ODFW Closes Chinook Fishing Up River
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife has issued emergency regulation changes for coastal rivers. ODFW closed Chinook fishing up many of the rivers along the coast due to poor numbers. Beginning November 1st up river fishing on the Siuslaw has been limited to west of the Tiernan boat ramp. ODFW reports that angler catch rates have been very low and northwest wawtershed manager Chris Knutsen says it is necessary to protect the fish by reducing the harvest numbers. In addition to the closure up river bag limit has also been decreased to 1 and no more than 3 for the remainder of the season. The upriver ban is likely to last the remainder of the season, but officials say that fishery managers will be closely monitoring numbers and if a sufficient number of fish reach their spawning destination that decision could be reversed.
Open Enrollment
If you are not currently covered by health insurance through your employer you have six weeks to sign up for health insurance. The open enrollment period began November 1st and runs through December 15th. The Oregon Health Insurance Marketplace is helping people find out where to apply and whether they might be eligible for financial assistance. It can also point people to local, in-person help. Elizabeth Cronen with the state organization says people should check their income eligibility, because getting that subsidy can bring down premiums.
“Last year in Oregon, more than 70 percent of Oregonians who bought private plans through ‘Healthcare.gov’ got financial assistance. They didn’t pay the sticker price for their coverage; they paid less than that.”
People who aren’t covered through their workplace could qualify for subsidies. For example, individuals making less than 48-thousand-560 dollars a year and families of four making less than 104-thousand dollars are eligible. The Oregon Health Insurance Marketplace can also guide people who are enrolling in the Oregon Health Plan, the state’s version of Medicaid. Cronen says people should act soon, because the open enrollment window is short and it’s difficult to apply once this window closes.
“What that means is that after the deadline passes, you’re going to have to a ‘qualifying event’ in order to be able to buy a private health insurance plan. That would be a major life event, like getting married, having a baby or losing your other coverage.”
In recent years, the federal government has scaled back outreach and advertising for its healthcare marketplace, and slashed funding for community groups that help people enroll. But Cronen says these cuts aren’t affecting Oregon, because the state has its own programs that do this work.
Time for Pounding
The 18th annual “Pounding” to benefit Florence Foodshare will be held at Grocery Outlet on Saturday, November 17, from 10am to 2pm. This annual food drive aims to fill the food bank’s pantries with much needed canned, boxed, and frozen food items in time for the holiday season. Since it began in 2001, the Pounding has raised over 100,000 pounds of food that has stayed right here in Florence. This year, local business Top Hydraulics will return to with its sponsorship of matching donated pounds of food with dollars. Local business woman Cindy Wobbe founded the pounding in 2001 and since that time has contributed more than 100,000 pounds of food to the Florence Food share. Coast Radio will be doing a live broadcast that Saturday in support of the food drive.
City Council Meeting
The Florence City Council will meet Monday evening at the Florence Event Center at 5:30 pm. The council will consider amending the buildable lands inventory as well as a quote for city furnishings to outfit the remodeled city hall to the amount of $110,250.
