1 September 2015
Reboot underway for fall programs
A full house packed into the newly renovated Boys and Girls Club Teen Center Friday night on Airport Road to see the improvements and talk with board members and staff.
Nine months ago it wasn’t certain whether or not the Boys and Girls Club would even make it this far says Interim Director Chuck Trent.
Chuck Trent – “There was a lot of financial surprises. We had not had the governance that we should have had. It got away from us. At that point we, we said we have to sit down and the board has to take over operations of the club and we have to make sure that we oversee every transaction.”
The club did make it, reopening the Teen Center this week; as well as offering the fall youth sports programs.
It hasn’t been easy and the club still faces a mound of debt. The organization is looking to sell the former Quality Child Care building on school grounds, and is working hard, says Trent, to get rid of the debt. Trent and fellow Boys and Girls Club board member Michael Pearson will be on this month’s edition of Coast Radio’s Our Town… airing Wednesday afternoon on KCST, then again Thursday morning on KCFM.
Power outages cause consternation
A series of brief power outages… each lasting only a second or two… caused some consternation early yesterday. Central Lincoln PUD’s Stewart Jarmain in Reedsport said the problem was with a distribution line belonging to the Bonneville Power Administration.
Stewart Jarmain – “Bonneville, between Florence and Reedsport, they have a 230,000 volt line, and they got something hitting it.”
A BPA crew tracked down the problem and traced it to where a logging crew was working near the power line right of way. Jarmain didn’t say exactly what was happening, but when the had the crew stop work, the brief outages stopped as well.
Police seek help in identifying body.
Florence Police are still seeking information about who the person was that a mushroom picker found in the sand dunes north of Sandpines Golf Links Sunday afternoon.
Lieutenant John Pitcher said they don’t yet know exactly how he died.
John Pitcher – “Right now it appears to be a suicide. We’re investigating. Right now we think it was an adult male. He was wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt, blue jeans, black and gray Nike athletic shoes. The body was in such a condition that we’re not able to say whether or not it was a white male; black male.”
There was no ID on the body, and no evidence of foul play, and Pitcher said he doesn’t fit any local missing persons reports. The coroner estimated the person had been dead for about ten days. An autopsy has been performed, but results have not yet been releases.
Anyone who may have any information on the death should contact Florence Police.
Some campfires now ok
Fire restrictions in Western Lane County have eased considerably with the arrival of rain over the weekend. Lane County is allowing campfires in county parks and Siuslaw Valley Fire and Rescue says it’s ok to mow your lawn again.
But, Oregon State Parks still bans campfires in most campgrounds, including Honeyman State Park. Managers say they will revisit that decision later this week.
Weekend rain dampened Lane County, and more is on the way through Thursday in the form of showers. That prompted the Oregon Department of Forestry yesterday to declare a “fire protection level one” for Western Lane County. That’s the lowest rating, with no restrictions on industrial or recreational activities. Due to continue fire danger in the eastern and southern ends of the county, a level-two restrictions remains in place there.
Display tables for festival already “booked”
you were hoping to reserve a table at next month’s Florence Book Festival, you’re too late. But, you can still attend the festival itself.
It begins Friday, September 25th, with a “Publisher’s Panel” at the Florence Events Center, followed by keynote speaker, bestselling author Jane Kirkpatrick, later that evening.
Organizers say the festival is aimed at connecting aspiring authors with publishers… and ultimately readers. The book fair itself is free and open to the public, it will be Saturday September 26th from ten to four at the FEC.
Specific Vets sought for Veteran’s Day Parade
Organizers of the November 11th Veteran’s Day Parade in Florence are hoping to honor two Viet Nam era veterans during this year’s event.
Bob Brown, with the organizing committee, says they are looking for the oldest living Viet Nam veteran, as well as the Viet Nam Veteran with the highest medal award.
Both will be honored in the parade. Anyone matching either description should contact Brown at 541-997-3320.
The Florence Veteran’s Day Parade will take place in Historic Old Town Wednesday, November 11th.
