As many as a dozen burglaries may have been cracked with one arrest
Police say they’ve recovered stolen goods valued at $40-thousand, and so far, made one arrest in relation to as many as a dozen burglaries in Western Oregon.
28-year old Jesse Leon Johnson is facing several theft, burglary and weapons charges after Oregon State Police, Lane County Sheriff’s Deputies, and Florence Police served a search warrant at an undisclosed residence late last week. So far, according to Fish and Game Trooper Scott Salisbury, they’ve recovered motorcycles, musical instruments, fishing gear, firearms and even a cargo trailer; all confirmed stolen.
He said the list will likely grow as they continue to sort through goods. He says up to a dozen different cases could be related… some of which haven’t even been reported.
Those cases are spread over Western Oregon, including Mapleton, the Florence area and even as far south as Myrtle Point.
Johnson was lodged briefly last week at the Lane County Jail following his arrest, but was released after booking because of a lack of jail space. Police are continuing to investigate and expect more arrests to follow.
- Tools, musical equipment, even motorcycles and a cargo trailer were seized.
Beach Cleanup Yields the Small Stuff
Despite the weather forecasts, the turnout for last Saturday’s Spring Beach Cleanup was pretty heavy according to Oregon State Parks Beach Ranger Trisha Wymore.
Trisha Wymore – “Yeah! It was so great. We had 258 from Washburne to Siltcoos, 3,500 pounds of trash.”
That 35-hundred pounds of trash consisted mostly of very small pieces.
Trisha Wymore – “You know, it was a lot of small stuff. Our waves and the sunlight actually breaks up plastic into little bits and pieces. So it was a lot of small pieces.”
Central Coast Disposal dropped off dumpsters at each of the half-dozen locations in Western Lane County prior to the pickup, and when they retrieved them later that afternoon, says Wymore, they were all full.
Advance Directives
Local health care providers will be joining in a national effort later this month to help residents make some important decisions. Nancy Smith is a clinical social worker and manager of Spiritual Care and Ethics at Peace Harbor Hospital.
Nancy Smith – “Oregon law provides us with a legal document that can be written in advance of serious illness that states your choices for health care and names someone you trust to make decisions if you become unable to speak for yourself.”
It’s called an “Advance Directive” and helps care-givers better respond to the wishes of patients. Peace Harbor will be offering workshops at the hospital on Monday, April 16th, as well as offering assistance in completing the Advance Directives.
Preserving Foods
Oregon State Extension service is offering a unique series of classes on food preservation this spring and summer. Nellie Oehler (AY-ler) says there’s a growing interest in preserving foods at home. That’s why Extension is offering the classes, the first of their kind in Oregon. All will be offered in Eugene with the first two, in April and May focusing on food safety and science. The following half-dozen workshops will offer a ‘hands on’ experience covering the making of jams and jellies, drying and freezing foods, water bath canning; pickling; canning tomatoes and salsa; and pressure canning meats and vegetables. The entire series is $240 and successful completion will result in a certificate of proficiency. Information on the classes and how to sign up can be found at the OSU Extension website.
