24 July 2015
Training for the worst case…
The armored personnel vehicle lumbered up to one of the front doors at Siuslaw High School yesterday afternoon, as armed and armored police officers ringed the perimeter.
It was just a training exercise; one of several different scenarios that officers with the Florence Police Department and Lane County Sheriff’s Office ran through yesterday.
Firefighters and medics from Siuslaw Valley Fire and Rescue and Western Lane Ambulance District participated as well.
Sergeant Carrie Carver with Lane County said that agency regularly participates in training exercises to ensure officers are ready to respond to a variety of incidents. By training with multiple agencies, Carver said they can test communications and work on a “unified response” that might be required in the case of a large scale incident.
The training was realistic and drew many concerned spectators. At one point, officials had to issue an advisory stating it was just a drill and asking residents to stay away.
Biennial Quilt Show at the FEC
There will be a “Wave of Quilts” covering the Florence Events Center today and tomorrow. The biennial quilt show produced by the Florence Quilt Guild is expected to draw visitors to the patchwork collections of local artisans.
Cindy Russell, the show chair, says there are 140 local quilts on display along with venders and demonstrations, as well as a raffle. In addition, the work of Florence quilter Donna Schoeningh (SHEY-nikk) will be featured.
The quilt show runs from ten to five today, then again from ten until four on Saturday.
Urban Renewal Agency looking for outside help
The Florence Urban Renewal Agency gave the go ahead Wednesday to finalize contracts with consultants on two separate projects aimed at improving Florence’s downtown.
Leland Consulting Group will provide economic analysis and help develop strategies aimed at securing private investment in the Historic Old Town District and adjacent areas.
Murray Smith and Associates will provide professional services for the Highway 101 “streetscaping” project.
The budget for both consultants will be $100-thousand each. City Manager Erin Reynolds must still finalize contracts with both firms before work can begin.
Dry Camps at Siltcoos Outlet
Campers staying in Siuslaw National Forest campgrounds in the Siltcoos Corridor are going to be truly “roughing” it for the next couple of weeks.
A break in an underground water line serving Driftwood two, Lagoon, and Waxymyrtle campgrounds was detected Wednesday. The exact location of the leak is not known, but it prompted the closure of all flush toilets, showers and water faucets in the three campgrounds that serve as a base of operations for many off-road enthusiasts who access the northern portion of the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area south of Florence.
Paul Meznarich, with the Siuslaw National Forest, says portable toilets have been brought in; and campers will be required to provide their own drinking water until the leak can be found and repaired.
Meznarich said they hope to restore full services to the campground by the end of July.
Intermittent closures next week on Rhododendron Drive
Rhododendron Drive between 35th Street and the north entrance to the Shelter Cove development will be closed next week while crews apply a new surface to the roadway.
That new surface involves application of a layer of emulsified asphalt, topped by finely crushed rock. Once that is set, a final layer of emulsified asphalt is sprayed on the surface to seal it.
The result is longer lasting, skid-resistant pavement.
Portions of Rhododendron Drive will be closed while work is going on next week. Florence Public Works Director Mike Miller says residents in the area have been notified by mail. He added that road closures will be limited to just the period that it takes to apply the new surface.
