Popular Crabbing Spots Off Limits
It’s gradually become one of the more popular pastimes for visitors who want to experience a little bit of the “coastal life”. For a few bucks they can rent a crab ring, buy some bait, and drop it all in the Siuslaw River. With a couple hours invested in the activity they can collect plenty of tasty Dungeness crab.
But where they drop those rings could be the million dollar question for Port of Siuslaw officials who are now faced with the task of re-directing some of that activity away from one of the more popular locations.
The transient tie-up dock on the downstream side of Mo’s Restaurant was funded primarily by the Oregon State Marine Board. A recent visit by state officials resulted in a reminder from that agency that crabbing and fishing on the finger of dock that extends behind Old Town Florence is “off-limits”. If allowed to continue, Marine Board officials told the Port, it could result in the loss of funding for future projects. That could add up to millions of dollars.
Now, the Port of Siuslaw is trying to redirect angling activity away from the transient dock and onto other facilities that were not funded by the Marine Board. Port workers have installed, or will be installing, additional signage directing crabbers and anglers to the appropriate spots.
Construction Could Cause Delays
Expect delays on Highway 126 east of Florence for the next six weeks or so. Work on rebuilding and repaving the stretch of highway beginning at Spruce Street in Florence and extending seven miles to the east. Contractors will be working 14 to 16 hour shifts, creating single lane restrictions that could be in effect 24 hours a day. The Oregon Department of Transportation says flaggers will be controlling traffic during the work and motorists should expect ten to 20 minute delays. The $3.42-million project is the final section of improvements over the past few years on the highway that connects Florence to the Willamette Valley.
Festival Month
September has seemingly become the “month of festivals” in Florence. There are no less than three of them slated for this month, beginning with the fifth annual Rods and Rhodies classic car and hot rod show coming up this weekend. Florentines will have a weekend off between that and the annual Chowder Blues and Brews, which has moved back to September 20th and 21st after spending a few years in October.
The final weekend of the month the focus will be on more sedate activities as prospective writers and authors will be matched up with publishers and publicists at the Florence Events Center for the Florence Festival of Books September 28th.
Classes begin
It’s back to school today and tomorrow at area schools. Drivers are reminded to be extra alert for students walking to and from schools and bus stops. At the same time, buses will be operating on area streets and roads, making frequent stops.
