School Board Assesses Building Options; Fire In Deadwood; Peace Health Town Hall; Rip City Hits Town

School Weighs Construction Options

The Siuslaw School Board will hold their monthly meeting tomorrow at 6:30 at the offices on Oak Street.  This month there will be an update on the options for creating new school spaces, whether it be upgrading current classrooms, adding on to current structures or building a new school.  Superintendent Andy Grzkowiak says the district is currently working on aligning with the criteria set out to be considered for a lottery bond.

“We have enough information that we can give to the state that basically says we could capitalize on their matching funds threshold which is four million.”

Grzkowiak says that no matter which way the public decides to go it would meet that 4 million matching goal.  The school district is nearing the completion of the assessment stages and this does not guarantee any monies, it is a step towards being included in the lottery.  Which the last time that happened worked out for Siuslaw Schools.

“Last time that we got access to the money we were like 150 on the priority list then all of a sudden we were in the lottery pool and we got drawn like second.”

When all is said and done it will be up to the public to decide which of the options it wants to support and Grzkowiak says the earliest we might see this on a ballot will be May of 2018.

Fire Breaks In Deadwood

Siuslaw Valley Fire and Rescue along with ODF and Swisshome/Deadwood fire department responded to a fire in Deadwood that began when an Oregon Department of Transportation contractor apparently went off the road surface with a piece of equipment and went into some dry grass.  Crews were dispatched and the fire was brought under control, but not before two acres burned.  There were no structures involved in the blaze.  The road was closed for several hours while crews worked.

Town Hall

Tomorrow is the day for the Peace Health Town Hall.  Florence Mayor Joe Henry will facilitate the two town hall sessions at the Florence Event Center.  The first will be held at 7 am and the second will be at noon.  Peace Health Officials will be updating the public on its search for providers as well as taking questions from the public.

Trailblazers Hit Town

The Port of Siuslaw, the Florence area chamber of commerce and Siuslaw school district is welcoming the Portland Trailblazers to town today.  This afternoon and evening members of the team along with cheerleaders and Trailblazer broadcasters will be visiting Florence.  At Siuslaw middle school they will be putting on a basketball clinic and a school assembly at the elementary school.  From 4-6 pm in the Port of Siuslaw parking lot citizens can interact with players and maybe even get to shoot some hoops with them.