Disaster Expo to offer unique experience
Saturday’s Disaster Preparedness Expo at the Florence Events Center will offer much of the familiar information we’ve come to expect: How to prepare a disaster kit at home; ensuring a good water supply; as well as basic health and sanitation guidelines. This expo goes a bit further, starting with demonstrations by the star of Lost Survivor on the Travel Channel, Mykel Hawke. Siuslaw News General Manager Jenna Bartlett is organizing the expo. She says they also have one other advanced class offering.
Jenna Bartlett – “It’s not something you’d necessarily think about but you might be hurt during a natural disaster and if you have the rudimentary skills to sew yourself up if need be… I mean, that’s only… can only be a good thing.”
That’s right… an emergency suturing class. It will be taught by Dr. Ron Shearer and it will be offered Saturday at 11, then again at one pm.
Jenna Bartlett – “He’ll go over what to suture, what not to suture and some techniques and they’ll be practicing on pig’s feet because the texture of the skin is similar to a human’s.”
There is a $25 charge for the class and you must pre-register today by calling the Siuslaw News.
The Disaster Expo itself is free… the doors open at ten am and a free lunch will be served by Florence Kiwanis.
Daylight Savings Time ends this weekend
Daylight Savings Time comes to an end early Sunday morning and that has prompted a couple of reminders. First up, the Oregon State Fire Marshall is advising you to check your smoke alarms. If you have an old style detector powered by a rectangular 9-volt battery, Jim Walker says change the battery this weekend. If you have a ten-year battery… at least check it to make sure it operates properly.
Transportation safety officials say to get plenty of rest. Even with the extra hour of sleep you’re likely to get Saturday night, the time change can disrupt sleep patterns. That brings an increased risk of drowsy driving… a significant cause of traffic crashes.
Set you clocks back one hour before going to bed Saturday night…
Drop it, don’t mail it
If you still haven’t returned your ballot for next week’s General Election, officials are saying if you drop it in the mail they are afraid it may not reach them in time to be counted. The concern is that with the record number of registered voters and the high turnout expected, the postal service may take longer than usual to process and deliver mail. That’s why they suggest using one of the 20 drop sites around the county that are available 24-hours a day.
Locally, there is one in front of the Florence Justice Center just off 9th Street.
In order to be counted, ballots must be received at the Elections Department in Eugene… or at one of the drop sites… no later than eight pm Tuesday. Voters are reminded to sign their own ballot and make sure it is in the secrecy envelope before sealing it up.
Health Insurance choices limited.. costs increase
Higher costs and fewer choices face Lane County residents with individual health insurance.
National numbers show an average premium increase of 22-percent for individual plans for 2017. Locally, according to one agent, those increases are more along the lines of 30-percent.
And, perhaps more importantly, there is a limited selection.
Several companies have pulled out of the individual market, including Moda Health Plans. That company had a large part of the Oregon and local markets, but after a year in which their financial existence was threatened, they announced they would pull out of Lane County next year.
That leaves only a handful of companies offering coverage.
Insurance agents are quick to point out, however, that the reduced selection and increased prices are for non-Medicare, individual plans only… if you are on a Medicare supplement or Advantage plan… or are enrolled in a group plan through your employer, increases will be far less, and there will still be choices.
Open enrollment for individual plans in Oregon began this week… Selections must be made no later than December 15th.
Local races are important too
A lot of attention has been focused on the national and statewide races on the ballot. But sometimes it’s the local ones that can have just as much of an impact. John Byers with the Oregon Department of Agriculture says in communities all over Oregon, there are people seeking election to Soil and Water Conservation District boards. There are 46 of them in Oregon; all of them have been instrumental, he says, in completing a variety of effective, on-the-ground projects that help landowners be good environmental stewards.
John Byers – “Soil and water conservation district directors have been on the ballot for many, many years. It’s important that the general public have a say in how conservation is conducted in their community. I encourage everyone to look at the issues and pay particular attention to the candidates.”
There are two positions open in the Siuslaw Soil and Water Conservation District… both have drawn solo candidates running unopposed. Kevin Carroll is seeking the Zone 3 position and Richard Huff is filed for the “at-large” spot.
November: Military Family Appreciation month
The Florence City Council will begin a week of recognition of veterans and their families Monday night. A special reception will be held at Florence City Hall at 5:30 Monday, just prior to the City Council Meeting. The emphasis will be on recognizing families of active duty military members.
November is Military Family Appreciation Month. The Council will make a formal proclamation on that topic during their meeting that begins at six.
