16 December 2014
School Board Approves Kindergarten Building
The move to full-day kindergarten will have an impact on facilities at Siuslaw Elementary School. Board members wrestled last week with whether or not to “make do” with existing space or spend a half-million dollars to install a modular building. Superintendent Ethel Angal:
Ethel Angal – “It was a healthy discussion; it was a good discussion that we had. You know, there were concerns about financing, for sure.”
Ultimately the board opted to proceed with the staff’s recommendation to have the building installed on the north side of existing school.
Angal said it will be self-contained and not a portable building; a permanent addition to the campus.
There will be four classrooms with a larger central room.
Approval of the action this month means they should be able to have it completed in time for the beginning of the next school year.
Plan ahead if you celebrate
Florence Police Lieutenant John Pitcher says if you’re going to be going out over the holiday season… have a plan for how you’re going to get home.
John Pitcher – “If you go out and have one glass of wine with dinner, obviously you’re not out drinking. But, a lot of times it doesn’t happen that way and we have one or two or three or four. That wasn’t the plan… so if you go out ready have your designated driver or call a cab; you’re safe and everyone else is safe.”
Florence police will be out with additional patrols between now and January fourth. Their main focus will be to spot impaired drivers. The additional patrols are funded in part by a grant from Oregon Impact, a non-profit group with the mission of ending impaired and distracted driving.
Roblan to lead Ed Committee
State Senator Arnie Roblan will chair the Oregon Senate Education Committee in the coming session. Senate President Peter Courtney announced committee assignments last week and Roblan, the fourth district Democrat from Coos Bay, will also serve on two joint House-Senate Committees: Education and Ways and Means.
The 2015 session formally convenes February 2nd, but lawmakers will meet in Salem January 12th through the 14th for an organizational session which will include election of presiding officers.
Brauer retiring from OPB Board
35 years ago this week, Oregon Pacific Bank opened its doors for the first time. It was organized by five local residents and got its start when Jim Manderscheid asked Dr. Albert Brauer a question during a medical exam.
A.J. Brauer – “He just asked me outright, would you like to start a bank? And, I had never given it one thought, ever.”
Brauer invited Dick Kirby, Jack Garrison and Henry Johnson to meet in his home and they were on their way. Two more directors were added a few months later; Bob King and Gary Hoberg.
The bank opened in a temporary structure December 17th, 1979 and has expanded to include branches in Coos Bay and Roseburg with financial and trust offices in several other communities. Brauer, who retired from his medical practice 25 years ago, will retire from the bank board this week.
