18 February 2016
50 Jobs to be offered at fair in March
A community Job Fair scheduled for next month promises to offer more than 50 available positions to job-seekers.
Attendance is free at the fair, which will run from ten to 5:30 at Three Rivers Casino on Thursday, March 24th.
Three Rivers Chief Operating Officer Mike Rose said the event will “provide ample opportunities for job seekers in Florence.”
So far at least 24 different businesses and community partners have agreed to be represented at the fair. The jobs are spread across a variety of different categories, including healthcare, grocery, restaurants, resorts, youth opportunities and education.
Pam Hickson is organizing the event for Three Rivers, she said there is still time for businesses and other employers to get involved. They can call her direct at 541-902-6504.
The March 24th Job Fair is free and open to the public.
Oregon House taking up minimum wage debate
Governor Kate Brown’s proposal to significantly increase the minimum wage in Oregon over the next four years narrowly passed the Oregon Senate last week and now it’s headed to the House for consideration.
Democratic Representative Caddy McKeown (muh-KYOO-en) is working on a possible modification to the bill that would reduce the impact on rural coastal communities.
The Senate approved a three-level wage split with the lowest minimum being applied in rural counties and the highest in the Portland Metro area. The third level would be applied in the state’s more populous counties outside the Portland area.
That includes Lane County.
McKeown says the three-tier system would be the least harmful to business, but finds the drawing of lines by county to be “arbitrary”. Her preferred choice would have been to draw distinction by industry.
Brown’s basic plan passed a House Committee Monday and could be voted on by the full chamber as early as today.
Retiring Chamber Manager
A reception honoring the Florence Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director will be held this evening from 5:30 to seven PM at Banner Bank.
Cal Applebee is retiring after five years at the helm of the business and community organization. During that time he’s organized and operated numerous community events, including the Rhododendron Festival; Oktoberfest; the community Fourth of July celebration and much more.
He’s also been the chief administrator for a business and tourism promotion group that has a more than six-decade long history in Florence. Sherri Bollinger has been “shadowing” Applebee for the past two weeks and will serve as interim director until a permanent replacement is found.
County Road Crews dealing with road closures
North Fork Siuslaw Road between McLeod Creek and Brickerville at Highway 36 is closed again because of unstable land.
Lane County Spokesperson Devon Ashbridge says the forest road will remain closed until further notice. It had closed in December and it was several weeks before the ground stabilized enough for crews to clear the roadway. Another slide in the same area came down late last week.
A second forest road in the same area also closed for the second time over the weekend. Crews were able to reopen Big Creek Road between Upper North Fork Road and Highway 101 Tuesday afternoon.
Low Florence gas prices
The average cash price for a gallon of regular gas in Florence held steady this week at $1.62. Meanwhile the average price across the state, as measured by Triple-A, fell four cents a gallon to $1.91. Marie Dodds with Triple-A said the national average price also dipped by three cents in the past week. It’s at $1.70.
Dodds suggested retail prices may be ready to make an increase as many refineries have cut production because of abundant supplies and low prices. Many refineries are also preparing for seasonal maintenance in advance of the summer driving season when demand typically rises… driving prices up with it.
Taking a look at Coast Radio Sports:
The Mapleton Sailors will be in Marcola Thursday for a mountain West League boys basketball playoff game against the Mohawk Indians at seven. The winner advances to the league tournament Saturday at Central Linn High School in Halsey.
Leading the Sailors will be guard Hunter Simington, who was named this week to the second team Mountain West All Stars. Three of his teammates earned Honorable Mention: Dominic Wells, Tyler Packebush, and Nick Smith. Several Lady Sailors were also selected for all league honors by coaches this week. Alyssa Richards was selected for the third team; Josi Hays, Gabrielle Gibney, and Hanna Rodet received Honorable Mention.
Siuslaw Viking Wrestlers left Thursday for Klamath Falls where they’ll participate in the two-day Far West-Skyline Regionals on Friday and Saturday. Dylan Jennings goes into competition at 220 pounds as the number one seed. Andrew Tupua is the number two at 152 pounds and Richard Huff is third at 113. Four other Vikings are seeded fifth in their weight classes: Matthew Morales at 106; Murray Bingham at 126; Scott Simmons at 138; and Kainan Lane at 285. The top four finishers in each weight class will advance to next week’s OSAA State Finals in Portland.