Local News – Gas Prices; Florence Manager Honored; Students Help Feed Hungry; If I Were Mayor…

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Will prices at the pump begin to ease?

The average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline in Florence is 91-cents higher than it was five months ago.  This week’s average, taken from a survey of seven local stations, is $4.15.  That’s 24-cents higher than it was just at the beginning of May.  But, it’s still below the average price paid by most other Oregonians.  According to Triple-A, Oregon’s average price is $4.22.

Head to other parts of the country, though, and you’re likely to pay far less.  Triple-A reports the national average price stands at $3.68 a gallon, down a nickel in the past week.

Marie Dodds, with Oregon Triple-A says prices do appear to be easing on the west coast as the Memorial Day weekend approaches.  She adds wholesale prices for gasoline have fallen about 25-cents a gallon in the northwest over the past two weeks.  Prices for crude oil have also dipped slightly.  But, the reduced cost for raw materials has been offset by reduced production at several west coast refineries.

Betz Honored by Lane Community College

The Lane Community College Foundation celebrated four former students last week.  All were named as distinguished alumni.  They included Karen Karden, a corporate pilot, retired stock broker Dan Dunnington, and the superintendent of the Bethel School District, Colt Gill.  Foundation Director Janet Anderson said the fourth is Florence’s City Manager.

Janet Anderson – “Jacque Betz was an outstanding example of a distinguished alumni who has given back so much, not only to the community in her public service work, but also to Lane Community College.  She has served on the advisory committee in the, for the Florence LCC Campus, she’s a donor, she’s been on the LCC Budget Committee.”

Anderson said Betz, Gill, Dunnington and Karden are all great examples of the type of people who come out of Lane.  The four were honored last week during a special ceremony in Eugene.

Elementary Students Assist Read for the Need

Already there have been more than 16-thousand books, CDs, DVDs and VHS tapes collected for the “Read for the Need” book sale to benefit Florence Food Share.  Many of those have come from the community.  A lot of them, however, have come from Siuslaw Elementary School Students who are working hard to make a difference.  The collections will be put on sale at the school Saturday and Sunday, June 2nd and 3rd with the proceeds going to Florence Food Share.  The local emergency food box pantry provides assistance to more than 500 families each month.

If I Were Mayor…

Florence 2nd Grader Jordan Knapp recieves award from Florence Mayor Phil Brubaker. (submitted photo)

What would you do if you were Mayor?

Well, Florence second grader Jordan Knapp says he would go back in time.  Knapp was recently selected as the winner of the “If I were Mayor…” poster contest sponsored by the city and the Oregon Mayors Association.  His winning entry shows a time machine and several dinosaurs.

 

Jordan Knapp's winning poster design shows a time machine and dinosaurs. (submitted photo)

His artistic endeavor earned him a $25 Visa Gift Card, a City of Florence Pin and a certificate from the real mayor, Phil Brubaker during a special ceremony at the Boys and Girls Club after school program.