Oregon Coast News - June 23, 2010
Daily news and sports coverage for the Oregon coast plus a variety of guides and directories useful to Oregon residents and visitors.
Jobless rate
Four of the five complete counties along the Oregon Coast had unemployment rates less than last year, and the fifth, had the same rate. According to figures released for the month of May by the Oregon Employment Dept., the two counties on the North Coast, Tillamook and Clatsop, also enjoyed single-digit unemployment for the second straight month. The jobless rates in four of the counties, Coos, Curry, Lincoln and Clatsop; however, were actually higher than the previous month. Coos Co. – 12.9% unemployed in May 2010, up from 12.4% in April, but less than the 14.1% in May of 2009. Curry Co. – 13.3% of the workforce was out of a job in May, up from 12.9% in April, but less than the 14.6% in May of last year. Lincoln Co. – 10.8% were jobless in May, up slightly from the 10.8% the previous month, but less than the 11.2% in May 2009. Tillamook Co. – the best unemployment rate on the coast during May at 9.1%, down from the 9.6% in April and a full percentage point less than the 10.1% in May of last year. Clatsop Co. – second best jobless rate last month at 9.5%, up from the 9.4% in April, and the same as the 9.5% in May 2009.
South Coast payroll jobs
According to a report from the Oregon Employment Dept., Coos County payroll employment rose by 340 jobs in May. Federal government hiring related to temporary jobs to conduct the 2010 Census accounted for about 100 of the month’s employment increase. Over the year, total payroll employment slipped by 280 jobs. If it were not for the Census hiring, the over-the-year decline would be closer to 400 jobs. Curry County payroll employment gained 220 jobs in May, with a wide array of sectors boosting job counts. Over the year, employment fell by 80 jobs but would be closer to a loss of 100 jobs without the temporary federal government hiring related to the 2010 Census.
Oregon Caves and Devil’s Staircase Protection Bills Pass Energy Committee
Marking another milestone in the fight to protect Oregon’s natural resources for future generations, U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) announced that a pair of bills designed to provide protections for two of Oregon’s greatest natural resources have been approved by the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, paving the way for consideration by the entire U.S. Senate. Senator Wyden chairs the Subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests, with primary jurisdiction over wilderness legislation. The Devil’s Staircase legislation designates approximately 30,000 acres of the Siuslaw National Forest, southwest of Florence and northeast of Reedsport, as a wilderness area and protects roughly 14 miles of the Wasson and Franklin Creeks. The Wilderness designation will preserve native coho and chinook salmon, trout, and steelhead runs as well as protect the habitats of wildlife like the black bear, elk, and river otter. The Oregon Caves legislation expands the boundaries of the century-old national monument by transferring roughly 4,000 acres from the National Forest Service to the National Park Service and designating the land as a Natural Preserve. Setting aside this additional land will increase tourism to the largest marble cave open to the public west of the Continental Divide and encourage ecological forest restoration. The legislation also gives a scenic designation to the River Styx that travels through the caves, the nation’s first such distinction for an underground waterway.
Forestry dispute
The Oregon Board of Forestry is being asked to reconsider a decision to increase logging within the Tillamook and Clatsop state forests of the North Oregon Coast. Eleven fishing and conservation groups allege the state broke the law with its decision in April to reduce the amount of older tree stands and change its strategy of protecting habitat for threatened and endangered species. The groups claim in a petition that the decision wasn’t based on sound science, threatens habitat and doesn’t follow state law. Both county governments in Clatsop and Tillamook back the Oregon Board of Forestry. The counties receive 64-percent of the revenue generated from the state forests.
Quake
A small earthquake was recorded off Cape Mendocino in Northern California Tuesday morning. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the 2.9-magnitude quake occurred at 9:23 a.m., 59-miles west to southwest of Eureka, CA on an active fault line that runs out into the Pacific Ocean and then goes north parallel with the Oregon Coast.
Taser
A deputy sheriff on the Central Oregon Coast deployed a Taser Tuesday afternoon after a 36-year old Waldport male failed to comply with orders in a restaurant on Hwy. 101. According to a news release from the Lincoln Co. Sheriff’s Office, Arthur L. Mortensen had been acting suspicious, had not placed an order and was bothering customers in Vickie’s Big Wheel Restaurant when he was asked to leave by an employee about 2 p.m., but he remained. A responding deputy contacted him and also asked him multiple times to leave, but he still refused and he “failed to comply with the deputy’s orders to keep his hands out of his pockets where he repeatedly concealed them from the deputy’s view.” He then actively resisted arrest and the Taser was used to immobilize him. Mortensen was taken into custody without further incident, transported to a hospital in Newport for evaluation and then cited and released for Criminal Trespass II, Theft III and Resisting Arrest.
Cell phone
The discovery of a cell phone at an animal shelter on the Central Oregon Coast June 1st led to an investigation by the Lincoln County Corrections staff that provides inmates for a worker program at the facility in Newport. According to a news release from the Sheriff’s Office, the investigation revealed an inmate had used the phone to coordinate deliveries of chewing tobacco to the shelter. Thirty-one year old Jeff Carmody, of Newport, who had been serving a 360-day sentence for Burglary I and Resisting Arrest, was indicted by a Grand Jury on two felony counts of Supplying Contraband. Another investigation is continuing to determine who Carmody contacted on the outside to provide the contraband.
Marine Law Enforcement Officials Set to Crack Down On Impaired Boaters
Boaters would do better to leave the cold beer at home – especially this weekend. Marine law enforcement officers will be out in full force June 25-27 for Operation Dry Water 2010, the second annual national crackdown on those Boating Under the Influence (BUI) of alcohol or drugs. Operation Dry Water, launched in 2009 by NASBLA in partnership with the United States Coast Guard, has been a highly successful effort to draw public attention to the hazards of BUI. Operation Dry Water is a national weekend of BUI detection and enforcement aimed at reducing the number of alcohol and drug-related accidents and fatalities and fostering a stronger and more visible deterrent to alcohol and drug use on the water. It is held during the summer boating season and coordinated by NASBLA, in partnership with the states, the U.S. Coast Guard and other agencies. Curbing the number of alcohol and drug-related accidents and fatalities is key to achieving a safer and more enjoyable environment for recreational boating. According to the most recent U.S. Coast Guard statistics, Boating Under the Influence is still the leading contributing factor in fatal boating accidents, with 17 percent of boating fatalities a direct result of alcohol or drug use. Agencies and organizations from 46 states and 5 territories participated in the first ever Operation Dry Water, in June 2009. Over that three-day weekend, 2,442 marine law enforcement officers made contact with 17,454 recreational vessels and issued 5,320 boating safety warnings, 283 BUI citations and 1,127 citations for other violations. This year, all 56 states, trusts and territories are expected to participate, searching for boat operators whose blood alcohol concentration exceeds the national limit of .08 percent. Alcohol can impair a boater’s judgment, balance, vision and reaction time. It can increase fatigue and susceptibility to the effects of cold-water immersion. Sun, wind, noise, vibration and motion – “stressors” common to the boating environment – intensify the side effects of alcohol, drugs, and some prescription medications. Authorities contend that this BUI crackdown is just as important to public safety as the enforcement of drunken driving laws. For more information on Operation Dry Water, visit http://operationdrywater.org.
NB election packets
The City of North Bend election for Mayor and three (3) Council positions will be held on November 2, 2010. Candidate packets are now available at the City Recorder’s office in City Hall, 835 California Ave., North Bend, OR 97459, (541) 756-8529.
Coos Co. Board of Commissioners
The Coos County Board of Commissioners has scheduled or will attend the following
meeting during the period of June 21, 2010 through June 25, 2010: The regular Board meeting that was scheduled for Tuesday, June 22 has been cancelled. Wednesday, June 23: 2:30 PM, Hearing- Fees for Public Health and Mental Health- Commissioners Courtroom Room 121.
OIMB 2010 Summer Seminar Series
Oregon Institute of Marine Biology, Charleston, Oregon. June 23 William Bement, Dept. of Zoology, University of Wisconsin Madison, “Tiny holes getting tinier: Repair of single cell wounds.” All seminars at 4:00 PM except for the evening public lecture on June 30. OIMB Boathouse Auditorium. Please park on Boat Basin Road and walk down to the OIMB Boathouse. Call (541) 888-2581 for information or email oimb@uoregon.edu.
DUII
He admitted to attempting to hide his vehicle after it was observed by a Coos County Sheriff’s deputy traveling at a high-rate of speed on Hwy. 42, west of Coquille, Monday night about 9:45 p.m. According to a news release from the Sheriff’s Office, the deputy found the Ford Taurus in a driveway off Garden Valley Road. The operator, Jimmy Austin, of Coquille, admitted hiding it due to his speed. However, the deputy detected a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage and arrested Austin for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants. He was transported to the county jail at Coquille and also cited for Violation of the Basic Rule (VBR), speeding. He was later released.
Rape
A report was taken by a Coos County Sheriff’s deputy from a 35-year old female who claimed she was a victim of a rape to Coos Bay Police at the Mission Monday night, 8:18 p.m. According to an entry on the Sheriff’s log, the rape occurred in the county approximate one week ago.
Suspicious subject
A report of a suspicious subject Monday, 3:16 p.m., Virginia & Harrison avenues, led to a citation for PCS Less than an Oz. Marijuana and DWS – Violation. According to an entry on the Coos Co. Sheriff’s log, 22-year old Brandon Summers was cited.
Baseball
You hear about it, but it’s usually somewhere else. No Monday night in North Bend. According to an entry on the police log for 10:32 p.m., “request officer respond to location as umpire having problems with male subject at location. Umpire kicked guy out but he refused to leave. Officer advised subject left prior to officer arrival.”
DUII
According to an entry on the North Bend Police log for Monday, 10:21 p.m., 2200 block of Sherman Ave., “traffic stop.” Forty-eight year old Sherry Alexander, North Bend, “taken into custody for DUII.”
Accident
A three-vehicle accident was reported on Newmark at Chester Monday evening, 7:39 p.m. According to an entry on the police log, 18-year old Natlie Wolfsberger, Coos Bay, was cited for Following too Close. Other drivers included: 21-year old Kerstin Dahlstrom, Coos Bay, and 20-year old Ryan Carter, Lakeview. Dahlstrom’s 2000 Ford pickup was towed.
Drivers
North Bend Police issued several warnings to drivers for alleged erratic driving Monday evening. According to entries on the police log, a 37-year old male was warned for Failure to Maintain Lane after another driver reported at 5:45 p.m., southbound on Hwy. 101, “vehicle driving erratically unable to stay in his lane SB on McCullough Bridge. Officer located the vehicle / advised driver is not intoxicated.” At 8:13 p.m., 1700 block Virginia Ave., “female motorist in REF 4 Runner driving erratically through town then stopped at Safeway on Virginia Ave. Officer checked area / unable to located in parking lots of Safeway and PV Mall.” At 9:48 p.m., Newmark Ave. at Walmart, 57-year old female, “off duty Coos Co. Sheriff’s deputy reported vehicle driving erratically westbound on Newmark Ave. Officer caught up to vehicle / TRX in Walmart parking lot. Driver was not intoxicated, but was warned for Failure to Maintain Lane, driver agree to pay better attention to roadway.”
Domestic
According to an entry on the Coquille Police log for early Tuesday morning, 900 block No. Elliott St., “domestic violence across the street.” Thirty-two year old Eric Combie arrested on Coquille PD warrant for Violation of Restraining Order. Transported to the Coos Co. Jail at Coquille.
Disorderly
According to an entry on the Coos Bay Police log for early Tuesday morning, 479 Newmark Ave., Silver Dollar, “reporting problem subject at location.” Thirty-five year old Tosha Langenberg arrested on Reedsport PD warrant charging PCS Schedule III – Oxycodone. Transported to the Coos Co. Jail at Coquille.
Indecent
According to an entry on the Coquille Police log for Monday, 1:30 p.m., Visitor’s Information Center, “indecent exposure.” According to an entry on the Coos Co. Sheriff’s log for 1:32 p.m., “assist CQPD with male who is exposing himself to children.” The suspect allegedly exposed himself to an adult female near the Chamber of Commerce building. Fifty-year old Richard Michael Kelly, described as a transient from Indiana, was arrested for Indecent Exposure. The same individual was arrested earlier that morning at 12:54 a.m. for lying in the middle of North Bank Road nude. He was then charged with Disorderly Conduct and released. Deputies learned after his second arrest that Kelly was already on a release agreement from Multnomah County (Portland) on similar charges and a warrant was being sought for violation of that agreement. He is being held in the county jail at Coquille.
Child abuse
According to an entry on the Coos Bay Police log for Monday, 1:29 p.m., 1098 W. Ingersoll Ave., “assist Service Children & Family. Requests an officer assist with a reported child abuse that happened in District #1.” Victim listed as 15-year old female.
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OREGON COAST SPORTS
American Legion bb
The North Coos Waterfront American Legion baseball team will take on Three Rivers for the second time this season in a doubleheader scheduled for 5 p.m. tonight in Florence. The games are non-league as Three Rivers plays a “AAA” schedule and the Waterfront is an American Legion “A” team. Three Rivers won the earlier meeting on a wet evening at Clyde Allen Field in North Bend.
OSU AD honored
Oregon State University’s Bob De Carolis has been selected the 2010 recipient of the Under Armour West Region Athletic Director of the Year, the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) announced Monday. De Carolis has served as Athletic Director at Oregon State since August of 2002 after arriving on campus in April of 1998 as Associate Athletic Director for internal operations. He was promoted to Senior Associate Athletic Director in July of 1999. Under De Carolis’ leadership, the Beavers have improved competitively on the fields of play and academically. Some of the competitive highlights include the football team posting a winning season for the first time in nearly three decades, men’s basketball compiling a winning season for the first time in 15 years, the softball program made its first appearance ever in the College World Series and the baseball team competed in the College World Series for the first time in more than five decades – capturing the 2006 and 2007 national championships. With him in a leadership role, the football team has played in nine bowl games and overall, 16 of the 17 intercollegiate programs sponsored by OSU have participated in postseason. Academically, 51 percent of the entire athletic roster sports a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or higher. Community service hours have tripled during his tenure and contributions for scholarships to the Beaver Athletic Student Fund (BASF) have increased from $5 million to more than $11 million.
UO fb
Oregon senior end Kenny Rowe has been named as one of 70 players on the watch list for the Bronco Nagurski Trophy, an award presented annually to college football’s top defensive player by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA). The defensive MVP of the 2010 Rose Bowl, Rowe is also on the watch lists for the Lombardi Award (outstanding lineman or linebacker) and the Lott Trophy (defensive IMPACT player). The Long Beach, Calif. product led the Pac-10 and tied for ninth nationally with 0.88 sacks per game last season. He is one of nine Pac-10 players to make the list.
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