Construction accident claims life in Florence
A 52-year old Florence man died Wednesday morning when a hydraulic line on a piece of heavy equipment broke.
Asa Hammon, an employee of Ray Wells Incorporated, was working alongside an excavator at a construction site just off Oak Street near 43rd around eight am.
A witness told emergency responders he had never seen anything like it. The line broke on the extended arm of the excavator, rendering it uncontrollable and causing it to strike Hammon. He was transported to Peace Harbor Medical Center where he died.
Hammon’s death had an immediate impact not only on his co-workers, but with emergency responders. He had been a long time volunteer firefighter in the community and was well liked and respected. State officials will investigate the cause of the accident.
Town Hall in Scottsburg gathered history of bridge
The replacement of an 87-year old bridge on Highway 38 east of Reedsport was the topic of an open house held this week in the tiny community of Scottsburg. Officials are developing plans to replace the span over the Umpqua River when and if construction funding becomes available.
The current bridge was built when vehicles were smaller and slower. It has narrow lanes and tight corners at each end.
Oregon Department of Transportation historians are hoping to learn more from the Scottsburg community about the bridge. ODOT’s Dan Latham says the plan is to design a new structure in relation to the historic community and the existing bridge.
The project is early in the design stage and Latham says many details such as the precise location have not yet been determined.
Farr to chair Board of Commissioners in 2017
North Eugene Commissioner Pat Farr will serve as the chair of the Lane County Board of Commissioners in 2017. West Lane Commissioner Jay Bozievich will be the vice-chair.
Both were elected to the positions in the opening minutes of the board’s first regular meeting of 2017 Tuesday in Eugene.
Farr called serving as chair an “honor” and is excited to help lead efforts to create 600 supportive housing units to get families and children off the streets over the next four years.
Bozievich was appreciative of the selection and said he looked forward to providing leadership on behalf of the board and the community. Outgoing chair Faye Stewart was recognized for his leadership in 2016.
Gas prices surge with the new year
The average cash price for a gallon of regular gas in Florence took a huge jump this week: going up a dozen cents a gallon. That was on top of a ten cent increase the week before, bringing the local cash average to $2.44 a gallon.
Oregon’s average price took a similar jump, but it’s only 16-cents higher than the 2016 year end average according to Triple-A. It’s seventh highest in the nation at $2.56.
Market reactions to the OPEC deal to cut oil productions are the main cause for the increase according to Marie Dodds. The Triple-A spokesperson said the national average price is now at its highest point since June… $2.37.
Dodds said refinery issues at two California facilities also created more pressure on west coast prices. Hawaii has the highest average at $3.04. California is the highest of the 48 contiguous states at $2.81.
DeFazio asks for Port of Umpqua allocation
Oregon Congressman Peter DeFazio, along with other members of the Oregon delegation, reached out this week to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers seeking additional funding for maintenance at several Oregon ports.
DeFazio, the leading Democrat on the U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, says despite the ongoing need, many Oregon ports were not included in the funding appropriations signed last month by President Obama.
Projects on the Siuslaw River as well as on the Chetco at Brookings were included, but six other projects, including the Umpqua, were not.
In a letter to the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works, DeFazio pointed out that the Army Corps does have the estimated $10-million to cover the cost of the projects at Depoe Bay, Port Orford, Bandon, Garibaldi and Reedsport.
Florence City Council adjusts meeting times
If you’re going to a Florence City Council meeting this year, be sure to check your schedule. Elected officials decided this week to begin their twice-monthly meetings at 5:30 pm instead of six.
City Recorder Kelli Weese said the time change will become effective with the February 6th meeting at City Hall.
