Safe Rhody Weekend
Florence Police Sergeant Len Larson said that despite the crowds it was a very safe weekend for the Rhododendron Festival. Sgt. Larson said everyone seemed to have a good time. There were a few incidents of burning tires during the classic Car Cruise, some of it provoked by the crowd in attendance, but other wise there were a few warnings issued along with 3 arrests. Larson said they gave out warnings for drinking in public outside of official restaurant areas, 12 in all, 3 citations for traffic violations and 14 warnings. They also responded to 7 non-injury crashes and on injury crash. Florence police received help from other agencies too with motorcycle patrols from the Eugene police department, and some Lane County Sheriff’s deputies and a few Oregon State Police.
Scholarship Night
More than 150 individual scholarships will be awarded to area high school graduates Thursday evening during Scholarship Night. Siuslaw High School Principal Mike Harklerode says the awards have typically been announced at the high school. But, he adds this time it will be moved “off campus”.
“Scholarship night is going to be at the Events Center with all the doors opened up, one giant room with plenty of seating for everybody.”
The reason for doing it at the FEC is simply because administrators wanted to make the evening a little “extra special” both the presenters and recipients. Plus, the last in person scholarships were awarded in 2019.
“It’s been awhile since we’ve done it properly. The last couple have been digitally.”
Thursday’s presentation begins at 6 pm. In addition to 30 seniors from Siuslaw, three Mapleton graduates and two home-schooled students will go home with scholarships that evening.
Top Gun Ties in Florence
Coast Radio is bringing back the summer “Blockbuster Movie and Trivia Promotion” Thursday evening at City Lights Cinemas with the first premier being Top Gun – Maverick. As it turns out Florence has a connection with the Naval Aviation Warfighting Development Center, otherwise known as Top Gun. Florence native and 2016 Siuslaw High School grad Nicole Gordon enlisted in the navy three years ago and is currently serving on board Naval Air Station Fallon, Nevada in direct support of the Top Gun training program as an Aviation Electronics Technician. The Petty Officer 3rd Class said she enlisted to be a part of something bigger than herself and experience things she would never be able to as a civilian.
COVID-19
COVID-19 reported cases are not going up in Florence according to the states case count by zip code. That does not mean that there are not cases in Florence. Cases continue to be on the rise statewide as weekend reporting came in yesterday with 3,875 cases reported for the state and 352 cases reported for Lane County. Florence numbers reported once last week, but as of yesterday the number remains at 1,607 all time for cases the same number since 32 cases were reported on Thursday.
