Advice for incoming superintendent; the future of salmon; June a busy month for Red Cross; New roof for 91 year old bridge

Coast Radio News
Local News

Our Town to hear from former and new superintendents

The administration of local schools saw a transition last week as former superintendent Ethel Angal took the step into retirement and her successor, Andy Grzeskowiak officially took over.  Angal said Mr. G, as he’s called, is ready to take charge.

Ethel Angal – “I would say, just keep an open and trusting relationship with everybody, which he already does.  And I would say guard a little bit of private time for yourself.  We’re not very good at that when we get into school leadership positions.  And, I would say, just, keep on doing what you’ve been doing because it will be very good for our district.”

Angal, and Gzreskowiak, will be on Coast Radio’s Our Town that airs tomorrow afternoon on KCST; then again Thursday morning on KCFM.

The future of salmon

Climate and ocean conditions are two of the biggest factors that will have a continued effect on salmon populations along the Oregon coast in the future.

That’s the core message that will be presented Wednesday evening in Florence when Eric Schindler presents a talk to members of the Florence Salmon-Trout enhancement program.

Schindler, the Ocean Sampling Project Leader for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, will talk about projected salmon returns in the near future.  He’ll also talk about the prospects of continued returns of Coho and Chinook salmon along the Oregon Coast in future seasons.

The local STEP group meets at seven p.m. Wednesday night at the Elks Lodge on 12th Street in Florence.

Schindler’s presentation… and the rest of the meeting… are open to the public.

Red Cross busy in June

So far it’s been a busy season for volunteers and disaster specialists with the American Red Cross in the Northwest.  They responded to an average of nearly two emergencies each day between June 1st and the 30th.

Information released this week by the Cascades Region of the Red Cross showed 52 responses to emergencies between the Oregon Coast and the far eastern regions of the state; and between Medford in the south and Vancouver, Washington in the north.

Most of the emergencies that Red Cross volunteers responded to in June were house fires where volunteers provided things like temporary housing, food, clothing and comfort kits.  Volunteers also responded nationally to aid victims of storms and wildfires.

91 year old bridge getting new roof

Repairs and maintenance to an historic covered bridge east of Mapleton are taking longer than expected.  The Wildcat Covered Bridge on Austa Road closed in mid-April for renovation work.

Initially, crews were planning to be done by July 1st.  But, says Lane County spokesperson Devon Ashbridge, rot and pest damage were discovered in the upper truss chords of the bridge during the re-roofing process.  The unanticipated damage means replacement of the trusses will be required.

That will take at least through August 12th.  Ashbridge said all the components of the bridge roof will have to be custom milled.

The 75-foot long wooden structure was built in 1925.