Heavy rains increase fears of flooding
A flood watch is in effect through late Friday for much of Western Oregon. That advisory includes the Siuslaw River which is expected to crest this evening just below flood stage.
Lane County Emergency Manager Linda Cook issued a warning yesterday advising people who live near the Siuslaw River to prepare for possible flooding Wednesday night. She said an “excess of caution” prompted the statement, adding weather conditions were unpredictable enough to cause worry.
Florence has picked up almost four inches of rain just in the past three days. Rainfall further inland could be twice that.
All of that precipitation has caused the Siuslaw River to rise quickly. It crested late yesterday afternoon at 15-feet, before falling slowly overnight. It’s on the rise again this morning and is expected to crest later this evening at just under 17 feet.
Minor flood stage is 18 feet.
More heavy rains are expected today and that could have a continued impact on river levels.
Daylight Savings an energy saver
Daylight savings time begins this weekend… everyone will set their clocks ahead one hour Saturday night. Kathryn Walker with the Oregon Department of Agriculture said there’s one popular story about the origins of the move… but it’s just a myth.
Kathryn Walker – Actually, it’s not true that Daylight Saving Time was created to benefit agriculture. In fact, when it was first proposed in the 1900s, there were a lot of farm groups opposed to it.”
The modern origins were wartime efforts aimed at saving energy. That idea continues today. Officials say there is a direct correlation to energy use and sunlight in the evening.
Walker says farmers and ranchers make the adjustments to their clocks just like the rest of us and go about their business.
Kathryn Walker – “In most agricultural operations, the job is focused on daylight, not the clock. Crops and livestock don’t really care what the clock says.”
She says farmers don’t care if the sun is up or down… there’s always work to be done no matter what time of day it may be..
Myrtle Creek couple “lucky to be alive”
What started off as a Sunday drive through the snow covered back roads of Douglas County ended up being a three-day ordeal this week for a couple from Myrtle Creek. Clyde and Peggy Snyder wanted to drive to South Umpqua Falls near Tiller Sunday morning. A spur of the moment decision to continue their drive into areas of deeper snow could have cost them their lives according to Douglas County Emergency Manager Wayne Stinson.
The Snyder’s car got stuck in a drift and there they sat for two days, running their engine just enough to keep warm. The only thing they had with them to eat was dog food.
Tuesday morning, Clyde Snyder decided to try walking for help after ten miles he met up with a Forest Service Road Crew. They were close to Peggy, but were not able to get her out of the car until Tuesday evening.
Stinson says others in similar situations have not survived. He says always tell people where you are going and when you’ll be back; and go prepared with some food, water and a source of warmth in the wintertime. Perhaps most importantly he says know when to turn back… and if you spend a lot of time outdoors off the beaten path, consider buying a personal locator beacon… they have been proven to help rescuers reach you quickly.
Rural residents get chance to testify on state budget
Oregonians on opposite sides of the state will have a chance next week to provide some input to lawmakers in Salem as they prepare the budget for 2017 and 2018.
The Joint Ways and Means Committee will be meeting in Salem, but video links with two community colleges will provide rural residents a chance to watch and listen… as well as chime in.
The budget hearing is set for Thursday, March 16th beginning at five pm.
On the coast, you can go to Tioga Hall on the Southwest Oregon Community College campus in Coos Bay from five to six and participate via an audio-video link. In Eastern Oregon, the hearing will be available between seven and eight pm Mountain Time on the campus of Treasure Valley Community College in Ontario.
Goodwill moving to new Florence home
A Highway 101 commercial building, vacant for nearly a decade, is headed for new life as the home of Goodwill Industries in Florence. The non-profit agency wants to move from their current location to the former Rite-Aid building at 12th Street and Highway 101. In processing that request, the City of Florence discovered a requirement placed on the property in 1992 that 12th street on the south end be improved to provide a secondary access.
City Planner Wendy Farley-Campbell said when the building was constructed, the Oregon Department of Transportation refused to allow a second highway access to the parking lot; instead requiring the 12th street improvement. She said that has never been feasible.
But, since it is still in force, it has to be dealt with before Goodwill gets the ok to add a loading dock and remodel the building.
That process will be handled administratively at City Hall and will not go to the Planning Commission. Input on the matter is being accepted at Farley-Campbell’s office through Thursday, March 16th.
