Ballots Mailed
Voters in Oregon should begin receiving their ballots for the November 8th General Election as early as today or even tomorrow. More than 270-thousand ballots for Lane County voters were turned over to the US Postal Service Thursday. Voters in Southwest Oregon will choose someone other than Democrat Peter DeFazio to represent them in the Fourth Congressional District for the first time since 1986. Oregonians also have three major candidates for Governor from which to choose. Locally the race for the West Lane seat on the Board of Commissioners is contested, as is the Florence Mayor’s spot and two Florence City Council slots. Ballots may be may be returned to the Lane County Elections Department in three different ways. By dropping the return envelope in the mail by November 8th; Leaving it in the ballot drop box just outside the Florence Justice Center at 9th and Greenwood by 8 PM that day, or taking it directly to the elections department in Eugene by end of the business day November 8th.
LCC Remodel
The reconstruction of Lane Community College in Florence hit a couple of snags including the upgrades in the HVAC system that supplies heat and air conditioning through the building. For this reason the LCC has had a limited schedule of classes on campus for the fall semester. Dean Russ Pierson says they expect to have a a full slate of classes by the winter term. COVID-19 limited on campus instruction. During that period the college has been undergoing changes to allow for more in person studies as well as upgrading the facilities. Registration for the winter term begins in November.
New Booster
Another vaccine has received emergency use authorization as a booster. Novavax is not based on an mRNA process as is Pfizer and Moderna. Those who are not willing to use either of those, or who cannot use it for various reasons now have the option. Individuals who are 18 or older and have had at least 6 months since a primary dose of Novavax, Johnson and Johnson, Moderna and Pfizer are eligible. The Oregon Health Authority reports that doses of the booster could be available in Oregon as early as today.
Christmas Store
While it is still fall the annual Oregon Coast Humane Society Christmas Store will open soon. Humane Society Executive Director Elizabeth Thompson says that day is Tuesday, November first at ten AM on the dot. She says they are planning a special feature for opening day.
“Because the first day we always have a line out to the sidewalk of people waiting to get in to kind of get the first pick.”
That treat, she says, will be several dog from the shelter.
“Just so we can really drive home the point that the money we generate through this Christmas store feeds all the animals in our care.”
The Christmas Store is at 1179 Bay Street, right next to the year-round Thrift Store. It will be open ten AM to four PM Monday through Saturday; Eleven AM to Four PM on Sundays every day in November except Thanksgiving Day.
Air Quality
The National Weather Service along with LRAPA has extended the Air Quality alert for the area until Monday evening at 6 pm. Wildfire smoke is still expected to have an effect along the coast, although the index has stayed primarily in the good range with some movement into the moderate range yesterday.