Governor says Elliot Forest must remain public
The Elliot State Forest, southeast of Reedsport, came up during conversations this week between area residents and Governor Kate Brown. Brown was asked why she reversed what appeared to be a February 14th Oregon State Land Board decision to sell the 93-thousand acre forest to Lone Rock Timber of Roseburg for $221-million.
Governor Kate Brown – “There was no decision made to sell the Elliot. We went through a request for proposal process and it was through that process I made very clear and cane to the decision that the Elliot should remain in public ownership.”
The Governor, along with Republican Secretary of State Dennis Richardson and Democrat State Treasurer Tobias Read make up the land board. Richardson and Read voted to accept the Lone Rock offer and Brown opposed it. Following that vote February 14th, Brown then directed staffers to find a way to keep the Elliot in public hands and adjourned the meeting. Tuesday in Florence, Brown said “public lands must stay in public hands”. Lone Rock had included provisions they say would have preserved public access. The Elliot is required by a 1938 law to support the state’s Common School Fund, but the costs have outweighed the income in recent years. The State Land Board will revisit the matter May 9th in Salem.
Nurses taking their case to the public
Local members of the Oregon Nurses Association say they’ve not made any progress on efforts to negotiate a new contract with PeaceHealth. They say they’ve been working since January 31st without one. Cecilia Bennett is a nurse at Peace Harbor Medical Center. She says the differences between the parties relate to health insurance and wages.
Cecelia Bennett – “And they haven’t signed a contract to increase our wages; we’re making 4.9-percent less than Sacred Heart is and you know we have to have many skills here.”
Bennett says pay and benefits are important.
Cecilia Bennett – “We really need to have nurses stay in this area and be able to rent a place and have quality nurses and to not have the same nurses working long long hours.”
She added that it appears PeaceHealth wants to take the matter to arbitration rather than negotiate. Nurses will hold a public informational meeting next month at the Florence Senior Center on Kingwood Street to present their side of the issue. The April Fourth meeting will begin at six pm.
PeaceHealth officials could not be reached for comment.
Stolen car recovered near Reedsport
A traffic stop near Reedsport of what turned out to be a stolen car resulted in the arrest of two Douglas County men over the weekend.
Sergeant Brad O’Dell with the Douglas County Sheriff’s office said a Deputy spotted the 2000 Honda Civic southbound on Highway 101 Saturday evening. He checked and learned the car was reported stolen.
The Deputy initiated a stop and took 35-year old William E. Bosley of Myrtle Creek into custody on two outstanding warrants as well as charges related to the stolen vehicle. Bosley’s passenger, 30-year old Benjamin A. Malone of Roseburg was also arrested for unlawful possession of methamphetamine.
Local gas prices surge
Retail gas prices across the country have been relatively stable in the past month, but locally and in Oregon there have been some pretty steep increases.
The average cash price for regular increased by six cents a gallon this week, and that was on top of a four cent increase the week before.
Drivers are paying on average, $2.58 in Florence, that’s 22-cents a gallon more than this time last month.
The statewide average price in Oregon increased by ten cents a gallon this week, it’s at $2.68.
The increases are being felt mainly on the west coast where gas prices remain much higher than the rest of the nation. Matthew Conde with Triple-A of Oregon says the national average price actually dropped two cents this week… it’s at $2.29. The lowest price for gas in the U.S. is in South Carolina where drivers pay on average $2.03 a gallon.
Dallas Brass to rehearse with local students
Students in the advanced band at Siuslaw Middle School and members of the high school’s Symphonic Band will join the Dallas Brass for a performance on stage later this month at the Florence Events Center.
Members of the “high energy ensemble” perform an “American Musical Journey” March 29th at the FEC. Seacoast Entertainment outreach coordinator Rachel Pearson says members of the band all started their careers just like local band students… as part of a school band.
Since they formed in 1983 the group has performed at venues like Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center in Washington DC and with the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra. They also performed at the Florence Events Center courtesy of Seacoast Entertainment in 2007.
“An essential part” of this visit will be educational according to Pearson. The Dallas Brass will rehearse with students who will in turn perform with the Brass during one song. A limited number of seats are still available at the FEC box office for the March 29th performance.
