November 6, 2012
Oregon campaigns sprint toward finish line
Time is running short for Oregon voters to get their ballots into a drop box. Campaigns worked feverishly Monday to be sure their supporters cast their ballots. With the pool of outstanding ballots shrinking daily, campaigns have turned much of their attention from winning over undecided voters to turning out their supporters.
It’s too late to mail a ballot, but voters have until 8 p.m. to drop theirs into an official collection box or deliver it to the county election office. As of late Sunday the rate of return for ballots across the state was at 50-percent, slightly below the rate of return at that time four years ago.
In Lane County as of yesterday, just over 60-percent of voters have returned their ballots with considerably more expected to do the same today.
Initial returns will be posted by the county shortly after eight pm but final results in many races, particularly in the Florence and Dunes City areas where there is a plethora of write-in candidates, could take several days.
Reedsport OB Services Available
Prospective mothers in western Douglas County will once again have direct access to obstetric care. Two Obstetricians and a nurse midwife from PeaceHealth Medical Group will have office hours at the Reedsport Medical Clinic twice a month. Drs. James Bauer and Ron Stewart will be joined by Certified Nurse Midwife Lisa McCullum on the first and third Tuesdays of each month.
Stewart says PeaceHealth will be bringing “high quality, convenient care” to Reedsport area patients. That will allow them to avoid making trips away from home during their pregnancy. Babies will be delivered in Florence at Peace Harbor Hospital where the birthing room has recently been remodeled.
Dunes Routes
Officials with the Oregon Dunes Recreation Area will hold an open house in Florence later this month to hear comments from interested residents and dunes users about proposed new rules regulating off-road use. The “designated routes” project has been under way for several years. The U.S. Forest Service has had a policy of allowing ATVs and cycles to ride any where they like in certain areas unless specifically posted as being off limits. Under the new guidelines, the reverse philosophy will prevail with riding allowed only on trails and in areas where it is specifically allowed.
The process to identify those open areas has been contentious at times, drawing criticism from rider and environmental groups. It’s already gone through a public input process.
What’s under review now is actually a draft Environmental Impact Statement on the changes.
The comment period on the E-I-S began October 26th and runs through December 10th. The open house is set for Siuslaw High School on Saturday, November 17th from ten until two.
Another Change in the Weather
Cooler temperatures are on the way to the Northwest. A cold front will begin moving southeast across the area later today, bringing snowfall to the Cascades. Another round of cold air will arrive Thursday, causing snow levels to fall near two-thousand feet.