Police Threat Training
The Florence police department has announced that they will be continuing with their active threat training in cooperation with the Siuslaw School District. Florence Police Chief John Pitcher says it is a situation that no one wants to imagine, but the training ensures that officers learn how to respond quickly to locate and eliminate any threat, secure a scene and supply aid to any victims. This active threat training will take place at Siuslaw High School on the 6th of May from 10 am until 7pm. The area will be marked for “Police Training Only”. Informing the public of such trainings is important for the safety of the community, since a large presence will be at the school on that day. The training will be scenario based training using confrontation simulation and roll players. Florence Police have recently held other trainings at the Middle and elementary schools.
Scam Awareness
OPB Branch bank manager Al Rojas says scams continue to be in the forefront. Rojas says a growing number of our residents, including more notably the elderly are becoming victims of financial scams. He says one popular scam is an individual pretending to be from Microsoft that informs you there is a problem with your computer.
“From computer services trying to fix your computer, next thing you know you are giving them your IP address, they connect to your computer, they take over your computer and next thing you know they are taking all of your information.”
Rojas says that is just one of many ways scammers try to get you money and a single incident can wipe out a lifetime of savings. He says that to be safe, never give out personal information or purchase gift cards to cover a supposed debt or fine. Always hang up, if it is a caller, or if you receive an email, contact the entity by a number that you can find legitimately listed online.
Orcas Endangered?
You may have seen them in the Siuslaw River in April and May as far up the river as Cushman, Killer Whales, or Orcas are a regular visitor to the area, now a group is seeking to list them as endangered. The Oregon Department of fish and wildlife has accepted a petition to list the Southern resident Killer Whale as endangered. Acceptance of the petition will initiate a rule-making process that will include an assessment of the biological status of the mammal in Oregon and will consult with tribes, agencies, organizations and the public. A decision on actually listing the whale as endangered would come at a future Commission meeting.