03 August 2015
First event in new location is poetry slam
An organization dedicated to the concept of economic development through the arts is moving to Old Town Florence this month. Bettie Edgerton says the Florence Regional Arts Alliance will be taking up residence at 120 Maple Street.
Bettie Edgerton – “When our lease was getting ready to be up, we started looking, and originally we really couldn’t find anything that was within our budget. And then this space became available and we thought, well, let’s just do it. It’s going to be a little bit more rent eventually. But, we feel that the increased participation and sales, etcetera will make up the difference.”
The first event hosted at the new facility will be Saturday evening at six with the monthly Spoken Word Poetry Contest.
Edgerton said FRAA (FRAW) is a non-profit organization with the mission of unifying and supporting the arts, enrich cultural life and stimulate economic vitality in the Florence area.
Fire danger remains high, despite cooler, damper weather
A change in the weather along the coast spilled over into the Umpqua Basin over the weekend. But three major fires burning there continue to draw resources away from other parts of Western Oregon.
The state’s largest active wildfire, the Stout Fire, on the South Umpqua east of Canyonville has grown to about 15-thousand acres and was five percent contained as of this morning. More than one-thousand firefighters are working that place.
A little to the north… on the North Umpqua the Cable Crossing fire near Glide was 20-percent contained with 1,613 acres blackened. The Potter Mountain Complex a little further up stream is actually eight different small fires that popped up following a lightning storm that blew through the area.
Because of the higher danger, limited resources and more fires; the Oregon Department of Forestry imposed tighter restrictions here Friday evening, banning all campfires, even those in approved campgrounds.
Local police to switch response vehicles
Florence Police Chief Tom Turner is asking the Florence City Council to make a change in the vehicles he and his officers may drive in the future.
Turner is seeking approval this evening to purchase a Ford F250 4-by-4 Crew Cab Pickup for the department.
He and other department members, along with city management, have discussed vehicle needs for the future. The crew cab pickup met those needs. The four-wheel drive, pickup bed and six passenger capacity means that in the event of a severe weather emergency or a widespread disaster like an earthquake or tsunami, they can more easily transport people to where they need to be.
The truck signals a potential departure for the department away from the standard four-door sedan police response vehicle. It’s also a little less expensive. The city had budgeted up to $55-thousand for a new vehicle this year… the cost from Johnston Motor Company in Florence will be a little less than $32-thousand.
Lane County’s first ever female DA takes office.
Former Chief Deputy District Attorney Patty Perlow is taking over as the Lane County District Attorney this morning.
The 52-year old lawyer was appointed by Governor Kate Brown Thursday to take over for Alex Gardner who announced last month he was stepping down.
Perlow has been with the DA’s office since 1990 and for the past six years as been Gardner’s chief deputy. She is the first woman to hold the post in Lane County.
Perlow has already said she will seek election to the prosecutor’s spot next spring.
Gardner will be heading up the Oregon State Police Forensic Services Office.
Check your closets and your sheds…
American Pickers is coming to Oregon.
Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz will be doing a little treasure hunting in September.
American Pickers is the documentary series on the History Channel that features the pair driving across the country in search of valuable antiques and collectibles.
They’ll be in Oregon in September and are looking for some leads.
Wolfe and Fritz want to talk to interesting characters with unique items. If you have a large collection, or know someone else who may have one, email your name, number, address and a description of the collection, along with photos, to americanpickers@cineflix.com.
