Indoor Marijuana Grow facility draws concerns
Concerns about a commercial indoor marijuana grow facility on Kingwood street near Siuslaw schools were addressed earlier this week.
The facility, owned by Mary Duman, will be at 2350 Kingwood Street, immediately west of the Middle School. The final application was approved by city officials last week. It drew concerns from area residents and school officials who are worried about security and whether or not pollen and other odors might escape. Rob Quandt, speaking on behalf of Duman, addressed the Florence City Council Monday night.
Rob Quandt – “I don’t fault any concerned citizens for voicing those concerns, I just want to correct the misimpressions they may have.”
The building, he said, will feature heavily filtered air… both outgoing and incoming.
Rob Quandt – “It should be understood that male plants and/or marijuana pollen anywhere near this facility is a very large problem for us. In fact our problem is filtering out any of it that we’re sucking in from the neighborhood around us.”
That’s because they will be growing cloned, female plants that don’t produce pollen. Security is also not an issue. Under state regulations the marijuana will be grown inside a – quote – “fortress” with any product being stored in a vault before shipping.
The 2-thousand square foot facility is expected to begin operations later this spring.
Flooding and mudslide concerns rise again
Weather forecasts of up to another three inches of rain through Thursday morning have prompted more concerns about flooding and mudslides.
The National Weather Service has issued a flood watch for many areas along the coast, including western Lane and Douglas Counties.
The Oregon Department of Geology is also reminding residents to be alert to the dangers of mudslides and debris flows. A mudslide damaged a trailer in an RV Park Sunday near Florence, briefly trapping a woman and her baby. Concerns of more incidents similar to that have been raised. Ali Ryan Hansen with the department also said motorist need to be aware of the hazards related to debris flows and mud on area highways. She advises checking road and weather conditions before heading out; as well as remaining alert while you’re driving.
Wildlife on the Oregon Dunes
A Florence author and dunes enthusiast will present the “Wildlife of the Oregon Dunes” this weekend during a special presentation at the Cape Perpetua Visitor Center.
There are more than 400 species of wildlife in the Oregon Dunes and Dina Pavlis (PAVV-liss) says “many of them are downright amazing”. During her afternoon talk she will describe many of those species and their habitat… and why some of them are threatened.
The Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area is more than 40 miles long, stretching from the Siuslaw River to Coos Bay. It attracts more than one-million visitors each year.
Saturday’s presentation is at two pm at the Cape Perpetua Visitor Center. It is free, but there is a $5 day-use fee to visit the facility.
Radio auction aims to save thousands for listeners
Coast Radio listeners are expected to save nearly $15-thousand later this week in the semi-annual radio auction. Sponsors on KCST and KCFM have bartered merchandise and services for advertising, then the locally owned community stations are putting them up for sale on the air.
This year’s auction is Friday and Saturday. Just after nine a.m. both days the music format will be set aside and the 150 items will be sold to the highest bidder.
Station General Manager Jon Thompson says it is not a charity auction. Listeners who buy will likely save nearly 50-percent on average. That’s based on previous year’s results.
A complete list of the items can be found at the station’s website: It will also be published in Wednesday’s edition of the Siuslaw News.
Siltcoos River Trail closure urged
Heavy rainfall and streamflows have increased concern for the safety of the Siltcoos River Trail, a popular kayak and canoe route between Siltcoos Lake and the Pacific Ocean.
The trail has been promoted heavily by Dunes City as a visitor attraction. But that is coming to an end as officials there are concerned that debris and vegetation in the Siltcoos River downstream could pose a life and safety hazard.
Dunes City Administrator Jaime Mills said the upstream portion between the lake and the dam are relatively safe and clear. But trees and other vegetation have caused a snarl below the dam.
She says it has been several years since the state has removed any hazards.
Gas prices inch up in Florence and the state
The average cash price for a gallon of regular gas went up just a penny in the past week and at $2.35, it’s 18-cents less than Oregon’s average price.
The national average price, according to Marie Dodds with Triple-A, held steady this week at $2.27 a gallon.
Dodds said despite pressure on the market caused by OPEC production cuts, price gains have not materialized because of an increase in U.S. production and a lackluster demand. Dodds said she does expect prices to climb, though, as demand grows through the spring and refinery maintenance shifts into high gear.