Lane County imposes tobacco ban in parks
The Lane County Board of Commissioners approved an ordinance Tuesday that, with a few exceptions, bans all form of tobacco in County parks.
The ban takes effect in 30-days, but won’t be enforced until mid 2018 according to spokesperson Devon Ashbridge who said as part of the ordinance, a public education campaign over the next 18 months will be undertaken to make sure parks users know of the ban.
West Lane Commissioner Jay Bozieivich voted against the ban because he said there is no scientific proof that smoking bans are effective in curbing tobacco use.
Commissioners had denied approval of a similar ban last fall because it did not include exemptions for individual campsites; or for Native American religious ceremonies.
Local gas prices fall
The average cash price for a gallon of regular gas in Florence dropped seven cents in the past week. It’s at $2.37; 17-cents less than the statewide average as measured by Triple-A.
That average of $2.54 a gallon is two cents lower than last week according to Marie Dodds. She said the national average price fell by four cents and is at $2.30 this week.
Despite the downward trend, she says, prices remain 40-to-50 cents a gallon higher than a year ago. Dodds said Triple-A expects prices to begin rising again as refinery maintenance season shifts into “high gear” and the switch to summer blends occurs.
Florence discusses changing budget process
One topic discussed Monday night by Florence City Councilors was that of switching from an annual budget process to one done every two years. City Manager Erin Reynolds said it could bring savings… and they already have a five-year financial plan in place.
Erin Reynolds – “If we’re already doing that; we’re already pretty solid on our 18 to 24 month plan; why not save some administration and give us some efficiencies on that end.”
State law allows for the biennial budgeting, Reynolds said they would review the budget on a regular basis.
Guilty plea entered in murder-for-hire plot
A former Florence-area woman has pleaded guilty to a murder-for-hire charge. Pamela Jean Gygi (JHEE-jhee) pleaded guilty Monday in U.S. District Court in Eugene. Prosecutors said she paid a parolee in June 2015 to kill her ex-husband. As part of their divorce decree, the man had been required to purchase a $100-thousand life insurance policy naming Gygi as the sole beneficiary.
Instead of carrying out the killing, the man she hired warned the intended victim, who in turn called authorities.
Gygi is expected to be sentenced in February. The prosecutor said he intended to seek a 12-year term.
Noisy work resuming on bridge restoration project
Crews working on installing a corrosion protection system on the Siuslaw River Bridge will resume sand blasting and spraying operations next week.
Angela Beers-Sydel with the Oregon Department of Transportation says residents near the bridge may hear noise Wednesday and Thursday because of daytime concrete cutting. But, beginning Monday they’ll likely hear compressor and generator noise as workers resume sandblasting and spraying the corrosion resistant zinc coating. She sais work will be ongoing between 4:30 am and 10:30 pm Monday through Thursday next week.
Take a firefighter to lunch
The Oregon Legislature adopted January 27th of each year as “Fire Service Appreciation Day” in Oregon. That took place in 2007 and every year since then Oregonians have taken the day to say thanks for the hard work and sacrifices of firefighters.
State Fire Marshal Jim Walker says there is still time for communities to organize some sort of recognition activity. He has seen everything from formal ceremonies; school assemblies; and even commemorative coins.
But, he adds, it can also be something as simple as taking a firefighter to lunch… or even a simple “thank you” for their efforts.
