Art Accolades for the City of Florence
The City of Florence is celebrating a major accolade, with Art Exposed ReVision Florence named the “Urban Renewal Project of the Year” by the Oregon Economic Development Association. This project, part of Florence’s Rotating Outdoor Art Gallery, launched by the Public Arts Committee in 2018, was expanded by the Florence Urban Renewal Agency in 2023 and 2024. Six large-scale art pieces now line Highway 101 between the Siuslaw River Bridge and Highway 126, drawing millions of passersby and enhancing the walkability of Florence’s historic district. The Urban Renewal Agency invested $16,000, which enabled artist stipends and installation, while the art itself is valued at over $112,000. City Economic Development Analyst Chantelle Meyer accepted the award at the OEDA conference in Klamath Falls last month.
Lathrop Talks Attorney General Bid
Republican Will Lathrop is hoping to be successful in his bid to take the seat as Oregon’s Attorney General. Lathrop says years of increasing drug trafficking has taken its toll on Oregonians.
“completely out of control in our state and its driving a lot of the criminal activity that’s happening in both urban and rural areas and I want to make it exceeding difficult to sell fentanyl and methamphetamine in our state.”
He says another major concern is the welfare of Oregon children.
“(we’ve) become objectively an unhealthy and unsafe place to raise children in Oregon. which is hard to imagine if you have been here all your life that Oregon has come to a place where we would actually say that outloud.”
Lathrop says there has also been an increase in public officials abusing their office and as the chief “anti-corruption wing of the government” he will hold those accountable who mis use their office or public funds. It is a tight race between Lathrop and his opponent Dan Rayfield with polls showing Rayfield holds a slight lead and as of early last week 13% were still unsure how they would vote. It has been 16 years since there was no incumbent in the race for attorney general.
LIHEAP Funds
With winter heating bills rising, nearly 500 local households depend on Lane County’s Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, managed locally by Siuslaw Outreach Services (SOS). This year, SOS is changing its process, following updates from the State of Oregon. Sign-ups open December 2nd at 10 a.m., and instead of a long waitlist, SOS will schedule appointments two weeks at a time. For more details, call SOS at 541-997-2816, option 4.
Mushroom Hunter Found
Mandy Greer was found safe Wednesday morning after going missing while mushroom picking near Camp Creek Road east of Loon Lake. Greer and her companion had split up, and when she didn’t return to their vehicle as planned, her companion called 9-1-1 just before 5 p.m. Tuesday. Douglas County deputies, aided by drones and fixed-wing aircraft, searched until early Wednesday morning, pausing and resuming at 7 a.m. Jackson County Search and Rescue joined the efforts, and at 9:15 a.m., Greer responded to a deputy’s siren. She was located with non-life-threatening injuries, cold and wet, and was given first aid and hot tea before EMS transported her for further care.
