18 June 2014
Sheriff Patrols Don’t Go Round the Clock
The Lane County Sheriff’s Department has not been providing 24-hour-a-day patrols in the past few weeks. But, it’s not because of a lack of funding.
That may have been the culprit for previous cut-backs in rural patrols, but this time it’s a lack of warm bodies.
Sergeant Carrie Carver with the Sheriff’s Office, says a series of staff retirements over the past few months has caused staffing shortage that’s left the department short-handed and without enough deputies to provide for 24-hour patrols.
It takes time to recruit, train and equip new deputies; as long as 18 months.
Coverage has been provided for about 20-hours each day, but Carver added that deputies can be dispatched for emergencies around the clock; and Oregon State Police provide coverage as well.
Recount Under Way
The laborious process of re-counting the more than 16-thousand ballots cast in the race for West Lane County Commissioner got underway yesterday in Eugene.
It’s laborious because state law requires it be done by hand. The Lane County Clerk has assembled five teams of four experienced elections workers each to review the ballots from the May 20th primary election. Initial results showed incumbent Jay Bozievich edging out challenger Dawn Lesley by a narrow margin.
That result is not expected to change in a recount.
But, because Bozievich’ total was less than a dozen over the 50-percent mark needed to prevent a runoff election in the fall, state statute requires the hand-count.
The count was expected to take just one day and results should be released later this morning.
Gas Prices Remain High
Violence in Iraq could be part of the reason for the highest gas prices of the year so far in Oregon.
That’s according to Marie Dodds with Triple-A of Oregon who says the average price for regular gasoline usually drops somewhat in June, but recent turmoil in Iraq is likely to prevent that.
Dodds said the average price across Oregon is up three cents a gallon this week to nearly $3.94.
That’s compared to the national average price of $3.67, which rose by a similar amount.
The average price in Florence this week falls right in the middle of the two at $3.80.
Experts say gas prices will likely rise a few cents in the coming weeks before, hopefully, beginning their seasonal fall sometime in July.
Yard Debris Drop-off
Public Works crews will be on hand at the yard debris drop-off site at the north end of the airport once again this Saturday from nine AM to two PM.
They’ll be accepting organic yard debris like brush trimmings, grass clippings and the like. The goal is to keep that sort of stuff out of the landfill. It’s ground or chipped and eventually reused.
A standard pickup size load will cost $10 to drop off; larger loads can be $15 or $20.
Brush must be tied, tarped, secured or otherwise covered to prevent any material from leaving the vehicle while moving. There will be additional dropoff dates on the third Saturdays in July, August, September and October.
