23 June 2015
Water quality groups to host town hall
Two short films about the efforts of coastal community members impacted by aerial herbicide spraying will be shown tomorrow night in Florence. The films will accompany a town-hall style meeting about the Oregon Forest Practices Act, human health impacts of pesticides, and trends in forestry.
The films will begin at 6:30 Wednesday evening at City Lights Cinemas. It’s a cooperative effort of the local group “Protect Florence Aquifer” and the regional “Beyond Toxics” organization. “This Is Our Watershed” is about aerial spraying near Rockaway Beach on the north coast. “Drift” is about a residential area near Gold Beach that was sprayed by an ‘off course’ helicopter pilot. Lisa Arkin is the executive director of Beyond Toxics.
Lisa Arkin – “Drift was filmed and edited and all the text was written by University of Oregon students, from the school of journalism and the environmental studies department.”
Arkin said the issue of aerial spraying has become very visible.
Lisa Arkin – “Because of the hard work of coastal folks in Oregon, the legislature did take this up this session. It was one of the hottest topics.”
There’s a $7 admission charge to see the films… the proceeds will go to aid the victims depicted in the film “Drift”.
Honeyman trail likely to remain open
A trail at Honeyman State Park, used primarily by local hikers and runners, will likely remain open. The controversial trail that crosses Highway 101 just north of the park entrance was closed suddenly earlier this year. But local users were successful in getting it reopened temporarily. Now, according to Oregon Parks and Recreation Department Planner Mark Davidson, it looks as if it may remain open. But, he said, it will be posted with signs advising users to “travel at your own risk” and it won’t be maintained by park employees.
Park planners hosted a second meeting this month about Honeyman Trails.
Mark Davidson – “I think it was a good meeting. I think we all reached consensus and it was really nice to hear a couple of folks talk about how it… the solutions or options we were looking at, you know, represent locals and visitors to the area alike, so that was really positive to hear that.”
One major recommendation to come from the meeting is that the entire trail system at Honeyman needs better signage to allow users to find their way from one point to another. Davidson said another public meeting is planned for August with final recommendations on how to best manage the trails.
No serious injuries reported in Florence crash
Four people were transported to Peace Harbor Medical Center, but none had life-threatening injuries, following a devastating looking head on crash in Florence yesterday afternoon.
The three PM crash forced the closure of Highway 101 for a brief time as emergency crews tended to the injured and cleared the roadway.
No details are readily available, but one vehicle crossed the center line, striking the other head on. Air bags and seat belts are credited with preventing anything worse than a broken wrist.
Oregon State Police are investigating.
Fire danger on the rise
Increased restrictions on activities in forested areas of Western Oregon went into effect earlier this morning. South Cascade District Forester Greg Wagenblast with the Oregon Department of Forestry said fire danger is “trending much higher than normal”. High temperatures nearing triple digits are forecast for the upper Umpqua Valley and the Willamette Valley later this week.
That will only serve to further dry out grass, woody debris and vegetation.
Wagenblast said tightened restrictions include a ban on smoking in the forest except within closed vehicles; campfires are allowed only in designated campsites; motorized vehicles are allowed only on improved roads; mowing of dead or tall dry grass is not allowed between one pm and 8 pm.
The regulated use closure also means people traveling through forests, except on state or county roads, must carry a shovel and either a gallon of water or a 2 ½ pound ABC rated fire extinguisher.
Economic Development panel to work on three projects
Florence’s new Economic Development Committee will return to work today. Mayor Joe Henry said the seven member panel will split up into three sub-committees. One of those will focus on helping existing businesses to grow.
Joe Henry – “It doesn’t do any good to go out and create a hundred new jobs if you lose a hundred in the process, so that was the first goal. The second one was to develop a recruitment and marketing program to find new businesses once we decide what kind of businesses we want to come to the area.”
The third category, he said, will focus on creating an economic development foundation or non-profit corporation.
Joe Henry – “We had a couple of people who have been very successful in dealing with economic development foundations or corporations.”
Florence’s economic development committee meets at City Hall at two.
