Flu Cases On the Rise
Oregon is seeing a spike in flu hospitalizations.
In the most recently available numbers, the state reports that there were 81 flu-related hospitalizations during the week of Christmas. That was a jump from 67 the week before and just 18 the week before that.
Oregon Health Authority spokesman Jonathan Modie says the flu season doesn’t typically peak in Oregon until later in January and February. He says it’s not too late for people to get a flu shot.
A 5-year-old boy from Eugene recently died from the flu at OregonHealth & ScienceUniversity.
Many of the flu cases this year are the H1N1 strain that was an epidemic in 2009. The flu vaccine can now help protect from H1N1.
The H1N1 strain is more likely to hit young adults and children.
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The Florence City Council will honor a 34-year law enforcement veteran Monday night.
Ray Gutierrez spent the vast majority of that career in Florence, the last two years as Chief of the department. He officially retired New Year’s Day, but with accumulated vacation time his last real day on the job was last month.
The council will honor Gutierrez This evening.
Former Florence Chief Lyn Lamb will oversee the department on an interim basis until a permanent replacement is hired.
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The schedule for a bridge rail and sidewalk replacement project north of florence has changed. Drivers across the CapeCreekBridge faced 15-20 minute delays this past weekend; then beginning a week from today they’ll see one lane traffic with flaggers 24-hours a day for about a week.
An Oregon Department of Transportation contractor will be removing the rail and sidewalk along one side of the bridge next week.
The other side will be stripped later, possibly in February.
Metal guard rails installed for safety several years ago are being removed along with the rails and sidewalks. Architecturally compatible rails will replace the existing ones. The project is expected to be completed by May.
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