Make a Difference with the Power of Florence…
There are two different labels for activities going on Saturday in Florence, but both have the same goal… encouraging people to give back and do something for their community.
Whether you call it “Make a Difference Day”, as hundreds of members of the Church of Jesus Christ, Latter Day Saints do; or the “Power of Florence” as many other residents do; this Saturday means you’ll likely be spending some time spreading bark, pulling weeds, painting faces, feeding the hungry or helping homeless animals.
Members of the LDS church from around Oregon… estimates have ranged anywhere between 300 and 500… will converge on two Florence parks Saturday. At Singing Pines Park they’ll put the finishing touches on a 40-thousand square foot off-leash dog park. Meanwhile, at 18th Street Pocket Park they’ll complete installation of a new play structure.
The second annual Power of Florence will take place this Saturday as well. 12-year old Kaylee Graham, the organizer, says so far there are 35 different activities registered with them. Three of the events are aimed at thanking and supporting the many volunteers who will be working that day… a pancake breakfast at the Methodist Church begins at seven; there’ll be an ecumenical blessing of volunteers at Hans Peterson Field at eight; and then beginning at three will be a “Party in the Park” at Miller Park featuring food and music.
Naked Man Arrested
An unidentified Swisshome woman came home with four of her children Tuesday afternoon to find an uninvited guest. 32-year old Erik David Jensen was standing in the woman’s kitchen… naked. He was reportedly armed with a shovel and swung it at the woman as she moved one of her children away from him. The family barricaded themselves in the bathroom and called 911. Two sheriff’s deputies were already in the area and responded along with a state trooper. They arrived to find Jensen walking outside near the residence, still without clothing. He admitted to police that he had been at the Oregon Country Fair and had recently used drugs. They found a nearby vehicle licensed in Idaho and registered under his name… it contained women’s underwear and bras. He was scheduled to be arraigned yesterday on assault, burglary, menacing, theft and escape charges.
Lane County Jail, Capacity Based Releases
By the way, along those lines, 82 prisoners were released early last week from the Lane County Jail because of limited space. 59 of those were ‘pre-trial’ and were instructed to return for their court dates. 23 had been sentenced for various crimes including one who was released after five days of a 31-day sentence for possession of Methamphetamine. Another had spent only three days out of 60 for felony assault.
Japanese Dock to be Demolished
A salvage company crew from Vancouver, Washington will begin removing that box-car sized dock from a Lincoln County Beach on July 31st. Ballard Diving and Salvage will be paid $84-thousand to dismantle and remove the dock that washed ashore June 5th. Oregon State Parks officials say Agate Beach will remain open during the work, but portions of the sand around the dock will be temporarily closed off.
