07 August 2015
Crews making headway on fires across Oregon
The weather remains warm and dry in most of the state, but precipitation in the next few days could help efforts to control wildland fires in nearly all corners of Oregon.
The state’s largest active wildfire is still consuming forest land and fire-fighting resources. The Stouts Fire, 11-miles east of Canyonville, is just 20-percent contained. It has blackened approximately 20-thousand acres. As of yesterday afternoon there were 14-hundred firefighters from 17 states working on the blaze.
Another fire in Douglas County; the Cable Crossing Fire near Glide; is approximately 50-percent contained and crews are mopping up the 18-hundred acre blaze.
On the north coast, the South Jetty Fire near the Columbia River is 80-percent contained at 27-acres. Crews in Clatsop County nearly three miles of hose to suppress the flames.
In far eastern Oregon, crews used the four-lane concrete Interstate 84 as a fire-break. They stopped the 19-square mile Lime Hill Fire two miles away from the town of Huntington.
Florence man accused of sexual abuse
A Florence man is facing a total of 21 separate charges including rape, sexual abuse, sodomy, and harassment following a report of possible sex abuse involving a female victim under the age of 18.
37-year old Christopher George Bryers was arrested by Florence police Tuesday; he was booked into the Lane County Jail that day.
Florence Police Lieutenant John Pitcher declined to release any other information about the alleged crime or the charges saying his main interest was in protecting the identity of the victim.
Pitcher did verify the charges were not related in any way to Bryers’ job as a ranger with Oregon State Parks.
The case is still under investigation and additional charges are pending.
Florence Relay for Life
The opening ceremony for the Florence Relay for Life is tomorrow, noon at Miller Park. The fund-raiser for the American Cancer Society has been condensed into just 12-hours this year.
Organizers say the traditional favorites… including the popular food court and the memorial observances including luminaria, will be there.
15 different teams are working to meet their fund raising goal of $85-thousand by midnight tomorrow night.
Emergency drill to challenge E-Dept.
Peace Harbor Medical Center will be deluged with an influx of emergency patients during a training event later this month. The scenario will be based on a simulated explosion with volunteers playing the role of the many casualties and family members that that would arise from that type of event.
Organizers are actually encouraging residents to participate and watch the training at Siuslaw High School as well as at Peace Harbor. It will provide “real life crowd control training for responders” according to City of Florence spokesperson Megan Messmer who added normal hospital activities will not be affected by the August 19th drill.
VJ Day to be remembered in Florence
70 years after the surrender of Japan ended World War II in the Pacific the event will be remembered in Florence.
James Perry is a Pearl Harbor survivor and World War II veteran. He’ll share his experiences of that time Saturday, August 15th, at the Oregon Coast Military Museum.
Museum spokesperson Pat Sapp says Perry will present a slide show in the museum’s theater. Sapp says other special guests will be on hand to share their experiences of that time in history.
