Local News Digest – County to hear Comp Amendment; Preparing for the wind; Eugene man pleads not guilty; 7 Vikings make All FWL Volleyball; Pride falls in Corvallis

Changes to Florence Comp Plan to be Heard at Lane County

Lane County Commissioners will conduct a hearing next week on a change to Florence’s Comprehensive Plan regarding how area within the Urban Growth Boundary would be annexed into the city.  Dissatisfied with the language proposed by the city three years ago, the previous Commission inserted some wording of their own to make it more difficult for Florence to forcefully annex the property.  There was only one problem says West Lane Commissioner Jay Bozievich.

Jay Bozievich – ‘But unfortunately that left out the ability for somebody that owns an undeveloped and unoccupied lot to voluntarily annex their property to the city and you just can’t do that. So that error needed to be corrected and that’s what we’re attempting to do with this amendment.” (click here to listen to quote)

He understands concerns of homeowners along Rhododendron Drive and Heceta Beach Road, but said the change retains safeguards against forced annexation.  Bozievich also says property owners have more say in annexation than those just north of Eugene.

Jay Bozievich – “People of North Florence actually have greater protection and greater say in their annexation than the people of Santa Clara did.” (click here to listen to quote)

That hearing is set for next Tuesday morning in Eugene, but a special video link will be set up at the Florence Justice Center to allow coastal residents to interact.

When the wind blows…

No major issues arose out of yesterday’s wind and rain storm.  Scattered power outages were reported and a scattering of debris wound up on area streets and roads.  Chris Chandler with Central Lincoln PUD says preparedness helps keep the lights on when the wind blows.

Chris Chandler – “Central Lincoln builds to a 140 mile an hour standard to hold up to storms, but unfortunately we can’t always control the trees although as many folks know we try to keep them trimmed as much as possible around the power lines.” (click here to listen to quote)

Chandler says when the lights do go out, they want to hear from residents.  Central Lincoln has an automated phone system capable of handling thousands of phone calls at one time.  That number is 866-484-3783.

Plea entered in fatal crash

A Eugene area man, charged with second degree manslaughter and drunken driving, following a crash last week that claimed the life of a Florence man entered a not-guilty plea yesterday.  75-year old Eldridge Maready apparently headed northbound in the southbound lane of Interstate 105, November 8^th in Eugene.  His ¾ ton pickup allegedly struck and rolled over a car driven by 53-year old Gerald Taylor Brooks, killing the Florence man instantly.  Police did not release Maready’s blood alcohol level but said he was – quote – “significantly impaired”.  The trial is set for December 14^th in Lane County Circuit Court.

Far West Volleyball Honors

All league honors were handed out this week for Far West Volleyball… Four Siuslaw Vikings made the first team, Katie Catalfamo, Lacey DeSantis, Brionna DeSantis and Adrianna Roberts.  Kelsey Laing and Lona Dengler were named to the 2^nd team and exchange student Chiho Nishinaka received Honorable Mention.

Beaver Basketball

Jared Cunningham scored a career-high 35 points to lead Oregon State to an 82-72 win over Hofstra in the TicketCity Legends basketball classic last night.  Devon (duh-VONN) Collier added a career best of his own… 25 points and the Beavers are off to their best start, 3-and-oh, in 11 years.  Oregon State will head to East Rutherford, New Jersey this weekend for more play in the classic.