WLAD EMT Dies in Crash
The accident that closed down highway 126 near Poodle Creek Road for most of the day yesterday claimed the life of a 25 year old part-time paramedic with Western Lane Ambulance District. The accident occurred at approximately 7:14 yesterday morning when a eastbound log truck tipped over striking Sarah Susman’s Toyota Prius and a Dodge Ram towing a boat operated by 70 year old Randall Tokich of Eugene. The Ram pickup then struck and eastbound Ford Mustang driven by Jordyn Tippett of Coquille. Susman suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased. Susman had been a volunteer firefighter before earning her EMT and had only been working at WLAD a short time. The driver of the mustang and the log truck were transported to Sacred Heart Medical center at Riverbend. The driver of the Dodge Ram suffered minor injuries.
School Board Posts Vacancy
The Siuslaw School board has posted a vacancy on the schools website. The board at their September 15th meeting accepted the resignation of Guy Rosinbaum. The board is seeking a new member to fill position 1 of the Siuslaw School Board. The appointee will serve until June 30th of 2023. Applications are being accepted until October 6th, 2021 and can de mailed or dropped off to the Siuslaw School Board office at 2111 Oak Street. Applications and questions can also be emailed to vmcclellan@siuslaw.k12.or.us
Rate Hike Too High Says Customers
The owner of a private water utility providing service to approximately 85 residential customers in a Dunes City neighborhood says most of the tension surrounding a rate hike proposal has dissipated. But, says Thomas Puttman, there will be one more chance for those customers to meet with him in an “open house” set or October 14th at Dunes City Hall. Puttman said most of the negative response was directed at him and his company but the rate proposal was actually calculated by the Oregon Public Utility Commission based on information provided by his company. Puttman said he would have preferred to “phase in” in the increase over a number of years, but the PUC has no provisions for that accommodation and instead developed a proposed rate that would nearly triple current rates from an average of $47.50 a month to $121. He said the PUC will take up the consideration sometime in late November or early December.
COVID-19 Cases
Lane County is reporting fewer COVID-19 cases. The three day weekend total was 363 for the County but does reflect a slightly lower case total. After the June 30th changes in COVID-19 restrictions Lane County and the Oregon Health Authority quit reporting daily numbers over the weekend, the surge in cases has not changed that procedure in part because Lane County Public Health is running on a skeleton crew with just two individuals responsible for maintaining the website and take care of day to day operations. Florence cases only increased by one over the same three day period. The OHA is reporting 3,359 new cases.