Mapleton Schools Open Today for Healing

10 November 2014
Coast Radio News
Local News

Students and Community Members in Mapleton begin healing

Mapleton high school will be open today from ten until two pm for fellow students, family members and friends of the two students killed and three others seriously injured in a single-vehicle crash early Thursday morning.

Mapleton Superintendent Jodi O’Mara said several rooms will be set up for people connect and provide mutual support.

She asked for privacy during the day, saying the time would be spent in helping to begin the healing as students and community members deal with the tragedy.

The first of two memorial services is set for tomorrow at the school. O’Mara said 16-year old Weston Bowman will be remembered at two pm.

The date for a second service, for 17-year old Abby Boydston, has not yet been announced.

Florence’s Eighth Annual Veterans Parade

“Honoring Veterans, past and present” will be the theme tomorrow for the annual Florence Veteran’s Day Parade. In addition to World War II vets, veterans from all branches of service returning from current and recent conflicts will be honored as Grand Marshalls.

Parade participants can begin lining up on Quince Street in front of the Florence Events Center at noon tomorrow. The parade begins at one and will wind through historic Old Town Florence.

Spectators are encouraged to wear red, white and blue, as well as wave American Flags along the route.

Parade Committee members will be selling commemorative American , service branch, and POW/MIA flags beginning at noon near ICM Restaurant.

Jordan Cove Environmental Impact Draft

Federal regulators have concluded a liquefied natural gas export terminal and pipeline planned for Coos County will cause some limited environmental damage, but nothing that cannot be dealt with by mitigation measures offered by the builders and regulators.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission came to that conclusion in the draft environmental impact statement released Friday on the Jordan Cove Energy Project and Pacific Connector Gas Pipeline.

The final report is due in February.

The project would load natural gas from the Rockies onto ships at the North Spit of Coos Bay for transport to Asia. The pipeline carrying the gas would pass through Klamath, Jackson, Douglas and Coos Counties.

Conservation groups have been fighting the line, arguing it amounts to a continuous clearcut threatening forests, salmon, water quality and wildlife.

Project Independence Expands to All Ages

A program providing personal assistance to people over the age of 60 has been expanded to include anyone age 19 or older that may have permanent or temporary disabilities.

Oregon Project Independence has traditionally provided limited in-home services to help senior residents with personal care, housekeeping and other things. The object has been to allow seniors remain in their homes and not have to go to an institution or assisted living facility.

Lane Senior and Disabled Services is participating in a pilot program this year that would provide a personal care assistant to people with temporary or personal disabilities.

High demand to shape marijuana policies

It will be well over a year before Oregonians can drop by the corner marijuana store to pick up some bud for the weekend, but growers are already gearing up to meet the increased demand of the coming “green rush”.

Measure 91, enacted last week by voters, will let people possess and grow their own marijuana legally beginning in July.

But the retail side doesn’t start kicking in until January 2016. Oregon Liquor Control Board Chairman Rob Patridge says it will take months from then to issue licenses and grow the first legal crops that can be sold through retail outlets.

Medical marijuana grower Norris Monson in Portland plans to expand operations and expects competition from growers from Colorado and California coming to Oregon to tap the new market.

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