24 February 2015
More herbicides to be applied near Collard Lake
A second round of herbicide application will take place on a roughly 80-acre tract of timberland east of Collard Lake.
The spraying of the herbicide triclopyr, commonly known as Brush-B-Gone or Crossbow, will be done manually between March 3rd and July 15th. The chemical will be ‘spot applied’ in accordance with guidelines posted by the Oregon Department of Forestry.
It’s aimed at controlling scotch broom, blackberry and salmonberry that could crowd out young fir trees transplanted on a parcel that was logged last year.
The logging, and subsequent herbicide applications raised several concerns of neighbors in the Collard and Clear Lake areas north of Florence. Residents fear the herbicide will travel into their homes. Many have also expressed concern about possible seepage of the chemical into Clear Lake, the water supply for about 45-hundred area residents.
According to the National Pesticide Information Center, Triclopyr is considered to be mildly toxic with a relatively short ‘half-life’ in soil and water. It eventually breaks down into carbon dioxide.
Interim manager wrapping up work in Florence.
City Hall will be saying farewell to Larry Patterson this week. For the past eight months Patterson has been in the City Manager’s office there, working to keep things running smoothly while he helped elected officials find a replacement. Patterson reflected on his time here and is optimistic about what’s ahead.
Larry Patterson – “The city, first of all, is in a good position. I found that coming here as a city that for the most part, financially is sound, which is not the case in all cities these days.”
That doesn’t mean new City Manager Erin Reynolds and the City Council will not have any big tasks ahead of them.
Larry Patterson – “The big challenges that lay ahead are kind of outlined in those council goals that the mayor talked about in the state of the city. The big one is economic development. When you look at some of the statistics associated with Florence I think there’s no question that we gotta do more in terms of making a more stable economy here.”
Patterson said another task will be in finding a way to pay for street maintenance. Another one that hasn’t received a lot of attention, but could in the future, is a stable and adequate funding source for public safety. Patterson will complete his interim manager gig in Florence this week. Reynolds will be sworn in Monday Night.
Yesterday Beatles Tribute
There will be a magical mystery tour this Friday night at the Florence Events Center. Perhaps even a voyage on a yellow submarine or a stroll down Abbey Road and Penny Lane.
Yesterday Beatles, a tribute show based in Las Vegas features Beatles music, in the original key; presented by seasoned performers in authentic dress and playing authentic instruments. It starts with a representation of the Beatles from their initial 1964 U.S. Tour. It includes selections from the Sergeant Pepper and Magical Mystery Tours; before wrapping up with Abby Road and Let It Be.
The tribute act was founded in 1999 by longtime musician and singer Don Bellezzo; it has toured around the world.
Friday’s show will be their only Lane County appearance this year. Tickets are $24 at the FEC box office or online.
Solstice hitches a ride south
A distressed sea turtle that was rescued from frigid Northwest waters and treated at the Oregon Coast Aquarium in Newport is hitching a ride back to California on a Coast Guard training flight.
The endangered olive ridley turtle named Solstice is being airlifted today on a Coast Guard C-130 and will complete her rehabilitation at SeaWorld in San Diego.
Solstice was dehydrated with a body temperature 15 degrees below normal when she was found December 21st on the Long Beach Peninsula in southwest Washington.
With the approval of U.S. Fish and Wildlife, Solstice will be released this summer in warmer waters where turtles typically range.
At least five other turtles caught in cold currents this winter were stranded and died on the coast of Washington and Oregon.
UO stepping up vaccinations
The University of Oregon is moving a vaccination clinic to Matthew Knight Arena as it steps up a fight against a blood stream infection that can cause a form of meningitis, called meningococcemia. The University hopes to inoculate as many as 22-thousand students.
The disease is believed to be responsible for the death of one student last week and making three others seriously ill.
A school spokesman said many students had already received meningitis shots, but the strain currently on campus is different.
