Satelite Office to Open
The Lane County Land Management Division is opening a satellite office next week at Florence City Hall. West Lane County Commissioner Ryan Ceniga is happy with the arrangement.
“I think it’s a big deal. We worked hard with land management and Florence, and Erin Reynolds, she’s great, to get an office.”
Ceniga was referring to Florence City Manager Erin Reynolds. The office will be open by appointment only on Thursdays between 9:30 and 3:30. Planning and building staff will rotate appointments each week in Florence. But, says Ceniga.
“It’s also going to double as a part-time remote satellite for myself once we get it up and working.”
To set an appointment:
Habitat Festivities
Florence Habitat for Humanity is going all-out for their annual Fourth of July festivities. Once again, they are promoting the free “porch parade”. Register your home online at florencehabitat-dot-org, or in person at the ReStore, then decorate your front porch or the front of your home or business with a patriotic theme. A list of registered entrants will be posted at florencehabitat-dot-org beginning Friday afternoon for all to enjoy. Habitat will also hold a bike parade at ten AM July Fourth, along with their traditional pie and water melon eating contests. Full info on those can be found at Florencehabitat-dot-org. All Habitat events are free, but donations are welcome.
Festival of Books
The Florence Festival of Books is currently signing up authors and publishers for it September 23rd festival. Judy Fleagle who has been with the festival for its 12 years in existence says she is confident that the spaces they have available will not last.
“The need to get them in soon, because usually by the end of July we are all filled up. I’m putting out the word that if you want to participate now is the time to get your application in.”
The Festival of books is held at the Florence events center and Fleagle say they will have several work shops to go along with the authors and publishers. Fleagle will also be this year’s keynote speaker. For the first time in 12 years there will be $2 admission to help cover expenses.
Florence Woman Dies in Wreck
A two vehicle crash just north of Gardiner Wednesday afternoon resulted in two deaths. According to a preliminary investigation Oregon State Police say a southbound GMC crossed into the oncoming lane and struck a northbound Toyota Rav4 driven by 51-year-old Shawna Michelle Coolidge of Florence. Coolidge’s vehicle left the roadway and came to rest down a small embankment and received heavy front-end damage. Coolidge was declared deceased at the scene, but a 3-year-old child with her suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was eventually transferred to Sacred Heart RiverBend in Springfield. The driver of the GMC, 35-year-old Raymond Louis Eby Jr. of Molalla also died at the scene. Traffic on Highway 101 was blocked for approximately one hour.
Fire Staffing
The Fourth of July holiday brings an increase in fire risks, simply because more people are using fireworks. Siuslaw Valley Fire Chief Michael Schick says that’s why he’s increasing staffing for the next several days.
“We will have crews out. We’ll put some extra people on just to drive around and respond to any potential fires that are starting.”
It’s not just a higher likelihood of fires that has prompted the precautions.
“We’ll have a lot of activities on the dunes so we’ll have a lot of EMS calls as well.”
And, with more traffic on highways over the holiday season there are increased risks of motor vehicle crashes.
Postal Worker Appreciation
This Saturday is national postal workers day, a celebration of the effort it takes to deliver mail across the country. One of the top concerns for workers in the field is understaffing and post office workers are struggling to keep up with fewer colleagues. A recent report found that the Postal Service faces serious staff shortages because so many employees are quitting. The report said turnover at the agency jumped from 38-point-5 percent in 2019 to nearly 59 percent in 2022. Head of the American Postal Workers Union Mark Dimondstein says short staffing hurts rural communities most.
“It affects the whole system but it probably in some ways has even the deepest impact on smaller towns and smaller communities where postal workers are out serving everybody.”
Despite the concerns about understaffing, Dimondstein says postal workers run an impressive operation.
“It’s 600,000 or so people and it’s still an amazing thing. You can put a 63 cent stamp on a letter and it can go from one side of the country to the other. And it takes a lot of people to make that happen and a lot of dedication to make that happen.”