Food Drive September
Johnston Motor Company is asking the Florence community to help stock the shelves at Florence Food Share as part of Ford’s Global Food Drive. Throughout September, the dealership will collect non-perishable food donations during regular business hours, with everything collected staying local and going to Florence Food Share. Food Share Director Colin Morgan says Johnston Motor Company has already been an important partner for the organization, including recently helping it acquire a larger truck to bring more food into Florence from Eugene.
“Our newest addition to our fleet of vehicles, a big truck so we could source more food from Eugene. With the help of an anonymous donor, we were able to source it from Johnston and they took very good care of us. So awesome company, been doing great things for us.”
Paul Johnston says the food drive is another opportunity for the dealership to give back to a community it has served since 1939. Non-perishable food donations can be dropped off at Johnston Motor Company throughout the month of September.
Further Details on Saturday Crash
Florence Police have released additional information on Saturday night’s crash involving the Edward Jones office and Travelodge along Highway 101. Police Chief John Pitcher says investigators determined the female driver, a Florence resident, pulled out of the Circle K parking lot and accelerated rapidly before crossing Highway 101, crashing through the Edward Jones building and continuing into a room at the Travelodge. A woman trapped inside the motel room had to be freed by Western Lane Fire and EMS crews, who cut through an interior wall using specialized extrication equipment. She was transported to Peace Harbor Medical Center. The driver was also taken to Peace Harbor and remains under medical care. Chief Pitcher says the crash remains under investigation and felony charges are pending.
Learning Center Operation
Oregon officials joined local partners in Florence last week to celebrate the opening of Elm Park Learning Center, a new facility designed to address two critical needs for working families: affordable housing and child care. The project combines 32 affordable family housing units with a child care center that will serve up to 60 children. Operated in partnership with Head Start of Lane County and Stepping Stones, the center will provide early learning services for children ages 16 months to 5 years. Local leaders say the project helps address Florence’s designation as a child care desert while creating affordable housing options for families in the community.
