Arson at Sutton Investigation
New details have emerged about an incident Friday at Sutton Lake Campground near Florence, where a woman allegedly attempted to set a vehicle on fire. Authorities now confirm that on March 28th around 12:40 p.m., a runner returned to his car and found a sock burning in the gas tank. He extinguished it and saw a woman walking away—identified as 33-year-old Elizabeth Louise Jeffery of Texas. A Forest Service employee said Jeffery climbed onto their vehicle before law enforcement arrived. She was arrested for Arson in the First Degree after deputies found a matching sock in her possession. The incident circulated widely on social media over the weekend, but law enforcement only confirmed details Tuesday afternoon.
Gazebon Construction
The iconic gazebo in Old Town Park on Bay Street is getting a makeover. The City of Florence will begin demolition of the aging structure on April 8th to make way for a new gazebo, thanks to a grant from the Central Oregon Coast Board of Realtors. The new structure, a kit from Amish Country Gazebos ordered last fall, has finally arrived. Once the old gazebo is removed, crews will prep the site and pour a concrete slab, which must cure for seven days before assembly begins. The goal is to have the new gazebo ready in time for Rhody Weekend. Periodic park closures are expected during construction, with safety as the top priority.
Hoyle Ranked as Effective Freshmen Congresswoman
Oregon Congresswoman Val Hoyle has been named one of the most effective first-term lawmakers in the 118th Congress. The Center for Effective Lawmaking ranked Hoyle second among Democratic freshmen and eighth overall among first-term members. The CEL, a joint project of UVA and Vanderbilt University, tracks how well lawmakers turn ideas into action. Hoyle says she’s proud to work across the aisle while staying true to her values, adding, “Effective lawmaking doesn’t always make headlines—but it should make life easier for working people.” The full rankings are available in the CEL’s latest report.
