O’Mara one of three to be interviewed
Mapleton Superintendent of Schools Jodi O’Mara is one of three finalists for the top education job at Coos Bay Schools.
O’Mara, along with Bryan Trendell and Kevin Bogatin were selected from an applicant field of 27 candidates applying to replace Dawn Granger who will complete her contract with the district June 30th.
O’Mara has been Superintendent and Elementary Principal in Mapleton for four years. Before that, she was principal of Coos Bay’s Blossom Gulch Elementary for five years. She also taught at Siuslaw and in the Roseburg School Districts.
Trendell is currently the principal at Millicoma Middle School in Coos Bay. Bogatin is Assistant Superintendent in Corvallis.
Final interviews, along with a public reception for the three will be held tomorrow night at Marshfield High School.
Showcase to officially open Rhododendron Festival 109
Ten area elementary school students and three students at Siuslaw High School are preparing to “Catch the Wave” for the 109th annual Rhododendron Festival.
The first official function of the festival is tonight on stage at the Florence Events Center: the annual Rhododendron Festival Showcase.
This year, Senior Court Princesses Lyndsey Keppol, Hanna Anderson and Taylor Coolidge are vying for the title of Queen Rhododendra 109. Assisting them in their quest will be five boys and five girls between 1st and 5th grade. The ten have been divided into three different teams of competitors each led by Keppol, Anderson and Coolidge in a “reality show” type program. That’s according to court supervisor Cindy Wobbe.
Tickets are $13-each and available at the Florence Events Center Box Office… doors open at six.
Retail gas prices expected to level off
Retail gas prices appear to be close to their spring peaks… that’s according to Marie Dodds with Triple-A of Oregon.
She says pump prices in Oregon and across the country are starting to level off after a sharp rise through the month of April. The rise is being stemmed because refineries have stepped up their production to meet record-high demand.
Locally, the average cash price for a gallon of gas increased two cents to $2.35; The statewide average increased six cents; it’s at $2.41 a gallon. Nationwide, the average went down one penny to $2.21.
Dodds says demand has historically increased leading into the summer driving season. She said that is the case again this year and it is aided by relatively low prices… increasing demand even more.
Those babies aren’t abandoned
This is the time of year when reports of abandoned young animals flood into law enforcement and wildlife offices in Oregon. But those reports are usually from well-intentioned… but mistaken people who find what they think are orphaned deer fawns, elk calves, seal pups and other young animals they find alone.
Don’t worry, says Julia Burco, mom is probably nearby, feeding. She’ll return soon, so don’t interfere.
Burco, a wildlife veterinarian with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, says you can never assume a young animal is orphaned unless you saw its parent killed. In almost all cases the parent will return once it is safe.
If the baby is truly orphaned or injured, it needs special care. That’s why you should never pick up an orphaned animal. Call the Oregon Department of Wildlife or Oregon State Police, report the location and situation and keep dogs away from the animal.
Rhody Express offering “drink and ride” shuttle service
Revelers in Old Town Florence during the 109th Rhododendron Festival won’t have to worry about getting a ride. The Rhody Express will be offering a free shuttle service between Bay Street and any lodging facility within the Florence City Limits between nine p.m. and three a.m. Friday and Saturday, May 20th and 21st.
That will be in addition to the Express’ regular weekday schedule from ten to six on Friday.
Glenn Southerland with the City of Florence says the free nighttime shuttles during the festival can be a safe and convenient way to end your evening of fun.
The free shuttle is just another method used to encourage people to not drink and drive. Another that weekend will be an enforcement blitz by area police officers.
Have you returned your ballot?
Elections officials in Lane County are saying today was the last day to drop your ballot in the mail for the May 17th election and be certain it would be received in time to be counted.
Lane County Clerk Cheryl Betschart said an increase in the number of registered voters in Lane County this year may mean the U.S. Postal Service would need more time to process and deliver ballots for counting. That makes it critical, she adds, for voters who choose to mail their ballots to allow adequate time.
There are about two-dozen ballot drop off locations in Lane County that can be used as an alternative. Only one is in Western Lane County. It’s in front of the Florence Justice Center just off 9th Street.
In order to be counted, all voted ballots must be received at the Elections Office… or an official drop site… no later than eight p.m. Tuesday, May 17th. Betschart says also to be sure to sign your own ballot return ID envelope… and do it in the same manner as your most current voter registration card.
