Coast Guard plucks two from sea cave
Two men were rescued from a sea cave just south of Yachats last night by a Coast Guard Helicopter air crew in what was described by the aircraft commander as the – quote – “most technically challenging case” any of the crew had been a part of.
The two were on the rocks when one fell into the water. The other man attempted to rescue him with both being swept into the cave.
A helicopter was on a routine training mission in the area and was quickly diverted to the scene. The pair was not easily located however and after three passes, the air crew still could not find them.
An Oregon State Trooper on shore was able to visually guide the helo crew to the cave and a rescue swimmer was lowered.
The weather wasn’t the best at the time with rain and 15 to 30 knot winds accompanying six to eight foot seas.
Rescuers did not release the identity of either man, but did say they were both hypothermic.
Florence man will likely spend rest of life in prison
A Florence man will likely spend the rest of his life in jail for abusing two teen-age girls. A judge in Eugene sentenced Randy Kent Clay Tuesday to 44 years in prison after Clay had been convicted earlier this month of two counts of first degree sex abuse, two counts of using a child in display of sexually explicit conduct, and one count of third degree sex abuse.
Lane County Circuit Court judge Mustafa Kaubhai called the 61-year old Clay a “sexual predator” and based on his criminal history he should not be released back into the community.
Fraudville to benefit Boys and Girls Club
For the seventh year in a row the Boys and Girls Club of Western Lane County will be the beneficiary of a bunch of frauds. Fraudville is the annual “lip-synch” competition that pits teams of friends and co-workers against similar groups from around the community. The object is to ‘fake’ your way through a song, pretending to sing it on stage.
It’s not all about the seven teams on stage though. To keep things moving there are plenty of activities to part you with your money as a way to help out the club.
Tickets for the event are $25 and are pretty much ‘all inclusive’, but there are other money-raising activities… a silent auction, Name That Tune, and even a game of “Roomba Beer Pong”.
One other addition is a $5-raffle with prizes including a chartered salmon fishing trip for two along with a Lamiglass salmon rod and reel.
Tickets for Fraudville are available at Coast Insurance, Banner Bank, Oregon Pacific Bank, New Concepts Salon and the Boys and Girls Club. The event is Saturday, February 25th.
Elks to celebrate the best wurst
Organizers say they will be putting on the “best wurstfest” on the Oregon Coast later this month.
The Florence Elks Lodge will be celebrating all things sausage… and German… February 25th from 11 am to six pm. There will be live German folk music and dancing, along with authentic food…
Of course there will be bratwurst, beer, wine, pretzels and even apple strudel.
Wurstfest spokesperson Linda Tank says proceeds from the day will help fund the Elks’ vocational scholarship program.
Gas prices
The average cash price for a gallon of regular gas in Florence increased another penny this week. It’s now at $2.36. That’s 17-cents less than the statewide average price as measured by Triple-A. The Oregon average price held steady this week at $2.53 a gallon.
The national average price, also measured by Triple-A, increased just over a penny this week. It’s at $2.28.
Free dental clinich March 1st, 2nd, 3rd.
A free dental clinic for students at Siuslaw and Mapleton Elementary schools will be offered in early March. Drs. Brian Holmes and Justin Linton and the staff at Florence Dental Clinic will be at the schools March 1st, 2nd and 3rd with the mobile dental clinic from Medical Teams International. Screenings at the schools took place in October and January with a summary of the treatments needed being sent home to parents and guardians. They were directed at that time to complete and return permission slips so their children could get the free dental work done.
No fees are charged and a spokesperson for the clinic said they don’t ask for donations… and they don’t accept them if offered.