Primary Day
Today is election day for Lane County and if you have not yet filled out your ballot, you have until 8pm this evening to drop it off at the Justice Center on 9th street. 5th district state senator Dick Anderson will have a democratic challenger from the Florence Area. Florence City Counselor Jo Beaudreau will seek the seat. 9th district state representative Boomer Wright will also have a challenger, Erik S Schuttpelz is a Coast Guard Veteran and a farm equipment saleman. US District 4 representative will have a choice of two republicans. Monique DeSpain is an air force veteran and an attorney who served 30 years in the military. Her primary opponent Amy L Ryan Courser, who most recently was a Keizer City Counselor, has her own consulting business and is the founder of the Women Across America political action committee and is a 5th generation Oregonian. Dunes City residents will also have a measure to decide if the city charter should be amended to provide that city public contracts be governed by state law. The current measure in place is stricter than state laws. Changing the charter would allow dunes city more opportunity in the contracting process.
Community Foundation Distributes Funds
The Oregon Community Foundation announced the award of $5.3-miillion to 281 Oregon nonprofits this week as part of their semi-annual grant cycle. More than $90-thousand will come to Western Lane County and the Florence Area. Three local groups will get $20-thousand each to help with “general operational support”. Those are Bright Beginnings Christian Preschool and Daycare; Safe Shelter for Siuslaw Students; and Siuslaw Vision. The Lane Arts Council and KXCR Community Radio will each receive $10-thousand; Siuslaw Family Connection will pick up $5-thousand. The Free Lunch Program at Florence United Methodist Church will have $4,500 for that program and Siuslaw Transportations Services, that helps individuals with automotive repairs formerly under the name of Rods and Rhodies Inc will get $1,000. The OCF awards grants twice each year. Applications for the fall cycle will be accepted June 24th.
Gas Prices
Ahead of the memorial day weekend the price of gas has dropped several cents around the state. State price of a gallon of regular gas is averaging $4.36 a gallon, 5 cents lower than last week. Here in Florence the price dropped 7 cents and is averaging $4.21 a gallon. The Oregon average is still about 80 cents higher than the national average at $3.59 a gallon. Prices are expected to remain fairly steady according to AAA Oregon, but we could see a slight bump as the weekend approaches.
Seat Belt Information
This week the Florence police department along with other law enforcement agencies in the state will be educating drivers on the importance of seat belt use and proper child restraint in vehicles. ODOT crash data from 2021 shows that 32% of fatalities or 119 deaths were attributed to improper or lack of use of safety restraints in vehicles. The Florence Police focus will run through June 2nd and is funded by federal monies.
