Governor Declares Emergency; Peace Harbor Offers

Fire Danger: Extreme

Hot Temperatures and dry conditions have caused Governor Kate Brown to declare a State of Emergency for Oregon.  She wants to ensure that the state has sufficient funds to fight wildfires.  Locally, Siuslaw Valley Fire and Rescue Chief, Jim Langborg has issued restrictions for all of the lands protected within the jurisdiction of SVFR.  Fire Danger Level has been elevated to Extreme for Western Lane County and that means the following restrictions will remain in effect until such time as weather and  fire conditions improve.

Smoking is prohibited while traveling, except in vehicles on improved roads, in boats on the water, and other designated locations.

Open fires are prohibited, including campfires, charcoal fires, cooking fires and warming fires, including campgrounds. Portable cooking stoves using liquefied or bottled fuels are allowed but are restricted to use on hard, non-flammable surfaces such as patios, driveways, or green irrigated lawns

No power equipment such as mowers, chain saws, stump grinders, etc may be operated on or near dry grass, brush, or trees and any time, EXCEPT the mowing of green, irrigated lawns.

No smoking outside of buildings or vehicles in any area with dry grass, brush, or trees.

No cutting, grinding and welding of metal is allowed out of doors where dry grass, brush or trees exist.

All construction operations involving dozers or graders are restricted to streets or roads, developed building sites, or other areas of non-flammable surfaces.

Any other spark emitting operation not specifically mentioned above are prohibited out of doors.

National Breastfeeding Week

In honor of National Breastfeeding week, Peace Harbor Medical Center is drawing attention to its Donor breast milk program for labor and delivery patients.  The program has been ongoing for more than three years now and provides milk to families whether currently in the hospital or not and to woman who for the first few days after child birth cannot produce their own milk. Renee Reiser is a Registered Nurse and a certified Lactation Counselor with Peace harbor Medical Center and she says this program helps families not have to travel to Eugene or Springfield to receive care.  She also says that breast milk helps defend the immune system and naturally helps the body to resist allergies and infections.  The milk offered is fully tested and donors are screened for disease. You can learn more about the program by contacting Peace Harbor.

City Solicits Feedback

The city of Florence is interested in getting resident input in its quest to update its land use practices and develop new strategies as to how to create more affordable work force housing in the city.  The Housing and Economic Opportunities Project committee met earlier this week to discuss what the city’s current practices and fees and priorities are and to get public input.  A survey has also been introduced for those who were not able to attend the meeting and it can be found online at: www.surveymonkey.com/r/florencehousing

The survey will be available until September 15th.