ZERO TOLERANCE FOR IMPAIRED DRIVING
Nine people lost their lives on Oregon highways last year doing the New Year’s holiday period. That tied with two other years, 1998 and 1999, as the deadliest since records we’re kept beginning in 1970.
Nine of those deaths came in one tragic incident near Pendleton when a tour bus left Interstate 84 in an icy crash December 30th.
Oregon State Police Major Travis Hampton said officials were very concerned about last Year’s death toll. He says drivers need to take special care to “drive alert, rested and sober”.
Hampton didn’t say how many, if any, of the other three deaths were related to alcohol. But, driving while impaired will be a major enforcement focus today and tomorrow. That’s when police all over Oregon will be showing zero tolerance for drunk driving.
Hampton adds hosts of holiday parties should share that same “zero-tolerance”. They can do that by being responsible; offering non–alcoholic options; providing for designated drivers; and even keeping track of car keys.
Drivers can add to safety by buckling up very time, and driving defensively.
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Residents on Highway 126 west of Gingerbread Village Restaurant new neighbors – three sheep mysteriously appeared in the yard around Christmas Day. Sylvia Smith says she and her neighbors have searched to find the owners of the ram and two ewes with no results. Unless they become road hazards local authorities are keeping their hand off the friendly trio. Smith says the trio are fairly friendly, but who the belong to, no one knows.
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Plastic caps from empty milk jugs; old felt-tipped high liter pens; empty… and clean… ketchup, syrup and mustard bottles. Those are just a few of the recycled materials that will be used to help teach science to fourth and fifth graders next month at Siuslaw Elementary. Laura Smith, A-K-A the Science Lady, is seeking donations of all sorts of recyclables. Smith, and other volunteers will use those in projects that will demonstrate science fundamentals. But in order to do that, she needs to gather enough to allow 200 students to build their own projects. Smith says they need hundreds of rubber bands; used CDs or DVDs; one-liter plastic bottles and more. A complete list of materials needed, along with collection tubs, can be found in the lobby at Florence City Hall or Siuslaw Elementary.