18 June 2015
What’s in the Water?
The annual report to Florence residents about the quality of their drinking water has been released. There are no surprises in it. Florence Public Works Director Mike Miller says…
Mike Miller – “Report really demonstrates that the city has a very clean water source, that we are doing all we can to provide clean, safe drinking water to the community.”
The annual report, required by the federal government, is intended to give water users access to information about what is… and what is not in their drinking water… and where the water comes from. Miller said if it’s not listed in the report… it wasn’t found. For more detailed information…
Mike Miller – “They can go on line to the Oregon Health Authority Drinking Water Services website and they can check the complete analysis of every test that we’ve ever taken is on the website.”
The Florence 2014 Water Quality Report is available online or you can go directly to city hall and view it there.
The Power of FlOreNcE
For the fifth year straight, residents of Florence and the surrounding area will get together and do something nice for someone… all on the same day.
The fifth annual Power of Florence is just 31 days away.
Already the list of happenings, says organizer Kaylee Graham, includes hot dogs, kittens, car washes, pancakes, blood donations, week pulling, and music.
Graham, a Siuslaw High School sophomore, says there are 20 events registered on her website so far… and more to come.
It’s set for Saturday, July 18th and it starts with a pancake feed and “power” walk… and is scheduled to end with a “party in the parking lot” at Grocery Outlet Center.
To view the list of events already registered… or add your own… just go to the Power of Florence facebook page… or Power of Florence-dot-org.
Delays expected on Highway 126
Overnight work on a five mile stretch of Highway 126 near Walton is set to resume Sunday night. Mike Stennett with the Oregon Department of Transportation says paving, guardrail installation, signing and rumble strips will be installed over the next few weeks.
Most of the work will take place between seven PM and 7 AM Sundays through Thursdays, but there may be some daytime work.
Drivers may experience delays of up to 20 minutes around the clock when traveling that stretch of road. Stennett says daytime delays may be less than that.
He also said motorists need to be alert to extra truck traffic on either end of the project.
Dean Creek Elk Viewing Forage Project
The second day of burning will take place on the roughly 100-acres of pasture at the Dean Creek Elk Viewing Area just east of Reedsport on Highway 38.
Bureau of Land Management crews put the torch to a large portion of the grasslands yesterday in an effort to improve forage for the approximately 100 head of Roosevelt Elk that call the area home.
The parking lot, restrooms and elk viewing kiosk will remain open again today as crews wrap up their work, but there may be some delays on the highway due to equipment and personnel.
Museum set to burn mortgage
Just over a decade after moving into Old Town Florence the Siuslaw Pioneer Museum will be burning their mortgage.
Local realtor and lifelong resident Del Phelps has been President of the Pioneer Museum since the organization purchased the 107-year old Florence School Building on Maple Street in 2005. A short time later, they had moved their operation to a former… and once again… Lutheran Church south of town and sold that building.
But, they still incurred a $710-thousand obligation.
Phelps and dozens of volunteers have worked tirelessly in that time to retire the debt and the finally did earlier this year.
Saturday evening, beginning at five o’clock, they’ll have a public celebration at the museum. Phelps said everyone is invited to join in.
Be aware of fire danger in the outdoors
A return to warmer conditions is expected in western Oregon over the next few days. That will also likely bring a higher fire danger.
Dan Eddy, the fire management officer for the Siuslaw National Forest says there is a local history of wildfires. Steep slopes and thick layers of organic material on the ground can provide opportunities for wildfires to grow and spread quickly.
Federal forest land in our area is at a “moderate” fire danger level.
That means no fire restrictions for the public, but caution is urged. Eddy says keep campfires small and in a contained area. Make sure your campfire is out before leaving it… even if only for a short while; and smoke inside your vehicle or in a cleared area with no vegetation.
Fireworks of any kind are prohibited on National Forests.
