News Briefs

Coos Bay is one of six Northwest ports vying to export coal to Asia. Thanks to its position on the railroad system, Eugene is one of the many cities in Oregon and Washington facing mile-and-a-half-long coal trains chugging through town, leaving coal dust and diesel fumes in their wake. The coal train issue has been the topic of a recent Eugene City Club debate, will be the subject of a City Council vote and will be the center of a “Coal Hard Truth” forum on July 16, as well as a peaceful protest July 12.

The federal government’s General Services Administration delivered a letter to Occupy Eugene on July 10 denying the group’s permit application to remain at the old Federal Courthouse on 7th Avenue. The group was given until 3 pm July 11 to leave the site. In response, the Occupiers handed the feds an eviction notice of their own.

If you want to see modern-day “horse whisperer” Buck Brannaman help horses with people problems, then head up to Corvallis July 6-9 for a four-day horsemanship clinic. Brannaman, long known in the equine community for his way with horses, came to greater fame last year when the documentary movie Buck about his life and work was released to critical acclaim. 

• ODOT is spraying highways in the Lane County area. For more information call 1-888-996-8080.

• West Lane ODF, 935-2283, has hired Nick’s Timber Services (503) 910-1120 to ground spray 10 miles of roadsides on ODF land in western Lane County with Element 3A, Element 4, Oust XP, Forester’s Accord Concentrate, Agri-Dex and/or Herbimax. See ODF notice 2012-781-00363.

When life hands you lemons, you make lemonade. But what do you do when life hands you pesticides in your urine? You fight. And when the Environmental Protection Agency attempts to delay regulations protecting salmon from pesticides, you take that agency to court.

Despite vocal worries from animal advocates, Lane County commissioners voted 3-2 to award a contract to run the animal services shelter to Greenhill Humane Society. However, there is no actual contract yet, something that concerned Commissioners Pete Sorenson and Rob Handy, who dissented on the vote.

The June 23 plane crash that killed four “family members” of the Oregon Country Fair has left the organization “broken-hearted” and “profoundly affected,” General Manager Charlie Ruff said at a June 25 press conference held at OFC headquarters.

“We’re going to have an amazing celebration of life and remembrance,” Ruff said, noting that grief counselors from Eugene’s White Bird Clinic were already circulating among members and volunteers in the Country Fair community.

• ODOT is spraying highways in Lane County. For more information call (888) 996-8080.

• Rosboro LLC, (541) 746-8411, is hiring Western Helicopter Services to aerially spray Sulfomet Extra, Accord XRT and Chopper with Phase on 98 acres near Wycoff, Quartz and Sugar Creeks and another 110 acres near Quartz Creek, in the Finn Rock area. See ODF notices 2012-771-00484 and 2012-771-00503.

The last four days of the Olympic Trials for Track & Field at UO’s Hayward Field run Thursday through Sunday, June 28-July 1, and the full schedule of events can be found at www.tracktown12.com

Here is some basic information for those who do not have convenient internet access.

The 38th annual Black Sheep Gathering is happening June 22-24 at the Lane Events Center, a “sheep to shawl” event that has grown to be recognized as one of the best of its kind in America. The BSG will have animal, wool, mohair and fiber arts competitions as well as a trade show and classes taught by renowned instructors. All events, except the classes being taught at O’Hara grade school, are free to the public.

• ODOT is spraying highways in the Eugene-Springfield area. For more information call 1-888-996-8080.

• Seneca Jones Timber Company, 689-1011, plans to ground spray approximately 3 miles of roads near Fish Creek with Milestone VM, Glyphosate and Triclopyr with additives Methylated Seed Oil and Syl-Tac. See ODF notice 2012-781-00386.