Accident Slows Traffic; OregonSaves Popular ; Demand for Fuel Hit Highest Recorded Amount; Rods and Rhodys Begins Tomorrow

Accident Slows Traffic

An accident with injuries impeded traffic along highway 101 at 35th street yesterday afternoon.  Oregon state police, Florence Police , western Lane Ambulance and Siuslaw valley fire and rescue were all on the scene.  The accident occurred about 2:30 and traffic was heavy at the time.  A Small black coupe was turning east on 35th street when it was struck by a grey chevy truck heading northbound on highway 101.  Traffic on 35th east had to be diverted.  Southbound traffic on 101 was slow but kept moving.  There is no word on the injuries sustained or the parties involved.

OregonSaves Popular

Support for Oregon’s retirement savings program remains high, according to a new survey. OregonSaves, an alternative savings program for workers whose employers don’t offer retirement plans, began phasing in a year ago. Since then, support for the program has grown, D-H-M Research shows, with more than eight in ten Oregonians supporting or strongly supporting the program. Vice president of the research firm, John Horvick, says this type of overwhelming backing is rare for public policies.

“I’m a pollster. I’m asking Oregonians questions about public policy matters all the time. To get something this high – nearly universal support for a program – is quite remarkable. So this program really does stand out as having broad support across the state.”

D-H-M polled about a thousand working-age Oregonians, following up on a similar survey from last year, and found support rose slightly, from 79 to 82 percent. According to the State Treasury, savings topped four-point-five million dollars and more than 30-thousand people signed up in the first year of OregonSaves.

Demand for Fuel Hit Highest Recorded Amount

Demand for gasoline has surged to its highest level ever recorded.  Nearly 9.9 million barrels a day are leaving the pumps, but according to Marie Dodds of AAA Oregon prices are staying fairly steady, although Florence has seen a slight increase over the last week.  Prices for regular gas jumped from $2.93 last week to an average $2.97 this week,  although Florence continues to remain below the state average of $3.26.  gas prices are expected to begin a decline as the end of the summer driving season has passed and refineries begin to produce the cheaper winter blend fuels.

Rods and Rhodys Begins Tomorrow

Beginning tomorrow the annual Rods and Rhodys invitational car show hits the streets of Florence.  The show and shine event has moved from Three Rivers Casino to the Port of Siuslaw Parking lot and that begins at 12:30 tomorrow and runs until 7pm.  The event is sponsored by the Florence Area Chamber of Commerce and many of their underwriters and distinguished sponsors.  There are expected to be 125 classic cars for the invitation only event that begins Saturday morning and lasts through Sunday at noon.