Home and Garden Show; Hit and Run Reward; Water Rules; Superintendent Search; and Gas Prices

Coast Radio News
Local News

27 February 2013

Florence Home and Garden Show This Weekend

Spring’s almost sprung, the grass must grow… it’s time for the 17th home and garden show…

The doors open at two pm Friday at the Florence Events Center on the annual home and garden show.  Inside and out, visitors will find 43 vendors offering their wares, services, and more than few ideas on things to do around the home.

Once again, landscaping will take center stage as visitors will be greeted outside with a display from Honeyman Nursery and Landscaping.  Inside, smack dab in the middle will be Laurel Bay Gardens and their multi-faceted display.  Two other nurseries… C.James and Shepherd’s Gardens will offer plenty of color and planting options.

But it’s not all about outside the house.  Plumbing, painting, cabinets, kitchen gadgets and much more will be in evidence.

Admission is $2 but half price admission coupons are available this week at Bi-Mart.  The show runs two to six Friday; ten to six Saturday and then 11 to three Sunday.

Reward Offered

Friends of a motorcyclist, injured earlier this month in a hit-and-run crash south of Reedsport have posted a reward for information about the driver responsible.  73-year old Gary Young, of Oakland, Oregon, was driving a three-wheeled Honda motorcycle northbound between Winchester Bay and Reedsport Friday afternoon, February 15th with a companion rider when a silver sport utility passed his partner and attempted to pass Young.  But, the SUV collided with the left-rear portion of the trike, forcing it off the road and injuring Young.  The SUV did not stop.  Friends of the injured motorcyclist are offering a $1000 reward for information about the driver.  The Oregon State Police Coos Bay office is heading up the investigation.

Water Quality Rules

Efforts to prevent further deterioration of water quality on area streams and rivers… as well as rules designed to improve that quality… can be a little intimidating for land owners and managers.  Here’s Liz Vollmer-Buhl with the Siuslaw Watershed Council:

Liz Vollmer-Buhl – “It really is a complex situation depending on whether it’s ag or forestry or if we’re looking at rural residential or if you’re looking at an urban setting.”

The Council will host a meeting this evening from 6:30 to 8:30 at the Mapleton Grange to help take some of the mystery out of those regulations.

Liz Vollmer-Buhl – “Kevin Fenn, who is with the Oregon Department of Agriculture, will be there to explain the rules, compliance and the roles of landowners.”

Fenn, Vollmer-Buhl, and a representative of Oregon’s Department of Environmental Quality will be on hand for the meeting.  The doors open at six.

Superintendent Search Winding Down?

Members of the Siuslaw School Board will be meeting this evening at 6:30 in a private executive session to continue deliberations on candidates for a new superintendent.  The top three out of 14 candidates have been identified and interviewed at least twice.  Board chair Paul Burns earlier said they anticipated having a selection identified by the end of this month.  The current superintendent, Jeff Davis, will retire at the end of the school year.

Gas Prices 

After more than month of daily increases, the average price of regular gasoline stabilized somewhat this past week.  At least nationally and in other parts of Oregon.  But, in Florence the average shot up by 14-cents to $3.71.  Drivers in Florence are still paying less than others however.  The local average is two cents below the statewide average as measured by Triple-A… and 7-cents below the national average of $3.78 a gallon.