Betz to Lead Statewide Organization; Gas Prices Way Below 2012; Great Pumpkin Giveaway… the Original.

Coast Radio News
Local News

23 October 2013

Betz to lead statewide group

Florence’s City Manager will expand her responsibilities over the next two years to include leading a statewide organization.  Jacque Betz was recently named the President-Elect of the Oregon City-County Management Association.  Her term begins in January 2015 and Mayor Nola Xavier says it’s not only an honor for Betz, it reflects well on our community.

Nola Xavier – “Having her recognized in that way says something about Florence too.  It says something about the way that we encourage our employees and we recognize their abilities and we challenge them to set goals and to move forward and to keep improving.  She sets that example for the rest of the employees and brings them along too.”

Xavier acknowledges that even though Betz started with the city 14 years ago as an administrative assistant and worked her way up to manager, she likely won’t stay in Florence forever.

Nola Xavier – “Jacque’s still young in her career.  But I think that in the future she’s going to look for the draw of something bigger and more challenging too.  So I think it’s up to us to utilize her talents to the very best while we’ve got her.”

As far as Xavier is concerned, that’s exactly what elected officials  have been doing, and will continue to do as long as they can.

The Original Great Pumpkin Giveaway

In 1989 KCST Owner and General Manager Jon Thompson was trying to come up with a big promotion that would help him celebrate the first year of broadcasting to the Florence community.

24 years later, the Original KCST Great Pumpkin Giveaway is still helping to celebrate and Thompson says they’ve added something new.

This year, as many as 30 different advertisers will be submitting carved pumpkins for judging during the event.  $1500 in cash for local charities is on the line tomorrow afternoon.

A professional panel of Jack O’Lantern judges will select a first place winner to receive $750.  There will be a People’s Choice award for $500 and 2nd place gets 250…

All comers will enjoy free hot dogs and root beer; kids under the age of 18 will get a free pumpkin while supplies last.

It takes place tomorrow afternoon, 4:00 at Old School Furniture and it’s presented for the sixth time by Florence True Value.

Gas Prices Way Below 2012

The national average price for a gallon of regular gasoline fell by about a penny and a half in the past week to $3.34.  That’s the same price paid, on average, by cash buyers in Florence.

The average price in Oregon, as measured by Triple-A, fell by a nickel this past week, but is still well above Florence’s price at $3.50 cents.

This week’s local price is 63-cents a gallon less than last year at this time.