School Board to begin Superintendent Replacement
Ethel Angal will wrap up her second year as Superintendent of Siuslaw Schools and retire on June 30th.
Angal, who stepped into the job in August 2014 has guided the district through a tumultuous time and will cap an education career spanning more than three decades. She says she’s not leaving for any health reasons… nor is the School Board seeking her retirement.
She says she will turn 66 in April and – quote – “I’m not getting any younger”.
Angal was on the verge of retiring in 2014 when then superintendent Shawn Wiencek was suspended and subsequently fired by the school board. Angal had been special programs coordinator and assistant superintendent. She agreed to take the top job for just one year, but was convinced to stretch that into two.
She had praise for the elected officials on the board, calling them the “best school board I’ve ever worked with”.
The School board meets tonight at 6:00 in a regular session. They’re expected to begin discussions on the process to replace Angal.
Emergency managers beginning storm damage assessment
The Oregon Office of Emergency Management is working with two federal agencies on assessing damage from wind and rain storms in December.
Damage in 13 of Oregon’s 36 counties, including Lane and Coos, will be evaluated with the objective of helping individuals, businesses, and local governments qualify for disaster assistance.
Preliminary Damage Assessments are being done this week. If qualified, local communities could receive funding for debris removal, emergency protective measures and repairs.
State of the City
Florence Mayor Joe Henry is set to deliver his second annual State of the City Address next week during a special evening at Florence Events Center.
It will be part of a Florence Area Chamber of Commerce “business after hours” but is open to all in the community.
Doors open Thursday, January 21st at five with the address set for 5:30.
The Dragon and the Night Queen: Celtic Stories
Eugene’s Ballet Fantastique will take a Florence audience on a journey to Celtic shores in February.
Tickets for the ballet’s Florence Events Center presentation of the “Dragon and the Night Queen: Celtic Stories” are on sale right now at the FEC Box Office. The performance will be February 20th.
SEAcoast Entertainment is producing the show. Producer Karen Smales calls Dragon and the Night Queen “one of the most exciting ballets” the group has brought to Florence.
Oregon average gas price takes biggest drop
The Oregon average price for a gallon of regular gas took the largest drop of any state this week… down seven cents to $2.27 a gallon.
The local average fell by just one cent this week, but is still well below the state-wide average at $2.10.
Marie Dodds with Triple-A says crude oil prices are at their lowest level in 12 years… and continue to put pressure on reducing retail gas prices. The national average price dipped by three cents this week and is at $1.96.
Faster, better, safer: New CT Scanner installed
Technicians at Peace Harbor Medical Center have been working on the installation of a new CT scanner this week. Imaging Supervisor and CT Technologist Kim Leo said the new scanner works much faster… and reduces radiation exposure to the patient by “at least 50-percent”.
The increase speed makes for a more comfortable experience for the patient and will improve image quality, especially for pediatrics and trauma patients according to Leo.
It’s also very precise… she added they can examine blood vessels and see small cancers with greater detail than ever before.