Oregon Coast News - October 27, 2009
Daily news and sports coverage for the Oregon coast plus a variety of guides and directories useful to Oregon residents and visitors.
School flu shot clinics
Flu shot clinics are underway within the North Bend School District. North Bay Elementary held a clinic on Monday, Oct. 26th. Today, clinics will be held at NB Middle School (1-2:30 p.m.) and NB High School (2:30-4 p.m.). A fourth clinic is scheduled for Wednesday at Hillcrest Elementary School (1-4 p.m.). The Coos County Health Dept. has already vaccinated students within the Coquille School District, and plan to do Myrtle Point and Bandon the next two weeks. North Bend and Coos Bay school districts will be visited the second and third weeks of November.
College investigating going tobacco-free
During the Board of Education meeting on Monday night, members of the Board reviewed separate recommendations related to tobacco use. First, the Associated Student Government (ASG) advocated for a tobacco-free college by Fall of 2011. Later, a representative of the Department of Human Services (DHS) requested a tobacco-free Newmark zone. Cody Carlson, ASG President, suggested to the Board that he was interested in conducting a follow-up survey, to which the Board determined they would wait to see those results. The faculty senate also offered that they were planning to conduct a survey on the topic and would submit the results to the Board. Earlier this year, at the Board’s request, ASG had offered the first survey and compiled the results, which were a mixed representation of students, employees and community members. 72% of the people who responded to the survey agreed or strongly agreed that second-hand smoke was a concern for them. Only 27% of respondents disagreed or strongly disagreed with fines for policy violations. Based on the survey results, ASG recommended during Monday’s meeting that the college adopt a complete tobacco cessation by Fall Term 2011 and that tobacco cessation education be offered by and at Southwestern. It was suggested that a committee be formed regarding how education should be presented to the students and employees at the college. An ASG student representative would be provided to sit on the committee. ASG also recommended a possible increase in the distance someone can smoke from a door, window, or vent to 30 feet in 2010; the ability for Campus Security to write a non-compliance fine to anyone disobeying the tobacco policy; and, an adoption of the American College Health Association (ACHA) mission statement--“Becoming or maintaining a tobacco-free living and learning environment that supports the achievement of personal and academic goals.” The recommendations are representative of the trends of tobacco cessation in Oregon and across the nation. On September 9, Portland Community College became the largest educational institution in Oregon to go tobacco-free. Umpqua Community College recently followed with the announcement of a tobacco-free campus on September 28.
The ACHA has urged colleges across the country to move towards cessation of tobacco products on campuses. Americans for Nonsmokers’ Rights said that as of October 6, 365 U.S. colleges and universities have policies requiring that all campus spaces, indoors and outdoors, be smoke-free. In the case of the Newmark Center, Betty Albertson of DHS told those in attendance that the department prohibits the use of tobacco, but the Newmark facility that they currently occupy does not offer the same, presenting them with a difficult quandary of enforcing their internal policy. The Board decided that they would have the administration conduct a more thorough investigation of the impact on the Newmark property and bring forward a recommendation to be reviewed at a future meeting.
OSU researchers find cause of 2008 offshore earthquake swarms
A team of Oregon State University scientists has solved the mystery behind an unusual swarm of earthquakes that occurred off the Oregon coast in the spring of 2008 – a series of faults in the Juan de Fuca plate that they didn’t know existed. The discovery of these faults about 140 miles off the central Oregon coast, in association with the earthquake activity, suggests that the tectonic plate off the Oregon shore is still actively deforming, said Robert Dziak, an OSU marine geologist who works at the university’s Hatfield Marine Science Center in Newport. “This pattern of earthquakes demonstrates that the Juan de Fuca plate is continually moving and converging with North America at the Cascadia Subduction Zone,” Dziak said. “It isn’t clear if the swarms that occurred in 2008 represent normal stress release within the plate, or if they are from deformation related to the Cascadia Subduction Zone. We simply don’t yet know.” Most of the earthquakes were of magnitude 3.0 to 4.0, the scientists said, but there were a handful that exceeded magnitude 5.0. Few, if any, of these earthquakes would be felt on shore, Dziak said, because they originate offshore within the deep ocean floor. The Cascadia Subduction Zone is of particular interest because the region has experienced several enormous earthquakes over the past 10,000 years – the last of which occurred about 300 years ago. The intense earthquake swarm last year began on March 30 about 140 miles southwest of Newport and was one of the more unusual events detected by Dziak and his colleagues in 17 years of monitoring using sensitive undersea hydrophones. The swarm was considered unusual because it began inside the Juan de Fuca plate and not along the boundary between the Juan de Fuca and Pacific plates, where most earthquake activity takes place. Then after 10 days, the swarm stopped – but not for long. Three distinct clusters of quakes soon followed, beginning with a series of small tremors along the Blanco Transform Fault – the boundary between the two plates – and concluding with a frenzy of seismic activity along the Gorda Ridge, which produced more than 1,000 earthquakes in just five days. This swarm was of special interest to scientists, not just because of the sheer volume of quakes, but because of its proximity to an eruption on the seafloor discovered in 1996. Dziak said the two-month swarm represented a plate motion event, beginning within the Juan de Fuca plate, then moving east and south, and finally culminating in seafloor spreading activity that likely produced magma intruding beneath the seafloor. “We were able to monitor the spatial progression of the swarm within the plate and along its boundaries,” Dziak said, “but we don’t yet completely understand how they are related and what triggers the sequence. But it is interesting that the stress release within the plate could trigger swarms of earthquakes on the plate boundaries.” During the two-month spree last spring, the OSU scientists recorded more than 1,600 earthquakes using an array of hydrophones called the Sound Surveillance System (SOSUS), made available by the U.S. Navy. This SOSUS network originally was used during the decades of the Cold War to monitor submarine activity in the northern Pacific Ocean . As the Cold War ebbed, these and other unique military assets were offered to civilian researchers performing environmental studies, Dziak said. When the researchers first detected the swarm, they mobilized the OSU research vessel Wecoma on a trip led by Ron Greene to take water samples in the earthquake zone and look at the chemical signature of the water for signs of volcanic activity. In September, Hatfield researcher Susan Merle returned aboard the R/V Melville and performed a multi-beam sonar survey to produce new maps of the seafloor and it was during this cruise that the new fault system was discovered. “From aboard the ship, we discovered one area where there was a 20-meter displacement of the seafloor and deformed sediments, which is a direct indication of faulting,” said Merle, a senior faculty research assistant at OSU. Merle, Greene and Dziak are all affiliated with the Cooperative Institute for Marine Resources Studies (CIMRS), a joint OSU/NOAA venture. An additional high-resolution seafloor survey of the eastern Blanco Transform Fault was performed last summer by the NOAA ship Okeanos Explorer. This isn’t the first time the researchers have recorded earthquake swarms off the Oregon coast. There have been a total of eight swarms over the past dozen years, Dziak said, the first seven of which likely were the result of volcanic activity on the Juan de Fuca and Gorda ridges. The 2008 swarm originated within the plate, where the newly discovered faults lie and affected a large area of the plate and its boundaries.
Boat Registration Renewal Reminders Are Coming
Boaters with registration decals for “08” or “09” on their boat will soon be getting their courtesy registration renewal notice in the mail. The Marine Board is mailing approximately 102,000 notices on October 30. The notices will include the new $5 surcharge for the Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention Permit fund in addition to the boat registration fee which is unchanged. Registration fees are $3 per foot, rounded up,
based on the length of the vessel. “Renewing online is quick and easy. There’s also no processing fee, and these days, that’s a welcomed service,” said Ashley Massey,
Public Affairs Specialist for the Marine Board. Each renewal notice contains the boat owner’s registration number (OR number) and a special PIN. “The boat owner simply goes to the Marine Board website at www.boatoregon.com, clicks on the registration icon, and enters the information from the renewal notice into designated fields.” The online system is secure, and personal information is protected when paying with a credit card. The Marine Board does not retain any credit card data. “Another advantage to renewing online is that boaters can print out a temporary permit right away, and immediately get out on the water. The winter steelhead season is right around the corner,” said Massey. “The transaction is automated, so the Marine Board can process the renewal much faster. Decals are mailed within 5-7 days.” The electronic process provides a great turnaround-time for boaters. Boaters can also renew their registrations at the Marine Board Office in Salem, by mail or through 85 agents statewide. For a list of agents, or to renew online, visit www.boatoregon.com.
Robotic Elk
Poachers beware! The big elk you thought you shot just might be a decoy donated by the Humane Society Wildlife Land Trust (HSUS) to Oregon State Police (OSP) Fish & Wildlife Division to combat poaching in Oregon. In 1991, the OSP Fish & Wildlife Division established the Wildlife Enforcement Decoy (WED) Program to battle poachers. The program is considered an integral part of the Fish & Wildlife division's work and has prevented the illegal taking of countless Oregon wildlife. The donation is the first robotic elk decoy in the OSP WED program and is available for statewide use. Robert Koons, Executive Director of the Wildlife Land Trust, and James Reed, Director of Stewardship for the Wildlife Land Trust, officially donated the robotic elk WED on October 14th to Captain Walt Markee, Director of the OSP Fish & Wildlife Division, and Lieutenant Steve Lane, statewide WED Coordinator assigned to oversee OSP Fish & Wildlife Division operations in the Northwest Region. "The Wildlife Land Trust and our parent organization, the Humane Society of the United States, are committed to help the Oregon State Police in their efforts to reduce poaching and other illegal activities. We recognize and appreciate their work and are honored to be able to support their efforts," said Koons. Captain Markee stressed the program is a valuable tool in the battle against poaching and he welcomed the robotic elk as a member of the WED family. "This donated WED elk by the Wildlife Land Trust and the Humane Society of the United States is much appreciated and will aid in the division's mission to protect Oregon's wildlife resources from poaching," Markee said. Following a May 2009 National Geographic online article about the WED program, Lieutenant Lane was put into direct contact with Koons about the possibility of HSUS donating a robotic elk to help OSP's program. According to Lieutenant Lane, the WED operation puts the violator and officer together at the same time, allowing the officer to become a direct witness to the violation. The use of wildlife enforcement decoys are conducted under strict guidelines to allow for safety of all those involved, including the area of the operation. Since 1995, a law has been effect in Oregon (ORS 496.996) that makes any action toward a WED under the control of law enforcement officials illegal if the act is consistent with the unlawful taking of applicable fish and wildlife laws. A person charged with a fish and wildlife violation involving a WED can be charged with a Class A Misdemeanor (1 year in jail and a fine up to $6,250.00), hunting license suspension of two years and restitution for damage to the WED. The court may also provide for additional penalties or sanctions. The primary focus of the Division's WED program is to apprehend nighttime or closed season violators, many of which are aware of the program and check for movement prior to committing a violation towards a WED. During 2008 a total of 225 operations were conducted statewide with nearly half during daylight hours. During the WED operations, troopers reported: * 1,206 vehicles drove by the WED and over half observed the decoy; * 90 vehicles fired at the WED; * 143 citations were issued; * Of the citations issued, 136 were for specific fish and wildlife violations including Taking Game Mammal Closed Season, Hunting Game Mammal With Aid of Artificial Light, No Big Game Tag, Aiding in a Wildlife Violation, and Felon in Possession of a Firearm (Class C Felony). The OSP Fish and Wildlife Division WED inventory consists of deer, elk, antelope, bear, turkey and other wildlife species located statewide. Elk and deer are the most used WED, and there are some robotic deer in the OSP WED inventory. The robotic elk decoy was built by Custom Robotic Wildlife out of Mosinee, Wisconsin at a total cost of $4,000 including shipping and handling.
NB City Council
The North Bend City Council will meet on Tuesday, October 27, 2009 at 7:30 p.m. in the council chambers of City Hall, 835 California Street, North Bend.
College to offer presentation on PTSD
Southwestern Oregon Community College will be hosting a free Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) presentation on October 27 at 6 p.m. at OCCI on the Coos Campus in Coos Bay. Eddie Black will be giving the presentation. The delivery will be from the perspective of a combat veteran. In addition to soldiers, his audiences have included veterans, families, educational programs, concerned citizens, therapists and psychologists around the state of Oregon. “Every time I’ve given the presentation I’ve had a large amount of positive feedback from a range of attendees,” says Black. “Sometimes you’ve got to hear one of your own talk about the issues. Because I am a veteran, and I’ve been going to therapy for two years now with tremendous results, my talking about it seems to give others like me permission to talk about it themselves.” Black maintains that his presentations are free of politics. He comes from the culture of the Marine Corps and Army Infantry. He sees that the largest impediment to veterans getting mental health help is our own culture of what mental health is and how we deal with our experiences. “To us it is weakness,” explains Black. “So instead of listing out PTSD symptoms like so many other presentations, I discuss warfare training and history and before the viewer knows it I am showing, in simple language, how this impacts normal people.” Black currently works as an infantry instructor for the Army National Guard. He was in the Marines from 1989-94 (Desert Storm) and was deployed in the Oregon Guard to Iraq in 2004. He also currently works as a military culture consultant at the psychiatric department at OHSU.
CCCC&F meeting
The Coos County Commission on Children and Families will meet on Tuesday, October 27, 2009 at 5:30 p.m. at ESD, 1350 Teakwood, Coos Bay. Agenda: I. Call to Order: 5:30 p.m. II. Additions to the Agenda; III. Public Input; IV. Consent Agenda; A. Financial Report ; B. Commission Minutes of September 2009; C. Directors Activity Report; V. Reports; A. Drug Free Communities Grant; B. Community Schools; C. Prevention Projects: Teen Dance, Red Ribbon; VI. Old Business; A. Comp Plan: new calendar; VII. New Business; A. Healthy Start 2009-10 Budget; B. Commission System Review Conversation: State Statue Intent; VIII. Adjournment. If members are unable to attend this meeting please notify the Commission office. For Your Information: Training flyers: Nov. 18 Human Trafficking and Nov. 19 Wrap Around Training
New Data: Juvenile Crime Prevention and Underage Drinking in Coos County.
Disturbance
A report of a disturbance on Lorain Lane in Coos Bay early Sunday morning, 5:40 a.m., resulted in the arrest of a 26-year old female. According to a news release from the Coos Co. Sheriff’s Office, Nika Sanchez, of Coos Bay, was charged with Assault IV – Domestic and Theft II. A 25-year old male received an injury to his left eye, but refused medical treatment. The theft charge involved Sanchez being loaned a cell phone by a neighbor to call for a cab, but allegedly did not return it. She reportedly threw it in the woods.
Neighborly
Several incidents involving neighbors made the police logs in North Bend on Sunday. At 2:16 p.m., 1900 block Madrona St., “anonymous RP reported her neighbors arguing in their backyard. Officers responded / contacted involved parties / both warned for Disorderly Conduct. Male suspect agreed to go home.” At 3:12 p.m., 500 block Lockhart St., “RP request officer for his neighbors parking on his property and playing their music too loud. Officer contacted involved parties / warned female for DWS when she moved a car earlier / also warned residence of location for PCS Less than an Ounce of Marijuana.” At 10:42 p.m., 2100 block Harrison Ave., “RP reported hearing female yelling and screaming and then heard her yelling at someone to get off her property. Officer advised Williams was upset about a family matter and was taking it out on the neighbors. Subject was trespassed from the neighbors and advised to leave them alone.”
Stubborn raccoon
According to an entry on the North Bend Police log for Sunday, 11:53 a.m., 1100 block Montana St., “RP reported a raccoon in the yard across the street from him / advised he cannot spook it into leaving and is afraid it will come after his grandkids who want to play outside. Officers responded / attempted to contact ODF&W to assist since the animal still would not leave residential area / negative contact. Officers assisted in removal.”
Loud music
A complaint early Monday morning, 1:23 a.m., about loud music at a residence on the 1900 block of Lawnridge Lp., led to the arrest of a 23-year old male. According to an entry on the Coos Bay Police log, Richard C. McDonald was wanted on a Jackson Co. Sheriff’s Office warrant for Failure to Appear on an original charge of DUII. Also arrested was 19-year old Tyler J. Pickerill on a Probation Violation charge. Both were transported to the Coos Co. Jail at Coquille.
Assault
An alleged assault involving an 18-year old male victim led to the arrest of a 26-year old male Sunday night on the 600 block of 14th Ave. in Coos Bay. According to an entry on the police log for 10:09 p.m., Richard T. Bailey was charged with two-counts of Assault IV – Domestic and Strangulation. He was transported and lodged in the Coos Co. Jail at Coquille.
Fight
A report of a fight in a trailer on the 700 block of Cammann St., in the Empire District of Coos Bay, Sunday night, 9:14 p.m., resulted in the arrest of a 51-year old male. According to an entry on the police log, Jack Wyatt was charged with Domestic Menacing, transported and lodged in the Coos Co. Jail at Coquille. The victim was listed as a 48-year old female.
Narcotics
According to an entry on the Coos Bay Police log for Sunday, 5:44 p.m., Marshfield High School, 1098 Ingersoll Ave., “narcotics turned over to officer from school administrator.”
Deer
According to an entry on the Coos Co. Sheriff’s log for Sunday, 10:24 a.m., residence on Hwy. 42, “older white pickup, 2 males pulled up and dumped injured deer in her yard at approximately 0830 hrs.. Deer trying to get up but is badly injured. RP can dispatch the deer but it needs to be disposed of.” Information relayed to OSP.
Truck crash
A semi-trailer load of paper rolls spilled onto an embankment along Hwy. 18 northeast of Lincoln City on the Central Oregon Coast early Sunday morning after a commercial truck went out of control and crashed. The driver, Craig Parker, was initially taken to a local hospital and then airlifted to Legacy Emanuel Hospital in Portland. According to an Oregon State Police report, the truck went out of control while trying to negotiate a curve, rolled on to its side and then slid into the westbound lane through a guardrail and partially into the Salmon River.
WX
Mostly cloudy with rain showers likely. Highs in the lower to mid 50s and northwest winds 10-20 mph. Mostly cloudy tonight with rain showers, lows in the lower to mid 40s and north winds 10-20 mph. Mostly cloudy on Wednesday, highs in the lower 50s to lower 60s.
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OREGON COAST SPORTS
MHS vb
It’s “Senior Night” at the Pirate Palace in Coos Bay. Marshfield’s volleyball team hosts Willamette, of Eugene, in the final home match of the regular season. The jayvee and frosh teams begin at 5:30 p.m., followed by the varsities about 6:45 p.m.
MHS sc
Marshfield’s boy’s soccer team hosts Willamette of Eugene tonight in the final home match of the regular season at Pete Susick Stadium. The match begins at 6 p.m. The Pirate seniors will be recognized just prior to the start.
NB vb
First place North Bend plays at South Umpqua in 4A Far West League volleyball tonight in Myrtle Crk.
NB sc
North Bend’s boy’s soccer team takes on Coquille tonight. The boys will play at home at Vic Adams Field.
OSAA
As expected, the Executive Committee of the Oregon Schools Activities Association officially approved the final recommendation from the Classification & Districting Committee for the 2010-2014 time block for prep sports within the state’s high schools. The major change from the current four-year time block involves “hybrid” leagues. Leagues comprised of teams from other classifications. Marshfield remains in the Midwestern League, but it is considered a “hybrid” with three 6A schools including Sheldon, South Eugene and Thurston. The Pirates, and the other 5A schools in the league, will also play the two 5A schools in the Southern Conference, Ashland and Eagle Point. Marist, a private school, requested to move up from 4A to 5A. North Bend remains in the 4A Far West League, and the 3A Sunset Conference is also considered a “hybrid” with Gold Beach dropping down to the 2A classification. How playoffs are determined will be left up to the OSAA Championship Committee. Marshfield Principal Greg Mulkey is a member of the Championship Committee. He says there have been some preliminary discussions about “Sectionals,” or “Regional” playoffs. The new classifications, an effort to find a better competitive balance between similar enrollment schools, goes into effect at the beginning of the 2010-11 school year next September.
Blazers
The Portland Trailblazers will open the 2009-10 NBA season at home for the first time in seven years. According to officials with the pro basketball team, the Blazers will begin their 40th season, Oct. 27th, with a rematch against the Houston Rockets, the team that ousted them from the playoffs last year.
OSU fb
Oregon State (4-3, 2-2 in Pac-10) hosts the UCLA Bruins (3-4, 0-4) at Reser Stadium. The game marks Homecoming 2009 on the OSU campus. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. The game will be televised by FSN Northwest and Prime Ticket (L.A.) via tape delay beginning at 3:30 p.m. SERIES: The series dates back to 1930 with UCLA owning a 39-14-4 advantage. The Beavers snapped a five-game losing streak to the Bruins with last year's 34-6 win at the Rose Bowl.
UO fb
ESPN College GameDay will produce its weekly college football preview show from the University of Oregon in Eugene Saturday morning preceding the No. 4 USC (6-1, 3-1) at No. 10 Oregon (6-1, 4-0) Pac-10 football game. USC leads the all-time series with Oregon, 37-16-2, including a 10-6-1 advantage at Autzen Stadium. The Trojans and Ducks have split their last 12 meetings, dating to 1993, but USC has won four of the past five, scoring 44 points or more in three of those victories. Last season, USC dealt Oregon its most lopsided of three defeats, 44-10 in Los Angeles. Kickoff is scheduled for 5:12 p.m. PDT at Autzen Stadium with a live national telecast on ABC and ESPN2, depending on viewers’ location.
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