17 October 2014
Long time administrator passes away
Long time Superintendent of Siuslaw Schools, Glenn Butler, passed away this morning at home in Florence from complications related to liver cancer. He was 82.
Butler, his wife Kay and their two sons arrived in Florence in 1968 when he was hired as the principal of Siuslaw High School. In the summer of 1974 he was promoted to the district office as Superintendent, a post he held until his retirement in 1994.
The date and time of a memorial mass will be announced later.
Future of Floating Restroom Uncertain
Port of Siuslaw Manager Bob Forsythe didn’t seem overly concerned about this week’s denial by the Florence Planning Commission of a proposal to locate a floating restroom in the Siuslaw River. The port was primarily acting on behalf of the state agency that wanted to place it here.
Bob Forsythe – “Oregon State Marine Board approached us and asked us back in 2013 if we would consider putting one out here so they could see how it would function well in a fast moving river.”
Forsythe said the decision on what to do next was ultimately his, but added, he would poll his commissioners in the coming days.
Bob Forsythe – “We’ve got several ways we can go. We can move it out of the city’s jurisdiction, which wouldn’t be hard, it’s not that far to move it out of the City’s jurisdiction and deal with the county. We can take it to the City Council, that type of thing. I just need to talk to the Commissioners and see what they want to do if anything.”
Part of the basis for the denial by the city was the opposition by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. Forsythe said the Marine Board had responded to that opposition. But, according to city Planning Director Wendy Farley Campbell, that response was never provided to the city and never got into the record.
Rhody Multi Use Path Alternatives Unveiled
Reaction to a pair of alternative proposals for a controversial walking and biking path along a stretch of Rhododendron Drive yesterday was mixed. The City of Florence had graphic displays set up at the Florence Events Center showing just how wide the paths would be and how much vegetation would be sacrificed to make way for them.
Alternative one consists of 5-foot shoulders on each side of the drive through the Greentrees area, plus a six-foot sidewalk on the east side.
Number two would combine pedestrian and bicycle traffic on six-foot shoulders on each side of the street.
Some attendees expressed skepticism that either plan would ultimately save vegetation along Rhododendron Drive; others felt the money would be best use to improve the road itself.
City staff members continue to explain the roughly $800,000 would come from a state and federal grant that can only be used for bikes and pedestrians.
Many of those attending the three hour open house yesterday filled out comment cards. Those will be compiled, then reviewed by the City Council Monday at a special five o’clock work session at City Hall.
Car vs. Bus leaves two injured
Two people were injured, and their car sustained severe damage; but the ten occupants of a transport van were not injured in a two vehicle crash early yesterday morning 15-miles north of Florence.
Oregon State Troopers investigating the seven-AM crash say the van, driven by 21-year old Joshua Abel of Mesa, Arizona was pulling onto Highway 101 from Washburne State Park when it was struck in the side by a northbound car.
Ronald G. Taves, age unavailable, and his passenger 66-year old Joan Taves, both of Yachats, were transported to Peace Harbor Medical Center where they were treated and released.
Taves was cited for failure to yield the right of way.
The van, owned by the Northwest Youth Corps, sustained only slight damage.
Paint the town blue and gold
Teachers and staff members at Siuslaw High School say it’s time to paint Florence Blue and Gold. They’re continually looking for ways to get the community involved with the school, especially Siuslaw’s “PRIDE” philosophy.
As part of the homecoming week celebration next week, they’ve designated next Wednesday as “pride” day in the community.
Businesses are encouraged to get involved by decorating their spaces in blue and gold and encouraging employees to wear the school colors.
Judging will take place that afternoon with the business showing the most “pride” and spirit winning a traveling trophy and four tickets to the Homecoming game October 24th against Brookings.
In order to be judged, participating businesses need to call Siuslaw High School and register… there’s no cost.
History has been rewritten in Reedsport.
A new interpretive roadside marker explaining the history of 19th century explorer Jedediah Smith has been installed near the north end of the Umpqua River Bridge on Highway 101.
A previous marker at the site was removed several years ago due to deterioration. The new one, installed by Oregon Travel Experience, also corrects several cultural and historical inaccuracies.
Journals kept by Smith during trapping and explorations between 1820 and 1831 provided key contributions to the mapping of the Oregon Territory
Smith and several of his party fought with members of the Lower Umpqua tribe near the site in 1828. He and only two others survived and made their way to Fort Vancouver.
He was eventually killed by Comanche Indians along the Santa Fe Trail in 1831 at the age of 32.
