Projected high tides could make timely placement dangerous
Rope fencing and signs marking the nesting territory of the threatened Western Snowy Plover are going up two weeks earlier than usual. But, officials say they won’t enforce rules keeping people out of the areas until March 15th.
The exclosures… intended to keep people out of the dry sand nesting areas that the birds use… are going up early because expected high tides next week would pose a safety issue for the crews erecting them.
Plovers are listed as being threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act. They begin building nests in the early spring and rear their young on open stretches of dry sand above the high tide line.
There are several known nesting areas on the central coast, including at Baker and Sutton Beaches north of Florence; as well as a long stretch of beach between the Siltcoos Estuary south of Florence to within a half mile of Sparrow Park Road just north of the Umpqua River.
Fences and ropes will remain in place until September 15th.
Florence Muni Judge expanding responsibilities
After serving two decades as the municipal judge in Florence, Rick Brissendon will now take on a much broader jurisdiction.
Brissendon was named this week as the Lane County Justice of the Peace, replacing Gary Carl who resigned Monday. Carl had been in that role since last fall when long time Justice Cindy Forsythe retired.
Brissendon will remain based in Florence… that’s the home court location for the Lane County Justice Court… but in addition to his role as Municipal Judge, he will also preside over the Justice Court in Florence and Springfield.
“The Florence Municipal Court is very important to me”, said Brissendon who said he intended to remain in that position.
He will also be filing today for election to the Justice Court position that will be on the May 17th ballot in Lane County.
Women and heart disease… a different story
Men and women experience heart disease very differently and that can lead to delays in treatment; even tragic results according to Western Lane Ambulance paramedic Al Kreitz (KRITES).
He says women tend to display different heart attack symptoms than men; and heart attacks for women can be more severe.
Research conducted by the National Institutes of Health showed 95-percent of women that were studied knew their symptoms were new or different a month before experiencing a heart attack.
Complaints of chest pain and shortness of breath are the common signs of a heart attack in men but not so much for women. Kreitz said the study showed 70-percent of women having heart attacks reported unusual fatigue, 48-percent complained of sleep disturbances and 42-percent suffered from shortness of breath. Fewer than 3-in-10 had chest pain or discomfort.
Rapid treatment following signs of a heart attack can make a tremendous difference he said. Kreitz and other paramedics will make a presentation March 7th at seven pm to the Lady of Elks talking about symptoms and signs of heart attack in women.
Alleged scammer arrested
Florence Police, working with Douglas County Sheriff’s Deputies were able to make quick work yesterday; taking a man into custody who had allegedly been cheating residents by offering to do work, collecting money, and then not finishing the job.
45 year old Trevor Welch, who police say also used other names, was taken into custody at a cabin in the Ada area Tuesday.
Welch was wanted for theft, identity theft, and probation violation.
Florence Police Lieutenant John Pitcher said Welch would approach residents and offer to do handyman jobs or yard work. He would prepare a hand written contract and ask for money up front. He would allegedly repeatedly ask for money and then not return to finish the job.
Urban Renewal on Our Town
Visitors to last week’s Urban Renewal Agency open house were encouraged to leave comments about what they believe the core downtown area of Florence should embody. Those comments included ten specific items that residents would like to see. Many of them were aesthetic; others were aimed at encouraging economic growth. But, said Mayor Joe Henry, several also wanted to encourage amenities for members of the local population outside of the dominant retirement age category.
Joe Henry – “Providing activities for young families, encouraging more rental or market-rate housing; providing activities for young professionals; more accessibility by way of sidewalks and bike lanes between commercial and residential areas.”
Henry, along with several members of the Florence Urban Renewal Agency team will be on the March Edition of Coast Radio’s Our Town. The program airs today from four to 5:30 on KCST, then again tomorrow from ten until noon on KCFM.