3rd Oregon News Minute from the AP

AP-OR–3rd NewsMinute,267
Here is the latest Oregon news from The Associated Press
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – The National Weather Service says a fierce
storm expected to hit Oregon today and tomorrow is likely to bring
the strongest winds in four years. Forecasters predict 80 mph gusts
on Oregon beaches with winds as high as 70 mph in coastal towns.
Last night the Coast Guard closed the Columbia River bar entrance
near Astoria due to hazardous conditions.

SAINT HELENS, Ore. (AP) – Columbia County Sheriff Jeff Dickerson
says the disappearance of a 19-year-old St. Helens woman is a
troubling mystery. Nichole Sherman left her house Nov. 13 to visit
a friend six miles away and never arrived. Searchers have checked
roads and investigated the family and found no explanation how she
could disappear. Searchers are also in Longview, Wash., where she
attended Lower Columbia College.

NEWPORT, Ore. (AP) – Lincoln County sheriff’s deputies and
volunteers have been looking for a man overdue on a hunting trip in
the Rose Lodge area east of Lincoln City. KGW reports 56-year-old
Floyd Lucero of Otis was reported missing Saturday night when he
failed to return home. Sgt. Adam Shanks says Lucero is reportedly
an avid outdoorsman who is familiar with the area.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – The Oregon Employee Relations Board has
ordered the city of Portland to pay a former firefighter $103,000
for three years of lost disability payments. The city cut off the
payments and fired Tom Hurley in 2007 when he refused to return to
work. The Oregonian reports Hurley did return to the Fire Bureau
last year in a building inspector’s job. He’ll be eligible to
retire in 2013.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)

AP-NY-11-22-11 1030EST