World War Two Vets Gather…
Area veterans of World War II gathered together this week to have lunch and talk about their experiences; both during the 40s, and about the trips they made to Washington D.C. and the National World War II Memorial courtesy of Honor Flights. Bob Jackson made the trip last spring.
215 – “I would say it was mostly indescribable. It was just something that I… even now it feels like it never really happened, you know. It’s just like a dream sequence or something. It was unbelievable.”
He said the gratitude he and other veterans felt from well-wishers along the way brought tears to many eyes. Jackson, who spent the war years in the Pacific Theater says he didn’t feel like he did anything special.
216 – “Well I wrote about it in my book “I Was No Hero”, you know. And I sure as hell wasn’t a hero I tell you. Like most of the guys I was just scared.”
Jackson and two other previous Honor Flight travelers will talk about their experiences next Wednesday on the April edition of KCST.s Our Town.
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Many regular visitors to the Oregon Dunes National Recreation area and the Cape Perpetua Scenic Area already have annual passes that allow them regular access without having to pay an additional fee.
But, for some, they only visit occasionally and they need a day use fee.
Now, the U.S. Forest Service is offering the temporary passes online.
Thanks to a partnership between the Forest Service and the website Discover Your Northwest visitors can go online, pay a day use fee and print out their own e-Pass.
Beginning April First, you can go to www-dot-discovernw-dot-org to purchase your pass.
Claire Lavendel with the Forest Service says it will be more convenient for visitors. She adds the day-use fees collected by the Forest Service are reinvested in the several different locations frequented by visitors to help operate and maintain them.
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A strong, wet storm system could increase the chances of landslides in Western Oregon. The Oregon Department of Geology says heavy rains could saturate soils, making steep slopes potentially dangerous. Ali Ryan, the Earth Siences Information Officer says the most dangerous places to be in the next few days could be canyon bottoms, stream beds and areas of rock and soil accumulation a the outlets of canyons. Ryan says areas around previous landslides, as well as bases of steep hillsides could pose hazards as well.
$94-thousand will go towards scholarships for local students as the results of two recent evenings of fun. The Florence Rotary recently completed their annual fundraisers; the “Artful Affair” and the “Swashbuckler’s Ball”; breaking previous attendance and fundraising records. Co-chair Kevin McMullen said the record amount will enable the club to provide even more scholarships than before. In addition to its extensive scholarship program, Rotary sponsors the Siuslaw High School Interact Club, provides backpacks, dictionaries and school supplies for Siuslaw and Mapleton elementary schools, and contributes to dozens of other local projects.
