Former OCMM Director Sentenced (Updated)
Former Oregon Coast Military Museum director Geoffrey Cannon has been sentenced to five years of probation after pleading guilty to sexually abusing a teenage volunteer. Cannon, 27, was arrested in July and originally faced four counts of second-degree sexual abuse involving a victim who was 15 at the time. He pleaded guilty earlier this month to one count of second-degree sexual abuse, a Class C felony. During sentencing, Cannon expressed remorse and said he accepts responsibility for his actions. Lane County Circuit Court Judge Debra Vogt ordered him to register as a sex offender, undergo a mental health evaluation and treatment, and recommended he change his phone number. The victim told the court she wants Cannon to face consequences for the harm caused. Her mother expressed disappointment in the outcome. (EDIT: A note sent to Coast Radio from the Victim’s Mother said that her daughter had said “I will give him the Benefit of the doubt” the mother said that her daughter did not believe the sentence was appropriate and that it was grossly inadequate)
Warming Center Approved
At Monday night’s city council meeting the council heard from several members of the community that testified for and against the placing of a warming center at 4480 Highway 101 in the former Napa Auto Parts building. Several community members spoke of the negative impact homelessness has had on the community while supporters touted the need for compassion. The council also heard testimony from the group that was organizing the winter time facility Florence Emergency Cold Weather Shelter Board President Taylor Kohn and planning team member Greg Wood spoke of the need of a more permanent facility that would be more suitable for the intermittent cold weather on the coast.
“We want to have a location where we don’t have to set up and tear down everyday, it is very labor intensive for volunteers.”
Kohn said. While opposer said the trash and filth left by the homeless community was a detractor for having a facility Greg Wood spoke of the times that they had the warming center at the Presbyterian Church and told the council that the guest were very respectful of the facility and often helped with cleanup in the mornings. Councilor Robert Carp said that he had heard from community members near the proposed facility and that they had not been contacted by anyone regarding the potential of the warming facility being placed near them. And he was disappointed in their efforts to communicate to them.
“The lack of communication between yourself and the neighbors you are going to be next door to isn’t very positive”
After completion of testimony a vote was taken and the facility was approved 4-1 with councilor Carp being the lone dissenter.
Gas Prices
Gas prices are holding steady heading into Thanksgiving, with most states seeing little change this week. The national average for regular inching up to $3.08 a gallon, while Oregon’s average dips to $3.79, its lowest level since March. However, an outage on the Olympic Pipeline near Everett, Washington, could push prices higher in the Pacific Northwest. BP says the pipeline has resumed limited operations after last week’s shutdown. AAA reports only minimal impacts so far, with Oregon prices rising about a cent since the outage. The agency also expects record Thanksgiving travel this year, with nearly 82 million Americans and more than a million Oregonians hitting the road. Florence prices remain steady around $3.65 a gallon.
