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SATURDAY EDITION
D ACHSHUNDS
VIKINGS
IMPROVE TO 7-1
RACE IN DERBY
SPORTS — B
126TH YEAR ❘ ISSUE NO. 80
❘ OCTOBER 8, 2016 ❘ $1.00
INSIDE — A7
SERVING WESTERN LANE COUNTY SINCE 1890
FLORENCE, OREGON
Caves close for elevator
replacement; limited
access still open
B Y M ARK B RENNAN
Siuslaw News
Sea Lion Caves General
Manager Boomer Wright stands
in front of the path that leads
to the caves. Access to the
caves will be closed through
Thanksgiving while a new
elevator is installed.
MARK BRENNAN/SIUSLAW NEWS
Chamber adds
third corporate
underwriter
O
ne of the Oregon coast’s
most popular tourist des-
tinations, the Sea Lion Caves, is
in the initial stage of a major
renovation.
General Manager Boomer Wright
says an upgrade of the elevator that
takes visitors to the caves is now under-
way.
“The construction began earlier this
week, on Oct. 3, and will continue until
approximately Nov. 27, about seven
weeks,” Boomer said.
Access to the sea lion caves will be
closed during that time, though the pub-
lic is still welcome to stop in, as walking
paths and the gift shop will remain open.
The reason for the renovation is sim-
ple, according to Wright: “The elevator
was put in in 1961, with some remodels
since then. Now we’re looking at being,
essentially, more green.”
Wright added that the new elevator
is a completely different design and
won’t have cables anymore; it will
have belts. This change means there
won’t be any hydraulic fluids, a poten-
tial environmental hazard, and it will
run much quieter.
See
CAVES 7A
6th Annual
Oktoberfest
Korando Dental Group joins
TR Hunter, Three Rivers
Casino Resort
F
lorence Area Chamber of Commerce
added a third corporate underwriter in
September, the second new under-
writer in two months.
Charles Korando, DDS, and Korando
Dental Group joins the chamber’s longtime
supporter Three
B Y C HANTELLE M EYER
Rivers Casino
Siuslaw News
Resort and TR
Hunter Real
Estate, who became an underwriter in
August.
“We’re pretty excited about it, and I think
Dr. Korando is going to be a fabulous part-
ner with the chamber,” said Bettina
Hannigan, executive director of the Florence
Area Chamber of Commerce.
Hannigan said that Korando approached
her about being an underwriter after she
introduced TR Hunter’s Tim Sapp at the
September Chamber Noon Forum.
“I was telling members how being an
underwriter is a $10,000 buy-in, but here’s
what Tim is getting for his business. I dove-
tailed it into dentistry,” Hannigan said.
“Imagine if someone was a marketing part-
ner and the first dentist seen when people
came to town.”
See
G ERMAN
CULTURAL CELEBRATION
POURS OUT THE CHEER
H
CHAMBER 7A
Expo features antique
appraisals, flu shots
INSIDE
The 2016 Good Life Boomer and Senior
Expo is coming to the Florence Events Center
on Thursday, Oct. 27, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
This year, the expo features speakers on
topics ranging from health and wellness to
keeping your mind engaged through art.
Attendees are invited to visit 30 vendor
booths to learn about senior-related products,
services and resources. Bi-Mart will offer a
flu shot clinic all day, and Florence Police
Auxiliary will accept unused and expired pre-
scriptions and over-the-counter medications.
However, no needles will be accepted.
There will also be free BJ’s ice cream start-
ing at 1 p.m. until the supply runs out.
This year, the Good Life Boomer and
Senior Expo is excited to announce the inclu-
sion of a booth designed to offer participants
a chance to have their heirlooms, antiques
and vintage jewelry evaluated.
Tom Bassett, partner at Florence
Antiques, 494 Highway 101, will be avail-
able during the entire expo to clean, test and
value your gold and silver estate jewelry.
Based on his history of selling estate jewel-
ry and antiques, he can provide you with fair
retail market valuations.
Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Religion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Obituaries . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
B6
A6
A4
A2
Police . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A2
Sideshow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B5
Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B
Word on the Street . . . . . . . A7
undreds of people
attended Oktoberfest
last Saturday at the
Florence Events Center.
The event, sponsored
by local businesses
and the Florence Area
Chamber of Commerce, featured
authentic accordion music, bell-ringers
and singers, groups of dancers and fun
games. Nonprofits served beverages,
bratwurst with sauerkraut, three kinds
of soup, hot
pretzels, pick-
les on a stick,
and a variety
of cakes and
desserts.
Outside, the
Wiener Dog
Races brought
additional
spectators
(see page
A7).
PHOTOS BY CHANTELLE MEYER/
SIUSLAW NEWS
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Sea Lion Caves undergoes major upgrade