11 December 2014
High Wind Warning – School Closure in Florence
Weather forecasters say a deepening low pressure system off the Northern California Coast will track off the Oregon Coast today, reaching the Washington Coast later this afternoon. The strong low will produce very strong, and potentially damaging winds.
The heaviest winds along the coast are expected to gust to 85 miles an hour early this afternoon.
That forecast prompted officials at Siuslaw School District to cancel classes and all activities for the day, that includes Siuslaw varsity and JV basketball.
While the weather this morning may have seemed fairly routine, Superintendent Ethel Angal said the highest winds are expected to strike about the time kids will be getting on school buses and heading for home. District policy is now very clear about not placing students and their families in jeopardy in a situation like this.
In Mapleton, Superintendant Jodi O’Mara said classes began as scheduled, but students were sent home at noon in anticipation of winds arriving.
Arson Confirmed – Reward Available
An Oregon State Police arson investigator says a Sunday morning fire that destroyed Emergence Treatment and the law office of Ron Gerber was arson. Detective Joe Feland confirmed that some sort of accelerant was used to aid in starting the fire. Feland declined to release any other information, citing the ongoing investigation. But, he said…
Det. Joe Feland – “There’s nothing really to indicate that the public would be in danger. This appears to be more of an isolated incident. It doesn’t appear that somebody’s going around and starting a bunch of different fires.”
The Oregon chapter of the International Association of Arson Investigators and the Northwest Insurance Council have teamed up and are offering a reward of up to $5-thousand for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or people responsible. You can call their hotline at 800-452-7888.
Repairs Being Made to Lighthouse Carriage
The Heceta Lighthouse will remain dark for the next several weeks. Kevin Beck with Oregon Parks and Recreation, said the work is not related to recent renovations.
Mechanical problems have developed with the clutch and motor that powers the rotation of the carriage wheel mechanism. He said contractors are ‘trouble shooting’ the problems. He called the issue “just part of the challenge of maintaining and operating a 121-year old lighthouse”.
The holiday “Victorian Lights” at the Keeper’s House will proceed as scheduled. Beck said he hoped to have the main beacon up and operating soon.
Insanity Defense Researched Prior to Murder Say Prosecutors
Prosecutors have told a judge that a woman accused of throwing her 6-year-old autistic son off the Yaquina Bay bridge in Newport had earlier done Internet research on the terms “guilty but insane” and “not guilty by reason of insanity.”
Jillian McCabe will undergo a mental health evaluation at the state mental hospital in Salem later this month. The 34-year-old Waldport woman’s lawyers earlier asked the court to determine if she was mentally fit to stand trial.
Police say a woman called 911 on the night of Nov. 3 to report she had thrown her son off the Yaquina Bay Bridge.
Emergency crews and the Coast Guard searched for hours before London McCabe’s body was found.
Jillian McCabe has been indicted on charges of aggravated murder, murder, and manslaughter. Her next court appearance is set for Dec. 22.
Elliot State Forest: For Sale
The state of Oregon is looking for an unusual buyer for the Elliott State Forest – some mix of private and public ownership that would leave areas open to hikers and hunters.
Meeting Tuesday, the State Land Board directed its staff to develop a proposal to elicit offers to buy the 90,000-acre state forest in the Coast Range south of Reedsport, keeping as much as possible in public ownership.
Board spokeswoman Julie Curtis says it could be ready for the board’s June meeting.
The board – made of the governor, secretary of state and state treasurer – is looking for some way out of difficult problem.
They are required by law to maximize forest revenue to benefit schools. But court rulings upholding protections for threatened birds have stymied timber sales.
