Donations Needed
Fund raising for the Community Christmas Basket project is close to the target goal, but more is needed.
“I need about $6,000 right now”.
Carol Bennett spearheads the annual effort coordinated by the Florence Chapter of Soroptimist International. Because many families in our community are “food-insecure” they likely won’t be able to buy everything they need to put a traditional Christmas Dinner on the Table. For more than 45 years Soroptimist Club members and friends have been organizing the effort. This year they expect to provide for a lot of families.
“Preparing for 425 boxes.”
The boxes will be tailored to the size of each household. Bennett says in the past they have ranged from two to 16 people. She is making a last-minute push to reach their fund raising goal. Checks should be made out to S-I Florence and mailed to PO Box 1209 in Florence. Or, they can be dropped off at her office: 1-2-3-4 Rhododendron, Suite 7. Distribution will be at Siuslaw Middle School, Saturday the 17th at ten o’clock.
OPB to Expand
Oregon Pacific Bank has announced another growth spurt, this time it will be in the Portland area. Bank President and CEO Ron Green says it was a chance to expand their reach and build on the success already seen in several markets including Coos Bay, Roseburg, Eugene, Medford and Florence. Green says a banking team has been hired and they are pursuing a location in the SW Portland Area. Green says a move to the Portland area is not a move away from the focus of local community banking.
“Florence is our Headquarters, is our community that we’re committed to.”
He says that with the cost of banking it is critical to grow outside the community to continue to provide value to the local community, the bank’s shareholders and the bank’s employees. And only enforces their commitment to remain local and independent.
“The ability for us to stay independent and local is a priority and us having growth opportunities outside the community of Florence is something we’re focusing on that will allow us to do that.”
OPB will go through a regulatory process and once that process is completed a full service banking model in the Portland area will be opened.
Banking Team Hired:
Kyle Baisch, Portland Market President
Eric Deisler, Senio
r Vice President/Commercial Lending Team Leader
Stephanie Cannon, Senior Vice President/Relationship Banking Officer
Christina Evans, Vice President/Portfolio Manager
LCSO Seeking Information
The Lane County Sheriff’s office is seeking information related to the homicide of a Swisshome man that occurred last month. Hunters discovered the body of a deceased male on forest land north of Highway 126 just east of Badger Mountain November 20th. The man has been identified as 37-year old Sean Lee Wilkins. Sergeant Tom Speldrich, citing the ongoing investigation, declined to disclose the cause of Wilkins’ death or any other details. Detectives are asking anyone who may have been in the area of Wacker Point Road between Friday, November 18th and Sunday the 20th to contact them at 541-682-4150, option 1. They’re also seeking any other information about Wilkins’ activities, whereabouts, or people he may have been seen with during that time frame.
