Florence Man Arrested
Florence police have arrested a local man on charges of sex abuse and sodomy. On Wednesday police executed a search warrant on Keith Berkner after they received a report of possible abuse of a juvenile in late December. During their investigation they were able to determine that a warrant was justified. Berkner was placed into custody and transported to Lane County Adult Corrections. The investigation is ongoing and anyone with information pertaining to it are urged to contact Florence police detective Garrett Litterell at 997-3515. Coast radio reached out to the Lane County District Attorney’s office, but no further information was available.
Pioneer Museum
The Siuslaw Pioneer Museum has been closed for the annual break since December 1st. It will reopen on Wednesday, February 5th. But the 120-year-old former schoolhouse needs more structural repairs. Craig Sanders is on the board of directors for the non-profit museum. He isn’t certain of the extent of damage, nor how much it will cost. But he has been able to come up with what he feels is a reasonable estimate.
“Our project last year was a portion of the South wall and that cost about $137,000. I took that number and came up with a square footage cost. So I’ve been able to estimate the potential cost of the West wall at about $214,000.”
Museum directors are trying to determine the extent of the damage and will ask potential bidders for a cost estimate. Once they get a solid number, they will begin seeking donations and exploring grant opportunities. Sanders does not expect operations to be impacted too much during repairs.
“We’re hoping to keep the museum operational, just certain areas might be closed.”
The museum is located in the original Florence School at 2nd and Maple in Old Town.
Game Tag Reports Due
If you bought a tag to hunt turkey or big game in Oregon between April 1st and December 31st last year, the deadline to report the results of that hunt are due by next Friday. Even if you weren’t successful, or if you didn’t even go hunting. For hunts between January 1st and March 31st results must be reported no later than April 15th. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife uses a “carrot and stick” approach to efforts aimed at increasing reports. The “stick” comes in the form of a $25 fee added to the tag fee next time you purchase one. The “carrot” is that any hunter making a report before the deadline is automatically entered to win one of three hunts for deer, elk or pronghorn in expanded areas and for an extended season. The reports can be made online at the information noted on the tag, or you can report it directly at the retail outlet where you purchased it. The department uses the data gained from the reports in their management efforts.
