COVID Cases/At Home Tests; Seminar Reminder; DQ Rebuild; Gas Prices

COVID Cases/At Home Tests

12 more cases have been reported of COVID-19 for the 97439 zip code.  The all time total now has risen to 1085, this as the Oregon Health Authority is reported a three day record total of 28,037 cases.  There are reports of eastern states beginning to see fewer cases overall, but here on the western part of the U.S. there are still high numbers.  The Florence area continues to hold daily vaccination clinics at the Florence Events Center.  The clinic yesterday was not able to open until after noon, but it has been regularly open from 10am until 5 pm and will continue through Saturday of this week.  In addition the federal government has just released free at home tests for COVID-19 that can be ordered at a special website covidtest.gov.  the site says that tests will ship in 7-10 days from the date of order.  The order consists of 4 tests per home.

Seminar Reminder

The Florence Area Chamber of Commerce wants to remind people of its Turn Anxiety into Peace Seminar featuring nationally renowned speaker and Author Cortney McDermott on February 9th.  McDermott has developed this seminar to help individuals who are experiencing burnout, feeling Defeated, discouraged and overwhelmed by the current pandemic according to Chamber President and CEO Bettina Hannigan.  Hannigan says it is perfect for just about everyone from business owners to students and parents to community leaders.  Registration is $25 dollars and $10 for Chamber members.  Information is available at florencechamber.com.

DQ Rebuild

That familiar DQ curl on top of a soft serve ice cream cone will be making a return to Florence in the near future.   Michelle Burke has owned the Florence landmark overlooking the dunes and the Siuslaw River for 40-years.  It was gutted by fire in mid August and Burke says they have settled with their insurance company and are working out specifics of what the new restaurant will look like, but she’s definitely going to rebuild.  She has not seen the final plans yet, but said while the drive through will feature a longer queue, the precise location of the building will stay the same.

“The foundation is going to be the foundation so that’s not going to change.   I haven’t seen the plans yet.  They should be here any time.”

Burke says they hope to break ground within the next few weeks.  The exact cause of the August 18th blaze has not been determined, but Siuslaw Valley Fire Chief Michael Schick said it was traced to some electrical equipment and was definitely accidental.

Gas Prices

Gas prices continue to increase as oil is trading around $85 dollars a barrel.  This is a time of the year when prices are usually at a seasonal low, but Marie Dodds with AAA Oregon says nothing is normal during the pandemic.  Dodds says the perception is that the current variant may begin to ebb allowing for expansion of economies and eventually more rising prices.  Drivers in Oregon have seen another 2 cent increase in the price of fuel with prices locally around $3.89 for a gallon of regular gas.