High flu volume prompts warnings from health officials
Medical officials are calling it a “flu epidemic” and say they have seen a – quote – “significant increase” in positive influenza cases at Peace Harbor Medical Center.
Dr. Bob Pelz specializes in infection prevention with PeaceHealth in Oregon. He says flu symptoms include fever, cough, congestion, chills, body and headaches, diarrhea and vomiting.
If you have mild symptoms, he urges you to stay home and call your medical care provider for advice.
Pelz also says if you need to visit the doctor, go to your primary care physician or the PeaceHealth Walk In Clinic. He says the Emergency Department should be reserved for truly emergency cases. The fear is that if flu patients inundate the E-D, it will delay care for other true emergencies and also expose others to the disease unnecessarily.
Pelz also says it’s not too late to get your vaccine if you haven’t already, and be sure to always cover your cough… and wash your hands frequently… even if you don’t feel ill.
Slide keeps Highway 36 closed
Oregon Department of Transportation officials say Highway 36 just west of Triangle Lake remains closed today due to that mud and rock slide that came down Wednesday afternoon.
An estimated 400-cubic yards of debris… that’s about 40-dump truck loads… slid onto the highway within feet of a slide last year that kept the road closed for a week.
Drivers are told they’ll need to find alternative routes to get from one side of the slide to the other as there is no local detour.
Heavy rains this week have increased the risk of slides and debris flows. Highway 38 just east of Reedsport is under a “debris flow advisory” this morning. The road is open, but motorists are urged to remain alert and watch for debris, mud and rocks that may flow onto the pavement.
Relay for Life making changes
The American Cancer Society Relay for Life in Florence this year will have an all-new look in a new location and on a different date. Harold Kinney is one of three co-chairs for the event that will be held Saturday, July 22nd at the Florence Events Center.
Harold Kinney – “Obviously moving it from Miller Park over to the Florence Events Center is a huge difference. We have the auditorium at our disposal, we want to get an outside stage, we have the entire exhibit hall.”
The relay will begin with a pancake breakfast that morning at nine.
Harold Kinney – “And then at 10:00 the relay will begin. Roughly around 12:30 we’ll have a survivor’s type situation in the auditorium and then we’ll go out and do the survivor’s lap about one o’clock. We’ll have the luminaries later that evening at dusk. And then everything will wind up around two in the morning on Sunday morning.”
Kinney says the food court and booths will be set up in the exhibit space indoors, but it will include that outside stage with plenty of entertainment. They are still designing just what the outdoor walking course will look like.
The 2017 Relay for life formally begins this Saturday from two to four pm for the annual team Chili cookoff competition at the Florence Elks Lodge… samples are free and it’s open to the public.
AARP Tax Help
Free tax help for all ages will be offered in Florence beginning February 1st at Siuslaw Public Library.
Volunteers with the AARP Foundation will be offering help in filing both federal and state tax forms. That assistance is for anyone with low to moderate income. The service will be available Mondays and Thursdays from 9:30 to two pm every week through April 15th.
You’ll need to bring your 2015 tax returns; 2016 tax information, along with photo ID and social security cards for you and your dependents.
Quick construction planned for Public Works Headquarters
The time schedule for construction of the City of Florence’s new Public Works headquarters will be a short one. City Manager Erin Reynolds says as soon as it’s open a second building project is slated to begin.
Erin Reynolds – “This summer. The goal is to be moved in around June 30th. And then quickly thereafter we’re going to begin the remodel and expansion of City Hall.”
About half of City Hall staff will temporarily move into Public Works in the Business Park on Kingwood…
Erin Reynolds – “Those being the planning and the building and the code enforcement employees of the city. And then the other half of employees will be going to the Justice Center.”
Reynolds said a portion of the Justice Center had been reserved for future growth and is not being utilized. That’s going to be remodeled temporarily to accommodate the utility billing and financial department employees. By completely vacating City Hall for the last six months of this year Reynolds said the renovation can be done quicker… and with far less cost.
State of the City
Florence Mayor Joe Henry will present his third annual “State of the City” address later this month.
Monday, January 30th, Henry who was recently sworn in for his second two-year term, will talk about the progress made towards goals in the past year. He also hinted at a “sneak peak” of what will be coming this year.
The event is co-hosted by the City and the Florence Area Chamber of Commerce at the Florence Events Center from 5:30 to seven pm.
