Commissioners Approve SIP The Lane County Board of Commissioners has approved a Strategic Investment Program agreement with Sierra Pacific Industries for a major $253 million expansion of its Eugene sawmill. The agreement grants partial property tax exemptions for 15 years in exchange for new capital investment and continued employment of […]

Florence Man Arrested Florence Police responded to a disturbance around 6:50 a.m. Monday near 1750 43rd Street involving a multi-vehicle crash and a man reportedly yelling at a woman. Officers determined the suspect, 53-year-old Patrick F. Hudson-McMullen of Florence, had intentionally rammed his vehicle into two cars belonging to his […]

Program Receives Safeway Grant The Food Backpack for Kids program has received a $1,000 grant from the Safeway Foundation’s Nourishing Neighbors Program. The funding, part of Safeway’s “Fight Hunger, Serve Hope” initiative through its O Organics® brand, will help provide ready-to-eat weekend meals, milk, and fruit to local students facing […]

Museum Manager Arrested On June 29th, Florence Police began investigating a report of an inappropriate relationship between a 27-year-old man and a juvenile female. The suspect, Geoffrey Cannon, was identified as the manager of the Oregon Coast Military Museum. Investigators developed probable cause and, on July 10th, served search warrants […]

Final Jamboree The 2025 Oregon Jamboree will mark the end of an era, as organizers have announced it will be the festival’s 34th and final year. Founded in 1992 as an economic development project for Sweet Home, the nonprofit festival has helped generate millions in revenue for the region and […]

Water District Announces Merger Facing the imminent failure of its sewer infrastructure, the Mapleton Commercial Area Owners Association and the Mapleton Water District have announced plans to merge into a new special district. Thanks to the passage of House Bill 3910 this spring, the merger allows the community to access […]

ODOT Layoffs On Monday, Governor Tina Kotek and the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) announced the first wave of layoffs—483 positions—out of an anticipated total of 600–700, marking the largest workforce reduction in Oregon state government history no transportation funding passed in the 2025 legislative session, a second wave looms […]

Fatal Crash Oregon State Police say a Florence man was involved in a multi-vehicle crash Saturday that left two people dead and several others injured. Investigators say a Kia Optima crossed the centerline on Highway 101 near Coos Bay and sideswiped a southbound Toyota Corolla driven by 61-year-old Kent McQuillen […]