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WEDNESDAY EDITION
❘ NOVEMBER 16, 2016 ❘ $1.00
Talking
turkeys
ROLLING
TO THE TOP
INSIDE — A3
SPORTS — B
126TH YEAR ❘ ISSUE NO. 91
SERVING WESTERN LANE COUNTY SINCE 1890
FLORENCE, OREGON
ECONOMY
By
City sees
development
growth
land
Several land sales and
construction projects are a
sign of healthy development
& by
sea
MARK BRENNAN/SIUSLAW NEWS
A man contemplates the Pacific Ocean at Heceta Beach near Driftwood Shores and the Siuslaw River North Jetty.
Tomorrow’s Cape Perpetua Land/Sea Symposium focuses on coastal connections
O
n Nov. 17, the fourth annual
Cape Perpetua Land/Sea
Symposium will be held at the
Yachats Commons in Yachats,
a 20-minute drive from
Florence. The event will be presented from 5
to 8:30 p.m. by the Oregon Surfrider
Foundation and the U.S. Forest Service.
The symposium will feature guest speakers
State Sen. Arnie Roblan and Rep. David
Gomberg, Oregon State University Senior
Research Fellow Francis Chan and presenta-
tions from the Oregon Department of Fish and
Wildlife (ODFW) and the Oregon State
Police.
The purpose of the symposium, according
to Surfriders Oregon Policy Coordinator
Charlie Plybon, is to promote community
awareness and involvement in the current
B Y M ARK B RENNAN
Siuslaw News
research and stewardship programs ongoing in
the Cape Perpetua Marine Reserve.
Plybon said, “The symposium is a great
opportunity to network and speak with indi-
viduals and groups that are involved with the
Cape Perpetua reserve and discuss how to
build upon recent progress in safeguarding
this vital resource.”
Plybon also pointed out that the health of
the ocean is directly tied to the land, which is
the reason for the inclusion of “land” in the
events title.
Plybon said, “The ocean and terrestrial land
are connected and healthy oceans require
healthy terrestrial habitats to support both ter-
restrial and ocean habitats.”
That is also the reason that Haley Epperly,
from ODFW will be discussing the importance
of maintaining the health of the forests and
parks that allow public access to the ocean.
Laura Anderson, owner of Local Oregon,
one of the coast’s premier seafood destina-
tions, will give the symposium’s keynote
address. Anderson is also a member of the
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
Commission and works with the Newport
Pacific Heritage and Maritime Center.
There is no charge for admittance to
the event and food and beverages will be
provided.
For more information or to register, go to
www. eventbrite.com/e/cape-perpetua-land-
sea-symposium-2016-tickets-28517128499?aff
or contact Charlie Plybon at 541-961-8143.
Siuslaw Valley chooses new volunteer coordinator
Station 2 Chief Peter Warren selected to fill 4-year FEMA grant position
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Siuslaw News
S
INSIDE
iuslaw Valley Fire and Rescue
(SVFR) Old Town Station 2 volun-
teer chief Peter Warren was selected over
four other applicants to be SVFR’s new
Volunteer Recruitment and Retention
Coordinator.
Warren, 58, an 11-year volunteer with
SVFR, moved to Florence with his wife
Elke 12 years ago after retiring from the
U.S. Air Force.
Fire Chief Jim Langborg said, “We
had an extensive selection process that
involved an application review and five
different assessment stations that cov-
ered everything from interviews to sce-
nario based situations that would be
faced in this job.
“We had five applicants compete for the
position. They all did well, but Pete rose to the
top,” Langborg added.
The position was made possible through a
four-year Staffing and Adequate Firefighting
Response grant through the Federal
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
Ambulance . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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Peter Warren
JACK DAVIS/SIUSLAW NEWS
According to Langborg, the FEMA grant
totals more than $650,000 over four years and
will fund the new position and pay for equip-
ment, recruitment and training for new volun-
teers for SVFR, Mapleton Rural Fire District
(RFD) and Swisshome/Deadwood RFD.
“We really need help in the recruitment
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THIS WEEK ’ S
aspect here,” Warren said. “Recruitment
and retention has dropped off signifi-
cantly in some years. It is tougher now.
Most families have two breadwinners
now and there is not very much spare
time. But it is a very important mission
to have a department here.
He added, “By having enough volun-
teers, it will be beneficial for every-
body.”
Langborg said Warren has a list of
goals to achieve for his first year, includ-
ing recruiting 20 new volunteers; 12 for
SVFR, four for Mapleton RFD and four
for Swisshome/Deadwood RFD.
In addition to recruiting, Warren’s
first year goals include holding two joint
recruit academies by Dec. 1, 2017 and
certifying 15 volunteer firefighters
trained at the Firefighter-1 certification
level by Dec.1, 2017.
Warren feels his military experience will
help in his new job assignment.
“One of the positions I held in the Air
Force had a direct relationship to recruiting
See
’Tis the season
for giving
16th annual Food Share
Pounding returns Nov. 19
The 16th annual Pounding for Florence
Food Share, a holiday food drive, continues
the Saturday before Thanksgiving thanks to
host Cindy Wobbe and event sponsors KCST
Coast Radio and Grocery Outlet. This year’s
event will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Nov.
19 at Grocery Outlet, 2066 Highway 101.
Wobbe founded the event with Coast
Radio’s Jon Thompson in 2001 to match dona-
tions — pound for pound — for Florence Food
Share. For every pound of food that the com-
munity raises, the anonymous donor will make
an equal contribution in dollars.
People can donate any item, including fresh
ingredients, frozen foods and supplies for a
traditional Thanksgiving meal.
The staff at Grocery Outlet, led by owner
Woody Woodbury, will label many of
Florence Food Share’s needed items.
To donate to the Pounding, go to Grocery
Outlet on Saturday, Nov. 19, and make a dona-
tion of canned foods, frozen turkeys, holiday
treats and other goods. People can even donate
cash.
For a full list of ways to donate to
Florence Food Share, visit www.florence
foodshare.org.
COORDINATOR 11A
TODAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
52 43
54 43
56 48
58 50
WEATHER
Full Forecast, A3
Recent new commercial construction and
land sales in Florence indicate signs of a
strengthening
B Y J ACK D AVIS
economy.
Siuslaw News
The City of
Florence is finaliz-
ing plans and finances for the $3.3 million
Public Works facility construction project.
City Project Manager Megan Messmer said
construction of the project will begin early
January with a completion deadline for the
new facility set for June 30, 2017.
The city will make a decision on which bid
to accept for the 13,696 square-foot Public
Works facility by Dec. 19.
Sealed bids were due yesterday on more
than 14 acres of land across Quince Street
from the Florence Events Center.
The largest Quince Street parcel, totaling
13.39 acres with 6.33 acres of useable land,
had a minimum bid price of $720,000. It is
zoned for multiple-family, lodging, assisted
living and additional commercial uses.
The two development sites were offered as
part of the Realty Marketing/ Northwest Fall
2016 Auction that ended Nov. 15.
Options Counseling and Family Services
has broken ground on phase 1 of a 2-phase
4,165 square-foot office building on Eighth
Street, behind Siuslaw Public Library.
Options Counseling and Family Services is
a nonprofit mental health and family services
agency operating in eight Oregon cities,
including Florence. The new construction will
expand the organization’s Florence outreach.
At least one more potential new business
will be discussed during the Nov. 21 city coun-
cil meeting.
For more information, go to the City of
Florence’s website at ci.florence.or.us.
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