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Fort Lauderdale Airport ShootingThere was panic at the Fort Lauderdale Airport in Florida Friday after a shooting brought air traffic to a standstill. Eight People are wounded and five people are dead. A Philomath woman was at the Fort Lauderdale Airport and was at Terminal 3 during the shooting and was told not to go into Terminal 2. She says she didn't know how serious the incident was until she was able to check her phone.
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Winter Auto Repairs on the Rise (01.06.17)Auto body shops are flooded with business thanks to icy roads causing wrecks. Todd's Auto Body in Springfield says they've never been busier. The owner says some of the vehicles will be finished up next week, others could take up to a month to get back on the road. They estimate 20 cars came in this week. Todd's has been in business for about 12 years, and they say there's always a spike when the weather is bad, but never before have they seen this many cars at once.
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4 of 5 Bodies Found in Hubbard Fire Died of Gunshot Wounds (01.06.17)More is known now about the cause of death of five family members whose bodies were found inside a burned home in Hubbard. The Marion County Sheriff's Office says those remains were consistent with the five members fo the Kroeker family. The Sheriff's Office says autopsy results confirm all three children and the adult male died of a gunshot wound to the head. The adult female died from blunt force trauma to the head. Deputies say the case remains an active homicide investigation, specifically focused on murder/suicide. The Sheriff's Office says they do not believe there is any immediate danger to the public and the investigation is continuing. If you have any information, call the Marion County Sheriff's Office at 503-540-8079
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New Venue Opening in Coos Bay (01.06.17)A brand new venue is coming to Coos Bay in February with the grand opening on the 4th. The venue features a basketball court, a 500 square foot dance floor, and a nearly 200-inch projection screen. It also has a DJ booth and a three-tier stage. The owners hope the venue will provide a place for local bands and other artists to play. Organizers say it will be a venue for all uses and all ages. For more information, go to: https://www.facebook.com/thesocial158/
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Keeping New Year's Resolutions (01.06.17)It's the time of year for goal setting and New Year's resolutions. For many, that means hitting the gym. But for some, that is easier said than done. If you're determined to make 2017 your best fitness year, it's suggested that you find someone to work out with you for accountability.
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ODOT Considering Use of Salt to De-Ice Roads (01.05.17)The Oregon Department of Transportation is pulling a 24-hour shift to keep our state roads clear of what's left of the snow storm. ODOT says they are considering using salt to help de-ice the roads, but it's a substance environmentalists are saying could taint our water and harm the ecosystem if done in excess. Right now, ODOT is tackling this snow storm in three ways: Adding sand, plowing, and using a de-icer called magnesium chloride. The concern with using salt to de-ice roads is the potential for environmental damage, but ODOT says it's a decent solution to slippery roads at times. ODOT used salt near Salem along I-5 during the December ice storm and again recently near the Siskiyou Pass. Environmental groups like Beyond Toxic say that the more salt that's used, the more it accumulates in the environment. The concern with salt, although it helps melt ice, is that it can cause corrosion to roads and cars, taint drinking water, and fresh-water ecosystems. ODOT points out that salt is most effective when applied at the end of a storm cycle, and that the cost comparison between magnesium chloride and salt is about the same.
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Five Bodies Found in Burned Home in Hubbard (01.05.17)Authorities have said they don't believe the community is in any danger, but they do believe that someone set a home in Hubbard on fire on purpose. They also say the bodies found are consistent with the entire Kroeker family whose home went up in flames on Tuesday- the bodies belong to two adults and three children. The entire Kroeker family has been missing since the fire destroyed their home. A neighbor spotted the Kroeker family's home and two other buildings on fire around 3:00 am on Tuesday and called 911. Authorities say there is no threat to the community, but won't elaborate as to why at this time.
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Roseburg YMCA Fighting Child Hunger in Douglas County (01.05.17)With the new year, the YMCA in Roseburg is seeing some new customers. The Y is also working to help fight child hunger in Douglas County- when a family takes six non-perishable food items in for the Phoenix Charter School Food Pantry, the Y will waive the $50 first month membership. They say they are in need of breakfast food items for the food pantry program.
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Coos County Christmas Tree Disposal (01.05.17)If you're still trying to get rid of that Christmas tree, the Coos Bay Fire Department can help. Firefighters will be picking up Christmas trees within the Coos Bay city limits on Saturday, January 7th; just put the tree near the curb before 8:00 am that morning. You can also drop your tree off anytime at Fire Station One on Elrod in Coos Bay. The tree disposal service is free, but the Fire Department is asking for a canned food donation that will be given to local families in need.
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Public Works Declares Emergency During Snow Storm (01.04.17)Eugene and Springfield Public Works crews are hitting the road for the next 24 hours in full force, with streets being cleared by priority- starting with streets that are used the most, then working their way to the side streets. The City of Springfield has not issued an emergency, but Eugene Public Works issued a storm emergency due to the snow. This means street parking is temporarily not allowed on roads being cleared. For more information and a map of priority roads, visit https://www.eugene-or.gov/315/Ice-and-Snow-Response
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Snow Delaying LTD Bus Routes (01.04.17)Lots of people decided to avoid the icy roads Wednesday, which made for a hectic day for Lane Transit District for more than one reason. LTD staff woke up at 4 in the morning to drive the routes and figure out the safest detours- 22 of their 36 bus routes were detoured and all the buses were delayed. Back at the LTD Headquarters, phones were ringing off the hook They brought in extra staff to field five times the normal amount of calls. LTD says snow days are the busiest days of the year because many people who normally drive, walk, or ride a bike opt for public transportation. LTD asks passengers to stand back from the curb just in case the bus slides.
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South Coast Hit with Snow (01.04.17)A blanket of snow also covered the South Coast on Wednesday. Those with the day off took full advantage of the day. But, while some play in the snow, emergency crews and local store employees have been working hard to keep the roadways and walkways clear. Reedsport Police says road conditions cause a 5-car pileup on the hill near Winchester Bay.
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Community Members Stocking Up on Winter Weather Gear (01.04.17)A close to 100-year-old Douglas County business has been supplying people with winter weather necessities- The Douglas Farmer's Co-Op General Manager says safety materials are at the top of their customers' lists. Everything from flashlights and batteries in preparation for power outages to ice-melters and snow shovels. Faucet covers to keep pipes from freezing have also been a big seller.
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Egan Warming Center Dusk To Dawn Program (01.02.17)Freezing nights mean the homeless in Eugene/Springfield will be packing the eight locations of the Egan Warming Centers. The Dusk to Dawn shelter program was launched by the city of Eugene in late 2015 but is run by Saint Vincent De Paul, and officials have expanded the program to three different locations in Eugene.
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Community Shows Support for Lookingglass Elementary (01.02.17)It was standing room only at the Lookingglass Grange Monday afternoon as the community showed up to support Lookingglass Elementary School. Parents, students, and even former teachers showed up to talk about the school's proceedings after last week's devasting fire. Students now have a crosswalk to the Lookingglass Grange where they will be eating breakfast and lunch, and while donations have been pouring in from local people and businesses, investigators have not released a cause of the fire. Tax deductible donations are welcome and should be made out to the school.
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Two Women Found Dead on Riverbank (01.02.17)Two women died after falling about 80 feet from a bridge on I-5 Monday morning. Their bodies were found on the banks of the South Umpqua River after their car crashed up above on the bridge. It happened at about 2:30, just North of Myrtle Creek. Crews responded to a single car crash, but couldn't find any people; State Police found the bodies of two women on the riverbank below the bridge where the crash happened shortly after. Troopers say that at some point after the crash, the driver and passenger got out of the vehicle and called 911 to report the incident and that at this time it is unknown when the women crossed over the bridge and fell into the river.
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Tree Clean Up Continues (12.30.16)Crews in Eugene are going street-by-street, starting in the core areas, picking up leaves and debris from trees; specifically public trees. The city says homeowners are responsible for any privately owned trees. Trees that were damaged in the first ice storm are now even more vulnerable and dangerous if we get snow or ice again. Crews are working to find and take care of as many of those as possible before the next cold snap.
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Sustainable Cooking Stove Fundraiser for Ghana (12.30.16)A Cottage Grove-based nonprofit is ramping up its program of sending clean-burning cooking stoves to the developing world. The problem is immense, worldwide, and has no easy solution. For Fred Colgan, the health and environmental toll of this is daunting. Cooking fires are also liquidating forests in much of the developing world, but Colgan and his partners are making a difference with their contraptions. In-Stove's latest project is a $25,000 fundraiser to send sustainable cooking stoves to Ghana, in West Africa. 1.2 million poor women make their livelihood picking shea nuts and cooking them over open fires to make skin car products. Colgan says too much of their money is wasted on collecting wood.
http://www.instove.org/ |
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Lookingglass Elementary School Update (12.30.16)Lookingglass Elementary School is open as scheduled despite a fire on December 27th that destroyed the multipurpose building, and the Winston-Dillard school board has declared the loss an emergency. This allows school Superintendent, Kevin Miller, to side-step a bidding process for funding for necessary repairs.
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Distracted Driving Fines (12.30.17)Lawmakers in Oregon will soon consider a bill that would increase fines for distracted drivers, making penalties for distracted driving equal to drunk driving, in Oregon.
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