Wintery Weather/Cold Weather Shelter
The National Weather Service out of Portland is calling for the potential of snow in our area overnight tomorrow. Snow levels are forecasted to drop to as low as 500 feet with below freezing temperatures. Elevations in today’s forecast call for snow beginning at the 2600 foot level and then falling to 1400 feet in the afternoon. There is little or no accumulation expected. The cold weather has alerted the shelter here in Florence and it is scheduled to be open this evening beginning at 5pm. With temperatures expected to stay below freezing overnight through Friday it is likely that it will remain open through Friday morning. The shelter is located at the Presbyterian church just south of Bi-Mart on Highway 101 and transportation is provided to and from the shelter at several locations around Florence including the Siuslaw Library, Safeway, and Fred Meyer. Services include a hot evening meal and breakfast.
City Offices Closed
If you have any business to do with the city in the month of November, you better get it done before thanksgiving. City Hall and all administrative services will be taking a break for the holiday weekend according to City Manager Erin Reynolds. That will not affect services though
“All of our essential services, our life, health and safety services will continue operating 24/7.”
Things that will be affected are the Florence Events Center, Municipal Court and of course City Hall. This evening the City Planning commission will consider a land use deal with DevNW on the development of the former senior center property. The city hopes that this will be a project that will bring 12 affordable housing units to Florence.
“That is a partnership with the city, where the city is donating the land to a non-profit to be held in trust. That will buy down the cost of those housing units.”
Planning commission meets at 5:30 at city hall.
Fuel Prices
Fuel prices are taking a slight dip just before the Thanksgiving Holiday, but travel around the state may be difficult as winter weather continues to fall in the Cascades and even threatens the Portland metro area over the next several days. Prices though have dropped below $3.10 a gallon and are averaging $3.08 here in Florence. Prices are not expected to dip much lower this close to the holiday, but reserves on the west coast are steady. 55 million travelers are expected to be on the roads this week according to AAA Oregon. This is the highest travel volume since 2005.
