Posted: Sunday, July 27, 2008 12:00 am
Here's a list of local issues that have been covered recently in the Gazette-Times and the status of those stories:
Proposed median on Rivergreen
The issue: In January, the Corvallis Public Works Department forgot to notify Pat Murphy and her neighbors on Southeast Rivergreen Avenue about plans to build two projects: a turn lane on Rivergreen for cars waiting to turn onto Highway 99W, and a landscaped median in front of Murphy's house.
What's happened so far: Dividing the road would have meant that Murphy and residents of the other six houses on the south side of Rivergreen would have to drive east around the median and back each time they wanted to leave the neighborhood. The project also would have eliminated a strip of on-street parking for the seven houses there and required removal of street trees.
City engineers met at the end of May with Murphy and neighbors to discuss options that enable parking and two-way access for residents.
What's new: City Councilors on Monday approved a compromise that will paint a median on the road rather than construct a landscaped area. Despite some concern over development conditions placed on the nearby Willamette Landing subdivision requiring a turn lane and median, councilors determined that a painted median was appropriate in this case.
Library video cameras
The issue: After almost weekly vandalism, restroom damage that included soiling the walls, bicycle theft and even fistfights, the management at the Corvallis Public Library resorted to surveillance in order to protect property.
What's happened so far: Library officials considered a range of options for increasing security at the library, including using fake cameras to deter would-be vandals. Instead, they decided to have real cameras installed. The $12,000 system will record all day long and save each day's video for two weeks.
Cameras were installed in late June in the parking garage, outside the entrance to the restrooms (but not in them), near the elevators and near the back stairwell. The cameras won't be turned on until the City Council green-lights their activation.
What's new: The City Council's Human Services Committee unanimously recommended that the cameras be activated. At its meeting Tuesday, only library board members testified about the cameras. They said that the board was unanimous in approving the idea and confident that the technology would not be used to monitor library
patrons.
The Council will vote on the matter in August.
OSU drug bust
The issue: The April 15 drug bust by the joint Benton County Sheriff's Office and Corvallis Police Street Crimes Unit resulted in the arrest of seven current and former Oregon State University students involved in a cocaine drug ring. Also arrested was the alleged supplier, an Albany man. The students cooperated with police to identify the supplier.
What's happened so far: The next hearing date set for Emmanuel Ortiz-
Rodriguez, 26, the alleged supplier, is Aug. 11 in Linn County Circuit Court. The cases of the remaining people involved will be adjudicated in Benton County Circuit Court. Jeffrey Kauppi, 24, and Jesse Shen, 27, pleaded guilty to cocaine delivery and were sentenced June 16 to three years' probation and 15 and 30 days in jail, respectively. Thomas Habelt, 24, pleaded guilty to child neglect on May 12 for subjecting his young son to a drug environment and was sentenced to 20 days in jail and 2 years probation. Paul Wessinger, 19, has a court appearance Aug. 21 in connection with cocaine possession and delivery charges. Andrew Westlund, 20, has a court appearance in connection with marijuana deliver and possession charges Aug. 14
What's new: Craig Shearmire, 19, pleaded guilty to cocaine delivery Tuesday and received a drug diversion sentence of 9 months. Shearmire reportedly was indirectly involved by encouraging undercover police to leave money with Corey Barr as he went to pick up drugs for delivery. Barr was scheduled to enter into a plea bargain on Wednesday but reportedly asked for more time to consider the offer. A subsequent hearing date has not yet been scheduled.