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About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (June 20, 2018)
THESIUSLAWNEWS . COM | SIUSLAWNEWS | WEDNESDAY EDITION | JUNE 20, 2018 | $1.00 @ SIUSLAWNEWS End of the 2017-18 School year ALL STAR BASEBALL SPORTS — B INSIDE — A8 128TH YEAR | ISSUE NO. 49 Florence plans Block Party for 125th birthday, mayor’s conference On Monday, Florence City Council heard preliminary plans for an up- coming street By Chantelle Meyer closure on a Siuslaw News Friday night in July — a street closure with plans built in to boost business and increase the city’s visibility to dozens of visiting dignitaries. “In celebration of Florence’s 125th birthday, we’re having a Block Party Cel- ebration,” said City of Florence Intern Claire Waggoner. The city selected Friday, July 27, from 5:30 to 9 p.m., as the time to celebrate the city’s founding. City Project Manager Megan Messmer said, “We were founded in 1893, I think in April. But hopefully the weather will be much nicer in July.” According to the presentation, the block party will close Bay Street in His- toric Old Town Florence from Siuslaw River Bridge down to Laurel Street. The area in front of the Siuslaw River Bridge Interpretive Center will be open to pedestrian access to businesses, restau- rants, public art and the celebration. “What’s a block party if you can’t be in the street?” Messmer asked. “It’s a community event,” Waggoner said. “We’re really encouraging the public to come and hope businesses and shops will stay open for extended hours.” In addition to the Bay Street business- es, local organizations such as Siuslaw Valley Fire and Rescue, Florence Public Works, Florence Police Department, U.S. Coast Guard Station Siuslaw River and the Oregon Coast Military Museum plan to have representation at the Block Party Celebration. See CELEBRATION page 10A FLORENCE, OREGON SERVING WESTERN LANE COUNTY SINCE 1890 ‘Ambassadors for bees’ encourage awareness National Pollinator Week buzzes close to home with Oregon Bee Project O n May 22, Oregon Gov. Kate Brown is- sued a proclamation designating June 18 to 24 Pollinator Week across the state. By Mark Brennan This week is held in conjunction with Na- Siuslaw News tional Pollinator Week and global efforts to promote pollinator awareness. In her proclamation, Brown pointed to the critical role pollinator species play in many im- portant sectors of Oregon’s economy. “Pollinator species such as birds and insects are essential partners of farmers and ranchers in producing much of our food supply … and they play a vital role in the health of our national for- ests and grasslands, which provide forage, fish and wildlife, timber, water, mineral resources and recreational opportunities for communities,” she said. The wide array of economic sectors that are impacted by the health of the bees and bugs, of- ten considered pests by home owners and many farmers, is indicative of a rising awareness of the importance pollinators. The Oregon Department of Agriculture re- CHRISTIAN BAUER/WIKIMEDIA COMMONS The Oregon Bee Project and Pollinator Week seek to draw attention to bee and pollinator issues. ports that more than 100 agricultural products directly depend on pollinators to develop and grow. The precarious situations facing insects, bats, birds, beetles and butterflies has increased due to aerial spraying of pesticides and development of forested areas across the state. These issues are not unique to Oregon, which is the reason Brown’s edict is timed to coincide with similar statements by the governors of all 50 states. See POLLINATORS page 9A Summer traffic sees surge in fatalities Drivers should minimize distractions and keep eye out for pedestrians on roadsides By Mark Brennan Siuslaw News The frequency and severity of fatal car accidents is on the rise in Oregon. While Western Lane Am- bulance District shows calls in Flor- ence are tracking at levels similar to last year, fatalities on state highways and interstates leading into and out of small towns continue to increase. According to the 2016 Oregon Transportation Safety Plan, fatali- ties rose from 313 in 2013 to 495 in 2016, the most recent data available, which is a 58 percent increase. The increase occurs after years of reductions in state fatality rates and is attributed to faster car speeds and longer distances being traveled by first responders to reach accident scenes. Oregon Department of Trans- portation Crash Analysis and Unit Reporting Manager Robin Ness suggests that the increase in fatal- ities statewide may be due in part to more pedestrians using roads alongside automobiles in urban areas and drivers who may not be aware of the laws governing cross- walk right of way. She reports that in 2016, 73 pe- destrians were killed in car acci- dents. “All intersections are supposed to be crosswalks. It’s definitely the law, unless it’s a closed crosswalk. Driv- ers need to allow pedestrians, es- pecially when turning right or left, to get safely across the street before making a turn,” Ness said. One of the reasons that may ex- plain why there are fewer fatalities in Florence than in other areas of the state is the rapidity with which Western Lane and Siuslaw Valley Fire and Rescue EMTs respond to a call. Usually, first responders from these organizations are on the scene of an accident in just a few minutes, with an average response time of under eight minutes. This average includes calls that may be close to or even outside city limits. Response within city limits can be much quicker. This rapid arrival by responders at the scene of a crash is critical to saving lives, as evidenced by an emergency situation this spring at a busy Florence intersection. See TRAFFIC page 8A ‘Movino forward tooether’ into 2018-19 Florence Area Chamber of Commerce annual meeting chooses ‘thrive’ as focus, names Pierson as president 2018-19 Florence Area Chamber of Commerce Board President Russ Pierson talks about the chamber’s theme of “thriving” during the annual report at Three Rivers Casino Resort last week. By Chantelle Meyer Siuslaw News INSIDE Florence Area Chamber of Commerce held its annual meeting on June 14 at Three Rivers Casino Resort’s Event Center. “Our theme this year is going to be ‘Thrive,’” said Chamber Executive Director Bettina Hannigan. “This is because we’re the kind of community that can thrive through adversity.” During the meeting, the chamber bid farewell to past board members, welcomed the new board and encouraged chamber and community members to mingle and munch on the catered hors d’oeurves. The chamber’s annual meeting highlight- Classifieds. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Community. . . . . . . . . . . . . Kid Scoop . . . . . . . . . . . . . Library Tidings . . . . . . . . . . . B6 A3 B5 A5 Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A4 Records . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A2 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B Weather Data . . . . . . . . . . . A2 CHANTELLE MEYER/SIUSLAW NEWS THIS WEEK ’ S TODAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY 61 56 63 53 66 53 67 53 WEATHER Full Forecast, A3 ed accomplishments from the past year and showed a clear path for the chamber board moving forward. “Our membership has grown in the past two years by almost 30 percent. We are at 360 members right now, up from 273,” Hannigan said. “I think our community is seeing that the chamber is really an eco- nomic driver, and we’re proud of that.” See CHAMBER page 10A S IUSLAW N EWS 2 S ECTIONS | 18 P AGES C OPYRIGHT 2018