Junction City man arrested for bar burglaries

Submitted by Molly Blancett on Mon, 2010-03-15 17:03

A Junction City man was arrested at his apartment March 12 in connection with several burglaries in the area.

Junction City Police say Richard Ernest Bercume stole cash from Bugsy's Bar, the Eugene Livestock Auction, Tankard Tavern Bar and the Viking Inn Bar between January 10 and February 1.

Bercume is facing thirteen charges including second degree burglary, first degree theft and endangering the welfare of a minor.

He is being held in the Lane County Jail.

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Bill Fleenor guest at Chamber's March Lunch Forum

Submitted by KVAL Communitie... on Mon, 2010-03-15 14:40

From the Chamber Update

The March Lunch Forum will be held on Thursday, March 18 at noon at Shadow Hills Country Club.  Our speaker for March will be Lane County Commissioner Bill Fleenor.  The cost of the lunch is $10.  Please RSVP your attendance to the Chamber office by 5:00pm on Tuesday, March 16.  We look forward to seeing everyone there.

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High school wrestling coach charged with rape, sodomy and sex abuse

Submitted by KVAL Communitie... on Fri, 2010-03-12 16:50

The head wrestling coach from Junction City High School faces charges he had a sexual relationship with a student over the course of several months.

Lane County sheriff’s detectives arrested Michael James Hoppe, 27, of Junction City, Ore., in Springfield, Ore., on Thursday, March 11, on suspicion of third degree rape, first and third degree sodomy, and third degree sex abuse.

Hoppe is the head wrestling coach at Junction City High School. The female victim is a studnet at the school.

Detectives arrested Hoppe following an investigation into allegations Hoppe was having a sexual relationship with the student, the sheriff's office said Friday. The investigation revealed Hoppe’s relationship with the student occurred over several months, according to the sheriff's office.

Hoppe's coaching contract with the Junction City School District has ended, the district told KVAL News.

"We take the safety and confidentiality of our students very seriously," said Stephanie White, executive assistant in the superintendent's office. "Any time any sort of report is given to us, we take immediate action and work with law enforcement."

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Nominate someone now for the Oregon Rural Health Hero Award

Submitted by KVAL Communitie... on Mon, 2010-03-08 17:21

From a press release | Learn to post your own

The Oregon Office of Rural Health at Oregon Health & Science University is seeking nominations for the 2010 Oregon Rural Health Hero Award.

The award honors an outstanding person, program or organization that has improved the quality, availability and accessibility of health care for rural Oregonians.

“There are hard working dedicated people out there that have made a major impact on rural health in Oregon,” says Scott Ekblad, director of the Oregon Office of Rural Health at OHSU. “Think about nominating someone whose actions have had a notable, positive impact on the health of the community, or a successful program that other communities might want to duplicate.”

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Does that appliance qualify for a rebate? Check before you buy.

Submitted by Laura Rillos on Mon, 2010-03-08 15:14

A Junction City-area family hoped they would get a rebate for their brand new energy efficient washing machine.  After all, it had an Energy Star label on it.

But the Pacific Power customers were not eligible because the washing machine is not efficient enough.

Tom Brown, who bought the washing machine, had a Modified Energy Factor of 1.9, which would qualify it for a $75 credit from both the Eugene Water and Electric Board and the Springfield Utility Board.

But the Energy Trust of Oregon, which doles out rebates to Pacific Power customers, requires washing machines to have an MEF of 2.2.

Want to know why?  We're looking into this story for KVAL News at 5 on March 8.

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How do you say Alsea?

Submitted by KVAL Communitie... on Fri, 2010-03-05 10:45

How do you say Alsea?

KVAL News mentioned the town southeast of Philomath -- which shares a name with a river, a waterfall and other geographic features -- on TV on March 3 and pronounced the name "all-sea"

"Everytime it's on the news," an e-mail to the newsroom read, "you guys mispronounce it. It's not ALL-sea. It's AL-sea."

You don't say.

"Like a guy named 'Al' - Alsea!" the viewer wrote. "This is just as annoying as some idiot saying Ory-gone!"

Well doggone, how do you say Alsea?

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Lawmakers host town hall meeting March 13

Submitted by KVAL Communitie... on Wed, 2010-03-03 10:58

From a press release

Senator Chris Edwards (D – Eugene / Junction City), Representative Nancy Nathanson (D – Eugene), and Representative Val Hoyle (D – Eugene/Junction City) will host a Town Hall meeting on March 13 at Willamette High School. 

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High-speed chase races from Stayton to Harrisburg along I-5

Submitted by KVAL Communitie... on Mon, 2010-03-01 17:16

A police chase along Interstate 5 Sunday reached speeds of 100 mph but ended safely in Harrisburg, Ore.

The chase began further north in Stayton, Ore., after police tried to pull over a stolen vehicle. The driver took off onto the freeway.

Officers placed spikes along the road to pop the vehicles tires and arrested the suspect.

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Benefit luau supports hula school

Submitted by KVAL Communitie... on Mon, 2010-03-01 15:20

Heidi Coleman sent a message using the contact form at http://junctioncity.kval.com/contact.

Halau Hula O Na Pua O Hawaii Nei (a traditional hula school in Eugene) under the direction of Kumu Hula Pekelo Day will be presenting a benefit luau fundraiser on Saturday, March 6, 2010 starting at 5:30 PM at River Bend Resort at 23650 Peoria Road, Harrisburg, Oregon.

Na Hoku Hanohano and Hawaii Music Award winner Uluwehi Guerrero is the special musical guest.  Ulu is a well known Hawaiian musician and hula instructor from Maui and has been critically acclaimed from California to New York, Canada to Japan.  He has performed at one of the world’s most coveted venues, Carnegie Hall. Uluwehi continues to garner new fans with every performance, pushing Hawaiian music ever closer to the global world music market.

Limited tickets are available for the luau dinner and show. For more information or to purchase tickets, contact Maggie Matoba (541) 484-5754 or Heidi Coleman (541) 914-8217 or e-mail realaloha@yahoo.com

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'Coffee cupping' event benefits H.A.R.T. Family Center

Submitted by KVAL Communitie... on Mon, 2010-03-01 14:30

Peggy Purkerson sent a message using the contact form at http://junctioncity.kval.com/contact.

A coffee cupping is similar to a wine tasting, but with coffee. 

Come learn everything (well almost) you've ever wanted to know about coffee: Where and how is it grown, how is it roasted, how to buy it, how to brew it, how to store it, and much more.

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