Boaters advised to be prepared
A Nevada man and woman avoided possible serious trouble when their boat lost power and began to drift near the mouth of the Siuslaw River during a series of heavy rainstorms earlier this week.
Deb Cordone (kor-DOE-nay) with the Coast Guard Auxiliary said the couple was crabbing in the river in a 14-foot skiff near the mouth about 11:30 Wednesday morning. The boat lost power and began to drift on the outgoing tide. They tried using their anchor, but it didn’t hold.
A 47-foot motor lifeboat responded from the Siuslaw River Station, along with two rescuers on the shore. Cordone said the lifeboat couldn’t get to the pair because the boat was in shallow water. Senior Chief Tim Tregoning and Chief Boatswain’s Mate Snider were able to help the couple lift their boat over the jetty rocks and into the enclosed cove.
The incident is a good reminder says Cordone to keep aware of weather and tide conditions… as well as maintaining a properly sized and weighted anchor.
Syphilis on the rise in Lane County
The number of sexually transmitted cases of Syphilis in Lane County has jumped from an average of 5 per year in 2010 to what will likely be more than 50 for 2016.
Lane County Public Health officer Patrick Luedtke calls the spike in cases “troubling”. He said up until four years ago the average was single digit and cases were confined primarily to men. That made the disease relatively easy to track.
Recent cases have affected men and women “nearly equally” and with the ten-fold increase it gives the disease the potential to “increase its footprint… and infect more people at an ever increasing rate”.
Syphilis can cause long term complications if not treated quickly; and can be difficult to detect in the early stage while it is quite infectious.
The main reasons for the recent spike: a lack of access to testing, lack of communication regarding sexual history in medical provider visits and most importantly, says Luedtke, individuals engaging in un-protected sex.
British invaders to retreat after 52 years
One vanguard of the early 60s British Invasion was the musical duo of Chad and Jeremy. Their first hit… Summer Song… peaked at #7 on the U.S. charts in 1964. Since then Chad Stuart and Jeremy Clyde have been regularly touring the country. Clyde says that may be coming to an end.
Jeremy Clyde – “I am an actor in England, when I’m not with Chad. And I’ve got a play to do in the West End, which is like Broadway, next year. And I’m not going to be available, really, for a year and a half. What… how things will look by that time I don’t really know, but I think we’re going to pack in the big stuff.”
The pair will be in Florence Saturday evening for what could be their second to last ever performance. A limited number of tickets for “An Evening with Chad and Jeremy” are still available at the Florence Events Center. Their final performance is set for Sunday evening in Tacoma, Washington.
BallotTrax available to Lane County voters
Voters in Lane County can now track the status of the ballot after they’ve marked it and sent it back.
There has been increased attention on the security of ballots and the election process this year. BallotTrax offers a free service to let voters know their ballot has been received and counted.
Lane County Elections Supervisor Cheryl Betschart says a record number of registered voters will get ballots in this election. She adds the BallotTrax system provides a “great way for those voters to be even more engaged in the process”.
Signing up is simple. Betschart says just go to the Lane County Elections website and click on the “Track Your Ballot Alerts” link and follow the steps.
Beware of halloween hazards
Monday is Halloween and that means costumes, candy, parties… and one of the deadliest nights of the year for pedestrians.
The Oregon Department of Transportation says there have been ten fatal crashes on Halloween night in the past decade. 70-percent of those were alcohol and-or drug-involved.
ODOT has issued advice for Monday evening… drivers need to slow down, drive sober and avoid distractions so they can watch for kids on the street.
Trick or treaters and their parents also have a responsibility to stay on sidewalks and in crosswalks. Wear costumes that don’t impair your vision and that are reflective or show up at night; and always use caution when crossing streets and roads.
Party-goers and hosts need to make plans in advance to make sure everyone has a way to get home safely and don’t let impaired guests drive.
Prevent falls, but prepare for emergency
For older residents, falls can be a big hazard. As we age, our sense of balance can deteriorate and our vision can begin to fail, making it difficult to see obstacles. Preventing those falls can be the best way to avoid the consequences, but what happens when you do fall and can’t get up.
According to emergency responders, some simple preparation can make a big difference.
Medical alert devices, hanging around your neck can be a good idea, but so too, can a cell phone in your pocket.
9-1-1 dispatcher Yolanda Ross says one of the biggest challenges she and other dispatchers face is the inability to understand the caller in an emergency. Yes, it’s an emergency and you may be in pain, but try to slow down, speak clearly and try to answer questions. Another challenge… locked doors.
Ross suggests getting a key lock box for the outside of your home, or if you feel comfortable, hide a key outside and tell responders.
