OSP Releases Details About Deadly Crash
Oregon State Police have released their official report on a fatal crash that shut down Highway 126 near milepost 2.7 on Sunday afternoon. Troopers say the crash happened at 1:54 p.m. when a white Volvo, driven by 50‑year‑old Lorna Marie Trujillo of Florence, slowed to make a left turn into a mobile home park near Rose Hill Road and was rear‑ended by a motorcycle. The motorcycle, a green Harley‑Davidson operated by 38‑year‑old Brandon Taylor Oetken of Florence, went down in the collision. A second motorcycle, a white Harley‑Davidson operated by 65‑year‑old John Carlos Moreno of Florence, then struck the downed bike. Oetken was pronounced deceased at the scene. Moreno was taken to a local hospital with serious injuries. Trujillo was transported as a precaution. Highway 126 was impacted for about 1 hour during the investigation.
Gas Prices Climb
Gas prices are up in all 50 states this week, according to AAA Oregon, with several states seeing jumps of 40 cents or more per gallon. Oregon is seeing a smaller increase, up 19 cents to an average of $5.30 a gallon. The national average climbed 31 cents to $4.48. Here in Florence, prices jumped 12 cents in the past week to $5.15. AAA’s Marie Dodds says crude oil prices have surged past $100 per barrel due to the ongoing conflict with Iran and supply concerns tied to shipping disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, keeping pump prices elevated.
Clinic Update
On this month’s edition of Our Town, Lane County Public Health had planned to discuss early plans for a new treatment center that could be located across from Wildflower Montessori School. The school’s owner was also scheduled to take part to talk about ongoing concerns over placing a clinic near the school. Lane County Public Health spokesperson Jason Davis says Kristen Christensen was unable to attend. Davis says the county still plans to discuss the project and where it stands in the process. Our Town airs this afternoon on KCST and Thursday morning on KCFM.
School Budget Cuts
Cuts to the Siuslaw School District budget will mean some faculty and staff positions will be scaled back. Superintendent Andy Grzeskowiak says the district plans to spread reductions over the next 3 years, with about half addressed this year and the rest phased in later. He says elective programs may be affected, noting challenges tied to smaller class sizes in rural districts.
“We may have 40 or 50 kids in a program, and if your target goal is 20 kids per class, that’s three classes. Well, a full-time teacher is 6.”
Grzeskowiak did not specify which positions could be cut, but says decisions would be seniority-based unless teachers hold multiple certifications.