Standing room only has the community and City Council honor out going Florence Police Chief
Sanders was honored at Tuesday night’s Florence City Council meeting for his service to the community and law enforcement. Before a crowded house Sanders was notably speechless, but in a recent interview with Coast Radio News Director Bob Sneddon, Sanders was humble…
203 “I’ve had the – incr – extreme fortunate and actually privlege to lead an increadibly – uh – professional group of men and women at the Florence Police Department.”
Prior to his 5 1/2 years as chief in Florence, Sanders served as Under Sheriff of Stanislaus County when the city’s nationwide search found him. While he spent the majority of his law enforcement career in that California County, he said his work here was rewarding.
204 “ I was fortunate to be able to complete everything I had committed to do in 2006 when I began my career with the city.”
Sanders and his wife don’t have any immediate plans other than to spend some time traveling. They both say they love the area.
Before Florence City Manager Jacqui Betz took the helm of operations at City Hall her first large task was set with the retirement of Maury Sanders, now she must recruit and hire a new Florence Police Chief.
202 “The department does an assessment of their needs – and uuuh – when Lt. Gutierrez gets back from vacation next week then I’ll meet with him and we’ll discuss the future of the police department.”
The direction the city will take has yet to be determined…
A four-year project to bring affordable child-care to Florence area parents and grandparents is nearing its end. Quality Child Care of Florence president, Sally Wanz, says that QCCF recently received a sizable grant from the Siletz Tribal Charitable Contribution Fund, the money was used to purchase equipment and furniture…
205 “Cribs and chaires for the little kids, working tables for the little kids. We got little 12 inch chairs.”
According to Wanz, QCCF will be able to care for between 40 and 48 children at a time when they open.
206 “We are looking to have a soft opening at the end of this month. With a real hard opening first part of February.”
Quality Child Care of Florence is being built on Siuslaw School District property on Oak Street near the Siuslaw Elementary School and EC Cares.
The average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline held steady in Florence this week at $3.24, but the statewide and national averages, as measured by triple-A, both increased. The national average jumped by a nickel and is at $3.28. Oregon’s average price crept up by a penny and rests at $3.39. Triple-A’s Marie Dodds says uncertainty in the wholesale market, partly driven by the threatened blockade of the Straight of Hormuz by Iran, has caused a jump in crude oil prices.