HYAK Completes Old Town Fiber
The build out of fiber internet services has been completed in the Old Town Area of Florence. HYAK announced the completion yesterday. Several businesses have already signed up for the service including 1285 Restobar. Owner Kurt Hargens says they became one of the first subscribers and have already started enjoying the “blazing fast” speeds. HYAK’s Chief Operating Officer Neil Ecker says he hopes the work they have started will help small businesses to advance in terms of new business models and cost savings. HYAK has been working for the past several years to install and upgrade services of fiber and have already connected several hundred homes with hopes of adding more residential and business customers in the coming months.
Rotary Speech Contest
The Florence Rotary Club is looking for high school students to participate in the 2022 4-Way Test High School Speech Contest. It is eligible to Mapleton and Siuslaw High School Students. Participants will be required to take the Rotary 4-Way Test and apply it to real life throughout their speeches. The First prize winner will receive $750.00, second place is $500.00 and third place is $250.00. Information on the contest and how to enter is available at www.theflorencerotary.org.
Gas Prices
Marie Dodds with AAA Oregon says there is no predicting the future when it comes to gas prices but it does seem that the state will be seeing some higher prices yet to come.
“Knowing what we know right now it is reasonable to assume that gas prices will continue to rise over the next couple of weeks probably the next 60 days or so and of course a lot will depend on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and how things progress.”
Dodds says we are a long way from our record high average that was $4.29 in July of 2008. Dodds says we were also above the $4 level in 2012. She says the Florence area is also seeing increases.
“The Florence Market is currently at $3.96 and is up 7 cents in the last week which is a larger jump than we are seeing in most Oregon Markets.”
The current statewide average is at $4.03.
COVID-19 Testing
Individuals that would like a free COVID-19 test can do so today between 10 am and Noon in the south parking lot of the Florence Events Center. The testing site is provided by Lane County Public Health and the City of Florence. Appointments can be scheduled via a link on the Florence Events Center webpage.
COVID-19 Numbers
5 more COVID-19 cases were added to the Florence numbers yesterday (1480). There were 62 total cases reported for Lane County. The Oregon Health Authority submitted 741 new cases with their daily report and added 26 new deaths to the list. Hospitalizations dropped by 19 to 460.
DeFazio Reacts to State of the Union
Congressman Peter DeFazio said in a release that he stands behind the President’s plan to tackle inflation, grow the economy and address the climate crisis through several efforts including the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, as outlined in President Biden’s address to the nation last night. As well as work to pass legislation that will lower everyday costs for families including lowering health care premiums, child care and energy bills. Defazio touted work already accomplished through the American Rescue Plan stating that the economy has seen widespread growth not seen in 40 years.
