5 August 2013
Tribe accepts return of Cultural Site
The historic site of a Native American village on the rocky coast of Coos County was returned to tribal ownership Saturday. Bob Garcia, the chair of the Confederated Tribes of the Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians accepted the transfer of the Cape Arago Lighthouse and Gregory Point from the U.S. Coast Guard in a ceremony Saturday morning.
Bob Garcia – “This is a village where people lived for thousands of years, to have this village site returned to the tribe by the federal government so that we can do our best to protect, what was here. To protect not only the physical attributes of the point but the spiritual story that was carried out here. This is where people lived. This is where people, you know, had marriages, had ceremonies for thousands of years.”
The site, known by the tribal members as the village of Baldich, was declared surplus by the Coast Guard several years ago. By law it could only be turned over to a lighthouse preservation group. But, through special legislation sponsored by Oregon Lawmakers, it was returned to tribal control.
Progress on Oregon Wildfires
Favorable weather helped firefighters make progress against some of Oregon’s wildfires in the last few days, but officials say hotter temperatures and increased danger loom.
About 24-hundred personnel on Sunday continued fighting the Douglas complex fires north of Glendale, the state’s largest at nearly 35-thousand acres. Officials said about 30homes remained threatened and the fires were 15 percent contained.
Another group of fires in Douglas County, the Whiskey Complex, was burning on about 5-thousand acres east of Tiller and the Big Windy complex was scorching about 75-hundred acres in steep, forested terrain in Josephine and Curry Counties. More than one-thousand firefighters are on the lines there.
Several other smaller fires in Western Oregon were quickly squelched, including one just south of Port Orford on Hubbard Creek and at least two blazes on the Highway 126 corridor between Mapleton and Eugene.
Forecasters are saying more hot, dry weather this week could contribute to fire spread.
Florence Council Facing Back to Back Meetings
The Florence City Council will have two meetings this week. One tonight is a regular bi-monthly session; tomorrow’s meeting will be a joint session with the Lane County Board of Commissioners.
Councilors will talk about affordable housing and business licenses this evening. They’ll consider a resolution in support of the 45-unit Munsel Lake Village housing project just north of Fred Meyer.
In another matter they’re being asked to give direction to city staff on how to administer the business license program.
Tomorrow… the council will conduct a joint hearing with the Lane County board of Commissioners on a proposal to establish certain wetlands and aquifer protections within the urban growth boundary. Since Lane County holds jurisdiction of portions of the land covered by the protections… and since it requires an amendment to the city’s comprehensive plan… both bodies must hear testimony and make a decision. Both meetings are at Florence City Hall. Monday’s at seven PM; Tuesday’s at 5:30.
