Umpqua Community College shooting leaves 10 dead

Coast Radio News
Local News
2 October 2015

Gunman kills 9; is killed by responding police

It was chaos. A heavily armed gunman entered a classroom at Umpqua Community College in Roseburg yesterday morning, killing nine and wounding seven others before being shot and killed by responding police officers.

One witness in the classroom said the man asked his victims their religion before shooting.

Douglas County Sheriff John Hanlin said two of the responding officers acted “heroically”, entering the building and engaged the shooter in gunfire, killing him.

Hanlin refused to name the shooter. He was later identified as 26-year old Chris Harper Mercer. His motives are not known, but authorities are continuing the investigation. Overnight, they entered the man’s apartment in Winchester, near the campus, where they found a number of firearms.

The local response to the shooting was rapid. Administrators at Lane Community College in Florence and at Siuslaw Schools said they would provide assistance and counseling for any students or staff that needed it. Russ Pierson, the Dean of LCC in Florence, went one step further, offering to speak with anyone in the community about their feelings and fears.

Police discover more about the shooter

Social media profiles linked to a 26-year old shooter who killed at least nine people at Umpqua Community College in Roseburg suggest he was fascinated by the IRA, frustrated by traditional organized religion, and tracked other mass shootings.

There didn’t seem to be many recent connections on the social media sites linked to the 26-year old Winchester man.

It’s also unclear whether he killed himself or was shot and killed by police responding to the shooting yesterday morning.

Nine others died in the gunfire that erupted after the heavily armed man entered a writing and speech classroom in Snyder Hall on the UCC campus.

There were seven wounded in the attack. One of which is expected to be released today from Mercy Medical Center in Roseburg. Two others were treated and released yesterday.

Three others were transferred to RiverBend hospital in Springfield.

Police officers uncovered several guns at the shooter’s apartment overnight and will continue the investigation.

Local response to UCC Shooting

Area schools responded quickly yesterday to the news of the shooting in a classroom at Umpqua Community College in Roseburg.

A 26-year old gunman killed 9 people and wounded seven others before dying in an exchange of gunfire with police.

Siuslaw Superintendent of Schools Ethel Angal quickly mobilized portions of the districts “crisis team”, offering so-called “safe rooms” where students having trouble dealing with the news could go. Counselors were on hand to provide assistance.

Lane Community College in Florence instituted similar measures, providing counseling yesterday afternoon and then again today. Dean Russ Pierson said the will offer additional support next week as needed. He also offered to speak personally with anyone needing assistance dealing with the tragedy.

Wine and chocolate for cats and dogs

It’s turned out to be a pretty good formula… start with some wine, add a little chocolate and some hors d’oeuvres and you end up with a major fund raiser for the Florence Area Humane Society.

This year’s Wine and Chocolate Gala, the 23rd, is this evening at Three Rivers Casino and Resort.

In addition to the wine and chocolate there will be a silent and live auction. Event coordinator Jackie Allen said last year the event raised $14-thousand for the society. She hopes to raise even more this year.

The Florence Humane Society is a “no-kill” shelter, meaning that animals brought to the facility are not euthanized unless absolutely necessary.

100 percent of the proceeds from the gala go directly to shelter operations and services.

Advance tickets are available at several locations around Florence for $20. Ticket prices at the door Friday night, beginning at six PM, are $25.

Lining up for high times in Oregon

More than 250 of Oregon’s medical marijuana dispensaries began selling pot over the counter to recreational users yesterday. Nearly all of them reported a sudden increase in business. One of those was Buds-4-U, the dispensary in Florence just off Highway 101.

That’s where a line of several customers persisted for most of the day. People waiting for their turn to get into the store.

Medical marijuana dispensaries were given the go-ahead to begin retail sales of some products October 1st. The Oregon Liquor Control Commission will begin accepting license applications for regular retail establishments early next year.

Storm sewer repairs to cause traffic congestion

A culvert replacement project on Highway 101 northbound through Florence will restrict traffic for several weeks beginning Monday.

Crews with Wildish Standard Paving will begin on Quince Street just south of 12th. They will excavate portions of the street to gain access to the storm drain that stretches from 25th street to that location. From there the water flows into Munsel Creek.

Instead of opening a trench the entire distance, they will excavate every other block and slide new portions of pipe inside the existing culvert.

That will mean parts of the outside northbound lane will be closed to traffic until the project is completed… sometime in late November.

Beer, brats, breakfast and oompah

Oktoberfest may last 16 days in Munich, but it’s only one day in Florence. That day is tomorrow.

Doors at the Events Center open at 8:30 for the Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast. It will be accompanied by Bavarian music.

Then, beer, sausages and potato soup will be served up from 11 to seven.

Along the way there will be ten different musical and dancing groups on stage, providing authentic music to celebrate the 1810 nuptuals of then Crown Prince Ludwig.

Cal Applebee with the Florence Area Chamber of Commerce says it’s an affair for all ages… There will be a “Kinder Korner” with children’s activities. A Wiener Dog race is set to begin at three.