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Two Salem House Fires Involve natural Gas Leak

Nobody was injured in the early afternoon two-alarm fire.

(SALEM) - Fire investigators in Salem say a natural gas leak made fighting multiple house fires on Pullman Ave SE more difficult Saturday afternoon. They aren't sure at this point if the leak was a result of damage from the blaze, or if it may have actually started the fire in the first place.

Fire crews rolled out at 1:13 PM Saturday to the first reported fire, located at 4775 Pullman Ave SE.

Op Ed:
Painful Pay-Off
Can Guarantee
Ethical Attention in Oregon

Strong Consequences Needed For Destroyed Trust

(SALEM) - Human nature is full of quirks and “surprises” even from mature politicians chosen by full voter trust.

Painfully-damaging political behavior by some so trusted, but proven too easily led astray, had become a cultural characteristic in the Oregon Legislature.

Oregonians now demand deep changes in the Ethics Commission system overseeing such situations.

“Painful behavior demands painful consequence” is an essential principle of democracy. The Federalist Papers provide discussion in detail and depth as Founders felt their way to make sure democracy worked.

Patch of Ice Leads to Fatal Wreck

Drivers need to slow down as winter temperatures remain at or below freezing.

(SHERIDAN) - Investigators say a patch of ice led to a fatal crash on Highway 18 Friday evening about three miles east of Sheridan. The 6:40 PM crash involved two vehicles and claimed the life of a 21-year old St. Paul woman.

Oregon State Police troopers say it appears that a westbound 2005 Honda Accord lost control on a patch of ice and slid into the path of an eastbound 1988 Ford pickup truck.

The operator of the Honda, 21-year old Rebecca A. Morrow of St. Paul was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police Say Tased Man Aggressively Advanced Toward Officer

Members of a nearby fraternity witnessed the incident and described Quinn as clearly going after the officer and failing to obey orders.

(CORVALLIS) - After committing several traffic violations, 49-year-old Rodney Quinn, a transient, was stopped by a Corvallis Police Officer at NW Jackson Avenue and NW 10th Street.

Quinn crawled out of his pickup window and began aggressively yelling, "Are you a homosexual?" and other statements at the officer.

Quinn continued to advance on the officer in a threatening manner leading the officer to believe he was about to be physically attacked.

First Estimate of Homeless Population in a America in More Than a Decade Released

Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Washington were the states with the highest ratio of homeless people per capita.

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - There were 744,313 people homeless in January 2005 according to Homelessness Counts, the first national assessment of the number of homeless people in over a decade.

The report was released Friday by the Homelessness Research Institute of the National Alliance to End Homelessness.

The data included in the study represent a point in time; therefore the estimate only presents a snapshot of the homelessness problem in the Unites States.

Fifty-six percent of homeless people counted were living in shelters and transitional housing and, shockingly, 44 percent were unsheltered.

Lincoln County Cell Phone Towers Vandalized

The vandals are attacking towers in remote timberland areas.

(NEWPORT) - The Lincoln County Sheriff’s office is asking for the public’s help in locating the suspect(s) who vandalized five cell phone towers.

The towers have been rendered useless because of recent thefts investigators said.

The suspect(s) stole copper wire from the towers, presumably to sell at metal scrap yards in the mid-Willamette Valley for drugs.

Anyone with information should contact the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office at (541) 265-4231.

Oregon PUC Shrinks PGE`s Rate Request By Nearly $50 Million

The average residential customer monthly bill will go up about 48 cents from $88.81 to $89.29 based on using a 1000 KWh of energy.

(SALEM) - On Friday, the Oregon Public Utility Commission cut $49.4 million from Portland General Electric’s request to increase rates.

Public Invited to Legislative Workshop in Salem

The workshop will provide information about how to track bills and access other information on the Legislature’s website and how to contact legislators and staff.

(SALEM) - Oregonians interested in tips on how best to work with the State Legislature are invited to a free workshop next week at the State Capitol.

“How to Participate in the Legislative Process,” will be offered Tuesday, from 6:00 to 8:00 PM in Hearing Room C of the Capitol, 900 Court St., NE.

Senate President Peter Courtney, Representative Diane Rosenbaum, lobbyist Bruce Bishop and others will participate in a panel discussion describing how the public can participate most effectively in the legislative process.

Lincoln City Chamber`s Super Auction Live Online Kicks Off Friday Night

What could be better than a 24-hour live, televised, and web cast Auction on this cold winter weekend?

(LINCOLN CITY) - The Lincoln City Chamber of Commerce 40th Annual Super Auction begins Friday at 6:00 PM. This annual event will be televised in its entirety on Charter Channel 21 from Lincoln City to Tillamook, and on Channel 21 in Newport.

The list of potential purchases spans the gamut, from diamond earrings and vacation packages to home décor and power tools to wine and cheese baskets to art and adventure. The Super Auction has it all right at your fingertips. No matter where you are, the Super Auction is just a click away thanks to the first-ever web cast.

Linn County Deputies Arrest Predatory Sex Offender on New Charges

Billings is lodged at the Linn County Jail with a bail set at $200,000.

(SWEET HOME) - Linn County Sheriff Tim Mueller reports that on Thursday his office arrested 58-year-old Robert Allen Billings of Sweet Home, on four (4) counts of Sex Abuse I.

Linn County detectives began this investigation when the victim, a female child, was brought to the Sheriff’s Office by the victim’s family.

Billings is a family acquaintance.