News Update.

Byline: The Register-Guard

State atlas selling well

A STATE ATLAS published by the University of Oregon last fall has topped sales projections and recently won a national map design award.

More than 10,000 copies of "Atlas of Oregon" have been sold since the 320-page book was released Oct. 15 as part of the UO's 125th anniversary celebration. That's better than people at the UO Press, publisher of the atlas, expected.

The book also won praise from judges in a map design competition sponsored by the American Congress on Surveying and Mapping. They unanimously named "Atlas of Oregon" best of show in the 2001 contest.

"Big, beautiful, clearly organized and jam-packed with information, the 'Atlas of Oregon' has set the highest standard for atlas design," said Tom Patterson of the National Park Service and one of the judges.

The UO Bookstore alone has sold more than 1,100 copies of the book, which retails for $100 for the hardback edition and $60 for the soft-cover edition. It's also available at area bookstores and on the Web at www.uopress.com or www.uobookstore.com.

The atlas, written by UO geography professor emeritus William Loy and Medford cartographer Stuart Allan, is a compendium of information on Oregon's history, geography, economy, geology, demographics, industry and more. It includes more than 1,000 maps and diagrams.

- Greg Bolt

Breathtaking lungs

After two years of literally being tied to an oxygen tank, Angie Ficker is now enjoying one of life's simplest pleasures: breathing.

The Eugene resident underwent a double-lung transplant Feb. 12 at the University of Washington Medical Center. Three weeks later, she's still experiencing a little pain but otherwise "feeling great," breathing without the aid of an oxygen tank, she said.

"It's pretty amazing actually," she said. "It's almost hard to believe in a way."

Ficker, 37, will spend the next three months in Seattle so doctors can keep close tabs on her to see if her body is rejecting her new lungs. Ficker was diagnosed in January 2000 with a rare lung disease called lymphangioleiomyomatosis, or LAM. A story about her condition and the threat that state budget cuts posed to her benefits ran a year ago in The Register-Guard.

LAM is a rare disease that primarily strikes women of child-bearing age. It's characterized by an unusual type of muscle cell that invades the tissue of the lungs and eventually blocks the flow of air, blood and lymph to and from the lungs.

The disease left the 1982 Marist High School graduate housebound, tied to an oxygen tank and unable to perform the mundane chores of daily life.

Now, Ficker still gets a little short of breath, but is enjoying doing little things like going for a walk and doing the dishes.

- Tim Christie

Two churches in one

When an old residence is vacated before the new digs are ready, it can put a lot of stress on a family. Especially a family of 2,500.

But the congregation at Eugene's First Baptist Church will have a place to worship when members leave their historic downtown building sometime this summer: Eugene Christian Fellowship on North Game Farm Road in north Eugene.

"We've had a good relationship with them over the years," said Mark Harpham, associate pastor at Eugene Christian Fellowship. "We feel like we're on the same team."

The nondenominational fellowship isn't far from where First Baptist plans to build its new church along Coburg Road. But the Baptists must leave downtown by Oct. 31 - four to six months or more before their new place is ready.

Eugene Christian Fellowship will continue to hold three services in its 600-seat sanctuary on Sunday mornings, while First Baptist will hold three worship services on Sunday afternoons.

First Baptist decided last year to sell its 75-year-old church, which it has outgrown, to The Shedd, a limited liability company whose principals are Eugene arts patrons Jim and Ginevra Ralph. The Ralphs plan to turn the church, at the corner of Broadway and High streets, into an arts center and performance venue.

Jim Ralph said they've begun extensive architectural planning and are on schedule to open the center in fall 2003.

- Jeff Wright 

Do you have suggestions for news updates? Contact reporter Jeff Wright with your ideas at 338-2366 [e-mail].