Florence Committee to Support Salvation Army
It was a most successful fundraising campaign for the holiday season as the dollar totals continued to add up even after Christmas. Debbie Leighton with the Salvation Army gave an update to the city during Monday evenings council meeting. She says the efforts of local organizer, Sam Spayd and the hundred plus volunteers was only exceeded by the city’s generosity.
“They raised an entire total of 27,555.34 that’s $3:19 per capita. That is the highest per capita in the state.”
In addition Leighton says that she is aware that the Florence community has no permanent representation here and is taking steps to change that.
“I am beginning to take applications for an advisory committee.”
Leighton says this committee will help determine where the monies collected will go and will be made up of volunteers solely from the Florence area. She said the committee will meet 6 times per year and in addition to determining where funds will be spent they will be responsible for dispersing emergency assistance in the community.
Book Is More Than Pictures
Joshua Greene says his labor of love restoring old photos was one of the factors in creating the book the Essential Marilyn Monroe, by Milton H. Greene. The book chronicals the work of Greene’s father during the early years of Monroe. But over time the film had deteriorated and the task of restoring them became his new passion. Greene says that digital technology helped to make the process easier, but not fool proof.
“One of the most challenging thing about color work is making them match and it’s even more challenging when they are right next to each other.”
Greene says subtle differences have to be meticulously gone over to ensure continuity in the photos. Greene will discuss the book and life with Monroe on the February edition of Our Town.
Crabbing Underway
After nearly a two month delay professional crab fisheries are open. Crab harvesting has begun north of Cape Blanco as farther south the ODFW is still finding levels of demoic acid greater than safe levels. The December 1st start date was postponed when too many crabs were determined to have low meat levels. January 1st was the next targeted date but price negotiations and severe pacific storms led to yet another delay. Yesterdays start was long awaited but Oregon Department of Fish and wildlife will continue to test crab for toxins throughout the season.
Deadly Force Justified
The use of deadly force against a deadwood man was justified according to the Lane County District Attorneys office. Details of the officer involved shooting that ended in the death of Robert Martinez jr. showed that deputy Richard smith, a 3 year veteran of the sheriff’s department, used the appropriate amount of force when subduing Martinez. Smith first used a taser which did not properly connect with Martinez. Smith believed that Martinez then reached for a gun and the deputy transitioned to his weapon and shot the suspect. Medical units were then called and transported Martinez to the hospital where he died a short time later.