
an admissions director to get money from students who wish to study
in the U.S.

SPRINGFIELD, Ore. (AP) - A Springfield man has pleaded guilty to
a lesser charge of manslaughter in the hot tub death of his wife
and was sentenced to 10 years in prison. William Wiggins was
originally charged with murder in the death of his wife Andrea, an
assistant dean at the University of Oregon's College of Education.
He first told police his wife drowned in the hot tub but
investigators found what they felt were defensive wounds on his
body, which made them doubt his story.

PEORIA, Ariz. (AP) - The mention of Dustin Ackley's name is
enough to make Seattle Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik
(zur-EHN'-sihk) smile. The left-handed hitting middle infielder
with a flawless looking swing, speed and a bit of pop is the future
of Seattle, but the GM and the team don't plan to fast-track Ackley
for the majors - unless he indeed ends up as Seattle's best option
at second.

PEORIA, Ariz. (AP) - Jason Bartlett had two hits, Orlando Hudson
doubled in a run and the San Diego Padres tied the Seattle Mariners
6-6 yesterday. Gabe Gross hit a two-run double for Seattle in the
first inning off starter Wade LeBlanc. LeBlanc struck out four in
two innings while allowing two runs and three hits. Seattle starter
Doug Fister also yielded two runs on three hits in two innings in
the tie.

RENTON, Wash. (AP) - The Seattle Seahawks have re-signed reserve
cornerback Kennard Cox for the 2011 season. The signing of one of
Seattle's top special teams players was announced yesterday. Cox
appeared in 11 games last season for the Seahawks. He finished with
seven total tackles on defense and three on special teams. Cox also
blocked Seattle's first punt in seven seasons.

Sports and Weather

Athlete of the Week:

Siuslaw Basketball standout, Casey Strenke, has been named Coast Radio Sports’ Athlete of the Week. The Viking junior scored 19 points and pulled down seven rebounds in Siuslaw’s Round of 32 playoff win over Hidden Valley. Strenke was 9-of-14 at the free throw line, plus made a key defensive play, stealing an inbounds pass in the remaining seconds of regulation play to force overtime. … honorable Mention mention this week to her team mate, Sophomore forward Alex Dodson, who scored two points in the Vikings’ playoff victory over Hidden Valley, but there were very important. She made a lay-up with 2 seconds remaining to tie the game and send it into overtime where the Vikings eventually won.

Collegiate Baseball:

Oregon is on the diamond this afternoon in Eugene hosting Portland in non conference baseball. First Pitch is set for 5 o’clock, weather permitting.

Highway 101 Safety, MBA Sends 5 To Hospital, Tymchuk Interim Historial Society Director, Fire Destroys Travel Trailer

101 Safety Projects won’t be delayed after all…

Three Highway 101 pedestrian safety projects will proceed on schedule after a state transportation task force reviewed them and found they did not pose any inhibitions on the passage of freight. The three crosswalks, at Second, Seventh and 18th streets in Florence are set to go to bid in early February according to Florence Public Works Direct Mike Miller. Miller had previously informed the City Council that the Freight Mobility Committee would have to look at the crossings before they could be bid, thereby holding them up as much as 60-days. But, he said, Freight Industry representatives agreed with Oregon Department of Transportation officials that the three projects would not create any so-called “pinch-points” that would restrict truck traffic. In fact, all three would leave a wider ‘curb to curb’ width than the 26-foot wide Siuslaw River Bridge. Project engineers have already submitted the full plans and bid documents to ODOT for review. Miller says the crosswalks are fully funded using federal transportation funds but ODOT will manage and administer construction. Construction is expected to begin in May or June of 2011 with completion by the end of the summer.

Five people were sent to Peace Harbor Hospital following a two vehicle crash Tuesday evening. A 2007 Ford Ranger pickup driven by 18 year old Nicholas Edward Costa of Florence, traveling west bound on Hwy 126 was attempting to turn left onto Quince Street when he turned in front of a 1992 Toyota Camry traveling east bound. Injured were the driver 43 year old Delinda Mannai, of Milwaukie and her three children ages 20, 15 and 14 were taken by ambulance to Peace Harbor Hospital. The 15 year old remains in the hospital, the others were treated and released. Costa also went to Peace Harbor Hospital and was treated and released. Costa was cited for Driving while suspended and failure to yield at an uncontrolled intersection.

Fire destroyed a motor home Sunday afternoon, leaving a camp host at Alder Dune Campground homeless. Keith Swehla was not at the RV when a fire of undetermined origin began sometime in the afternoon. Because the campground was relatively empty and the space is away from any other homes, detection of the fire wasn’t made until the home, along with all of Swehla’s possessions were destroyed. Siuslaw Valley Fire and Rescue spokesperson Sean Barrett said Swehla’s dog perished in the blaze. Barrett said the man also had no insurance. The U.S. Forest service is temporarily housing him and the Red Cross is providing assistance.

Reedsport native and longtime Oregon political advisor Kerry Tymchuk will take charge of the state Historical Society next year as interim executive director. The current director, 67—year old George Vogt, plans to retire in April. The society’s board said Tuesday that Tymchuck, a board member, will serve while it works out a strategic plan and conducts a job search. The Reedsport native has worked for former Republican Senator Gordon Smith as well as for Bob and Elizabeth Dole

TAKING A LOOK IN TO ASSOCIATED PRESS REGIONAL NEWS…

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) - Lane County prosecutors have decided to
dismiss a domestic violence charge against a 38-year-old Eugene man
whose house police surrounded Dec. 1 because they thought he was
holding his wife hostage. Chief Deputy District Attorney Patty
Perlow tells The Eugene Register-Guard that they don't have enough
evidence to prosecute Shane Schnetzky.

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) - A Eugene couple has sued a local doctor and
medical group for $650,000 for a botched vasectomy. The Eugene
Register-Guard reports that Scott and Donnita Bassinger filed the
suit, saying Dr. Stephen Schepergerdes and Oregon Medical Group
should help with the expenses associated with Donnita Bassinger's
Cesarean delivery and with their son's upbringing and college
education. The doctor and medical group did not comment.

HARRISBURG, Ore. (AP) - The Linn County sheriff says there is no
danger to the public in connection with the deaths of two people at
a home in Harrisburg. Sheriff Tim Mueller says deputies responded
to a call last night and secured the scene for the investigation.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Oregon Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden got out
of the hospital following surgery for prostate cancer and walked
onto the floor of the U.S. Senate in Washington, D.C., to cast his
vote in favor of the new strategic arms-control treaty with Russia.
Spokesman Tom Towslee says Wyden decided Wednesday that
establishing a new arms control treaty with Russia, called START,
was, "more important than a little discomfort."

SALEM, Ore. (AP) - A jury has recommended the death penalty for
a father and son found guilty of planting a bomb in a Woodburn bank
that killed two police officers in what's just the start of a
likely decades-long legal battle. Bruce and Joshua Turnidge face
formal sentencing on Jan. 24. The death sentences would be
automatically appealed to the state Supreme Court.

SALEM, Ore. (AP) - Marion County estimates damage from the Dec.
14 tornado that struck Aumsville at $1.1 million. County emergency
manager John Vanderzanden tells The Statesman Journal that figure
could go up as agencies send in more damage reports, but he doubts
the city will qualify for a state and federal disaster declaration.

YAKIMA, Wash. (AP) - A federal inspection report says the maker
of an artisan cheese that sickened people in Oregon and other
states had unsanitary practices. Sally Jackson Cheese of Oroville,
Wash., voluntarily recalled all of its cheese Friday after the Food
and Drug Administration warned that the products could be
contaminated by E. coli.

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) - Sterling Carter scored 19 points and
Aaron Broussard added 15 as Seattle snapped Virginia's five-game
winning streak with a 59-53 win last night. Seattle, which led by
as many as 10 in the first half, led 30-23 at the break and
improved to 5-10.

TAKING A LOOK INTO COAST RADIO SPORTS:

Prep Basketball:
The Siuslaw boys couldn’t keep up with ranked Tillamook last night as the Cheesemakers dominated the court in a 61 – 42 route of the Viks. Brendan Schmoll had a good night scoring 12 points for Siuslaw, while teammate Brad Greenburg delivered 13 points and was perfect at the free throw line at six for six in the Viking’s loss....The Lady Viks didn’t fare any better in Tillamook as the Cheesemakers downed Siuslaw 42 – 26.

Oregon State Men’s Basketball:
Jared Cunningham scored 22 points and Roberto Nelson added 14 to lead Oregon State to a 74-54 win against Illinois-Chicago last night. The Beavers led by 20 at halftime, and Illinois-Chicago got no closer than 17 afterward. Robo Krebs had 21 points.