A mainstay of the emergency medical community in Western Lane County is retiring this month. David Rossi began as a volunteer with the Mapleton Fire Department in 1982 where he was eventually instrumental in establishing the “Quick Response Team” for medical calls. Rossi started working part time as an EMT at Western Lane Hospital in 1984. After getting his EMT-3 certification three years later, he moved into a full time role. Rossi was promoted to “shift supervisor” at Western Lane Ambulance in 2001and when operations were moved to the West Lane Fire and EMS Authority he was classified as a captain. WLFEA Chief Michael Schick says one of Rossi’s traits was his ability to remain calm and rational, no matter what situation he faced. (Schick 1) – “It’s just incredible but I think that’s a good reason he’s lasted for 40 years. He does remain calm, and he’s just a good person.” A special event is scheduled for next Thursday, July 25th to commemorate Rossi’s retirement. (Schick 2) – “We’re having an open house so people can drop by and if they have any great stories about Dave it would be wonderful to hear. Mainly just for an opportunity for people to come by and say thank you Captain Rossi for providing great medical care for 40 years for our community.” That open house will run from three o’clock to 5:30 next Thursday.
The drowning death of a noted Portland chef last week on the Willamette River near Corvallis, has prompted the Oregon State Marine Board to issue an advisory about “quick release” leashes when using a stand-up paddle board. 49-year old James Beard award winning chef Naomi Pomeroy drowned Saturday evening while paddling with friends. She became entangled on an exposed snag and was unable to free herself because of the leash. Brian Paulsen, the Boating Safety Program Manager for the Marine Board says most ankle leashes are not designed to quick release and they could hold you under water. Paulson says ankle leashes are less of a hazard when paddle boarding on still water, like one of the many area lakes in our region. When paddling on moving water a “quick release” leash that connects to the paddler’s life vest could mean the difference between life and death.
The Lane County Board of Commissioners acted this week to forward three of six proposed Charter Amendments to voters. The recommendations came from the county’s Charter Review Committee which began their work in the fall of 2022. Devon Ashbridge is the county’s Public Information Officer. She says Tuesday’s decision is just the first of several steps that need to be completed before voters decide in November. (Ashbridge 1) – “So the board is directing staff to start preparing all the materials we need to put three questions on the November ballot.” All three of the issues relate to items that simply no longer apply. (Ashbridge 2) – “Eliminate some obsolete language from the charter and past practices that we haven’t done in many many years. So trying to essentially clean up the language and not things that don’t apply.” One is on an archaic spending limitation established prior to current state laws. A second refers to a former Lane County Park, East Alton Baker, which was sold to the City of Eugene several years ago. The final one was a requirement on how to spend money raised by a county Income Tax that was turned down by voters and is no longer valid. Three other recommendations from the Charter Review committee were not decided on. Two related to the process of redrawing the borders of the five districts represented by County Commissioners and how those districts would be labelled. The third has to do with the ten-year Charter Review Committee cycle.
A two-time Grammy nominated instrumentalist, someone who was very familiar to Western Lane County residents, passed away unexpectedly July 11th at a Portland area hospital. 66-year-old Charles Suniga had just gone through a medical procedure when he died. Suniga had appeared in Florence many times, most recently at a memorial service for a Florence resident. The 1975 graduate of Siuslaw High School received his Grammy nominations for his “Moments of Peace” piano instrumental albums. A memorial will be held in Portland sometime in August.