BRIEFLY.

Byline: The Register-Guard

Train derails on trestle near Sutherlin; logs spill

SUTHERLIN - A train derailed near here Tuesday after a small trestle collapsed for unknown reasons. No one was injured and no fuel spilled, but the derailment littered logs across a roadway and damaged several utility poles.

The Douglas County sheriff's office said it appeared the trestle collapsed as the Central Oregon Pacific Railroad train passed over it about 3 a.m. Seven rail cars loaded with logs derailed near North East Stephens Road at Pioneer Way.

Douglas County Forest Products sent a large front-end loader to clear the logs from the road, which was closed for several hours. Utility companies responded to assess damage to their poles.

The Sutherlin Police Department, Douglas County Fire District No. 2 and the county road department also helped out at the scene.

Willamette Pass Ski Area to open weekends only

WILLAMETTE PASS - A recent lack of customers prompted Willamette Pass Ski Area to curtail operations this week.

The ski area will be closed on weekdays and open only for weekend skiing.

According to its Web site, Willamette Pass has ample snow on its Peak 2 and will open for weekends starting Saturday for day skiing from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

For current information, check the ski area's Web site at www.willamettepass.com.

NORTHWEST

Five Oregon defendants named in fraud probe

PORTLAND - State and federal prosecutors announced health care fraud charges Tuesday against five Oregon defendants, ranging from a large medical business to a small-town coastal doctor.

``We are here to present a strong message to health care providers who steal from Oregonians,'' U.S. Attorney Karin Immergut said at a news conference.

Four defendants pleaded guilty after waiving indictment, Immergut said.

Immergut said William A. Bennett, owner of the Bay Area Foot Clinic in North Bend, pleaded not guilty to charges that he falsified medical records and made false claims for Medicare payments.

Prosecutors contend that in one case Bennett claimed payment for a surgical foot procedure when all he did was clip the patient's toenails.

West Coast Medical Supply of Portland billed Medicare for nearly 200 motorized wheelchairs but often provided less-expensive motor-powered scooters instead, Immergut said. The company will pay $2.07 million, she said.

Immergut said Family Medical Management Services Inc., which operates clinics in Oregon and Washington, settled for $400,000 in penalties after billing for services attributed to doctors but performed by a nurse practitioner.