15 April 2015
Reward offered for information
Reconstruction of a Florence office building is underway… and so is the investigation as to who intentionally set the blaze that destroyed it.
The fire, December 7th, destroyed the office at the corner of 19th and Pine Street owned by Ron Gerber. It housed his law office, as well as the offices of Emergence Counseling. Investigators initially said the fire started around an electrical panel in the Emergence portion of the building. They later said it had been intentionally set.
Oregon State Police Detective Joe Feland said he had nothing to report on the ongoing investigation. In December he said an accelerant had been used to start the fire.
He also said a reward of up to $5-thousand has been posted for information leading to the arrest and conviction of whomever is responsible. Tips can be called into a hotline at 800-452-7888.
Expanded background check bill passes Senate
Oregon Senators have approved a bill requiring background checks on most private gun sales. Under the bill, gun buyers and sellers who are not related would have to appear in person before a licensed gun dealer who can run a background check, for a fee, through the Oregon State Police.
Tuesday’s debate drew hours of testimony from Republican senators who said expanding the background check system would do little to curb gun violence while making criminals of law-abiding citizens.
The bill’s sponsor, Lane County Senator Floyd Prozanski (pro-ZONN-skee) said the bill is designed to make it harder for people prohibited from getting a gun to get their hands on one.
The Senate passed the measure 17-13 with one Democrat crossing party lines to vote against. It now heads to the House for consideration.
Community health
A wide variety of experts on healthy living, nutrition and exercise will be holding forth at the Florence Events Center this weekend during the annual Community Health Fair.
The fair is sponsored and organized by the Seventh Day Adventist Church.
Spokesman Scott Steward said there will be dozens of exhibits with valuable information. He said there will be door prizes and, on Saturday, a series of brief seminars starting every half hour between two and five on a variety of topics.
Free lunch for the first 100 attendees will be offered Friday by the Bridgewater Restaurant. Adventists will provide lunch on Saturday beginning at one.
The health fair wraps up with a five-K fun walk and run to benefit the Friends of Florence van… on-site registration is Sunday morning at 7:30.
Comments sought on Umpqua River project
The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality is seeking comments on a proposal to remove a pier on the Umpqua River and replace it with a large vessel “haul-out” facility.
Fred Wahl Marine recently purchased the former American Bridge manufacturing site on Bolen Island, just north of Reedsport. The company wants to construct a ‘haul-out’ basin and move their ship repair facility.
The plan is to dredge a basin, install piling and concrete.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers regulations cover the project, as do state water quality rules.
The move would allow the company to expand operations and increase employment in Western Douglas County.
Plans and instructions on how to comment on the proposal are available online.
Cold weather shelter to benefit from Pacific Wind Ensemble
The Pacific Wind Ensemble will perform a benefit concert later this month to benefit the Florence Emergency Cold Weather Shelter.
The concert is called “Themes Like Old Times”.
The suggested donation is ten dollars… and non-perishable food. There will also be a drawing for a rhododendron.
Kathleen Wenzel says the shelter provides a safe, warm place for people when dangerously cold temperatures occur during the winter months. It’s housed in the Masonic Lodge, two miles south of Florence on Highway 101.
