Highest Fire Danger of the Year expected
Red flag warnings will fly over nearly all of Western Oregon in the next few days as a high pressure system moves over the area bringing the hottest temperatures of the season. Siuslaw Valley Fire Marshall Sean Barrett says fire danger will rise inland… and along the coast.
Sean Barrett – “It’s gonna get bad too. Friday they’re talking the 80s here, and with this pressure system coming in the winds are going to be higher than normal as well. That’s usually the scary part.”
Triple-digit heat is expected in the Coast Range and the inland valleys. Barrett said it’s important that everyone be careful.
Sean Barrett – “A little harder for fires to get started although it is pretty dry out there. Once they get started that wind makes them go fast.”
Forecasters say Friday will bring dry east winds… they’ll begin to diminish by early Saturday, but high temperatures will likely persist through the weekend.
Congressional town hall draws overflow crowd
U.S. Congressman Peter DeFazio said he probably should have hosted yesterday’s town hall meeting at the Florence Events Center. But, it was at the Bromley Room at Siuslaw Public Library.
Peter DeFazio – “We had an overflow crowd. Issues ranged from timber management on the Siuslaw, or lack thereof; to the pending trade agreement in Congress; to Social Security, the lack of cost of living adjustments; problems with primary care providers here.”
DeFazio is in the middle of a several week return to the 4th Congressional District where he’s been hearing from constituents. He said people share many of the same concerns no matter where he goes. But, along the coast there are more questions… like the one from former Florence Mayor Wilbur Ternyk about tsunami preparedness assistance.
Peter DeFazio – “I explained to him I’ve been fighting for and got a little bit of an investment in an early warning system; though what we really need is an ocean based early warning system that would give people here in Florence an indication of how high the wave’s gonna be and where they might have to go to evacuate and give you more time.”
The Springfield Democrat will be in Oregon through the end of this month. Congress is scheduled to reconvene in early September.
Gas prices holding steady
Retail gas prices continue to hold fairly steady as the summer driving season winds down. They’re at the lowest point in mid-august for more than a decade.
Locally, the average posted cash price in Florence held steady at $2.31 a gallon… that’s 18-cents higher than the national average price as measured by Triple-A… but 12-cents less than the Oregon average. That price fell by two cents in the past week.
Health Care Town Hall Thursday
Peace Health officials will be talk about their efforts to recruit and retain primary care physicians this afternoon.
PeaceHealth medical director Dr. Ron Shearer called the departure of four doctors earlier this year a – quote – “perfect storm” that disrupted health care in the area.
The departures came at a time when local doctors’ offices were already understaffed. Peace Health administrators have doubled down on their efforts to recruit additional care providers. One additional physician arrived last month; two are under contract to begin practicing in the area by the end of this year. A fourth will arrive by June 2017 and they even have a fifth scheduled to arrive the following year.
Thursday’s Town Hall is set for 12:30 to 1:30 at the Florence Events Center. Officials say it will begin with an overview of the situation, then close with a question and answer period.
Mapleton lead testing to be expedited
Results of tests for lead in the water at Mapleton Schools are expected to be returned much quicker than earlier thought. Superintendent Jodi O’Mara said her goal was to have the results of the testing back before classes begin in September.
She had been told they may not be ready until about the second week of school.
But, she was able to secure expedited testing. That means once the lab in Eugene gets water samples, the results could be released within a week.
O’Mara had previously said she wouldn’t be surprised if testing proved positive for lead because of the age of the buildings. She wants that confirmation as soon as possible so they can form an “action plan” to make sure drinking water at the schools is safe.
Mapleton transfer site to close; dumping fees to increase
Lane County residents who haul their own garbage will be paying more to do so. Meanwhile, residents in Mapleton will be faced with a longer drive to dump.
Lane County Commissioners yesterday opted to close the Mapleton Waste Transfer Station on Highway 126 and restrict the Swisshome site to being open Saturdays only.
They also approved a rate hike at all waste transfer sites from a minimum of $10 to $12.
West Lane Commissioner Jay Bozievich said the Mapleton and Swisshome changes could still be about 60-days away. He said they’ll need time to properly notify the users as well as adjust employee schedules.
Commissioners directed staff to begin the process of collecting the new rates “as soon as possible”. It’s not known when that will be. The changes were prompted by a recommendation to increase revenue and decrease expenses in the Waste Management Division in order to set aside a fund to ensure continued operation of the Short Mountain Landfill beyond 2025.
Fee increases this week apply only to dumping at transfer sites and will not impact commercial haulers.
