9 October 2014
Lane Community Celebrates Half Century
It really was a dark and icy night October 19th, 1964, but despite that, Lane County voters lined up at the polls and voted by a 5-to-1 margin to approve the creation of a new community college.
The institution didn’t have any facilities, no operating capital; it didn’t even have a name.
What became known as Lane Community College will celebrate 50 years next week with several celebrations both on and off main campus.
In Florence, the LCC Board will hold a meeting at the Florence campus Tuesday at 6:30. Prior to that, they’ll host an open house and anniversary celebration from five to 6 pm.
The big celebration will be the next afternoon on main campus in Eugene. It will start with tours and open houses at one pm with an official ceremony beginning at four.
It will feature remarks by Governor John Kitzhaber, the introduction of five distinguished alumni… one from each decade… and a special brew from Ninkasi… the Titan Power Pale Ale.
Revolving Rural Loan Fund to Benefit Business
Access to business capital can be one of the most critical components to help a small business grow and prosper. That’s the belief of local officials who have put together a one-million-dollar revolving loan fund that will be administered by the Lane Council of Governments.
The money will be loaned to rural Lane County businesses at a reduced rate with the focus being on helping to create jobs and make Lane County’s economy stronger according to Lane County Commission Chair Pat Farr.
Half of the cash is coming from Lane County, it’s matched by another $500-thousand from the U.S. Economic Development Administration.
Farr said the revolving loan fund isn’t a grant program. He called it a “great opportunity for businesses in rural Lane County to grow and expand”.
The fund is expected to be operational by November.
Indiana Man Identified as Driver in Fatal Crash
Police are continuing to investigate the cause of a Tuesday afternoon crash west of Walton that killed an Indiana man and seriously injured two Eugene residents.
According to State Troopers, 40-year old Richard Andrew Jackson of Bloomington, Indiana was westbound on Highway 126 near Walton when his 1995 Ford pickup crossed the centerline and struck an eastbound pickup head on.
56-year old Deborah Hope of Eugene was airlifted from the scene to Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center in Corvallis; her passenger, 58-year old Richard Hennigan, also of Eugene, was taken by ground ambulance to RiverBend in Springfield.
Canary Road Stench Had Natural Causes
An “unbearable smell” last month along Canary Road near Highway 101 left some officials puzzled.
Was it raw sewage from the septic system at nearby Honeyman State Park or a chemical spill of some sort?
No… it turns out it was the decomposing carcass of a large black bear that had been struck by a car.
Honeyman State Park Manager Dan Schewlakow (shuh-LACK-oh) said at first he was stumped when Dunes City Administrator Fred Hilden called him to ask if there had been a sewage spill of any sort. Eventually, he realized it was the dead bear.
Schewlakow said it had been struck by a car near the group camp sometime in late August. It ran off into the brush on the north side where it eventually died. It began smelling shortly after Labor Day Weekend. Nature eventually took its course and the smell has since dissipated.
15-year Sentence Meted Out for Roommate Attack
A Yachats area man will serve every day of a 15-year sentence for attacking his roommate with a blunt object and dousing him with lighter fluid.
59-year old Byron Mathew McArthur, who also goes by the name Buddy Valentine, pleaded guilty to attempted murder, arson and assault that left the victim hospitalized following the August 26th attack in the home they shared 18 miles north of Florence.
McArthur fled the scene and was the subject of a manhunt. We was found hiding in a nearby vacant structure a few days later.
Under Measure 11 sentencing rules, McArthur will not be eligible for parole.
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