Missing man found ok

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Passer-by spots elderly man who walked away from care facility

85 year old Don Schug (center) was found unharmed about ten hours after he went missing from a care facility in Florence. (contributed photo)
85 year old Don Schug (center) was found unharmed about ten hours after he went missing from a care facility in Florence. (contributed photo)

The man who walked away from a care center in Florence overnight was found about ten hours after he broke a screen and crawled out a window.

85-year old Don Schug was ok according to medics who checked him out briefly before returning him to family members.   Schug, who was described as being “medically fragile” and suffering from mild dementia, was last seen around 1 AM at Regency Florence Rehabilitation Center on 21st Street.

He was spotted near Maple and 7th street shortly after 11 this morning by a resident who recognized him from his description.

Care givers began the initial search; they were joined by police who combed the immediate area.

By early morning Lane County Search and Rescue had arrived and began organizing a more formal search that included assistance from firefighters and medics. A U.S. Coast Guard helicopter was also called to assist, but Schug was found before it could arrive on scene.

School Board to continue bond discussion

Officials at the Siuslaw School District are waiting to see if they won the lottery. They have applied for a capital construction grant from the State Department of Education that could provide $4-million. Because the amount of money available in the state program exceeds the amount requested by Oregon school districts, state officials have instituted a lottery system to determine who gets funding.

If Siuslaw’s number is selected thought, that doesn’t automatically mean they would get the money. Voters would also have to approve a capital levy to fund new construction or renovation of the high school.

That building opened 46 ½ years agon and has been showing its age for some time. School board members have been told it could cost up to $35-million to replace it.

They are still exploring their options and will continue to do that Wednesday evening during a special meeting at the district office on Oak Street.

At the same time they will finalize the timeline and qualifications for replacing Superintendent Ethel Angal. She is retiring at the end of this school year.

Rhody Royalty announced

Members of three royalty courts that will preside over the 109th Rhododendron Festival in May have been announced. The Senior Court will return to being a female only entity. It will consist of three students from Siuslaw High School… Juniors Taylor Coolidge and Hanna Anderson, along with senior Lyndsey Keppol (kepple).

This year there will be two junior courts… the traditional girls court consists of 1st grader Rhealeigh (RAY-lee) Dascher; 2nd grader Riley Selig, 4th grader Kristin Wall, and Sunshine Armer from the 5th grade. Those four are from Siuslaw; Lexis Flandsberg is from Mapleton where she’s in the 3rd grade.

A new boys’ junior court will join the festival this year. All are from Siuslaw, they are 1st grader Tony Garcia Galvan; Roman Meadows is in the 2nd grade; Chance Jones is a 3rd grader; Cort Waggoner is in the 4th; and Kenji Tanikawa is in the 5th grade.

The 109th Rhododendron Festival is May 20th through the 22nd.

“Sweetheart deal” on See’s Candy

The Florence Kiwanis annual Valentine See’s Candy Sale gets underway today. They’ll be set up at Sears in Florence Monday through Saturday from 9 to 6, then Sunday from noon and three. They’ll be open again next week from 9-to-6 until Valentine’s Day or they run out.

Jean Murphey says they will offer several valentine specialties in addition to one and two pound boxes left over from Christmas. It’s still fresh, but will be – quote – “heavily discounted”.

The See’s Candy Fundraiser for Florence Kiwanis helps support several community programs.

Class Act Theater set to open

Another venue for performing arts will be opening in Florence early in the spring. David Lauria, along with his wife Rose Mary, have been renovating and expanding the former Christian Science Reading Room at the corner of Rhododendron Drive and Kingwood Street.

David Lauria – “We saw the need for a small, intimate space, where people could enjoy live theater in a little more intimate environment.”

It’s called the “Class Act Theater”. But don’t let the name fool you…

David Lauria – “This is going to be a mixed-use space, so it’s not just going to be our productions in there. The space is going to be available for a number of uses eventually. If somebody wanted to have a wedding or a celebration of life, it can be used for that as well.”

Lauria said other theater groups will be able to use the facility and there may be writing and acting classes.

They’ll open with a reprise performance of “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” March 26.