28 August 2014
Rods and Rhodies Ready To Roll Next Week
More than 100 high end hot rods and classic cars will line up along both sides of Bay Street for the seventh year in a row for the annual Rods and Rhodies Classic Car Show.
Florence Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Cal Applebee said more than 100 owners of classic hot rods and high-end antiques have accepted invitations to bring their cars and trucks to Florence September sixth and seventh.
Once again, Bay Street, along with portions of Laurel, Maple and Nopal Streets will be closed through that weekend; turning the Historic Old Town district into a four-block car show.
Cars will be on display that Saturday from nine until four. Applebee added that also that morning will be the third annual Pinewood Derby race in the east end of Bay Street. It’s presented by Boy Scout Troop 721. Cars in the show will cruise the streets of Old Town that evening as well.
Cars will be on display again Sunday morning from nine until noon.
If cars aren’t enough to get you out and about that weekend… the Chamber will also be hosting the second annual city-wide garage sale. Details on how to participate can be had by calling the Chamber Visitor Center.
Labor Day Weekend Saturation Patrols
Law enforcement officials are beefing up their staffing for the three-day Labor Day weekend that begins tomorrow. The Lane County Sheriff’s Office will be putting more deputies on the road through late Monday. Sergeant Billy Halvorson says the major purpose is to reduce the number of crashes attributed to alcohol.
Additional deputies will be on the road looking for impaired drivers. The funding for the overtime is provided in part by the Oregon Department of Transportation and the Oregon Sheriff’s Association.
Oregon Highest Average Gas Price
For the second week in a row, Oregon has the most expensive regular gasoline in the contiguous 48-states. Only Alaska and Hawaii have higher average prices according to Triple-A.
The national average fell a penny-and-a-half to $3.43 a gallon, while Oregon’s average dipped a similar amount to $3.89.
In Florence, drivers routinely pay about a nickel a gallon less on average than the rest of the state.
Marie Dodds with Triple-A says more expensive crude oil products along the west coast are the main reason for the higher prices. There should be some relief on the way, though as she says refineries begin switching away from the more expensive ‘summer blend’.
