Lane County Could See $10-million Windfall
A possible one-year extension of federal payments to timber producing counties could mean as much as $10-million for Lane County. But if the money does come, it could be saved for the future. Fourth District Congressman Peter DeFazio said a House-Senate Conference Committee approved the one-time deal yesterday; it’s expected to go before the full congress for a vote tomorrow. It would distribute a total of $346-million to 700 counties in 41 states. About $100-million would go to Oregon, and about ten-percent of Oregon’s share would go to Lane County.
The Board of Commissioners would have to decide whether or not to plug it back into the budget for the coming year. It’s likely, though, that they would opt to hang on to it for the future. Lane County cut just under $100-million from its budget this year because of revenue shortfalls. Officials have said they will likely be facing dramatic cuts again next year.
If Congress approves the money, the Lane County Board will discuss what to do with it at their next meeting, July 11th.
Tsunami debris task force formation urged
Oregon Govern John Kitzhaber has asked the Oregon Office of Emergency Management to put together a task force charged with preparing plans and procedures for dealing with the tsunami debris from Japan. It’s been washing up on Oregon beaches for several months now, and there’s been a recent upsurge in the amount and variety of debris reported. Scientists still say the bulk of the debris is still yet to come. Kitzhaber has asked the interim director of the OEM, Mike Caldwell, to head up that panel. Kitzhaber and Washington Governor Chris Gregoire have also called on the federal government for assistance in paying for the cleanup and disposal of debris that washed to sea following the March 2011 disaster.
Follow the directions on that bug bomb
Fleas can be a common problem in the home this time of year. Carpets and upholstery can be a prime breeding habitat. One way used by many people to rid their home of the pests is a pesticide fogger; also known as a bug bomb. Sunny Jones with the Oregon Department of Agriculture’s pesticide program says that poses a variety of hazards. Earlier this spring a home in Brookings was destroyed by explosion and fire when the resident used several foggers at once. Nobody was hurt, but Jones said it points out the need to follow instructions. She says there can be a simple alternative.
Sunny Jones – “Vacuuming your carpets well can help pull up, for example, flea eggs, which is typically what somebody might be using an indoor fogger for– they have concerns about fleas. You might consider treating your pets so that you don’t have fleas on the animals to begin with.”
Illnesses associated with exposure to the pesticide can be far more common… that’s why following the label instructions or even consulting a pest control expert could be a better alternative.
What’s that?
Florence police officer Shawn Morgan spotted the car last Thursday evening… it was driving too fast. When he pulled the vehicle over, it appeared to him that the driver was intoxicated. There was also something else bothering the officer. Several items in the car caused him to believe the driver did not own it.
He didn’t.
A check with the Newport Police Department confirmed the car had just been reported stolen from outside a restaurant in that community. As 40-year old David Wooten was being taken into custody, he was also asked about a set of golf clubs found in the trunk.
Morgan asked Wooten if he played. The man replied “yeah, and I’m good”. The officer asked him what his handicap was. The response: “I have poor circulation in my right leg”.
