Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (July 12, 2017)
THESIUSLAWNEWS . COM ❘ / SIUSLAWNEWS ❘ @ SIUSLAWNEWS WEDNESDAY EDITION Community Voices NEED FOR SPEED INSIDE — B 127TH YEAR ❘ ISSUE NO. 55 ❘ JULY 12, 2017 ❘ $1.00 SPORTS — C SERVING WESTERN LANE COUNTY SINCE 1890 Preparations for solar eclipse underway I NAUGURAL J AM FLORENCE, OREGON BRINGS WORLD - CLASS TALENT First responders share tips, information for Aug. 21 B Y M ARK B RENNAN Siuslaw News On Monday, July 6, representatives from Siuslaw Valley Fire and Rescue, Western Lane Ambulance District, Florence Police Department and the Florence Area Chamber of Commerce met briefly to discuss prepara- tions for the highly anticipated August 21 solar eclipse. The eclipse will be visible on the Oregon coastbetween Lincoln City and Waldport, beginning just after 9 a.m. It will reach totality between 10:15 and 10:25 a.m.. First responders and public service organi- zations are gearing up for an influx of up to one million visitors to the Oregon coast to view the eclipse. This meeting was the most recent in the extensive preparations that have been undertaken in preparation for the visitors. In anticipation of the unusually large crowds that may visit the area to watch the eclipse, Florence Police Department Commander John Pitcher shared some possi- ble areas of concern with those in attendance. “Lane County Emergency Manager Linda Cook has sent out some tips that I think will be helpful as we prepare for the eclipse. Probably most important, even if you are not in the path of totality, be careful of your fuel levels,” Pitcher said. “Especially for first responders, we need to make sure all vehicles are filled up before the event, as there may be fuel shortages due to the large numbers of vis- itors to the area.” Pitcher also pointed out some areas of con- cern regarding communication during the event. “Our cell towers may have some problems with all the calls being made and the social media posting of pictures and selfies during the eclipse. Also, we should prepare for the possibility of gridlock or speeds of several miles per hour on Highway 101,” Pitcher said. See ECLIPSE 7A PHOTOS BY KATHLEEN WENZEL Bandleader and clarinetist Ken Peplowski and jazz vocalist Clairdee bring their talent to the first-ever Siuslaw Jam, held at Florence Events Center last weekend. Joshua Greene’s effort attracts attentive crowds for ‘Siuslaw Jam’ B Y M ARK B RENNAN Siuslaw News T he first Siuslaw Jam was held on July 7 and 8 at the Florence Events Center to rave reviews from audi- ence members and performers. The audience responded to the professionalism and the technical virtuosity of the musicians. The musicians responded to the natu- ral beauty of Florence, the appre- ciation of knowledgeable audi- ence members and the chance to help create a lasting musical lega- cy for the area. Florence City Councilor and The Archives owner Joshua Greene was the driving force behind the inaugural Siuslaw Jam. “The whole weekend was won- derful. The people who attended were thrilled with the perform- ances and the personalities of the musicians,” Greene said. “And the musicians were thrilled with the response from the crowd and how attentive and involved they were with the performances.” The seed for what was to become the Siuslaw Jam was planted after Greene attended the Siletz Bay Music Festival in Lincoln City a few years ago. The world-class musicians that were presented at the Siletz Festival and the support the event received from the commu- nity inspired Greene. He approached the festival’s board and Musical Director Yaacov Bergman with the possibility of reimagining the event for the Florence community. See JAM 7A Florence moves ahead with agreements for ReVision Florence Florence, FURA authorize city manager to sign intergovernmental agreements with Oregon Department of Transportation B Y C HANTELLE M EYER Siuslaw News Florence City Council voted Monday to allow City Manager Erin Reynolds to sign agreements with Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) and Florence Urban Renewal Agency (FURA) for the ReVision Florence project. The signature her- alds the official beginning of two new intergovernmental agreements (IGAs) and the next step for the city’s repave- ment project of Highways 101 and 126. During the council meeting on July 10, Florence Project Manager Megan Messmer said, “As we proceed with ReVision Florence and move into that more finalized design phase, as well as some of the on-the-ground work for that project, it requires some official agreements with ODOT.” Until now, the plan has operated under memorandums of understand- ing. According to Messmer, one impor- tant aspect of the now-signed IGAs is defining whom the agreements are with. She said that both the City of Florence and FURA are going to be part of the contracts. “We worked really hard to get that as a three-party agreement,” Messmer said. “They were adamant that it would just be the city and ODOT, but today, just in time, they let us know that they could add Urban Renewal.” Reynolds said, “That was a very momentous negotiation of our con- tract with ODOT. Representatives now understand (the concept of) an urban renewal agency better than they did before.” City councilors voted to approve two IGAs to define the working rela- tionships moving forward, as well as C O O L P L A C ES Sweet Creek Falls TO VISIT THIS SUMMER Sweet Creek Road, Mapleton, Ore. ❘ 541-563-8400 A T A GLANCE : are several parking lots, as Mapleton, just 15 miles well as a restroom at inland from Florence, Homestead Trailhead. sports the Sweet Creek Sweet Creek Trail #1319 Falls Trail Complex, a is family friendly at 2.2 waterfall wonder in Lane miles. Take the kids and County. leashed dogs on an explo- The trail begins off ration of dirt trails, wooden “Sweet Creek Falls in Autumn” Sweet Creek Road. Hikers walkways and slippery sur- by David Putzier will experience 11 water- faces near the creek. Wagon Road Trail and Beaver falls in the forested area around This look into nature provides a Sweet Creek, from the Homestead Creek Trailhead. Hikes vary from breath of fresh air and a shady .4 miles to just over 1 mile. There Trailhead, Sweet Creek Falls Trail, summer trek for these July days. INSIDE S PECIAL F EATURE : This summer we are highlighting unique spots that make the central Oregon coast one of the coolest places to live and play. New locations will be featured each month. Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Community . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kid Scoop . . . . . . . . . . . . . Library Tidings . . . . . . . . . . . the roles, money requirements and rights of way services for ODOT, the city and FURA. Under the agreements, ODOT will review designs, manage construction, oversee federal funding and allow access to the rights of way. FURA, which is responsible for both the design and the funding, will fund the design and review process, C6 A3 C5 A5 Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A4 Records . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A2 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C Community Voices . . . . . . . . B THIS WEEK ’ S TODAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY 65 50 65 50 65 51 67 51 WEATHER Full Forecast, A3 S IUSLAW N EWS 3 S ECTIONS ❘ 22 P AGES C OPYRIGHT 2017 See REVISION 7A
