Nudist groping — A 68-year-old man has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for sexually abusing two children at a nudist resort northeast of Eugene. Lane County authorities say Michael Lee Hochgreve groped the children in a pool at the Willamettans Family Nudist Resort. He pleaded guilty to first-degree sexual abuse and received the maximum sentence. The victims and their parents did not attend Wednesday’s hearing. Hochgreve lived at the resort for more than a year before his arrest. The resort website says the place was established in 1953 and is located on 40 acres. It has cabins for rent and space for more than 100 RVs.

Douglas fir disease — Oregon State University researchers have found that an increasing number of Douglas fir trees in the Oregon Coast Range are suffering from a fungal disease. According to a survey conducted by the Swiss Needle Cast Cooperative of Oregon State University, trees infected with Swiss needle cast have their growth stunted by about 50 percent, which is causing an annual economic loss of $128 million. Douglas fir forests are common in Oregon because the trees are valued for lumber. By stunting growth, the fungal disease limits the number of board feet available to sell. Researchers say the disease is spreading in the state because Douglas firs are overpopulating forests and also that climate change may be contributing.

Seaside convention center — The Seaside City Council has approved a plan to expand the civic and convention center, the site of the annual Miss Oregon pageant. The project would add about 10,000 square feet to the existing 62,000-square-foot facility, and renovate part of the current space. The center’s general manager, Russ Vandenberg, says he hopes to recruit larger conventions while maintaining the existing client base. The project is projected to cost $14.6 million, and might be paid by bonds sold by the city, backed by a 2 percent increase in the city’s room tax. An increase in the room tax paid for the center’s last expansion 25 years ago. Once financing is sorted out, the renovation’s design phase could take six months and construction up to two years.