Lane County Risk Lowers Friday – City Cancels Parade – May Our Town – Siuslaw School Board Candidate

Lane County gets reprieve and moves back to High Risk Friday

To the relief of cash-strapped restaurants and residents desperate for a return to normalcy despite a fourth wave of COVID-19 cases, Oregon Governor Kate Brown on Tuesday announced that by the end of the week she’ll lift a set of “extreme risk” restrictions that have stifled businesses in 15 counties across Oregon, including Lane County.

Brown went on to say she doesn’t expect to restore those restrictions again during the pandemic.  Pressure from Covid weary Oregonians and hurting business owners helped aid Brown’s decision that came just after 5 o’clock Tuesday evening.  In her address she cited the state being under her preset metrics in the infection rate.  Over the past four days, the seven-day rolling average of new infections has dropped and officials are hopeful the tide is turning in the state.   The Oregon Health Authority on Tuesday reported six COVID-19 deaths and 748 new coronavirus cases, with cases continuing to plateau. Lane County announced 47 new cases yesterday, with no new cases in Florence.  19 are hospitalized with Covid 19 in Lane County, 6 are in ICU and 3 are on ventilators.

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Covid 19 has claimed another community event, according to Assistant Florence City Manager, Megan Messmer:

”Our local cases continue to rise as part of the scenario that we’re currently in with Extreme Risk.  The City and our partnering agencies have decided to cancel our reverse Rhody Parade that was May 16th.

Messmer said the city of Florence will be contacting organizations and groups that had already signed up to participate in the 2021 version of the Rhododendron Parade.

“We really are trying to keep our community safe right now and hope that we can get through the Covid 19 Pandemic and we can look forward to Rhody Days next year.

The pandemic now over a year old caused all Rhododendron Festival activities to be cancelled in 2020, making this the first time in festival history that associated activities have been cancelled in consecutive years.

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Coast Radio’s May Our Town will introduce listeners to the five candidates that are vying for two seats on the Siuslaw School Board.  Director positions for seat four and six are contested.  Two have filed for position four:  Maureen Miltenberger is running against Brian Lacoutue.  While in the race for seat six is Jesse Chapman, Larry Martindale and Kady Sneddon.  Both seats are four year terms.  Our Town will also discuss Wildfire Prevention Month with Fire Marshall Tony Miller.  Florence City Manager Erin Reynold and Assistant City Manager Megan Messmer will update May events and up coming city projects.  The May Our Town airs this afternoon at 4:05 on KCST, and at 10:05 Thursday on KCFM.

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Jesse Chapman is pitching another run for the Siuslaw School board, Chapman is outspoken in his desire to be a cause for change on the board.  He is running for position 6 along with Larry Martindale and Kady Sneddon.  Chapman says he is a strong proponent of setting Siuslaw on a path towards a Charter school.

201: “They take control of the education system locally, they take control of the fiscal element, where the money is spent, how the money is spent, basically the power goes to the taxpayer like you and me.”

Chapman says he is not a supporter of teacher’s unions, but does support teachers.  You can hear all of Chapman’s comments on the May edition of Our Town.