Post Master calls it a “parcel-palooza”
If you think things at the Florence post office appear to be busier than ever before; Lisa Herbert says you’re absolutely right.
Lisa Herbert – “This is a huge amount over last year. In my memory in the 36-years I’ve been in the postal service, this is the biggest year I’ve seen in parcels. Maybe I’ve blocked it out from the past, but I don’t think so. My numbers from last year at this time were, probably about 40-percent less for the whole, for the whole Christmas Season.”
Monday, December 12th was a record breaking day for parcel deliveries in the Florence zip code. But, she added, that didn’t hold a candle to the following Monday… the 19th, when mail carriers and postal workers put in another 12-hour day and beat the seven-day-old record by 42-percent. Herbert, the Post Master, said they are all working without complaint and take great pride in being able to accomplish the “seemingly impossible”. In exchange, she asks something simple.
Lisa Herbert – “Just a smile and a thank you. That’s great. If we can make the customers happy that’s really what the majority of them really feel good about.”
This week will no doubt continue to be a busy one with deliveries continuing right up until Saturday, Christmas Eve.
Hospice offers to train volunteers
There are a variety of different ways people can help out with the mission of Peace Harbor Hospice. Help around the office; provide music for patients and their families; even putting together flower arrangements. One major way is by assisting with direct patient care. Volunteer Coordinator Christopher Huntingdon said a series of classes will begin Saturday, January 14th to help equip volunteers to be able to do just that.
Christopher Huntingdon – “But this training in particular will be focusing on having volunteers learn to work with patients directly in their home. It’s everything from just comfort care, reading, and learning how to talk with our patients, as well as some minor lifting and managing of patients if they need to move around.”
The class will be offered over three successive Saturdays from 8 am to 12:30. The class is free, and there are no strings attached.
Christopher Huntingdon – “There’s no commitment. In fact if folks want to just come and take the training class and never volunteer that’s fine with us. We’re just eager to help teach our community how to help hospice patients. If they do decide to volunteer with us, even an hour a year is fine, we’re just happy to have the help.”
Peace Harbor Hospice serves nearly 200 patients in Florence, Mapleton and Deadwood. Many of those are homebound and look forward to the companionship brought by volunteers. To find out more about the class, he says you can call him at Peace Harbor Hospice and Home Care at 541-997-3418.
Dungeness crab given clean bill of health
It’s ok to harvest and eat Dungeness Crab taken from waters off the entire Oregon Coast; as well as rivers and bays. That means you can spend some time crabbing on the Siuslaw River in the coming weeks. Testing completed this week by the Departments of Agriculture and Fish & Wildlife show previously high levels of a naturally occurring toxin have now dropped below previous danger levels. Domoic acid can cause serious illness and even death if consumed.
Commercial crabbing between the Columbia River to the north and Cape Blanco to the south is still closed, but that decision may be revisited in coming days as further testing is completed.
Reward offered for info on stolen, damaged dump truck
A stolen dump truck, heavily damaged by fire, was recovered Monday afternoon in the Triangle Lake Area near Horton.
The truck had been stolen from a worksite in that area and was found by an employee of Duman Incorporated, the company that owns the truck.
It had been driven down an embankment and was partially submerged in the Horton Pond, north of Highway 36. The truck had been left in gear and was running, causing it to overheat and catch fire.
Lane County Sheriff’s Deputies are investigating. Duman Incorporated has offered a $500 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible.
Local average price for gas up slightly
The average cash price for a gallon of regular gas in Florence went up two cents in the past week, but it’s still well below the statewide and national averages.
This week’s price in Florence is $2.17 a gallon… seven cents below the national average as measured by Triple-A and 23-cents lower than the statewide price.
Marie Dodds with Triple-A says gas prices are on the rise due to market expectations of tighter crude oil supplies following the announcement last month that OPEC nations will continue to cut oil production in January.
