The South Coast Folk  Society summer songfests  will continue on Sunday,  July 12, from 4-6 p.m. in  downtown Coos Bay . The  public is invited to join society  members singing popular,  contemporary, and classic  songs. Admission is  free, and all ages and voices  are welcome. Instrumental  accompaniment and big  song books are provided.  We meet at Fiction 101  Books at four o’clock  Sunday afternoon for two  hours of joyful harmonizing.  The Second Sunday Sing-  Along is a free public event  occurring on the second  Sunday of every month  from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. at  Fiction 101 Books, located  in the Tioga Building, 247  N. Broadway in Coos Bay.  Next month the sing-along  will be on Sunday, August  9. For more information  contact Gail at 756-4701.

Cutis Jack, owner of Coquille Supply, must register as sex offender

On Friday, June 19th,  Curtis Hale Jack of Coquille

entered a guilty plea to the  crime of Sex Abuse III, a  class A misdemeanor, before  the Honorable Richard L.  Barron. A charge of Sex  Abuse I and a charge of Sex  Abuse III were dismissed  pursuant to a plea negotiation  offered by Coos County  Deputy District Attorney  Karen McClintock.  McClintock also recommended  that Jack serve 15  days in jail, something that  Judge Richard Barron didn’t  accept, instead sentencing  the Coquille businessman to  90 days in the Coos County  Jail.

Mr. Jack appeared in  court with his attorney John  Trew. The charge stemmed  from an incident on May  12th where Jack subjected a  17 year-old female victim to  sexual contact by touching  her breast. According to the  victim, the contact was  unwanted. Mr. Jack, who  will have to register as a sex  offender, was also sentenced  to 3 years of supervised probation,  90 days in jail, and a  fine of $6,250. As a condition  of his probation, he will  be required to enroll, participate,  and successfully complete  a sex offender treatment  program.

He was also  ordered to refrain from  knowingly associating with  the victim and persons  under the age of 18 except  under specific circumstances  specified in writing by the  Court or Probation Officer.

Every year, biologists forecast how many salmon will  return to the different watersheds in the Pacific Northwest.  They base their predictions on a variety of factors including  smolt release numbers, ocean temperatures, and fishery testing,  though having so many variables lowers the reliability  of these estimates. In spite of this, several 2009 predictions,  including one from the Pacific Fishery Management  Council, suggest that 2009 may be one of the strongest  years of late for salmon returns throughout the northwest.

Initial reports from fishing guides on southwest Vancouver  Island also indicate that the area is in for a banner year.  Catch numbers and fish-size show the most promise in  seven years. Since charter operators who fish these offshore  banks intercept most of the salmon runs headed south,  potentially catching fish from dozens of different rivers in  the same morning, they gain a strong understanding of  salmon trends. These guides note that generally, when the  early season gets off to a slow start, the rivers continue to  experience smaller run sizes through July. Conversely, when  fishing is productive by late May, the Canadian fishing fleet  has learned to expect a very productive year.

Sam Vandervalk, of Salmoneye Charters, reports that  King salmon fishing for 2009 has been spectacular for May  and June, which indicates that the area should continue to  have strong runs throughout the season. "We haven't seen  fishing like this since 2001," Mr. Vandervalk says, "and  2001 was a very, very good year." According to his fishing  reports, boats are consistently catching limits of 10-25  pound fish, unusual for early June. He credits the good  numbers in part to the Canada-US salmon treaty which was  ratified a few months ago. Also, commercial salmon allocation  numbers have been greatly reduced on both sides of the  border, so this should mean more returning Chinook  (Kings) and Coho (Silvers) for the ocean angler.

Ample moisture and cooler temperatures for Alaska and  Pacific Northwest states may keep 2009 fire potential in  normal ranges, but after multiple weeks of warm weather,  fuel supplies are drying out. Persistent drought conditions  may well drive significant wildfire risk for north-central  Washington, and the recent near-record spring dry spell is  boosting fire risk in western Washington as well. FEMA  Acting Regional Administrator Dennis Hunsinger encourages  residents living on wooded lots and wildland/urban  interface areas to stay informed on local conditions and take  steps now clearing brush and creating defensible perimeters  around their homes.

"Wildfires are unpredictable, and can start  and spread with incredible speed, so it's important  to go into this year's wildfire season with a  solid plan," said Hunsinger. "The time to discuss  wildfire warnings and evacuation strategies  with your local forestry and emergency  management officials is before wildfires rage."  FEMA recommends that residents take specific actions long  before an evacuation is necessary.  * Clear any flammable materials from around the home.  * Construct roofs and exterior walls from non-combustible  or fire resistant material such as slate, tile, sheet  iron, aluminum, brick or stone.  * Treat wood siding, cedar shingles, exterior wood paneling  and other highly combustible materials with fire retardant  chemicals.  * Clean roof surfaces and gutters free of pine needles,  leaves, and branches regularly.  * Space landscape plants to limit fire from spreading to  surrounding vegetation or structures.  * Maintain fuel breaks around all structures.  *Store gasoline only in approved containers, and well  away from occupied buildings.  * Store firewood and other combustibles away from  structures.  * Keep firefighting tools (such as ladders, shovels, rakes  and water buckets) handy, and water hoses connected.  * House numbers and all street signs should be clear of  overgrowth and always be visible.  * Clear roads and driveways of vegetation overgrowth so  fire vehicles have room to maneuver.  * Place a lawn sprinkler on the roof, which can be turned  on when evacuating to wet the roof.  It is also smart to keep important personal documents  quickly available should you need to evacuate. Consider  collecting your drivers license, passport and other identification,  birth and marriage certificates, Social Security card,  insurance policies, tax records, wills, deed or lease and  stocks and bonds. Also, know where your main turn-off  switches are for electricity, water and gas.

Another important step that FEMA recommends is preparing  an evacuation kit. Items should be put in a container  that can be easily loaded into a vehicle for a quick departure.  Items to include:  * Flashlight  * Battery-powered radio with additional batteries  * First aid kit  * Medicines, prescriptions and eyeglasses  * Water (at least one gallon per person and enough for  three days for each person in the household)  * Change of clothing  * Sleeping bags and pillows  * Cash and credit cards  FEMA also recommends that family members discuss how  to contact one another if the wildfire comes near when family  members are separated. Discuss evacuation routes and  identify relatives or friends outside the immediate area that  can be contacted. Finally, make sure your pets have collars  and identification tags and take your pets with you if you  need to evacuate. While some shelters won’t accept pets, an  increasing number of communities are organizing pet shelters  when large evacuations are necessary. Check with your  local Humane Society, animal shelter or veterinarian.

The Red Cross has scheduled blood drives at the following
locations.
Please call 1-800-GIVE LIFE (1-800-448-3543) to schedule
your donation appointment.
(Note the alternate numbers listed for certain drives.)
Date Hours Location
Phone Numbers
July 7: 12:00 – 6:00 p.m. Bandon Community:
Holy Trinity Catholic Church , 355 Oregon Ave.
1-800-448-3543
July 8: 2:00 – 6:00 p.m. Myrtle Point
Community: Maple School, 413 C Street.
1-800-448-3543
July 9: 1:00 – 6:00 p.m. North Bend Community:
College Park Community Church, 2548 Newmark St.
1-800-448-3543
July 16: 1:00 – 6:00 p.m. Coos Bay Community:
St. Monica’s Catholic Church, 357 S. 6th Street.
1-800-448-3543
July 21: 11:00 – 5:00 p.m. Powers Community:
Powers Baptist Church , 990 1st Ave.
(541) 439-3685
July 22: 2:00 - 6;00 p.m. Coquille Community: 115
N. Birch: Coquille Community Building
1-800-448-3543
July 23: 1:00 – 6:00 p.m. North Bend Community:
College Park Community Church, 2548 Newmark St.
1-800-448-3543
July 28: 1:00 – 6:00 p.m. Gold Beach Community:
Curry Showcase 29392 Ellensburg Ave.
1-800-448-3543
July 29: 1:00 – 6:00 p.m. Brookings Community:
Chetco Grange 97895 Shopping center Ave. (Harbor)
1-800-448-3543
July30: 1:00 – 6:00 p.m. Coos Bay Community: St.
Monica’s Catholic Church, 357 S. 6th Street.
1-800-448-3543

Summer is the time to bare it all, and not just in your  swimsuit. Whether you're at the beach or barbecuing on the  patio, try going "au natural," starting with your snacks. This  summer, many Americans are taking back the snack, in a  natural and wholesome way.

A survey commissioned by Pepperidge Farm in early  2008 revealed that Americans love to snack and will enjoy  their snacks just about anywhere. More than 55 percent say  they snack in the car and almost the same amount admit  they keep snacks in their desk at work. Six percent even say  they give up full meals just to keep snacking.  Fortunately, you can feel good about snacking when it's  done the right way. To help encourage wholesome snacking,  celebrity natural food chef, Bethenny Frankel, has partnered  with Pepperidge Farm Baked Naturals crackers to create  several tips that embrace snacking as a part of a balanced  lifestyle, as well as simple and delicious recipes to be  paired with the new line of snack crackers.

"Go ahead and ruin your appetite. Smart snacking can  help maintain a balanced lifestyle by helping keep cravings  under control in between meals," said Frankel.  Frankel offers these tips to have snacking  be part of a wholesome lifestyle:  Get Moving. Whether it's taking a walk, going for a run  or working in the garden, enjoy activities that will energize  you. Afterwards, revive with a wholesome and hearty  snack. Your body will appreciate you fueling yourself with  the best ingredients possible. Pretzel Thins are a great  choice for dipping in honey mustard or topping with melted  parmesan cheese.  Loosen Up. It's the little things that make life fun.

Take a  few minutes out of your day to share a good laugh and  enjoy a snack that makes you feel good. Try a savory snack  like Zesty Tomato Herb Wheat Crisps with a spicy avocado  dip for a well-rounded treat that's both tasty and satisfying.  Kick Back. Our lives can be so hectic -- take a moment  every day to unwind with a snack that is inviting and delicious.  Wrap Artisan Cheese Snack Sticks in prosciutto. The  balance of textures and flavors can keep you going all day  long.