Agressive Male Arrested for Assault On the final evening of Florence’s 118th Rhododendron Festival, police responded to a violent disturbance involving a knife-wielding suspect. Around 5:45 p.m. on Sunday, May 18th, Florence Police received multiple 911 calls reporting a man threatening people with a knife near Bay and Nopal Streets. […]
Florence Oregon News
Rhododendron Festival Concludes; PeaceHealth Riverbend Announces New COO; Free Camping Day; State Park Enacts Fire Restrictions
Rhododendron Festival Concludes The 118th Rhododendron Festival is officially in the books. Thousands of visitors from across Oregon came to Florence to experience the annual tradition, which culminated with Sunday’s Grand Floral Parade at noon, featuring marching bands from Siuslaw, Marshfield, and Oregon City High Schools. The Davis Shows Carnival […]
Food Drive Deemed a Success; Chamber Shows Support For Boys and Girls Club; Rhododendron Festival
Food Drive Deemed a Success Florence residents stepped up in a big way during the annual Stamp Out Hunger food drive last Saturday, May 10th. Local letter carriers collected 9,415 pounds of non-perishable food left by mailboxes and delivered it to Florence Food Share at the post office. The donation […]
West Lane Tourism Boost; Free Boat Inspections; Unemployment Rate Rises Slightly; Tax Filing; Car Cruise
West Lane Tourism Boost Tourism spending in West Lane County, including Florence, surged by 10.7% in 2024, reaching $287.5 million, according to the latest Travel Oregon report. This growth reflects a strong post-pandemic rebound, with visitors drawn to the region’s coastal attractions and natural beauty. Countywide, travel spending exceeded $1.1 […]
Rhody Days; OPRD Looking for Volunteers; Gas Pricing and Travel
Rhody Days The 118th annual Rhododendron Festival begins with the opening of the Davis Carnival tomorrow afternoon. The Carnival hours could be in flux as weather and crowds may determine how late they stay open. Sunday the carnival will wrap up at 8pm. the weekend is filled with activities including […]
Floodplain Management; Tourist Season Begins; Return Your Ballots; Crash Reporting; Lutheran Church Marks 75th Anniversary
Floodplain Management The City of Florence is updating its floodplain management code to comply with FEMA’s new model code, required by July under the Endangered Species Act and related legal settlements. A special meeting will be held Tuesday, May 20th at 5:30 PM at the Florence Events Center to inform […]
King and Queen Chosen; Nominations Closed; Budget and Planning Commission
King and Queen Chosen Saturday night’s coronation held all the pomp and circumstance that was anticipated as the City of Florence gets ready to kick off the busiest week of the tourist season with the 118th annual Rhododendron Festival. The newly appointed Queen Rhododendron and King of the Coast are […]
ODOT Scams; Coronation; Debris Disposal
ODOT Scams Oregon residents are being warned about a new wave of scam messages claiming to be from DMV or ODOT, falsely demanding payment for unpaid toll fees. The messages threaten vehicle suspension, legal action, or credit damage. ODOT does not operate a toll program, and officials say these messages […]