Future and First Citizens Named
A long time advocate and volunteer for youth in the community has been named Florence’s First Citizen for 2013.
Eric Tanikawa along with Kylie Brandt will be honored next week during the annual Chamber of Commerce Siuslaw Awards.
Tanikawa was selected from a group of three nominees that include former Florence City Manager and Community Organizer Craig McMicken and former Mayor Phil Brubaker.
Brandt is the community’s Future First Citizen, selected from a group of four seniors at Siuslaw High School that included Jacob Kirby, Chelsey Bartlett and Sascha McIntyre.
Tanikawa has been very active with the Boys and Girls Club of Western Lane County, Florence Elks Lodge and the Kiwanis Club. He has also been a math tutor, mentor and has chaired the Elks Children’s Christmas party for 21-years.
Brandt has been active in Student leadership activities since middle school and is currently the president of the Associated Student Body at Siuslaw. The Siuslaw Awards are set for Wednesday, January 15th at the Florence Events Center. The Stu Johnston Business of the Year Award will be announced that evening as well. Tickets are available at the Chamber Visitor Center.
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Former Florence City Recorder Barb Miller was remembered last night during the Florence City Council meeting. City Manager Jacque Betz worked along side Miller for several years and said she was an important fixture at City Hall.
200 — “She had incredible strength and she was with the city for 17 years. She cared very much about the city and she made the elected officials look very good.”
Family was also very important to Miller.
201 —“We’re going to miss her, but we’re not going to miss the pain that she had to endure. You know, the most incredible thing about Barb was that she appreciated her family and her friends and her and Ron treated each day like they were high school sweethearts.”
A memorial service is set for Saturday afternoon at the Florence Events Center.
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Some of the top news stories from 2013 will be reviewed tomorrow afternoon during the January edition of KCST’s Our Town.
One of those stories covers a change in child care for the area as the Boys and Girls Club took over responsibility for the Quality Child Care of Florence. The consolidation of similar services provided by both organizations began in November, with many details still being determined.
Other stories include the retirement of top administrators at the school district, fire department, library, and police department. Three of those positions have been filled with the recruitment process for the police chief just beginning.
Our Town host Bob Sneddon will talk with boys and girls club executive Jonathon Hicks and Siuslaw Valley fire chief Jim Langborg.
Also on the program will be conversations with Hal Weiner about the upcoming Winter Folk Festival; as well as Siuslaw Watershed Council staffer Kiiri Siitari.
Tomorrow’s program airs on 106.9 FM beginning at 4:00.
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