Boys and Girls Club looks to the future

Coast Radio News
Local News
14 August 2015

Leaders feel they’re making headway

The Boys and Girls Club of Western Lane County is poised on yet another recovery and remaking of itself.

The organization began nearly two decades ago and since then it has weathered a number of financial crises.

It’s still up in the air as to whether or not they’ll make it through the current one, but the all-volunteer board that has been operating the club since January is optimistic.

Chuck Trent has been handling most of the day to day details. He says he will continue to do so for at least the next year. The club is still deeply in debt. It owes a total of about $60-thousand.

But, says Trent, they’re making payroll and paying current expenses while continuing to work with creditors.

Through it all, they’ve been able to maintain the after school and summer program for grade school kids. The club recently hired a Teen Center Director and they’ve been working on getting the center ready for members once school starts.

Trent said the club’s main goal is to provide high quality services to kids while at the same time restoring financial stability.

Protect your passwords say bankers

An 80-year old Florence area man reportedly lost $10-thousand of his savings to wire-fraud scheme.

Ellen Huntingdon with Oregon Pacific Bank didn’t identify the victim, but said he was contacted by an unknown caller who said he needed to update his computer. The caller then gained access to the man’s money market account and transferred $5-thousand from that account into the man’s checking account.

The man was then convinced the money actually came from the caller and was asked to reimburse them via Western Union. He did so… twice.

Huntingdon says don’t ever give personal information over the phone, internet or email unless you know exactly who you are corresponding with and why.

Never share information with anyone that you did not initiate contact with; shred all papers with personal information; and be very protective of your social security number and passwords.

If you are asked for information and you don’t feel comfortable about providing it… call your bank or financial institution at the number you usually use and tell them what is going on.

Scientists say algae has global impact

Blooms of toxic blue-green algae are under appreciated and poorly monitored, posing risks to recreational and drinking water quality. A report published recently by scientists from Oregon State University and the University of North Carolina says the toxic cyanobacteria may also pose a global health threat.

Tim Otten, a post-doctoral scholar in the OSU department of Microbiology, says the biggest health concern is that there is very little regulatory oversight. Testing for the organism is not required by state or federal regulators.

Problems with the toxins typically reach a peak this time of year and 2015 is no different. Researchers say several years of drought have reduced the water flow and allowed water temperatures to become warmer, creating a ripe environment.

Tennessee boaters rescued off Oregon Coast

An overdue 25-foot pleasure boat out of Coos Bay was found yesterday afternoon. The two adults and the two children on board were tired and thirsty, but otherwise ok.

U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer Katelyn Shearer said Tennessee residents Jim Jackson, Michael Jackson and the two children, one ten, the other 14, were found by a Coast Guard Helicopter yesterday afternoon.

The vessel had left Coos Bay Wednesday morning for a day trip to catch crab but did not return as planned.   The daughter of one of the men received a text message at one AM Thursday with the boat’s coordinates. She called the Coast Guard.

The helicopter crew was able to direct a nearby cutter to the vessel and it was towed back into port late yesterday.

Lane County Parks Plan Update

A series of open house meetings this fall will give Lane County residents a voice in the future of management of parks.

Lane County Parks is embarking on the first update of the 20-year Parks Master Plan since 1980. The plan will identify strategic investments in parks and open space throughout Lane County.

A draft plan has been prepared… it’s available online at the county’s website and printed copies are also available for review at public libraries around the County, including in Florence.

Five public meetings will be held to allow the community to provide feedback and ask questions about the draft plan. The first one will be September Tenth in Florence at City Hall. Others are planned for Veneta, Eugene, Leaburg, and Cottage Grove.

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