Vintage World War II trainer to make Florence appearance
There will be two ways to catch a ride on a P-51D Mustang when it makes an appearance in Florence July 1st and 2nd.
The first, and surest way, would be to plunk down $1,500 to ride in the training seat of the World War II and Korean era fighter-bomber. The second would be to take your chances and buy a raffle ticket for $5 and then hope you’re the one selected during the Wings and Wheels Car and Airplane Show at Florence Municipal Airport July 2nd. More than 100 classic cars and trucks are expected to join emergency vehicles, several vintage military vehicles and food booths.
(Erickson Aircraft Collection Photo)
The Oregon Coast Military Museum, one co-sponsor of the show, will also be celebrating its 1st anniversary that day. Museum director Cal Applebee said they’re also hoping for several “fly-ins” during the Wings and Wheels. The Ravens Northwest group out of the Aurora area in Marion County are scheduled to do a fly-by and land… weather permitting; along with a 1935 Stinson SR5 “high-wing”, radial engine aircraft from Cottage Grove.
Raffle tickets for the P-51 flight can be purchased that Saturday morning; at R&R RC Hobby, Mo’s, Florence in Bloom, the Chamber Visitor Center or at the Military Museum.
Mapleton residents get credit for spurring Archie Reopening
West Lane County Commissioner Jay Bozievich says the biggest pat on the back when it comes to the reopening of Archie Knowles Campground on Highway 126 east of Mapleton should go to residents in that area.
Jay Bozievich – “They’re the ones that brought it to my attention. Talked about closing of Archie Knowles and how unfair it was and how they really felt that it needed to stay open and isn’t there something they could do? And that kind of led to the efforts of discussions with the Forest Service.
Officials from Lane County, the Forest Service and members of the Mapleton Community converged on Archie Knowles Campground Friday afternoon to cut the ribbon on the newly renovated park, four years after it had been closed.
Camping fee increases proposed at some U.S.F.S sites
The U.S. Forest Service is proposing to raise campground fees at some recreation sites on the Central Oregon Coast. Those increases, the first in more than ten years, are being blamed on increasing maintenance and operating costs. Some of the fee increase will also be used to improve services or amenities.
The current nightly rate of $20 at most area Forest Service campgrounds would go up just two dollars. But fees at Driftwood II at Siltcoos Outlet, as well as at Horsefall and Spinreel campgrounds in Coos County would go to $25 per night.
Public input on the proposed changes will be presented to a citizen advisory committee later this year. Changes would not be implemented until next year.
Written comments on the proposal should be mailed by September 15, 2016 to Siuslaw National Forest, ATTN: Recreation Fees, 3200 SW Jefferson Way, Corvallis, OR 97331, or emailed to SiuslawRecFee@fs.fed.us.
Final annexation comments to be taken
The Florence City Council will hold a final hearing Monday evening on a request to annex three properties abutting Highway 101 north of Munsel Lake Road. The hearing will be on assigning the land use zoning of service industrial to the properties. Lane County has zoned the property either tourist, commercial or residential. But, under the city’s Comprehensive Plan, the entire region is planned to provide for light industrial uses. Other land already annexed in that area carries the service industrial designation.
The Council is expected to make a final decision on both the annexation as well as the zoning Monday evening. They’re also being asked to make final action on a rewrite of the wireless telecom codes… that regulate things like cell phone towers. Those proposed changes came about because of the same annexation request.
Junior baseball tournament draws hundreds to Florence
The economic impact of the weekend Rick and Corrine Gehlke Junior Baseball tournament at Miller Park was felt throughout the community. Mike Blankenship is the President of Florence Junior Baseball. He and others involved in the tournament heard from restaurants and stores about the flood of people that were in town.
Mike Blankenship – “We were thinking between 2-thousand and 25-hundred.”
There were 36 teams in all… those included about a dozen players, plus all of their family members. He said the vast majority were from coastal communities.
Mike Blankenship – “We had people from Roseburg, Coquille, Myrtle Point, Coos Bay, North Bend, Bandon, Tillamook, Nestucca, uh, Lincoln City and Newport.”
Blankenship said many of the teams from Reedsport even stayed in Florence… either camping or in motels. The team from North Bend won the “rookies” category, Coos Bay teams won the “minors” and the “majors” divisions.
Hanging up phone can be best fraud prevention
The Oregon Attorney General’s office wants to help people avoid fraud and imposter phone scams. Ellen Klem, the Director of Consumer Outreach and Education says the program is called “Just Hang Up”. It encourages the best method to avoid a phone scam.
Ellen Klem – “How do you know that it’s an imposter who’s calling you? Well, if they ask you to wire money or buy a prepaid card, that’s a sure sign. That’s a huge red flag and you should hang up the phone immediately.”
Klem said last year the agency issued a list of six tips about avoiding scams that include the immediate demand for payment and requests for personal information. A poster with those steps and other information can be found at the Attorney General’s website.
Ellen Klem – “Which is Oregon Consumer dot Gov. They can also call our consumer hotline which is 1-877-877-9392 and that’s staffed five days a week, Monday through Friday from 8:30 to 4:30.”
Klem encourages everyone to print out that list and keep it by the phone.