Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Cottage Grove sentinel. (Cottage Grove, Or.) 1909-current | View Entire Issue (May 10, 2017)
8A COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL MAY 10, 2017 YAC will visit Salem again for 'whippets' bill By Caitlyn May cmay@cgsentinel.com When Karen Munsel spoke before the city council, she told them about the nitrous oxide canisters being sold at local smoke shops and about how the cheap, easily accessible habit had affected her personally. She told them something should be done about the dangerous habit effecting local teens and while she spoke, the youth advisory council representative was pay- ing attention. After relaying Munsel’s story and discussing the issue with city administration, the Cottage Grove Youth Advisory Council approached representative Ced- ric Hayden. Now, as the legis- lative session readies to begin turning bills into law, the youth advisory council will see its ef- forts pay off. House Bill 3030 has passed the house and will move onto the senate with a few minor changes. The age to purchase the canisters has moved from 18 to 21. The youth advisory coun- cil is expected to testify a sec- ond time on the bill, requesting that the location of the canisters be altered as well. “They would ask that they not be sold in smoke shops be- cause why? Why are they be- ing sold there?” Cottage Grove City Manager Richard Meyers asked. “Anyone looking to use them for baking is not looking for them in a smoke shop.” “It’s cheap,” Meyers said of the high. “We may also ask to clean up the language a little in the bill,” Meyers said. Cur- rently, the bill singles out use as inhaling directly from the canis- ter. However, teenagers are not technically inhaling from the canister. Instead, they are utiliz- ing a “cracker” that punctures a whole in the canister which fi lls a balloon that is affi xed to the other end and the user inhales from the balloon. “It’s easy, it’s cheap and it lasts about 10 minutes so you keep doing it over and over again. The issue with that is that eventually you can replace all the oxygen in your lungs and asphyxiate,” Meyers explained. The youth advisory board is expected to discuss the issue at its next meeting and on Tues- day, May 8, the youth board is expected to travel to Salem to testify on the issue again. This time, in front of the senate and with Munsel. “It’s great for them, they’re excited,” Meyers said. “They saw a law through the entire process.” Are you ready? D ISASTER P REPAREDNESS Ten homeowner safety tips for protecting your home from wildfi re this season of these items quickly to reduce fuel for fi re. Inspect shingles or roof tiles. Replace or repair the shingles that are loose or missing to prevent ember penetration. Cover exterior attic vents with metal wire mesh no larger than 1/8 inch to pre- vent sparks from entering the home. Enclose eaves and screen soffi t vents using 1/8 mesh metal screening to prevent ember entry. Every year, wildfi res burn across the U.S., and more and more people are living in areas where wildfi res pose a risk. Nearly 45 million homes abut or intermin- gle with wildlands and more than 72,000 U.S. commu- nities are now at risk. By working together, residents can make their own property - and their neighborhood - much safer from wildfi re. The Firewise Communities Program encourages local solutions for safety by involving homeowners to pre- pare their homes from the risk of wildfi re. The program provides resources to help homeowners learn how to adapt to living with wildfi re and encourages neighbors to work together to take action now to prevent losses. With fi re season approaching, homeowners and com- munities can make their homes safer from wildfi re by reducing fl ammable materials and creating more defen- sible space around their property. The following information has been released by the Pacifi c Northwest region of the U.S. Forest Service. These ten safety tips can help fi refi ghters and protect homes and neighborhoods from wildfi res: Clear leaves and other debris from roofs, gutters, porches and decks. This helps prevent embers from igniting your home. Remove dead vegetation and other items from under your deck or porch, and within 10 feet of the house. Screen in areas below patios and decks with wire mesh to prevent debris and combustible materials from accumulating. Remove fl ammable mate- rials (wood piles, propane tanks) within 30 feet of Find Local Garage & Estate Sales your home’s foundation In Print & Online Today! and outbuildings, includ- ing garages and sheds. If it can catch fi re, don’t let it touch your house, deck or porch. Wildfi re can spread to tree tops. Prune trees so the lowest branches are 6 to 10 feet from the ground. Keep your lawn hydrat- Get the in-depth local news coverage you need, ed and maintained. If it plus more of what you want, right here in your local newspaper. is brown, cut it down to reduce fi re intensity. Dry grass and shrubs are fuel In Print & Online Subscribe | Renew | Gift for wildfi re. Don’t let debris and lawn 541.942.3325 • www.cgsentinel.com cuttings linger. Dispose Th e News & So Much More South Lane Fire and Rescue has noted that while resi- dents may feel safer after a particularly wet winter, it's often when the department receives the most calls. Because vegetation has grown more in some cases and residents feel more comfortable than they would if the winter had created a dry season, it is not ususual for residents to become restless in their behavior around campfi res or private burning in their yards. Weldin g Supp l and Ga ses Sol ies d Here LANDSCAPE AND BUILDING MATERIALS Open 7 days a week! 7919 N. River Road 541-942-4664 Better together. Additional information and materials are available at www.fi rewise.org. + = SAVE The more you protect, the more you save. I can do a lot more than just protect your car. And when you bundle coverage for your auto and home, I can help you save big. Get the savings you deserve. Call me or stop by my office for a free quote. Erik Benson 541-942-2605 130 Gateway Boulevard Cottage Grove, OR 97424 erikbenson@allstate.com Cottage Grove Sentinel Subject to terms, conditions and availabiliy. Savings vary by state and produce line. Allstate Property and Casualty Insurance Co., Allstate Fire and Casualty Insurance Co., Allstate Insurance Co., Allstate Indemnity Co., Allstate Vehicle and Property Insurance Co. © 2016 Allstate Insurance Co. Make sure all the pieces are in place to render you and your family prepared in the event of a natural disaster. • Listen to radio or television newscasts for the latest weather information, and follow all evacuation directions and suggestions. • Keep a stock of non-perishable food items as well as bottled water on hand inside your home. • Keep a 72 Hour Kit on hand inside your home that is easy to get to in the event of a disaster. For more information and tips on disaster response and preparedness, contact your local emergency services center. South Lane Fire & Rescue • 233 Harrison Ave, Cottage Grove 541-942-4493 • 55 South 1st Street, Creswell 541-895-2506 Twitter: @southlanefi re Facebook: southlanecountyfi reandrescue
