Today’s weather: High — 67, patchy fog; Low — 48
Plans for dedicated homeless space advance
After a 7-1 vote by Eugene City Council to create space for around 30 homeless families in city controlled land, the council began listing off potential properties during Wednesday’s meeting. The council is attempting to meet its own deadline of Oct. 31 for producing a final list.
If they find an appropriate location for the non-profit space — to be called “Opportunity Village Eugene” — the council will look at all the details of what the village would entail before deciding whether or not to bring the idea to fruition, The Register-Guard reports.
Race for the Cure numbers dwindle after controversy
This year’s Race for the Cure is having trouble drawing in participants, after controversy struck last year. Currently, less than 3,000 people are signed up, compared to last year’s nearly 6,000 participants, according to The Register-Guard.
In a surprising move, last year the Susan G. Komen foundation announced it wouldn’t continue funding Planned Parenthood as a result of its new rule to not fund any organization under investigation. At the time, Rep. Cliff Stearns from Florida had opened an investigation into Planned Parenthood.
Wrap City food cart damaged during weekend
The Eugene Police Department received a report Monday from the owner of the Wrap City food cart stating her cart had been damaged during the weekend. Because she only operates Monday-Friday, she returned to her cart Monday morning to find the tent damaged and the power chords pulled out of the power supply box, damaging the chords.
The power no longer went to the cart, so the food inside the cart spoiled, and Wrap City had to close for a day to repair and restock the cart, EPD said in a press release.
Blue heron statue added to corner of 13th Avenue and Alder Street
As a part of Eugene’s 150th birthday, a 14,000 pound blue heron statue was placed on its base early this morning, according to KMTR. The school has had a base on the corner since the remodel of 13th Avenue and Alder Street last year and has finally put the finishing touches on it with the statue.
The artist, Jud Turner, is a Eugene native. An official dedication will take place this Saturday at 11:30 a.m. at the statue.
Former Springfield coach admits to furnishing alcohol to minors
Byron Parra, 30, resigned from teaching and coaching in July at Thurston High School in Springfield after he came under investigation for providing alcohol to minors. Last week, he plead guilty to the misdemeanor in the Springfield Municipal Court, reported The Register-Guard.
Parra was furnishing alcohol to his freshman basketball team at Thurston during 2011 and earlier this year. Not only has he been ordered to 10 days of road crew work, but he also must serve three years’ probation and is banned from all Springfield School District property. He also surrendered his teaching license.
Update: On Oct. 20, 2016, the Springfield Municipal Court expunged the charge of furnishing liquor to a minor from Byron Parra’s legal record. According to the document, Parra’s “arrest in this matter is deemed to have not occurred, and Defendant [Parra] may accordingly answer any questions relating to this occurrence as if it had not occurred.”