News/Sports Updates from the Lookingglass News Desk

Williams Creek Fire Threatens Eight Homes

July 31, 2009
12:54 pm
Annette Weston (reprint from myCentralOregon.com)

Steamboat, Oregon -- The Williams Creek fire along a popular fly-fishing section of the North Umpqua River continues to grow and is now at 2,168 acres.

Umpqua National Forest spokeswoman Pam Sichting says eight homes on Moore Hill near of Steamboat are threatened, but a bulldozer line has been put in around them and they have not been evacuated.

The fire is burning in rugged terrain north of state Highway 138, which continues to be closed between Susan Creek Campground and the Steamboat Inn.

Sichting said fire crews have held the line along the highway, and the fire is 10 percent contained.

Helicopters have been able to drop water on hotspots in the afternoons when the heat lets up and the smoke cover begins to lift.

Note from Bill: The smoke from the fire returned to the Roseburg area this afternoon. Roseburg was hit with heavy smoke from the fire on Wednesday. The smoke even drifted as far north as Eugene which is over 70 miles away.

In Sports: Here is the breakdown for the Pac-10 Preseason Media Poll (first place votes/pts):

1. USC (28 votes/316 pts) - With 28 of 32 first-place votes, Trojans picked to win seventh straight title.

2. California (3 votes/277 pts) - Bears get three first-place votes as favorite to challenge Trojans.

3. UNIVERSITY OF OREGON DUCKS (1 vote/250 pts) - Ducks pick up one first-place vote entering Chip Kelly's inaugural season.

4. Oregon State (216) - Mike Riley says James and Jacquizz Rodgers healthy entering fall camp.

5. ASU (155 pts) - Devils are rebuilding offense.

6. Stanford (150 pts) - A sleeper pick for some.

7. UCLA (145 pts) - Behind veteran defense, can Bruins break through in Neuheisel's second year?

8. Arizona (142 pts) - Must replace offensive core.

9. Washington (74 pts) - New coach Sarkisian says Dawgs not dwelling on 0-12 season.

10. WSU (35 pts) - Allowed 43.9 points per season in 2008.

Breakfast Time July 31, 2009

USEFUL AND USELESS INFORMATION:

At 12:15 I posted "Its All About Sam", a birthday tribute to my dear friend Sam McGinn from the UK. I hope that you take a moment and check it out.

Now for the News of the Day:

Fire up to over 1,600 acres, Highway 138 still closed.

The Williams Creek Fire just east of Glide, Ore., continues to spread on Umpqua National Forest land. Since Tuesday night, the fire has more than tripled and is over 1,600 acres. Pictures of the sky at night on Wednesday are featured below.

In Sports: the University of Oregon Ducks are ranked 3rd and the Oregon State University Beavers are ranked 4th in the first preseason Pac-10 football poll. The Pac-10 consists of the two Oregon teams, the University of Washington, Washington State University, University of California Berkeley, Stanford, University of Southern California, University of California Los Angeles, Arizona State University and University of Arizona. It is nice to see the Ducks in third place early on. Let us pray they are No. 1 at the end of the season.

Bill


POSTS FOR TODAY:

12:15AM - Its All About Sam

all times are Pacific Daylight Time USA


PORNSTAR BIRTHDAYS:
Brent Banes, Jayson Lee, Duke Miller


PICTURE OF THE DAY: One of the things I like about Sam