25 November 2014
Dunes City Council Completed
The final tally is in and certified. Dunes City resident Ken Platt will be joining the Dunes City Council after the first of the year. Platt received 107 write-in votes in the November 4th election, 36 more than former councilor John Scott.
There were three open positions on the council, but only two declared candidates. Sheldon Meyer and Duke Wells were each returned to their respective positions on the council.
There were several other former Dunes City officials receiving write-ins: Suzie Navetta had nine; Peter Howison 7; Marilyn Miller two; as did Richard Koehler. Former long time mayor and councilor Bob Petersdorf had 1.
Despite already being in the middle of a four year term, current councilor Maury Sanders picked up two votes.
Other interesting write ins… Rock musician Bruce Springsteen; Charles Manson and serial killer Ted Bundy.
Measure 92 Headed for Recount
Tallies of the last remaining ballots show an Oregon measure that would require labeling of genetically modified foods lost by only 809 votes and is headed for an automatic recount.
Officials released the full statewide count Monday.
It shows Measure 92 was defeated by a margin of only six-one-hundredths of a percent, well under the threshold for a recount.
A hand tally of ballots is likely to begin the first week in December, after Secretary of State Kate Brown certifies the election results.
Recounts rarely create a significant change in the final vote tally. The advocacy group FairVote says the average recount shifted the result by less than three-one-hundredths of a percentage point in 22 statewide recounts since 2000.
Oregon’s last statewide recount was for a ballot measure on civil forfeiture in 2008.
Delicious Dungeness
One of Oregon’s most lucrative seafood fisheries is preparing to open next week.
Fisheries regulators in Oregon, Washington and California met over the weekend and formally set December First as the opening date for the Dungeness Crab season off Northern California, Oregon and Washington.
Commercial crabbers can begin setting their pots as early as November 28th.
The season opener is of vital importance for crabbers as the majority of the season’s take is usually brought in during December and sold during the holiday season.
Fire Marshall urges kitchen safety
In the past five years there have been five cooking related fire deaths in Oregon; 222 people have been injured and there has been more than $32-million in property damage because of cooking related fires.
That’s why the Oregon State Fire Marshall is urging caution and care when you’re preparing Thanksgiving Dinner this year.
Jim Walker says follow some simple tips… keep a close eye on your cooking; keep your prep area clean and uncluttered; keep flammables away from the stove; and have a “kid-free zone” around the stove.
Walker discourages the use of a gas-fired outdoor deep fryer some people use for their Thanksgiving bird; but if you do choose that method… do it outdoors, well away from the house and never leave it unattended.
School Drug Testing Policy Proving Positive
One year into the Siuslaw School District policy of testing all student athletes for the presence of marijuana and drugs, officials say the policy has had the intended effect.
Superintendent Ethel Angal says last year there were very few positive tests. She believes that means students are using the policy as a means to resist peer pressure.
The program began in November of last year and begins the second full year with the advent of winter sports.
Ethel Angal – “This year we have not had any issues. You know we did all fall sports and activities and now we’re in the middle of doing winter sports, but, so far I believe it’s going really smoothly.”
Angal says the goal of drug testing for participants in extra-curricular activities has never been one aimed at punishing violators; but rather a way to encourage students to make good choices.
Festival of Trees
A popular fund raiser for the Oregon Coast Military Museum in Florence will be repeated this year.
You can buy a fully decorated Christmas Tree Sunday at the Florence Events Center. Most of the trees will be sold on a silent auction between noon and 2:45 PM. At three, five special trees will go on the live auction block and sold… those trees also include gifts under the tree designated for one of five different charities in town.
The admission cost is only one dollar for adults… and children are free. Santa Claus will reportedly make an appearance sometime in the afternoon.
Advance tickets are available at TR Hunter Real Estate and Sue Gilday State Farm Insurance.
