Port of Coos Bay
Exciting developments are underway at the Port of Coos Bay. Congresswoman Val Hoyle says the port has secured two federal grants worth $69 million for planning, while the Oregon Legislature has approved $100 million in bonding authority to dredge the channel. The port has also been in discussions with Union Pacific about potential rail upgrades and has begun outreach to communities along the South Coast, including Eugene’s Whitaker and Train Song neighborhoods, to address possible impacts of increased rail traffic.
Support for the project began during the Biden administration and has continued under the Trump administration. Hoyle says the investment could be transformational for the region, adding,
“This means 6,000 permanent jobs and over 2,000 union construction jobs with apprenticeships on the South Coast. It’s the ability to make the South Coast an economic engine again.”
Port leaders say the work ahead represents one of the largest economic development opportunities in Oregon in decades.
DeSpain On Congressional Seat
Yesterday retired Air Force Colonel Monique DeSpain said that she would once again seek to represent the 4th congressional district in Oregon. She told coast Radio News that the government is in trouble and that changes need to come.
“We just need to stop the fighting. Washington is broken, its toxic, our district deserves better.”
She also said that she would like to see term limits imposed on congress and the senate.
“I don’t want to be a career politician. I think we should have term limits. You get in you serve, you get results for your community and then you let some other leader step up.
DeSpain will once again go head to head with congresswoman Val Hoyle who said while she has not made her official announcement, she is running again.
Waste Wise Hazardous Collection
Waste Wise Lane County is holding two Household Hazardous Waste Collection Events in Florence this weekend. The first is Friday, October 3, from noon to 5 p.m., followed by the regular fall collection on Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Both will be held at the Lane County Waste Management Transfer Station at 2820 North Rhododendron Drive. Officials say many common household products with caution labels such as Danger, Warning, or Caustic can pollute groundwater and streams if not disposed of properly. The events give Western Lane County residents a chance to safely drop off items closer to home. More information is available at lanecountyor.gov/hazwaste.
Beach Monitoring
The Oregon Beach Monitoring Program is inviting public comment on its proposed list of beaches to monitor for health risks in 2026 and 2027. The list is based on recreational use, history of pollution hazards, bacteria levels, and community input. Heceta Beach in Florence is among the beaches slated for monitoring. From May through September, water samples are tested for fecal bacteria, and advisories are issued when levels are high. The program, run by the Oregon Health Authority and Department of Environmental Quality, aims to protect public health while focusing resources where they are most needed.