2 September 2015
Ban on backyard campfires also remains
Labor Day weekend campers, at least in Oregon State Parks, will have to find another way to toast their marshmallows. A statewide ban on open flames in Oregon State Park Campgrounds will extend at least another week.
Park spokesman Chris Havel said temperatures have moderated in some areas and a little rain has fallen along the coast and the Willamette Valley. But, he added, conditions have not improved enough, to warrant relaxing the restrictions.
Fire crews are still heavily engaged in combating blazes in Central and Eastern Oregon, and resources in many local communities are still “stretched thin”.
Lane County Parks and the Willamette National Forest both eased campfire restrictions this week; but the Siuslaw National Forest still maintains a ban on campfires in campgrounds east of Highway 101. Forest Service campgrounds west of 101 still allow campfires.
Siuslaw Valley Fire and Rescue officials say it’s ok to mow your lawn in the afternoons now, but they say they are still banning campfires on private land, including in back yards, until conditions ease further.
Specific Vets sought to lead parade
Organizers of the November 11th Veteran’s Day Parade in Florence are hoping to honor two Viet Nam era veterans during this year’s event.
Bob Brown, with the organizing committee, says they are looking for the oldest living Viet Nam veteran, as well as the Viet Nam Veteran with the highest medal award.
Both will be honored in the parade. Anyone matching either description should contact Brown at 541-997-3320.
The Florence Veteran’s Day Parade will take place in Historic Old Town Wednesday, November 11th.
Lowest price gas since April
Gas prices are falling at the fastest rate since December and most drivers in the country will be paying the lowest Labor Day weekend gas prices in 11 years.
That’s according to Marie Dodds with Triple-A of Oregon, who says the national average price for a gallon of regular gas fell 12 cents this week to $2.46.
The statewide average price in Oregon tumbled a dime to $2.83, while the local average cash price fell by 7-cents to $2.75.
Those are the lowest prices since April, and about a dollar a gallon less than last year at this time.
Dodds said she expects retail prices to continue falling in coming weeks because of declining demand and the switchover to cheaper winter-blend gasoline.
Sheriff to talk on Our Town
Lane County Sheriff Byron Trapp will be in Florence this afternoon where he’ll appear on Coast Radio’s Our Town.
The monthly public affairs program will feature a 30-minute conversation with Trapp, who was appointed to fill the remainder of former Sheriff Tom Turner’s post in April.
Turner took over as Florence Police Chief May 1st.
Trapp was Turner’s Chief Deputy and is a 27-year veteran of law enforcement.
Our Town also features conversations with organizers of the Florence Area Humane Society Wine and Chocolate Gala and the Winter Music Festival this afternoon. Boys and Girls Club leaders will also appear on the show.
It airs on KCST this afternoon from four to six, then again tomorrow on KCFM at ten. A rebroadcast of the show is set for Sunday morning, also at ten, again on KCFM.
Festival of Books set for late September
If you were hoping to reserve a table at next month’s Florence Book Festival, you’re too late. But, you can still attend the festival itself.
It begins Friday, September 25th, with a “Publisher’s Panel” at the Florence Events Center, followed by keynote speaker, bestselling author Jane Kirkpatrick, later that evening.
Organizers say the festival is aimed at connecting aspiring authors with publishers… and ultimately readers. The book fair itself is free and open to the public, it will be Saturday September 26th from ten to four at the FEC.
