6 December 2013
White Christmas Activities…
A little snow on the ground only adds to the seasonal festivities this weekend in Florence.
Merchants in Old Town are hosting a Christmas Cookie Tasting tomorrow. There’s the Holiday Wreath Sale; Art Fest and Gingerbread Village Display at the Florence Events Center.
Two traditional holiday features actually begin this evening.
The Florence Food Share Empty Bowls benefit opens tonight at the FEC, featuring hundreds of hand-made ceramic bowls; created by local artists and students. Most sell for five or ten dollars; all come with a coupon good for a bowl of soup at a participating restaurant. That continues again tomorrow.
The Holly Jolly Follies open on stage at the center this evening for the first of four weekend shows.
Dusting Off
Snow fell on the Oregon Coast and much of Western Oregon overnight, bringing accumulations ranging from a half inch to more than three inches.
Oregon Department of Transportation crews were out all night plowing and sanding. They’re advising drivers to be prepared for winter driving conditions through the weekend if they must go out.
A crash on Highway 126 four miles east of Mapleton early this morning had traffic slowed for several hours through the area.
Most schools in Lane, Douglas and Coos Counties closed or operated on altered schedules today. Students at Siuslaw didn’t get a ‘snow-day’ however.
Superintendent Shawn Wiencek (WINN-sek) said transportation personnel were out checking bus routes and roadways as early as 3:30 AM and determined that the buses could roll. Wiencek said students kept home by their parents or guardian because of safety concerns would be given an excused absence.
No snow is expected to fall overnight, but extremely cold temperatures could make driving conditions very slick and treacherous by tomorrow.
Fire Injures One
Fire completely gutted a small home at 963 Rhododendron Drive early yesterday morning, sending one person to the hospital.
Jessica Hoberg was home alone, asleep on the couch, just before 7 AM when she awoke smelling smoke.
Hoberg opened the door to her son’s bedroom and was greeted by flames. She immediately tried to put out the fire herself, but was driven out of the house.
Firefighters were able to knock down the blaze quickly, but not before it had consumed nearly all the contents.
Hoberg was transported by Ambulance to Peace Harbor Medical Center where she was treated for smoke inhalation. She was released by mid afternoon.
She told concerned friends that her fifth grade son, Gavin, had been staying with his father and was supposed to have returned home Wednesday. Fortunately, that stay was extended by one day.
Fire investigators have traced the cause… likely accidental… to somewhere in the bedroom but have not released a final determination.
Red Cross responded yesterday with emergency supplies and housing assistance.
