Local News: Mapleton Superintendent Leaving; County Holding 3rd Florence Hearing; FEMA says no; Florence Planning to Hear Port Request

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Local News

Mapleton Superintendent Leaving at End of School Year

The Mapleton School Board is holding an emergency meeting this afternoon to discuss the process for finding a new superintendent. The ten-year veteran of that post, Kyle Tucker, will be taking an administrative position in Cottage Grove July First.  Chair Carl West said the board will meet with a consultant this afternoon at one PM to begin the search process.

Carl West – “We’ll be searching for somebody that a good communicator with, can keep the community involved in the school district, and kind of carry on what Kyle’s got started there.  May have to do a little adjustment here and there.”

Tucker started in Mapleton in 1997 as a teacher and coach, then, became superintendent five years later.  West says it’s important to find someone with the right qualifications and to do it quickly.

Carl West – “Definitely be shooting to try to have somebody on board before Kyle leaves.  If we can get somebody in the middle of June to get a two week overlap,  And then probably have Kyle come back once in a while, also, to try and help with that.  But, time is of the essence right now to get moving forward.”

Tucker will be the Director of Instruction and Student Services in the 45-hundred-student South Lane School District.

County to Hold Third Florence Comp Plan Hearing

Lane County Commissioners will hold the third and likely final hearing tomorrow afternoon on the City of Florence’s annexation policies.  The County board disagreed with the city two years ago on the processes under which land in the urban growth boundary would be annexed into Florence.  The Commission recently took up the matter once again.

Jay Bozievich – “I think at this point the Commission is ready to take some kind of action.  We’ve had two very large hearings about this, this will be our third.  I don’t know that there’s much more that we can hear.  At least I believe we’ll close the public hearing at this meeting if we don’t take action.”

Annexation opponents continue to push for what they call safeguards to prevent the City from annexing them against their will.  Florence officials have continually gone on record as saying they will only annex if requested.  The 1:30 PM hearing will be at Harris Hall in Eugene, but local residents can interact without leaving town.

Jay Bozievich – “We will be having a remote video simulcast at the Florence Justice Center for people that want to provide testimony at the hearing.”

Bozievich warns the space at the Justice Center will be quite small.  If you wish to simply watch the proceedings, that’s available anywhere with an internet connection.  It will be simulcast on the county’s website.

FEMA Denies Flood Assistance

If your home sustained damage due to flooding in January the Federal Emergency Management Agency says you’re on your own.  FEMA has denied the state’s request for flood assistance in five counties.  No explanation for the denial was given.  Lane County officials had hoped the FEMA Individual Assistance Program would have offered low interest loans and/or outright grants to pay for repairs.  The Governor’s office has indicated they would appeal the decision.  Meanwhile, assistance has been granted to help government and private non-profit agencies that sustained damage during the storm and flooding.  The City of Florence is seeking funding from FEMA to help pay for a new roof on City Hall.

Planners To Hear Port Office Request

Florence Planning Commissioners will hear a design review request this evening that was initially intended to be heard last week. Heavy snow in the early morning hours prompted the postponement of last Tuesday’s Planning Commission meeting.  The Port of Siuslaw is seeking approval for a new building that would combine two existing offices into one.  The port is hoping to erect a pre-constructed building on the site of the existing campground office on Harbor Street.  Once it’s in place, they’ll move all port operations to the new building and then decide the best course of action for the current main office at the corner of Bay and Nopal.  The Planning Commission meets at City Hall at seven pm.

Viking Baseball Falls in Opener

The Siuslaw Vikings managed just two hits yesterday in their season opener against the Churchill Lancers in Eugene.  The Viks fell 15-5 in 4 ½ innings.  Siuslaw slipped out to a two-nothing lead, but gave up 12 runs to the Lancers in the third inning.  Siuslaw is slated to be back on the diamond this afternoon in Newport for nonleague action against the Cubs.  That game is set for broadcast on KCFM 104.1 with the pregame show at 4:45.

Viking Softball is set to get underway this afternoon in Newport at five.

Beavers Advance in CBI

Jared Cunningham had 27 points to lead Oregon State to a 101-81 win over TCU last night in a quarterfinal game of the College Basketball Invitational Tournament.  Angus Brandt had a career high 22 points and Devon  Collier had 19 points for the 21-and-14 Beavers.  Oregon State, which has won six of their last seven games, will host Pac 12 rival Washington State Wednesday evening in a semi-final game.

NIT Quarterfinals

The Oregon Men have won six of their last seven games too.  They’ll face the Washington Huskies this evening at six in the Seattle for an NIT quarterfinal game.  Airtime on KCST 106.9 is at 5:30.  Meanwhile the Oregon State women will host the Washington Huskies this evening for a W-NIT quarterfinal game.