Winter Weather Passes Through Florence
Winter has officially made its presence known in Florence. Overnight the area saw a mix of snow and sleet and rain with no major accumulation. Roads were slick in some areas for early morning drivers. The snow is expected to continue through the morning hours into the early afternoon. High temperatures are only expected to reach the low 40’s today with temperatures over the next several nights to drop below freezing. Last night the cold weather shelter opened for those living on the streets in Florence. The shelter, operated by the Presbyterian church on Highway 101 announced that it will be open for the next two nights as well. Each evening registration begins at 5pm with supper being served at 6pm and a hot breakfast in the mornings at 7. Transportation will be available at the Siuslaw Public Library, Safeway and Fred Meyer.
South Jetty Road Closed at MP 4.5
Unsafe road conditions on the South Jetty road has caused the closure of a portion of the road from parking area number 5 to the end of the jetty road. Erosion from the Siuslaw river has caused an unstable road surface and hazardous conditions according to Forest Service engineers. Permits are being allocated for the repairs and it is expected to take 5-8 weeks before the road is able to reopen. Crabbers and Fishers are still able to access the crabbing dock as long as they are willing to walk. But they are cautioned to be aware as heavy equipment will be moving in the area.
Burn Awareness Week
This week has been named ‘Burn Awareness’ Week. Car fires are responsible for 12 percent of deaths occurred in highway vehicles annually. Erin Durgin from driversed.com says vehicle maintenance is an important part of avoiding vehicle fires as well as safe driving habits. Keeping a small extinguisher is also recommended.
Heart Healthy Talk Scheduled
This Thursday author and wellness expert Joe Piscatella will be visiting Florence to present a talk on “Overcoming Barriers to Heart-Healthy Living at the Florence Event Center. It will be from 4-5 pm and is free to the public. Piscatelli is one of the longest survivors of bi-pass surgery and has written 17 books and hosted several PBS television specials. From 3-4 the same day there will be free blood pressure screening available also. Piscatella will also be a guest on February’s Our Town.
