Women Veterans Honored; Remembrance Garden; Critter Collisions; Siuslaw Awards

Coast Radio News
Local News

8 November 2013

Honoring Military Vets…

The eighth annual Florence Veteran’s Day Parade Monday will honor all vets, but organizers are especially focused on the roles played by women in the armed forces.

Parade Committee President Tim Sapp says no matter the weather, Monday’s parade will be “fantastic”.  This year the committee is honoring all women who have served in the military by inviting them to serve as Grand Marshall.

The parade starts at one o’clock Monday afternoon on Quince Street in front of the Florence Events Center.  From there, an estimated two-dozen or so military vehicles, drum corps, elected officials and others will pay tribute to the service of the armed forces.

The parade will end at Veteran’s Memorial Park on Bay Street where there will be a brief gathering.  Sapp says he hopes people bring their children and grandchildren.

Remembrance Garden


A significant milestone in the development of the Oregon Coast Military Heritage Museum in Florence is under way this week.

A crew from Center Brothers Construction works on finishing concrete in the OCMHM Remembrance Garden this week.  (photo by Wayne Sharpe)
A crew from Center Brothers Construction works on finishing concrete in the OCMHM Remembrance Garden this week. (photo by Wayne Sharpe)

Crews poured concrete walks for the Remembrance Garden in front of the museum Wednesday.  The 500-square foot garden will serve as the entry way into the building and features the U.S. and Oregon flags, as well as flags for each branch of the military.  One special flag will honor prisoners of war and those missing in action.  The Remembrance Garden is funded by donations, including a single $10-thousand grant from the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Work on the building and landscaping is slated to be finished by the end of this month.  Design and installation of the interior displays will begin after the first of the year.

Critter Collisions on the Rise

There are more wildlife vs. vehicle crashes in Oregon during the month of November than at any other time of the year… and the number of those crashes are on the rise.

That’s according to Oregon Department of Transportation statistics released this week.

There were 30-percent more wildlife-involved crashes on Oregon roads in 2012 than five years previous.  Officials believe the actual numbers are actually higher, however, because many are never reported.

Oregon State Police Fish and Game Trooper Scott Salisbury has responded to dozens and dozens of such crashes in his career.  He said this time of year more large animals… like deer and elk… are on the move and he urges extra caution.

Scott Salisbury – “The roads are slick usually, visibility is reduced and with that in mind slow your speed down.  If you see an animal in the road, really what you want to do is decelerate as quickly as possible, but really it’s never a good idea to swerve.”

By swerving, a driver can go into oncoming traffic… or off the road entirely… sometimes with tragic results.  Since 2003 there have been 30 human fatalities reported in Oregon as a result of wildlife crashes.

Siuslaw Awards2013 Nov Business of Year Award

For the past seven years members of the Florence Area Chamber of Commerce have recognized leaders in the business community through the annual Siuslaw Awards.

This year’s awards dinner will be January 15th at the Florence Events Center where five awards will be presented.  Four of those are for businesses, including the signature Stu Johnston Business of the Year.  Three other business awards are for Community Caring; Excellence in Customer Service; and Curb Appeal.

The fifth award will go to the non-profit organization that demonstrates good stewardship of donor dollars and sound business practices while meeting their primary mission.

Information and nomination forms are at the Chamber’s website.  All nominees must be chamber members and submit an acceptance essay.