http://www.NRToday.com Serving Douglas County, OR Fri, 24 May 2013 07:04:41 -0600 en 30 Saturday marks the 36th annual Douglas County Spelling Bee. Twenty-nine district winners coming from the fifth through eighth grades throughout the county will take the stage in the Wildlife Safari auditorium and vie for the title of the county’s best speller. Each contestant has already advanced through classroom and school district competitions and will receive a trophy for reaching the county level. The four finalists at the county level will receive additional trophies and a prize. The last speller standing at the end of the Douglas County Spelling Bee will win a laptop computer. The spellers represent 17 of the … ]]> The News-Review will sponsor a Douglas County Spelling Bee on Saturday, April 20, 2013, at Wildlife Safari in Winston. Words will appear each Monday on the Schools Page. The word lists can also be accessed at our website, www.nrtoday.com by entering ‘Spelling Bee’ into the search field or by entering www.nrtoday.com/spellingbee directly into your web browser. The last word list will be published Feb. 11, 2013. The County Spelling Bee Champion will go home with a trophy and a new computer system. Trophies and other prizes will also be awarded to the First, Second and Third place winners. All public … ]]> http://www.NRToday.com/news/local/3195879-113/size-spelling-having-bee http://www.NRToday.com/news/local/3349172-113/spelling-bee-2013-act http://www.NRToday.com/news/local/3390733-113/spelling-bee-2013-having http://www.NRToday.com/news/local/3712784-113/bee-spelling-2013-list http://www.NRToday.com/news/local/4017431-113/spelling-bee-2013-black http://www.NRToday.com/news/local/4019931-113/spelling-bee-2013-dog http://www.NRToday.com/news/local/4144327-113/spelling-bee-students-2013 http://www.NRToday.com/news/local/4227010-113/spelling-bee-2013-having http://www.NRToday.com/news/local/4336703-113/spelling-bee-cardiomegaly-2013 http://www.NRToday.com/news/local/4362097-113/spelling-bee-list-2013 http://www.NRToday.com/news/local/4470976-113/spelling-bee-list-2013 http://www.NRToday.com/news/local/4499893-113/having-spelling-list-size “I was born on Jan. 1, 1997, so New Year’s is a special holiday for me. Not only is it easy to know how old I was on any given date, but having the same birthday as the calendar gives me a certain connection to every year. I was 1 year old ’98, 15 in 2012, and so on. Now, I’ll be entering the 17th year of my life, which I’ll admit is a scary thing. I guess my New Year’s resolution is to become an older, more experienced version of myself. If that sounds like cheating, it is; I’ll … ]]> http://www.NRToday.com/news/local/4143526-113/resolution-become-loznak-truth Douglas County District Attorney Rick Wesenberg said Thursday he will again seek the death penalty for the man who murdered famed Marine flying ace Maj. Gen. Marion Carl. Jesse Fanus was sentenced to death 13 years ago for killing Carl in the war hero’s Glide area home in 1998. A year ago, Marion County Circuit Judge Pam Abernethy upheld Fanus’ aggravated murder conviction but threw out his death sentence. The judge found that Sutherlin attorney Mark Hendershott provided Fanus with ineffective legal representation during the penalty phase of the 1999 trial. Fanus, 33, is scheduled to return to Douglas County … ]]> http://www.NRToday.com/news/local/4137216-113/fanus-carl-death-county http://www.NRToday.com/news/local/4136058-113/smoking-parks-ban-park http://www.NRToday.com/news/local/4123877-113/anderson-fire-christmas-karen Douglas County commissioners last week extended for five years contracts with five ambulance companies to respond to medical emergencies throughout Douglas County. The extensions allow the providers — Douglas County Fire District No. 2, Winston-Dillard Fire District, Lower Umpqua Hospital EMS, North Douglas Fire & EMS and Glendale Ambulance District — to continue offering service without submitting new proposals to the county, the county’s Health Department director, Peggy Madison, told commissioners. The ambulance services finish the first five years of the agreement next week. Commissioners had the option of renewing the contracts for another five years, but new proposals will … ]]> http://www.NRToday.com/news/local/4113157-113/county-ambulance-douglas-fire http://www.NRToday.com/news/local/4123308-113/block-roseburg-police-reported http://www.NRToday.com/news/local/3849096-113/county-douglas-series-distinctive ROSEBURG Altrusa awards scholarship Altrusa International of Roseburg has awarded a $1,500 scholarship to Umpqua Community College student Cody Clark. Clark, who is studying engineering and surveying at UCC, was presented with the scholarship at an Altrusa business meeting on Dec. 16 at Elmer’s Restaurant in Roseburg. She is slated to graduate in the spring with an associate’s degree in engineering and surveying and a professional land surveyor’s license. While attending UCC, Clark has held two jobs and been active with rescuing horses. RIDDLE Student earns academic award Riddle High School junior Katielynn Parret has earned an award for academic … ]]> http://www.NRToday.com/news/local/4099327-113/honor-roll-winston-students http://www.NRToday.com/news/local/4112753-113/fire-case-firefighters-match “ I know some of my current and former teachers read these, so saying ‘no’ could be unwise. Honestly, though, I’m apprehensive to answer either way. Teachers are about the least dangerous segment of the population to be carrying guns. However, teens and young children tend to be a bit less stable, and it would be easier for us to get a hold of firearms if teachers carried them in school. “No matter what, something has to happen to prevent the next Sandy Hook shooting. I think most students and faculty would feel more comfortable with armed teachers than the … ]]> http://www.NRToday.com/news/local/4076796-113/teachers-guns-think-carry http://www.NRToday.com/news/local/4112139-113/highway-ridenour-lake-road http://www.NRToday.com/news/local/4111907-113/applicants-creek-myrtle-applications http://www.NRToday.com/news/local/4049370-113/christmas-closed-eve-monday http://www.NRToday.com/news/local/4098856-113/police-chase-sutherlin-car http://www.NRToday.com/news/local/4075761-113/inches-snow-area-canyonville http://www.NRToday.com/news/local/4063341-113/roseburg-parsons-safe-rumors http://www.NRToday.com/news/local/4063076-113/snow-rain-morning-power Reporter Garrett Andrews has joined the staff of The News-Review. He is covering crime, police and fire departments and the court system. Andrews, 29, moved to Roseburg this month from Durango, Colo., where he worked at the Durango Herald as city hall reporter for two years. Prior to that, he worked as a copy editor and sports clerk. While in Durango, Andrews also worked as an AmeriCorps project volunteer, as outreach coordinator for the city government. He earned bachelor’s degrees in political science and history from Washington State University in Pullman, Wash. He recently completed his coursework for a master … ]]> http://www.NRToday.com/news/local/4055778-113/andrews-news-reporter-2011 A man found dead in an east Roseburg house after a house fire Monday was a homicide victim and investigators are looking at a man who allegedly fired 20 to 30 shots at police during a standoff later that day at a Roseburg motel as the main suspect. Jonathan Lackey, 23, who was apprehended following an exchange of gunfire with police and a four-hour standoff, is the grandson of Richard Casebeer, 71, the man found dead at his home at 437 S.E. Ramp Road, a relative said. Maxine Dow, Casebeer’s sister-in-law, confirmed the relationship between the two men during an … ]]> http://www.NRToday.com/news/local/4048390-113/casebeer-lackey-death-dow http://www.NRToday.com/news/local/4048267-113/power-rain-bunker-camas An Oakland woman was among the seven Oregonians who voted for president Monday. True to her pledge, Shirley Cairns cast her electoral vote for President Barack Obama. “It was a real honor to cast a vote for the president of the United States,” Cairns said today. The honor automatically fell to Cairns as the Democratic chairwoman of the 4th Congressional District. She held the same position four years ago and still feels regret that a snowstorm forced her to turn around, costing her a chance to cast a vote for Obama in 2008. “I got as far as Albany, and … ]]> http://www.NRToday.com/news/local/4034939-113/cairns-vote-electoral-cast http://www.NRToday.com/news/local/4035132-113/roseburg-fire-street-blaze Camas Valley Charter School has canceled classes today and Thursday because the area continues to be out of power. No other schools are reporting delays or closures for Wednesday, as of 6 a.m. today. … ]]> http://www.NRToday.com/news/local/4033481-113/camas-charter-valley-area JOHN SOWELL The News-Review One person was found dead today by Roseburg firefighters battling a house fire in east Roseburg. Firefighters with the Roseburg Fire Department found the body after responding to a report of a house fire in a cul-de-sac in the 400 block of Southeast Ramp Street. Authorities did not confirm a specific address. Dispatchers at the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office were notified of the fire at 7:23 a.m. Details were sketchy this morning. Roseburg fire investigators, police detectives and the state fire marshal were called to the scene to investigate the fire and to look for signs … ]]> http://www.NRToday.com/news/local/4017877-113/fire-roseburg-person-police A block of Southeast Cass Avenue in downtown Roseburg was transformed to celebrate the holiday spirit Thursday through the efforts of Phoenix Charter School students. The students helped plan and organize a block party centered around the Umpqua Local Goods store, which Phoenix runs in partnership with NeighborWorks Umpqua. Gingerbread houses made by students were displayed inside the store, along with jewelry and other products created by Douglas County residents. A steady line of children and parents waited to get their pictures taken with Santa. On Cass Avenue, several Douglas County crafters displayed their wares. “We were trying to promote … ]]> http://www.NRToday.com/news/local/3848160-113/holiday-party-students-block On Tuesdays and Thursdays, Janet Ring can often be found in a back room of the Douglas County Library, searching through old editions of The News-Review on microfilm to find stories requested by patrons. Over the years, she has looked up everything from obituaries to 1920s murder cases. Ring is one of the longest-serving of the 50 volunteers who help make the Roseburg branch run. She received a certificate Thursday morning honoring her 30 years of service. Ring, 56, of Green began volunteering when the library was in the Douglas County Courthouse annex. She saw a sign recruiting volunteers to … ]]> http://www.NRToday.com/news/local/3857524-113/ring-library-douglas-volunteer Marine veteran Leo Kraft, who served as a gunner, radar operator and bombardier on a B-25 bomber on Guadalcanal in World War II, raised his right arm in a salute before a set of holiday wreaths were placed Saturday at the Roseburg National Cemetery. The Roseburg resident was one of about 70 people who attended the annual Wreaths Across America commemoration, now in its seventh year locally. Seven wreaths provided by a Maine company were hung on stands underneath the American flag flying at the cemetery off West Harvard Avenue. The wreaths honored the U.S. Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air … ]]> Douglas County food banks say the demand for their services continues to rise, though less dramatically than in recent years. Food banks report seeing more senior citizens, more children and bigger households. The good news is that an outpouring of community support is helping food banks keep up with the increased demand. One success has been the Roseburg Food Project, which has rapidly grown since volunteers began picking up the project’s signature green bags from donors’ doorsteps in August. Last weekend’s collection, the third one, brought in 9,700 pounds of food, almost twice that of the project’s second collection in … ]]> TOKETEE — Casey Scanlon was hooked after her first taste of homemade chocolate. “I’m one of those people who call themselves a ‘chocoholic,’ ” she said with a laugh. Scanlon, 50, traces her love of high-quality chocolate to a baby-sitting experience when she was 14. A mother who hired Scanlon gave her homemade chocolate for the first time, sparking an epiphany. “I told myself, “Someday I am going to make my own chocolates.’” And now she does. Scanlon, a Toketee resident, became a certified chocolatier in 2006 after completing an online course through Ecole Chocolat. She now owns Chocolate Fandango … ]]> http://www.NRToday.com/news/local/3861130-113/chocolate-scanlon-making-toketee http://www.NRToday.com/news/local/4017766-113/power-valley-snow-weather “I love Christmas songs! After Thanksgiving, I always look forward to hearing them on the radio. They’re so much fun to listen to, especially the silly ones like, ‘Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer.’ “They really get me in the Christmas spirit. They make me begin to wish for a ‘White Christmas.’ “I also like to play Christmas songs on the piano. Christmas songs are great.” Sarah Blum, seventh-grader Cobb School Email questions for Truth of Youth to ibajandas@nrtoday.com. To join the Truth of Youth panel, write to Inka Bajandas at 345 N.E. Winchester St., Roseburg, OR 97470 or … ]]> http://www.NRToday.com/news/local/4017685-113/christmas-truth-youth-love A 19-year-old Sutherlin man who stole a car but drove it into a fence, swiped a stolen bank card but didn’t get any cash before the victim deactivated it and stuffed stolen merchandise into a backpack at Walmart only to discard much of the loot as he fled was sentenced Friday to three years in prison. Dylan Cole Lewis racked up three dozen charges during a crime spree that began in June and ended in November. Lewis pleaded guilty or no-contest Friday to 15 charges, while the other 21 were dismissed in exchange. Lewis pleaded no-contest to a car theft … ]]> http://www.NRToday.com/news/local/3949494-113/lewis-pleaded-store-contest http://www.NRToday.com/news/local/3857316-113/block-police-roseburg-fire