25 August 2015
Senior housing facility planned for former football field
The final design is still in process, but the property transaction has been completed. Most of the open space at the former Hans Peterson Field near Old Town Florence will be going away, and in its place:
Chris Looney — “Independent living, assisted living, and a memory care facility, so it’ll be senior focused housing.”
Chris Looney is a partner with Paradigm Properties Northwest, a company that has developed ten different student housing projects in Eugene over the past eight years. They’re teaming up with Compass Senior Living. Their goal, a combined use development that will also include independent living units.
Chris Looney — “Sort of in flux right now because we’re not a hundred percent done with our conceptual layout and site plan. But, it’ll be somewhere in the range of about 56 assisted living; 24, probably for the memory care, and then we’ll be somewhere around 11 to 12 independent living cottages.”
Looney said they are hoping to get approval to break ground around the first of the year with completion by the end of 2016.
New District Attorney understands the challenges
Earlier this month, Governor Kate Brown appointed Patty Perlow to take over as Lane County District Attorney. Before that, she served as the Chief Deputy to former DA Alex Gardner. He left the job last month, mostly because he had grown weary of dealing with chronic funding shortfalls.
Based on that, why would Perlow want the job in the first place?
Patty Perlow – “I get asked that a lot. This is where I’ve spent my entire adult career and the stability of the office is very important to me. I have done pretty much every job in the office on some level.”
She believes she can make a difference; and that’s why she’s making no secret out of the fact that she will ask voters next spring to keep her in the job.
Patty Perlow – “It is true, I will be running.”
One of the things Perlow said her office will be focusing on in coming months will be in prosecuting lower level felonies, such as drug possession. Her hope is that they can increase the number of cases that make their way to parole and probation… and garner a larger share of the state’s community corrections dollars.
Portland pair posing as police picked up in Polk County
Two men who had been seen in the Florence area driving a retired police car earlier this month were arrested over the weekend in Polk County.
The father and son duo… 65-year old Kirt F. Von Allmen and 18 year old Seth J. Von Allmen, both of Portland; were arrested for impersonating a police officer and for coercion. The younger man also faces concealed weapons charges.
The arrest came after the duo, in a black Ford Crown Victoria, pulled a woman over. She told Oregon State Police she was approached by a man with – quote – “rotted” teeth, wearing an all black uniform. He later admitted he was not a real officer.
Florence Police Chief Tom Turner said the two, driving the same vehicle, were in the Florence area two weeks ago. There were reports of them acting suspiciously.
Long time Justice of Peace heading for retirement
Governor Kate Brown’s office is now accepting applications for a new Justice of the Peace for Lane County.
The current Justice, Cindy Cable, is stepping down at the end of September.
Cable was elected to her fifth six-year term as justice last fall.
When she was first elected in 1990, she was one of three Lane County Justices. A cost-cutting reorganization five years ago left her the sole judge handling non-criminal; traffic; fish and game; landlord-tenant; and small claims actions.
The Florence native said she has enjoyed every part of her 25 year career; calling it a “unique” way to serve the community. She said she was also gratified that her work to keep Justice Court services available in the Florence area were successful.
Kindergarten ribbon cutting Thursday
Incoming kindergartners will begin classes on a different schedule than other grades at Siuslaw next month.
Siuslaw Elementary Principal Mike Harkelroad said classes for grades one through 12 begin Tuesday, September 8th. But, kindergarten students won’t begin attending until the following Monday, the 14th.
Parents will have scheduled half-hour family conferences with the Kindergarten team on the 8th, 9th or 10th. Students will be assessed for appropriate classroom placement, he said; and parents will have a chance to share important details about their children.
Kindergartners will attend classes all day beginning this year, instead of just half-day. Two additional teachers have been hired and a new kindergarten only building next to the elementary school was recently completed.
A ribbon cutting, along with an open house at the new facility will be held from 4:30 to 7:00 Thursday.
