8A | SATURDAY, AUGUST 25, 2018 | SIUSLAW NEWS
LCSO
most popular riding areas and can
be accessed from South Jetty Road
on the northern end, and Siltcoos
Beach Access Road from the south
end.
Many OHV’s that utilize this
location gather at the South Jetty
Staging Area to begin their trip into
the ODNRA.
This is also where the Lane
County Sheriff ’s Office (LCSO) is
offering an OHV safety training
class on Saturday, August 25, from
10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
The class will be offered in con-
junction with the Oregon Depart-
ment of Parks and Recreation and
the United States Forest Service and
will focus on safe riding procedures
and offer courtesy vehicle sound
checks, rider fit checks and answer
general questions about OHV safe-
from page 1A
The miles of mountains of sand
provide unique opportunities for
hiking, photography, horseback
riding and camping, but one or the
area’s most popular tourist activi-
ties is off road vehicle use.
Nearly half of the land in the Or-
egon Dunes National Recreation
Area is open for off-highway vehi-
cles (OHV’s). There are three main
riding areas available to visitors:
From the South Jetty, just north of
Florence to the Siltcoos in the north
area of the dunes; Umpqua Dunes
near Winchester Bay; and from
Spinreel to Horsefall, a route that is
a few miles north of Coos Bay.
The South Jetty to Siltcoos run is
located less than a mile from Flor-
ence. This is one of the ODNRA’s
BUS
from page 1A
“We’re very proud and hap-
py to be doing this,” Haring
said. “We bought the company
four years ago, and we’ve been
working on it since the second
we bought it. To get it finally
started is amazing.”
The route is scheduled to
take 50 minutes from city to
city.
This isn’t the first time the
route has been announced,
with service originally planned
to begin July 1 in 2017, but con-
tract bids and route planning
continued to delay the project.
Earlier this year, plans had
been put in place to open the
route with yet another July 1
start day, but the project was
again delayed, this time due to
difficulties procuring a bus for
the route.
“They ordered a brand-new
bus, and it’s getting built, but it
wasn’t ready by July 1,” Haring
said.
In fact, the official bus is still
being worked on. Instead of
facing another batch of delays,
the company decided to use a
temporary bus to ensure a Sep-
tember opening.
“We’ll be getting a perma-
nent bus once it’s ready in a few
months,” Haring said. “It’s a
bigger deal than I ever thought
it was.”
While there are current-
ly three stops planned for the
route, things could change by
next year as this is only a pilot
program.
“Since it’s a pilot program,
we need good ridership to keep
this going longer,” Haring said.
“I know people want it, but if
they don’t in high numbers the
first year, it’s possible we’ll lose
it in the first year. People need
to use it if they want to keep it.”
But Haring is hopeful that
ty.
As part of the Lane County Sher-
iff ’s Office commitment to public
safety, the sheriff ’s office maintains
a full-time deputy position assigned
to patrol the Florence area dunes of
the ODNRA.
State, county and U.S. Forest Ser-
vice law enforcement personnel
patrol the dunes area and enforce
permit and riding regulations.
OHV permits are required by the
state when riding on state land and
the State of Oregon administers
those permits and the regulations
overseeing their use.
Permits can be obtained from the
Oregon Parks and Recreation De-
partment and authorized permit
agents.
If you have a registration from
another state, it may be valid in Or-
the route will be a success, es-
pecially considering a recent
rise in use of the Rhody Ex-
press.
“It’s gotten a lot busier,” Har-
ing said. “We have way more
riders than we did a year ago.
It’s going really well.”
The Florence-Yachats Con-
nector route will be timed with
the Rhody Express, allowing
riders to connect from the
Yachats route to all points Flor-
ence.
The Yachats route is hop-
ing to encourage ridership by
keeping rates low, with a one-
way ticket costing $2.50, and a
round trip for $5.
Haring hopes that as in-
terest builds for the route, so
will suggestions to improve it.
With periodic surveys, as well
as the ability to comment on
the company’s Facebook page,
Haring encourages everyone
to voice their opinions on how
CONCEALED CARRY
PERMIT CLASS
MULTI-STATE
WA
MT
WI
SD
NY
MI
WY
IA
PA
NE
IL
UT
CO
CA
AZ
OH
IN
OK
NM
MO
NJ
MD
WV
KS
NH
MA
CT RI
DE
VA
KY
NC
TN
AR
SC
MS
AL
GA
TX
LA
September 5th
March
2
1pm
& 6pm
1 pm Event
& 6 pm
Florence
Center
Vancouver
Trap St.
Club
715 Quince
11100 NE 76th Street
Walk-in’s welcome.
FL
AK
HONORED
RESIDENT NON PERMIT
NOT HONORED
Multi-State:
Multi-State: $80.00
$80.00
Valid in Included
Washington
Oregon
No Fee
Oregon
Included
No
Fee
Oregon Only: $45.00
Oregon Only: $45.00
Shaun Curtain 360-921-2071
or email: FirearmTrainingNW@gmail.com | www.FirearmTrainingNW.com
Class III OHV (motorcycle) —
An off-highway motorcycle weigh-
ing 600 pounds or less.
Rules for riding in the Oregon
Dunes National Recreation Area
require riders to display red or or-
ange flags measuring 8" x 12" at a
height of nine feet above the ground
on all vehicles.
Helmets are required for riders in
certain age ranges, and other regu-
lations apply as well.
Detailed information about the
riding rules, trails and other ser-
vices at the dunes can be obtained
from the Oregon Dunes Visitor
Center in Reedsport or by visiting
the website for the Siuslaw National
Forest.
• Yachats: Little Log Church
at 3rd and Pontiac
• Florence to Yachats sched-
ule:
• Grocery Outlet to Wash-
burne: 8 a.m., 11 a.m., 2 p.m.
and 5:45 p.m.
• Washburne to Yachats: 8:30
a.m., 11:30 a.m., 2:30 p.m. and
6:15 p.m.
• Yachats arrive: 8:50 a.m.,
11:50 a.m. 2:50 p.m. and 6:35
p.m.
• Yachats to Florence sched-
ule:
• Yachats to Washburne: 9
a.m., noon, 3 p.m. and 6:45
p.m.
• Washburne to Florence:
9:20 a.m., 12:20 p.m., 3:20 p.m.
and 7:05 p.m.
• Florence arrive: 9:50 a.m.,
12:50 p.m., 3:50 p.m. and 7:35
p.m.
Florence Food Share
Ask us about volunteer opportunities.
2190 Spruce Street • P.O.Box 2514
Florence, Oregon 97439
(541) 997-9110
info@fl orencefoodshare.org
Florence Van Fans
We are looking for new volunteers to join our
team and help out with new ideas and support.
Van Fan volunteers raise money to help keep
the busses running 5 days a week transporting
cancer patients from Florence to Eugene. Our
success is because of our volunteers. Please help
us help others by volunteering your time.
Meet 1st Wednesday of every month
Shorewood Senior Living
Luncheon Meeting (8.50)
1451 Spruce St
541-991-3209 or sgelmstedt@gmail.com
VT
MN
NV
the route is run and where it
will stop.
Suggestions, along with
questions regarding the route,
can also be called into the com-
pany at 541-997-8520.
The pickup/drop-off loca-
tions are as follows:
• Florence: Grocery Outlet
Market located at 2066 High-
way 101
• Carl G. Washburne State
Park
ME
ND
OR
ID
egon for a limited time.
In addition to the OHV permit
issued by the State of Oregon for
your vehicle, the Siuslaw Nation-
al Forest also requires recreation
permits for most campgrounds and
day use staging areas. Check the
specific area where you will be rid-
ing for details.
According to state regulations,
there are three classes of off-high-
way vehicles. They are described as
follows:
Class I OHV (ATV) — A motor-
ized, off-highway vehicle 50" wide
or less that weighs 800 pounds or
less, travels on 3 or 4 tires, and has a
saddle or seats.
Class II OHV (sandrail, Jeep)
— A motor vehicle capable of
off-highway travel that weighs
more than 800 pounds.
Habitat for Humanity
Volunteer
Get
involved
Donate
Do your part and
volunteer today
to help support
these local non-proft
organizations in
our community!
Florence Habitat for Humanity ReStore is a place
to put your talents to work.
From customer service to furniture repair, we offer volunteer opportunities
geared toward individual interests and skills. By giving your time, you help
Florence Habitat ReStore do more to support building projects that benefi t
families in our community.
2016 Hwy 101 or email volunteer@fl orencehabitat.org
Store hours 9am – 5pm Monday- Saturday 541-997-5834
www.facebook.com/restorefl orence
Meals on Wheels and Cafe 60
Meals on Wheels are available to people over the age of 60 who cannot get
out much due to illness or advanced age and who are not eating properly,
regardless of income. Cafe 60 is available for those who prefer to make new
friends in a dining room setting.
1570 Kingwood, PO Box 2313, Florence
541-997-5673
laneseniormeals.org
Peace Harbor Volunteers
Join the Peace Harbor Hospital Volunteers, you will fi nd an area
of interest in a caring organization.
400 9th Street, Florence
541-997-8412 ext. 2218
Sign Up For Fall/ Winter Leagues!
Looking for something different to do
this winter? Break out of your old
routine and join us for good old
fashioned fun at Holiday Bowl.
We have plenty of leagues for
men, women, kids and
social leagues.
League Bowling begins
after Labor Day Weekend!
Everyone is Welcome to Join a League at
Holiday Bowl
Florence, OR • 997-3332
Us Too Florence
Saving men one PSA test at a time. “Someone to talk to...who understands!”
541-997-6626
maribob@oregonfast.net
www.ustoofl orence.org
To include your organization
in this directory,
please call us
@ 541-997-3441