Gillnetters file legal challenge — Commercial fishermen have turned to the Oregon Court of Appeals to challenge a recent change in the state’s gillnet fishing rules. In addition to a Friday petition that asks the appeals court to review the validity of the changes, the fishermen have sent a letter to the Washington state Fish and Wildlife Commission, asking it to push back a gillnet rule change decision expected later this month. The Daily Astorian reports that a motion to stay enforcement of the new Oregon rules will be filed next week. Last month, the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission voted to ban the use of gillnets to catch fish on the main stem of the Columbia River, relegating the primary commercial-fishing tool to side channels and tributaries. Washington’s fish commission is expected to decide next week on similar rules. That could eliminate the centuries-old practice from both sides of the river.

Police ID suspect in Portland cold case — Portland police say a man who died two years ago has been identified as the person responsible for a homicide that occurred more than a decade ago. Sgt. Pete Simpson says two sources came forward last year to say James Edward Follett had confessed to killing 66-year-old Jack Harvey Jones in 2002. Jones’ body was found at a home on Southeast Division Street and he had visible head trauma. Homicide investigators didn’t have much information at the time and the case went cold until the new information was received. Simpson says detectives corroborated the new information, and the motive appeared to be robbery. Follett was a heavy drug user and had been asking neighbors for money before the homicide. Follett died from a drug overdose.

Cars set off ammo scattered on road — Oregon State Police say hundreds of rounds of ammunition were found scattered along State Route 58 south of Eugene and passing traffic set off some of them. No one was injured and no damage was reported Friday morning. KVAL-TV reports that police don’t know how the hundreds of .22-caliber shells and a box of .30-caliber rifle ammunition ended up on the roadway about a mile east of Interstate 5 in the Pleasant Hill area. Nearby businesses reported hearing the ammunition discharging as vehicles ran over it. Police say transportation department workers picked up the ammunition.

Crab season disappoints — Fishermen along the Oregon Coast say the Dungeness crab catch has been disappointing so far. The quality of the catch is rated high, but numbers are below expectations. The Oregonian reports the season was delayed a month to allow the crabs to beef up. It began this week. Astoria fisherman John Corbin says that compared to last season, it’s taking twice as many pots to fill his boat. Corey Rock, who fishes from Newport, says that the numbers may turn out to be more like a normal year than some of the banner seasons over the past eight years.

— From wire reports