05 February 2016
Siuslaw schools earn grant; but voter approval is required
Some strings are attached to a $4-million grant awarded this week to the Siuslaw School District. Voters will be required to approve a capital improvement levy in May to go along with that grant and the district will have just one chance to make it work.
School board members learned Wednesday night that the Oregon Department of Education had approved that capital improvement grant. Now, they have to decide how much money they think voters will approve to go with that money.
One estimate already discussed is up to $35-million that would be put with the grant to pay for a new high school and improvements to the elementary school.
Board members have already had preliminary discussions, but they’ll have to make a final decision next week on how much to finance… and how long they’ll take to pay it back.
An existing capital levy that was used to pay for the middle school will be paid off in two years. Board Chair Tammy Butler said one consideration they’ll be taking into account will be how that would overlap with a new bond.
The board will meet Wednesday night at the School District office on Oak Street… 6:30 PM.
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A petition asking the U.S. Forest Service to incorporate five additional objectives into the proposed Indian Creek watershed restoration project is circulating in the community.
Thane Beers says those objectives include prohibitions against closing or decommissioning roads; thinning tree plantations; dropping valuable timber into creeks and streams, and closing an area that has been traditionally used for camping and recreation.
Beers also said the goals of the Forest Service proposal itself have not been clearly identified. He and others say it appears federal agencies do not – quote – “want people using public land.”
The Forest Service held an informational meeting on the Indian Creek Landscape Management Project two weeks ago in Mapleton. Many of those in attendance opposed it.
Beers said the petition also seeks to halt further planning on the project until an independent assessment is done. Petitions are at a dozen different locations in and around Florence and Mapleton.
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The results of an informal on-line poll by the Oregonian put Florence at the top of a list of ten favorite coastal getaways in the state.
Kjersten Gabrielson compiled the statistics earlier this week. She said it was a “tight race”, but 21 percent of those voting put Florence as the number one spot on Oregon’s 360-mile long coastline to get away from it all.
Bandon was second with 18 percent; Newport had just under 11 percent; and Cannon Beach had more than ten percent.
Voters also commented on their selections noting the variety of activities and landscape available in Western Lane County.
Honeyman State Park received several shout-outs, as did Historic Old Town Florence.
The prize for winning the poll… Florence will receive an official “Best of Getaways” badge… and bragging rights.
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Siuslaw baseball and softball teams are combining to pitch a spaghetti feed later this month. Proceeds will help the teams purchase gear for the coming season.
The feed will be at Siuslaw High School Monday evening, February 22nd from 5:30 to eight. Tickets are $10 per person with kids under age ten eating for free; they can be purchased at the door.
Practice for the teams begins later this month with the first games set for mid-March.
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A year ago, things at the Boys and Girls Club of Western Lane County were quite bleak. The club was facing considerable debt, they had to limit programs and lay off staff.
Now, says Interim Director Chuck Trent, they’re back to focusing on their main mission… helping kids.
A generous donor stepped forward in the fall to pay off about $120-thousand in debt. The same donor also funded a few other programs and local donations and grants helped put the club on a more solid future.
Trent says they are still working on finding a way to pay off the mortgage for the club’s Teen Center… and sell the former Quality Child Care Facility.
The most important thing though, is they now have 60 elementary students and 25 teens taking advantage of after-school activities and have been able to add staff back to help out.
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The Sonshine Christian School will be hosting a community science and social studies fair next week. Tuesday, between six and 7:30 students at the school will exhibit displays about Abraham Lincoln, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Susan B. Anthony and Patrick Henry. Principal Karen Nelson said there will also be some science displays featuring what she called “pretty cool” electrical projects.
The Sonshine Christian School is located in the Florence Seventh Day Adventist Church at 4445 Highway 101 next to Potter’s Automotive.
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