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SATURDAY EDITION
LADY VIKS
TAKE 1ST
❘ SEPTEMBER 12, 2015 ❘ $1.00
Library unveils
historic photos
INSIDE — A3
SPORTS — B
SERVING WESTERN LANE COUNTY SINCE 1890
FLORENCE, OREGON
RENOVATION TO HELP BRIDGE SPAN YEARS
B Y C HANTELLE M EYER
Siuslaw News
Construction signs are now
up in Old Town — “Bridge
Work Ahead” — following
the start of a major renovation
project
by
Oregon
Department of Transportation
on the Siuslaw River Bridge
this week, and Bay Street is
where it will all begin.
For the next five to six
months, the small ODOT
parking lot next to the river
under the bridge will be
closed and there will be some
one-lane closures intermit-
tently — but businesses on
Bay Street will suffer only
minor inconvenience.
Evan Stuart, a project man-
ager
for
Hamilton
Construction Co., the general
contractor on the project, said,
“We should be in and out of
Bay Street by the beginning of
spring.”
He assured the audience at
the Sept. 9 bridge open house
that crews and equipment will
not block access to any busi-
City manager
‘outstanding,’
says council
ness or park on Bay Street and
that they will maintain pedes-
trian access.
“The impact to the city will
be tough at first, because
we’re starting in the north
end,” ODOT spokesman Rick
Little said. “But that impact
decreases as we move across
the river.”
According to their timeline,
crews should be out of Bay
Street by the Rhododendron
Festival in May.
“We won’t be there during
your next summer tourism
season, as we’ll be across the
river,” Little said.
Hamilton crews will begin
at the north end of the bridge,
working on dry land until they
move to a barge in the river.
Then they will create a con-
tainment structure that hangs
from the bridge.
The structure will not only
protect workers as they repair
and reconstruct the bridge, but
also muffle the sound of con-
struction and equipment.
See
BRIDGE 7A
CHANTELLE MEYER/SIUSLAW NEWS
Crews from ODOT and Hamilton Construction Co.
began renovations this week on the Siuslaw River
Bridge. Their work will increase as the project gets
underway over the next few months.
BOOTS ON THE GROUND
6-month performance
review of Erin Reynolds
credits her leadership
B Y C HANTELLE M EYER
Siuslaw News
Florence City Council recently met to
review City Manager Erin Reynolds after six
months in her new position.
Reynolds began working for the City of
Florence four years ago. She was the city’s
finance director up until March 1, when she
became city manager.
Florence Mayor Joe Henry said, “After
summarizing all the comments from each of
the councilors, her evaluation was basically
outstanding.”
“I think we’re very fortunate to have
Erin’s commitment to this city,” said
Councilor Joshua Greene. “She’s inspira-
tional to everybody, volunteers and staff
alike. Thank you.”
Henry went on to say, “The recognition
that she received was primarily driven by the
team that she has created within the city
staff.”
See
MANAGER 7A
PHOTOS BY CHANTELLE MEYER/SIUSLAW NEWS
Siuslaw firefighters
‘Fill the Boot’ in
muscular dystrophy
fundraiser
Mo’s donates
school supplies
B Y J ACK D AVIS
Siuslaw News
Representatives of Mo’s Restaurant
dropped off more than $1,200 worth of school
supplies and backpacks last week to Siuslaw
Elementary School.
“Throughout the summer at Mo’s we have a
table that is called the ‘Motivation for Kids’
table. Every year, we pick an organization and
the money from people sitting at that table goes
toward that organization,” said Mo’s Manager
Rachel Williams. “This summer we decided to
use it to raise school supplies for Siuslaw
Elementary School students.”
Twelve backpacks were purchased and
filled with school supplies and $18 to be used
for field trips or any other class-related
expenses.
INSIDE
See
S
iuslaw Valley
Fire and Rescue
firefighters
spent last Friday
and Saturday walking the
corner of Highways 101
and 126 to raise money for
the Muscular Dystrophy
Association “Fill the
Boot” campaign. The 14
volunteers raised $12,294
for the campaign.
SCHOOL 7A
Citywide Garage Sale . . . . . B4
Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B7
In Brief . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A12
Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A4
Religion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A5
SideShow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B6
Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B
Word on the Street . . . . . . . A7
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WEATHER
Full Forecast, A3
S IUSLAW N EWS
125 TH Y EAR ❘ I SSUE N O . 73
C OPYRIGHT 2015
CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK
ODOT begins repairs, weather-proof coating to last next two decades