City/Region Digest.

Byline: The Register-Guard

LOCAL

Suspected bomb turns out to be hoax

SPRINGFIELD - The Eugene Metro Bomb Squad and sheriff's deputies were called to a northwest Springfield neighborhood Friday when a resident reported a suspected bomb in the 3200 block of Partridge Way.

The device was a hoax constructed to look like a bomb Lane County sheriff's Sgt. Steve Broome said. "The thing we want to stress is that when people find things like this they should back off and call the sheriff's office," he said.

On a few occasions, people have put themselves at great risk by handling devices that turned out to be operational explosives, he said.

Power outage hits school, Bethel area

Students at Clear Lake Elementary School nearly got a jump on winter break Friday when a Eugene Water & Electric Board feeder line malfunctioned, cutting power to the school and an estimated 700 to 800 other EWEB customers.

The power went out shortly after 11 a.m. - just after the Clear Lake kitchen staff had finished making lunch. The kids gathered in the darkened cafeteria for an early lunch, and got an extra 20 minutes of recess, Principal Betsy Fernandez said.

"We managed just fine," she said. "It was a little exciting."

The Bethel School District administration center also lost power, although Shasta Middle School did not. The three share a campus west of the intersection of Barger Drive and Belt Line Road. The traffic lights at the intersection were out, as was power in several nearby retail complexes, EWEB spokesman Lance Robertson said.

The power was back on at Clear Lake by 11:35 a.m. and was restored to all customers by 12:40 p.m., Robertson said. The cause of the outage was unknown.

REGION

Shooting accident brings arrest of man

JASPER - A Eugene man landed in jail Friday after accidentally shooting himself in the leg with a handgun, which then triggered an investigation that determined he had violated a restraining order.

Investigators were called to a residence in the 38000 block of Jasper-Lowell Road at 9:24 a.m. after Jesse Lee Lay III, 20, limped to the house to seek help, Lane County sheriff's Sgt. Steve Broome said.

Lay told investigators he accidentally shot himself when he stopped his car near the bridge in Jasper after visiting the residence of a woman.

Deputies determined he was barred by court order from contacting the woman. They arrested him after he was treated for a gunshot through the leg, Broome said.

Lay was being held Friday for violating a restraining order and for violating probation on earlier assault and harassment convictions, according to records.

Police arrest teens in burglary case

REEDSPORT - Two teen-agers were arrested in connection with a residential burglary where guns, cash, alcohol and jewelry were taken, Reedsport police said Friday.

Jocelyn Ladd and Brandon Ruder, both 18, were being held at the Douglas County Jail. Both were charged with first-degree burglary and first-degree theft. Ruder was also charged with a parole and probation violation. Security has not been set.

Police are still looking for a third suspect in the burglary, which occurred Wednesday in the 500 block of North Hills Court. Two handguns, a shotgun and a suitcase filled with alcohol that had been reported stolen were recovered.