17 September 2014
Peace Harbor Celebrates 25th Anniversary
27 years ago the effort to establish a new hospital in Florence was issued a challenge. A Catholic order, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace, would build and operate it. But the community must be involved. One requirement according to Tom Grove? Raise at least $500-thousand in cash. Three weeks into the fund drive, Grove said they were faced with a surprising question.
Tom Grove – “We had major donors step forward with, in excess of, a half-million dollars and that was our goal. So it was a question of what do we do now? Because, it’s certain death if you cut the rest of the community off from being involved in ‘their’ hospital.”
Almost before the fund drive got underway, they had met their goal. Grove said the committee stopped briefly to think about the ramifications and made a decision.
Tom Grove – “We continued with the fund drive and by the time the air cleared we ended up with a million dollars; more than twice what we set out for.”
Peace Harbor Hospital opened 25 years ago this past summer. An open house to celebrate that milestone will be held this Saturday at Peace Harbor from one until four.
Mayor and Council Candidates to Meet the Public
The Florence Area Chamber of Commerce and Coast Radio’s monthly audio news magazine, Our Town, will team up to provide Florence voters a chance to meet and hear from nine candidates seeking city office this fall.
KCST’s Our Town will air as usual on the first Wednesday of October… that’s October First… but it will be an hour longer than normal. It will also air live from the Florence Events Center and audience members will have a chance to ask questions.
Four candidates are seeking election to a pair of four year terms on the council… George Lyddon, Mildred Rowley, Susy Lacer and Shayne Burnem. Two candidates, Ronald Preisler and Clarence Lysdale are vying for a two year term.
There are three candidates for mayor… incumbent Nola Xavier; sitting councilor Joe Henry; and former Mayor Alan Burns.
Ballots are slated to be mailed October 16th in the November Fourth mail in election.
Cash Price for Gas Falls
The average cash price for a gallon of regular unleaded dropped a dime in the Florence area over the past two weeks.
Most of that decline came in just the past 24-hours. The average as of early this morning was $3.73.
That’s down from $3.83 September 3rd.
Oregon’s statewide average dropped by four cents in the same period to $3.82… the third most expensive in the nation according to Marie Dodds with Triple-A.
The national average price as measured by Triple-A is $3.38 a gallon.
Third Serious Crash in Five Days on 126
Highway 126 claimed yet another life yesterday, this time two miles east of Walton.
Oregon State Police reported last night that a single vehicle left the roadway, struck a tree and caught fire.
One person was confirmed killed in the crash, but no other names or details have been released.
The highway was closed completely for about two hours before opening to one-lane of traffic shortly after eight PM.
