Vikings to Move to 3A For Football
The Siuslaw will be competing in 3A football next season. The official word came down yesterday from the OSAA. This will pit the Vikings against teams that are more closely related in enrollment size and a potentially more competitive environment. According to Siuslaw Athletic Director Chris Johnson the Vikings will compete in the north division that will include Sutherlin, LaPine, Pleasant Hill, Santiam Christian and Harrisburg. Johnson says that there will be some crossover with 4A schools still that will include some long standing rivalries but he cautions that it is not set in stone.
“I’m pretty confident that we’ll play Elmira in week one, Philomath in week two, and Newport in week Three.”
The Vikings struggled this past season with a 1 and 7 record beating only Brookings-Harbor. OSAA’s ruling came down after Salem-Keizer schools filed a lawsuit to get the previously created redistricting changed. The outcome of that lawsuit has yet to be finalized.
Crude Down-Pump Prices Not So Much
Gas prices have made a slight dip across the nation with falling crude prices but that hasn’t seemed to hit Oregon, or Florence as it has the rest of the nation. Prices at the pump dropped 4 cents nationwide but only a penny for Oregon pumps. U.S. Crude oil prices are around $58 dollars a barrel as of the opening bell this morning. Locally the price of a regular gallon of gas is $2.74 a gallon which is still about 2 cents higher than last week. Prices are expected to stay steady until the market settles.
Fresh Stock For Free Fishing Weekend
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife says that local lakes have been restocked for the free fishing weekend. Munsel, Cleawox and Siltcoos are among the recipients of a new trout population. Anglers will be benefitted with a three day weekend of fishing at no cost. No licenses or tags will be required this Saturday through Monday. There are still limit and size restrictions. The free weekend is extended to crabbing as well.
Mapleton Hosting Open House
Mapleton Elementary has announced that they are done with their remodeling and would like to invite the public to see the renovations. They will be hosting an open house on Thursday, February 22nd from 4-6 pm. The school has been undergoing an update which includes new bathrooms for each classroom, new flooring, walkways and stairs, and new paint. The open house is extended for all the public and not just parents with children at the school.