Florence man convicted of sex abuse
A Florence man will spend at least six years and three months in jail after he was found guilty this week of several counts of sex abuse. Prosecutors said 61-year old Randy Clay sexually abused two Florence girls he had photographed in his apartment. The abuse reportedly took place during the modeling sessions.
Clay was arrested in September in Florence after the two girls accused him of touching their genitals during separate visits to his home. Police confiscated several photographs with the girls in “sexually suggestive” poses, but there were no nude photos.
Clay did not testify in court, but told police at the time of his arrest he had been falsely accused. The prosecutor told the jury this was – quote – “not modeling”, but the girls and their family members were being “groomed” so Clay could – quote – “get where he wanted to be”.
Formal sentencing in Lane County Circuit Court is scheduled for February 24th. Clay could get more than the minimum 78-month sentence.
Toxins trigger crabbing closure
An immediate closure of recreational crabbing in the ocean and bays of the central coast has been ordered; commercial crabbing in the area is being shut down as well.
The Oregon Departments of Fish and Wildlife; and Agriculture; ordered the closure Wednesday because of elevated levels of domoic acid in Dungeness crab.
The closure extends from the north jetty of Coos Bay to Heceta Head and also includes the waters of Winchester Bay and the Siuslaw River estuary.
Crab that has been landed commercially since January 25th can still be sold but only if the crab viscera is removed properly in order to prevent exposure of the toxins to consumers.
Regulators say commercial crabbers are in the process of hauling in their pots in the area and a full fishing prohibition will go into effect next week.
Crab harvested from Coos Bay and to the south is safe to eat according to agriculture officials; as is Dungeness taken from north of Heceta Head.
Voters will decide jail levy extension
Lane County Commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday evening to refer renewal of a five-year public safety levy to voters.
The proposal mirrors one passed by voters four years ago that authorized a tax of up to 55-cents-per-thousand-dollars-of-assessed value on real property throughout the county. This year the county is only using 38-cents of that authorization because of efficiencies they’ve been able to accomplish.
The ballot description of the measure says the levy will “maintain a minimum of 255 local jail beds” over a five year period and will also continue to “provide additional counseling, secure treatment and detention services for Lane County youth offenders.”
As was the case for the original levy, all of the money generated from the tax would be placed into a restricted special revenue fund that would be used specifically for those purposes. That fund would then be audited annually with the results given to the public via the Board of County Commissioners.
If approved by voters it would not take effect until 2018 when the current measure is set to expire.
Points of Grace to offer accupuncture weekly
What has been a twice-monthly pain relief clinic in Florence is being expanded to offer weekly treatments as the result of a partnership between PeaceHealth and the Wellspring Clinic.
Patricia Immel has offered low-cost acupuncture treatments on a regular basis, but will now do so every Wednesday from 11 to one. PeaceHealth officials say they recognize acupuncture can be a beneficial component of a patient’s full spectrum of healthcare. Immel said last year they helped hundreds of people manage pain.
Patricia Immel – “Last year between mid February and mid June we administered 693 treatments.”
Acupuncture can help people suffering with chronic pain without relying on highly addictive narcotics. The treatments themselves are not completely pain free… but they’re close.
Patricia Immel – “Every now and then you just might feel a little twinge, but the relief that you got far outweighs any slight discomfort.”
Points of Grace is the name of the program. Wellspring clinic is at 1845 Highway 126 just behind Central Lincoln PUD. Immel says there is no set price for the service, but attendees are encouraged to donate any amount they are comfortable with.
Local elections set for May
The filing period for 29 different spots with ten different small government agencies on the May 16th ballot opens Monday in Lane County.
Candidates seeking election to the boards and commissions can file their candidacy forms with the agencies beginning Monday. There is no immediate rush to complete the paperwork however. The deadline is at five pm March 16th.
Local government agencies with openings on their elected bodies include Lane Community College, the Port of Siuslaw, Western Lane Ambulance District and Siuslaw Public Library. There are two school districts with available seats… Siuslaw and Mapleton; as well as three fire districts… Siuslaw Valley Fire; Mapleton; and Swisshome-Deadwood.
The Mapleton Water District rounds out the list.
Information on how to file can be had by contacting individual agencies or by going on line at www-dot-lanecounty-dot-org and clicking on elections.
