Skarlatos Visits Florence
4th district congressional candidate Alek Skarlatos visited Florence yesterday on his latest bid to be the next representative from one of the largest districts in Oregon. Skarlatos met with supporters and potential supporters at ICM Restaurant. He spoke with Coast Radio News prior to his luncheon. He says while this district does poll more democrat than republican he believes it is time for a representative for both parties.
“Boths parties are becoming more partisan and I don’t think Oregon believes in that or stands for that. And so again, even though I am running as a republican, I would represent the whole district and I would represent all the democrats in Eugene and Corvallis just as much as I would represent the Rebublicans in Roseburg and Coos Bay.”
Like many, Skarlatos is concerned with the economic disparity in a resource rich portion of the state. he says he would like to see the expansion of the port of Coos Bay as well as resourcing timber burned in Oregon wildfires. This is Skarlatos’ second attempt to gain the seat held by retiring congressman Peter DeFazio.
Mapleton School Board Revisits Pool
The Mapleton School board agreed this week to form a committee to evaluate the costs of repairing and maintaining the Mapleton Pool. After stepping away from future efforts along those lines in June, the board heard from supporters of the Siuslaw Regional Aquatics Center at their Wednesday evening board meeting. SRAC supporters don’t want to abandon their efforts and have continued to push for repairs to the pool and the pool building and reopen it. The Mapleton pool was closed in 2009 due to the mounting expenses to maintain and operate it. The committee formed this week will include at least one board member, superintendent Sue Wilson, and the board chair of SRAC, Carolee Howes. They’ll bring a report to the board in September.
Siuslaw School Board Starts School Year
The Siuslaw School Board handled several organizational and administrative matters during their first meeting of the 2022-23 school year this week. The meeting began with a work session to review and approve the board’s operating agreement that lays out expectations for how individual directors will conduct themselves. The board also re-elected Bob Sneddon for a third term as chair. Maureen Miltenberger will serve as vice-chair. In his report to the board Superintendent Andy Grzeskowiak said while they still could us more substitute teachers, the district is in ‘pretty good shape”. But, he added, they continue to face a shortage of classified staff. People who work as classroom aides, life skills aids, custodial staff, and bus drivers.
Reedsport Water Break
A significant water line break in Reedsport yesterday caused the shutting off of water to residents along Heather Court and Ranch Road. Water service was restored late in the day.
Lane County Recognized For Employee Welfare
The Portland Business Journal recognized Lane County as the #1 Larger Employer in Oregon for the second year in a row. Alana Holmes is the Human Resource Director for Lane County and says the status of larger employers is due primarily to the focus and dedication to businesses wellness for employees and for the workplace culture established in a very tight market.
