ODOT Clears 101
ODOT crews worked for almost 7 hours Saturday afternoon into the evening to clear over 40 yards of debris that covered the roadway. A rockslide covered both lanes of Highway 101 on Saturday blocking access to yachats and the Heceta Lighthouse. Heavy rains and wind were likely contributors to the slide. It happened just north of Sea Lion Caves, a spot that has seen previous slides. As rain continues there are possibilities for more slides. ODOT warns drivers to be alert for potential dangers on the road.
Be Alert for Scammers
People are out and about, shopping for the holidays. Unfortunately, scammers are looking to take advantage of their good cheer. Carmel Snyder with A-A-R-P Oregon says the season offers plenty of opportunities for thieves.
“The point isn’t to take the joy out of this time of year when we’re talking about it or the fun out of gift-giving but to help you be aware so you can protect yourself and your loved ones.”
According to a new A-A-R-P survey, more than a third of American adults have experienced fraud when buying a product through an online ad. Snyder says it’s best to steer clear of these ads altogether when shopping online.
“Avoid clicking on links, even if you think the message or ad is from a familiar retailer. Instead, use your web browser and type the web address you know to be the right one to avoid getting sent to a cloned site.”
Snyder says scammers use cloned sites that look like legitimate sites to steal people’s information. Another concern is that packages dropped at homes are a target for thieves trying to make an easy mark. To help Florence Police have set up a package drop off for residents. Packages can be mailed c/o Florence Police Department 900 Greenwood street, Florence, or 97439. The exemption is that Florence police cannot accept packages that are mailed through the United States Post Office.
COVID-19 Numbers
There have been at least 829 residents of the 97439 zip code infected with the coronavirus since the beginning of the pandemic. Despite high percentages of vaccinations for the area individuals are still contracting the virus. 4 more cases were reported on Friday evening. Lane County Public health is still not posting Saturday and Sunday results as staffing continues to be an issue. There have been nearly 31,000 individuals that have contracted the virus in Lane County. The Oregon Health Authority has reported a decrease in testing last week while the 7 day average for vaccinations continues to be high. The OHA is still reporting a high number of first and second dose shots with booster doses being the greater percentage.
Vax Clinic
The City of Florence along with Lane County Public Health is sponsoring another COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic. this Friday from 10 am to 6pm by appointment the Florence Events Center will have Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson and Johnson first, second and booster doses available. This clinic is for ages 12 and up and will not include pediatric doses. For an appointment visit lanecounty.org/vaxclinics.
Dick Smith Passes
One of Florence’s last remaining WWII veterans passed away last week. 98 year old Dick Smith was a navigator on a b-17. Smith was a member of the Florence Rotary and was a past president of the club. He also co-authored the book Crossings: McCullough’s Coastal Bridges. Memorial service plans have not yet been announced.
