Arizona woman calls 911 to tell police she shot her ex-husband
Police have not released any other details, other than to say they arrested an Arizona woman early Sunday morning after she called 9-1-1 in Florence to say she shot and killed her ex-husband.
Florence Police Commander John Pitcher said 73-year old Carolyn Sue Stickley of Green Valley, Arizona called at 2:42 Sunday morning and told police she shot her ex husband, 93-year old Erwin Emerson Drake, at his home in the Wild Winds Subdivision just off Rhododendron Drive.
John Pitcher – “During the interview with her there was a couple of different ways that this could have went, or why this could have went this way and we’re trying to support any of those with this further investigation.”
Stickley has been booked into the Lane County Jail on murder charges. Pitcher said the autopsy will be completed later today and that will provide additional information as to the next step in the case.
Governor says Elliot Forest should remain publicly owned
Kate Brown has spoken publicly against the proposed sale of a state forest filled with old-growth timber to a logging concern and Indian tribe; an issue that has galvanized environmentalists across the state.
In December when the Oregon State Land Board met before a capacity crowd, speaker after speaker beseeched the panel to reject the sale of the 82,500-acre Elliot State Forest to Lone Rock Timber Company and a tribal partner.
The Elliot State Forest, just south of Reedsport, is required by law to be managed in order to generate revenue for the state common school fund. Timber harvests have been down in recent years, actually costing the fund money.
Brown said Friday she believes the coast range should – quote – “remain in public ownership, with either the state or tribes owning the land”. She is one-third of the Land Board that has the responsibility for managing the land. The State Land Board is made up of the governor, Secretary of State Dennis Richardson, and treasurer Tobias Read.
Three Rivers Foundation distributes cash
Nearly $80-thousand was handed out last week to 15 different western Oregon non-profit groups. It was the sixth annual “gifting luncheon” of the Three Rivers Foundation… the charitable arm of Three Rivers Casino and Resort and the Confederated Tribes of the Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians.
Locally, the Boys and Girls Club of Western Lane County, Friends of Florence, Mapleton Food Share, Reedsport Police Department and Winchester Bay Community Center and Park received grants.
Foundation Chair Theresa Spangler, who is also vice-chair of the tribal council, said there is a Native America proverb that says “the more you give, the more good things come to you”. She said the groups that received grants this week “give out of the goodness of their hearts” and the foundation, in turn, gave back to them. In addition to several Lane and Douglas county organizations, grantees were from Coos, Curry, and Lincoln Counties.
Dungeness Crab Harvest reopens
State regulators are saying levels of a naturally occurring toxin in Dungeness crab off the Central Oregon Coast have dropped. They lifted a closure of commercial and recreational crabbing Friday. That means it’s now ok to harvest Dungeness anywhere along the Oregon Coast.
The recent closure was limited to the stretch between Coos Bay and Heceta Head. Oregon Department of Agriculture scientists have taken samples for the crab viscera and tested for the toxins… two weekly tests came out below the alert level prompting the ok.
A Satirical look at Valentine’s Day
“Love Gone Wrong” is the topic of a poetry and song-fest this Saturday at the Florence Regional Arts Alliance center in Old Town Florence. FRAA (fraw) will host their second annual satirical look at Valentine’s Day beginning 6:30, Saturday the 18th at their center on Maple Street, just a half-block off of Bay Street.
Poets and songwriters are encouraged to enter their best original poem or song about heart break… or love gone wrong. Bettie Edgerton says humorous entries are encouraged… but all types and styles are welcome… as long as they are within the three minute time limits.
The contest is judged by the audience with a $100 cash prize being awarded to the winner. Tickets are $10 and the proceeds will be used to help stage the Big Wave Poetry Festival coing up in May.
Third quarter tax payments due
You may have wanted to forget about this, but Mike Cowles (koles) wants to remind property owners that the second trimester property tax payments are due by the close of business Wednesday. Cowles is the Lane County Assessor and he says anyone who pays their taxes using the three payment process must get their payment in.
If you mail a check… it must be postmarked no later than February 15th to avoid a late fee. If you opt to take your payment direct to his department in Eugene, you need to be aware that they only do so between ten am and three pm.
One of the best ways is to pay online at www-dot-LaneCounty-dot-org-slash-at. The “a-t” is for assessment and taxation by the way.
Cowles says you can use Mastercard or Visa… or pay using an “e-check”. The third trimester payment is due by May 15th.