Last minute registration changes mean some voters recieve more than one ballot
Most voters in Lane County have already received their ballots for the May 17th primary.
For voters who changed their party affiliation in the final few days prior to the April 26th cutoff, they may have two in their possession.
Oregon Secretary of State Jeanne Atkins said it’s normal for county clerks to get a “late flood” of registration changes. She added ballots are prepared for mailing up to two weeks in advance of the registration deadline. Oregonians who have changed their affiliation within that period could receive two ballots.
Atkins says voters should use the last ballot received.
There are safeguards to prevent you from marking and returning both ballots. Only the one that reflects the party registration on file will be counted, the other will be set aside.
If you have not received your ballot by the end of this week, or if you feel you have received one for the wrong party, Atkins says call your county elections office.
Ballots must be marked and returned by May 17th.
RAIN meetups for mentors
The ninth in a series of “meetups” for local entrepreneurs is set for later this afternoon at the Florence Events Center.
The Maximizing Mentors seminar will be from four to 5:30 this afternoon.
The meetup is part of the ongoing RAIN – Regional Accelerator and Innovation Network – Economic development effort on the part of the City of Florence.
City Recorder and economic development staffer Kelli Weese said today’s session will focus on how you can find and maximize a mentor.
Two of the entrepreneurs involved in the RAIN program; glass artist Jane Smoley and app developer Carl Hulan; will be on this week’s Our Town to talk about their experiences so far with the program.
That show airs from 4 to 6 tomorrow on KCST, then again Thursday morning from ten until noon on KCFM.
Sanctuary status for Oregon Lutherans
Lutheran Churches belonging to the Oregon Synod voted this week to become the first “Sanctuary Synod” in the nation. Oregon Bishop Dave Brauer-Rieke (REE-kee) said the move means in addition to working closely with government agencies and social services to help resettle refugees from around the world; individual congregations are also recognizing they sometimes need to ask more difficult questions.
He cited the example of Augustana Lutheran Church in Portland. Members offered physical sanctuary last year to a family threatened with deportation to El Salvador after 20 years in the U.S. That gave time for the community and legal system, he said, to “avoid an injustice” that may have occurred otherwise.
Brauer-Rieke said while every Oregon Lutheran congregation may not be in the position to offer physical sanctuary the way Augustana did, it helps them to recognize that people, children, safety and well-being come first.
New Life Lutheran on Spruce Street in Florence is a member of the Oregon Synod.
Siuslaw Hall of Fame Inductees announced
The sixth round of inductees into the Siuslaw High School Hall of Fame will be formally introduced later this summer.
Two state championship teams and eight former athletes from Siuslaw made the list, including three individual state champions and several multi-sport athletes.
Those include wrestler Dick Pickett from the class of 1967; Doug Kelley for golf in 1993; and sprinter Les Conley who won the title in the 100 yard dash in 1965.
Several 3-sport stars are on the list… Danielle Wilson from 1987; Wayne Jackson in 1974; and Brent Sanford in 1992.
One reason cited for creation of the girls track and field program in the mid 1960s was because of the potential of Toni Winthers-Stonelake from the class of 1965. She placed in several events at that year’s state track meet. She is one of two “multi-generational” inductees this year… her daughter Kelli Stonelake was inducted in 2011.
The other is Harold McClellan, a three-sport standout from 1958. His son Jef McClellan was honored in 2012.
In addition to the individuals, members of the 1996 Cross Country and ’97 Track and Field teams will be enshrined.
This year’s ceremony will include dinner… it is set for Friday, August 19th.