19 June 2015
16th annual Oregon Divisional Chainsaw Championships
A total of 40 chainsaw carvers are plying their trade this weekend in Reedsport. It’s the 16th annual Father’s Day Chainsaw Sculpting Championship.
26 professional carvers; four international artists; and an additional ten more in the ‘semi-pro’ category make up the roster.
Work on several sculptures began early yesterday morning. Judging of ‘signature’ pieces will begin mid morning Sunday with awards handed out that afternoon.
In between there will be several live-carving demonstrations and daily auctions.
Numerous vendors… merchandise and food… are set up at Rainbow Plaza through Sunday afternoon.
Daily admission is just three dollars per person.
The winner of the professional competition claims the title of Oregon Divisional Champion.
Outside help brought in to determine fire cause
An Oregon State Police arson investigator has joined the effort to determine the cause a fire that caused up to $5-million in damage to the Pacific Pines RV Storage and the contents of 36 units.
The Tuesday morning fire destroyed a $300-thousand motor home, two collectible cars, the contents of a contractor’s storage unit and much more in addition to heavily damaging the 25-thousand square foot structure.
Siuslaw Valley Fire Marshall Sean Barrett said there is nothing suspicious about the blaze, but the additional help was sought in helping to determine the precise cause.
They have tracked the location where they believe the fire started… in or near a contractor’s work van parked inside one of the most heavily damaged units.
Barrett said the building owner and the individual tenants appeared to have been insured.
Pioneer museum sets mortgage burning
Just over a decade after moving into Old Town Florence the Siuslaw Pioneer Museum is burning the mortgage.
Local realtor and lifelong resident Del Phelps has been President of the Pioneer Museum since that organization purchased the 107-year old Florence School Building on Maple Street in 2005. A short time later, they had moved from a former… and once again… Lutheran Church south of town. Museum backers sold the building, but still incurred a $710-thousand obligation.
Phelps, dozens of volunteers, and several donors have worked to retire the debt. They met their goal earlier this year.
Saturday evening, beginning at five o’clock, they’ll have a public celebration at the museum. Phelps said everyone is invited.
Fire danger on the rise
A return to warmer conditions is expected in western Oregon over the next few days. That will also likely bring a higher fire danger.
Dan Eddy, the fire management officer for the Siuslaw National Forest says there is a local history of wildfires. Steep slopes and thick layers of organic material on the ground can provide opportunities for wildfires to grow and spread quickly.
Federal forest land in our area is at a “moderate” fire danger level.
That means no fire restrictions for the public, but caution is urged. Eddy says keep campfires small and in a contained area. Make sure your campfire is out before leaving it… even if only for a short while; and smoke inside your vehicle or in a cleared area with no vegetation.
Fireworks of any kind are prohibited on National Forests.
Fourth of July brings fireworks warnings
The fireworks sales tents and booths are going up this weekend. The first day to legally sell permitted fireworks in Oregon is Tuesday, June 23rd. The Oregon State Fire Marshall has issued more than 700 retail fireworks permits and 131 display permits this year.
Retailers in Oregon cannot offer anything that flies, explodes or travels more than six feet on the ground or 12 inches in the air.
If your “Oregon legal fireworks” cause a fire and damage, you can be held liable for the costs.
If you have illegal fireworks, the law says you can be fined $500 for each violation… plus you are subject to arrest.
