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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 18, 2011)
NEWS BRIEFS trout and Pacific lamprey. Steele, who has tried everything from lobbying government officials to filing a motion to stop construction, says maybe dam opponents will have to do something a little more drastic. “Bring a 25-inch frozen steelhead fish, caught in this area, to the meeting to say, ‘Oh yeah? Then what do you call this!’” And they did. At the July 27 Coast Fork Willamette Watershed Council meeting, one resident, says Steele, brought in a summer steelhead to make sure the attendees saw there were indeed fish in the area and the research was flawed. Steimle says Riverbank Power is planning on installing at least one fish passage and will incorporate mesh screens to prevent fish from getting caught up in the turbines. Steimle explains the hydroelectric company has made plans to alter the intake system to avoid dredging and mobilizing any mercury-filled sediment. He says that Cottage Grove residents’ concerns are “well-founded and heard,” adding, “If there are negative impacts (from the project), we will have to shut down.” But to Steele, the government agencies and Riverbank Power are not true to their word, forsaking the area and making this just another case of a little fish trying to take on a big fish. “Our voices are not being heard because it’s not ‘flashy.’ It’s just a small town, it’s not important.” Construction on the project is slated to begin in October and, according to Steimle, will take up to a year to complete. — Kendall Fields TENACIOUS TEABAGGERS Election season is already under way in Lane County. As conservatives go, Art Robinson seems pretty run-of-the-mill. Older, well off, university educated, and cultivating a certain “man of the people” quality, Robinson entered the public eye a little over a year ago after winning the 2010 Republican nomination and challenging Peter DeFazio for Oregon’s 4th Congressional District. Although he lost badly to DeFazio, Robinson has remained a Tea Party darling, claiming that he’s not down and out, as rumors have circulated, but merely gearing up for round two. Robinson gave a speech Aug. 15 to the Cottage Grove chapter of the 9-12 Project, a movement started by Fox News talk show host Glenn Beck. The speech itself was relatively unremarkable — the expected patriotism and small-town “I’m the outsider” tone sprinkled with righteous 8 AUGUST 18, 2011 EUGENE WEEKLY indignation, the occasional anecdote, and a heavy dose of Sarah Palin-style “common sense.” The 9-12ers were a receptive audience, greeting Robinson’s statements, accusations, and occasional use of the word “deregulation” with thunderous applause and a chorus of amens. During the question and answer period, Robinson fielded questions about a multitude of topics, from shorter term limits (yes) to environmental regulations (no). “We have a chance in 2012 to throw these guys out,” he said. “And I think we’re going to get them.” “The people who are in Washington, who have careers in Washington, have almost destroyed our country,” he added. Robinson touched on many topics during his speech, ranging from how the Department of Education is destroying our schools to accusing the U.N. of not being “pro-American,” to likening the 4th Congressional District to Switzerland. He also confirmed that he would be campaigning again in the 2012 Republican primary, hoping to run again against DeFazio. Robinson said he is in it to win it this time. “We’re living on the momentum of the past,” he said. “Unless we get the regulation and the litigation off the backs of the American people, we will not be exceptional.” “There’s no question in my mind that we’re going to take our country back,” he said. — Nils Holst DAVID MILLER REMEMBERED Eugene master artisan David P. Miller died Aug. 10 after a two-year struggle with brain cancer. A venerated stone carver and metalworker, Miller was known for sharing his passion at local workshops with all who showed interest. He was a prolific artist and avid supporter of all the arts in Eugene. Miller was well known by the local music community as a familiar face in the crowd. Miller’s work has been shown throughout Oregon and locally in galleries such as Maude Kerns, PeaceHealth, Fenario, New Zone, and more. Miller continued to create art up until he was no longer able to, and his work can be seen at 200 W. Broadway as a portion of local window art installations. Friends say Miller was a gift to our community and will be sorely missed. A celebration of Miller’s life will be held 1 pm Sunday, Aug. 21, at the Alton Baker Park shelters. — Dante Zuñiga-West WWW.EUGENEWEEKLY.COM • BLOGS.EUGENEWEEKLY.COM
