Kids Concerts will feature long time Portland musicians
One key component of the Winter Music Festival later this month will be the Kids Concerts that precede the public festival. Elementary school students from Florence, Mapleton, Reedsport, and often other communities are brought to the Florence Events Center to hear world class performers. Making a return this year will be the Trail Band; a group of eight talented musicians who will present a varied blend of music for the kids. Marv Ross has been performing for nearly five decades, half of that with the Trail Band. He says there is no replacement for being in the same room where music is being created.
Marv Ross – “We’re so inundated in our culture right now with music coming across our computers and our televisions and our, you know, our radios. It’s a strange thing to say, but in some ways, you know, children aren’t exposed to live musicians playing music. To sit in a room where musicians are playing and performing, it can be a life changing experience, it was for me as a kid.”
Ross, along with Music Festival co-chairs Sandy Kuhlman and Rachel Pearson will be on Our Town this afternoon from four to 5:30 on KCST… An expanded version of the program will air tomorrow from ten until noon on KCFM.
Possible hire on horizon for Port District
Port of Siuslaw Commissioners will hold a special meeting this afternoon to decide on whom to offer the manager’s position to.
Commissioners will meet at the Port office at one. In addition to voting on who, they’ll also discuss how much the new hire will earn.
Commissioners have gone through two application and interview processes since Bob Forsythe retired in October.
Local gas far less expensive
The average cash price for a gallon of regular gas in Florence fell two cents in the past week. It’s now at $2.11.
According to Triple-A of Oregon, the statewide average price fell by the same amount and is at the lowest for this time of year since 2009… but it’s still considerably higher than locally at $2.34 a gallon.
Marie Dodds with Triple-A said the national average price dipped a penny this week and is now at $1.99 a gallon.
Shuttle keeps the water flowing north of Florence
Firefighters have been helping residents keep the water flowing in the Mercer Lake and Collard Lake areas. A landslide last month undermined water lines that supply drinking water to the Heceta Water PUD’s reservoir above Mercer Lake. Emergency water restrictions expected to last through March were implemented as officials explored ways to keep the tank filled.
Siuslaw Valley Fire and Rescue, working with the water utility and Oregon Water Resources were able to get one of their water tenders certified for potable water. The tanker truck has been making daily trips to refill the reservoir.
The December 18th slide killed 70-year old Delores Miller and damaged two homes.
Lane Leadership for 2016
East Lane Commissioner Faye Stewart was selected yesterday to serve as chair of the Lane County Board of Commissioners for 2016. Springfield Commissioner Pat Farr will be his vice-chair.
This will be Stewart’s fourth stint as Commission Chair. He led the panel in 2007 and 2008, then again in 2011.
He was recently elected to his third four year term.
Arson reward offered
A reward of up to $5,000 is still being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of who is responsible for an arson fire that destroyed an office building 13-months ago in Florence.
Detective Joe Feland with the Arson and Explosives Investigation Unit of the Oregon State Police said he is still working the case.
He and other investigators determined the cause of the blaze that destroyed the building owned by Ron Gerber and Debby Todd December 7th, 2014 was intentional, using some sort of flammable liquid. At the time, Feland said, they had a possible suspect, but nothing has been resolved. Gerber and Todd have since rebuilt the building at the corner of Pine and 19th Street.