Posted: Sunday, May 31, 2009 12:00 am
Election outcomes
The story: Two Linn County contests in the May 19 special election were too close to call in initial results reported May 20. In Brownsville, the race for Zone 6 of the Central Linn School Board was between Wendy Holbrook with 182 votes and Tonya Smith with 181. In the Zone 1 race for Linn-Benton Community College Board of Directors, Cathrine Thomas was leading with 710 votes to Jody Seward's 701.
The latest: Linn County election officials have 20 days to certify election results. Elections Supervisor John Ramirez said Friday any changes to the tally won't be reported until next week. As the numbers stand, neither race triggers an automatic recount. State law mandates a recount when the margin is within one-fifth of 1 percent between the top two candidates.
Jennifer Moody
Albany hydro
The story: At a cost of about $2.2 million, including $1.6 million for a turbine and generator, Albany reactivated the hydropower plant at the end of the Santiam Canal in 2008. The new 500-kilowatt generator started commercial operation in January and was dedicated in a public ceremony Feb. 13.
The latest: The turbine and generator have been shut down for more than a week and likely will remain so until the fall. The flow in the Santiam Canal has been lowered for a project to repair about 1,100 feet of canal bank near River Road in Lebanon. Anderson Earth Inc. of Portland has the $64,000 contract. Later this summer, two historic gates on the canal in Lebanon will be refurbished at a cost of about $760,000. All told, the city has planned about $5 million worth of canal repairs through 2014. The hydro plant can't operate during summertime low-flow periods in the Santiam River, when the canal flow is low as well.
Hasso Hering
Lebanon library surplus
The story: Lebanon voters agreed in 2006 to build a new library adjacent to the Lebanon Senior Center in Academy Square.
The latest: The Lebanon City Council this month voted unanimously to declare as surplus property the current library building, at 626 Second St., and put it up for sale. The city set no minimum bid. The Linn County assessor's office lists the real market value of the land at $118,730 and the building at $159,900.
Jennifer Moody
Water rescue demo
The story: The U.S. Coast Guard, its auxiliary and local law enforcement worked together to put on a helicopter water rescue demonstration on Foster Reservoir last Saturday. The chopper traveled from Astoria, scooped up a training dummy, and landed at Sunnyside Park, where the crew talked with children and anyone interested in knowing more about the helicopter or the Coast Guard. The event was the culmination of National Safe Boating Week.
The latest: Organizers said the event went even better than hoped for and they plan to do it again next year. The approximate fuel cost for the HH-60J Jayhawk helicopter training mission was $1,500, said Eric Olson, an auxiliary vice commander. Volunteer auxiliary members helped secure the area and handed out boating safety information throughout the day.
AnneMarie Knepper
Magician's dream
The story: Phil Crosson, a pastor and self-taught magician who became a full-time entertainer in 2006, told the Democrat-Herald in a 2007 story that he aspired to take his act to the famed Magic Castle in Los Angeles. The Albany resident has played venues throughout the state and also appeared in Las Vegas.
The latest: Crosson, who continues to perform regularly, will realize his dream next month. The magician is scheduled to appear at the Magic Castle for two shows, June 6 and 7.
Steve Lathrop
Field burning ban
The story: Bills that would ban burning of grass-seed fields in the Willamette Valley are pending in the legislature. Most of the discussion so far has centered on Senate Bill 528, which in its original form would have banned the practice starting this summer.
The latest: An amended version of SB 528 cleared the Senate Natural Resources Committee and was referred to the human services subcommittee of the Ways and Means Committee headed by Sen. Alan Bates, D-Ashland, and Rep. Tina Kotek, D-Portland. The measure remains in the committee, traditionally one of the last to shut down. Roger Beyer, executive secretary of the Oregon Seed Council, which opposes the bill, said Friday the panel may act on the bill, probably with only an hour's notice, and the measure likely will stay alive until the end of the session. The amended version would still allow 20,000 acres to be open-burned this season, and the ban would take effect in 2010. If there's an emergency such as an outbreak of a plant disease, the state could authorize up to 2,000 acres of burning after that.
Hasso Hering
TripCheck camera: Eye on I-5
The story: The TripCheck camera installed north of Millersburg in early 2008 was not turned on when it was supposed to be. After it was put up, officials decided there would be a change in how images would be transmitted, so the camera was not turned on until late summer of 2008. Then early this spring, the camera was shut off by the Oregon Department of Transportation.
The latest: There were problems with the original installation that caused the failure this spring, said Glen Hammer, the Internet technology manager for TripCheck based in Salem. On March 6, the camera just quit. A temporary camera was installed, and the state is working with the vendor to make permanent repairs.
Cathy Ingalls