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About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 31, 2019)
8A | TUESDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2019 | SIUSLAW NEWS Community Voices Life with MS — Between a rock By Lloyd Little Special to Siuslaw News I n late August I asked my PC physi- cian for a prescrip- tion for physical Ther- apy sessions. I told him my bal- ance and stamina are becoming an issue with my daily activities. I hoped physical thera- py may help me main- tain or improve my leg strength. After two months of twice a week sessions I am experi- encing mixed results. As an MS warrior I am determined to maintain my mobility for as long as I possibly can. I have five young grandchildren, with the possibility of more to come, and I want to share and contribute to their childhood experi- ences. I hope the therapy will add years to my mobility. The problem with MS warriors is fa- tigue. There are many types of fatigue. I am interested in im- proving my leg strength and endurance. This is when the rock and a hard place come into play. Normally, my fatigue affects me from early afternoon regardless of my daily activities up to then. My goal is to strengthen the remain- ing muscles still receiv- ing nerve impulses to delay the onset of the fatigue. What has happened is the therapy sessions leave me tired. I need total rest following the therapy if I am to par- ticipate in any after- noon activities. I am to the point of selecting which activi- ties I can enjoy with my grandchildren. Nerve signals to the muscles of the MS warrior are compro- mised. There is a new drug that is capable of myelin regeneration. If the myelin is restored the pathways for nerves will once again be use- able. The timeline is five years from today. Until this time I will need to gage the level of thera- py that will strengthen but not deplete my en- ergy reserves. Will this therapy en- able me to maintain or improve my mobility? It may or may not, only I get to deter- mine the answer to that question. Winter weather, busy highways mean more reasons to drive with extra care The Lane County Sheriff ’s Office and Lane County transportation planners are reminding drivers to slow down and make sure everyone makes it home this holi- day season. “This is the most dan- gerous time of year for drivers due to fewer day- light hours, slippery road conditions, more move- ment of game animals, and winter weather such as snow and ice,” said Lane County Sheriff Cliff Harrold. “While we can’t control when it freezes or when that deer steps out onto the road, we can control our speed which has a direct impact on how long it takes to stop your car and whether those involved in a crash survive.” Lane County has been near the top of the list for the number of fatal crashes compared to oth- er Oregon counties for several years. In 2018, there were 7 fatal crashes on county roads, and we have al- ready seen 12 fatalities on County roads in 2019 — six of those in September alone. Transportation safe- ty is a significant public health issue and priority in Lane County. In 2017, Lane County joined the National Strat- egy on Highway Safety, known as Toward Zero Deaths, and adopted a countywide Transporta- tion Safety Action Plan to proactively respond to fatal and severe-injury collisions. Most fatal collisions are roadway departures involving excessive speed and are preventable. More information about Lane County’s ef- forts to improve road safety can be found at lanecounty.org/toward zerodeaths. Ladies of Elks accpeting applications for annual education scholarships The Florence Ladies of Elks B.P.O.E. #1858 is now offering applications for scholarships and vo- cational training to any graduating senior from the local high schools of Siuslaw, Mapleton, Reed- sport and Triangle Lake who plan to attend an ac- credited college, univer- sity or trade/vocational educational program. This year, there is a new application format for Siuslaw and Maple- ton. Students are advised to contact their counselor to complete the applica- tion process. The new applications have been mailed out to Reedsport and Triangle Lake. Students are advised to contact their counselor to request the application packet. The deadline for all applications is March 13, with awards to be an- nounced in April. Funds for the schol- arships awarded by the Ladies of Elks are accu- mulated through fund- raising projects held through-out the year. Ring in New Year tonight with special events, entertainment at Three Rivers Casino and Resort Stop by Three Rivers Casino Resort in Flor- ence to celebrate the coming New Year. This New Years’ Eve, Three Rivers Casino Re- sort will be offering free, live entertainment in both the Event Center and Blue Bills Sports Bar and Tap Room. The resort offers a wide variety of entertainment and dining options that is sure to delight and en- gage guests of all ages. Every Saturday in De- cember from 7 to 10 p.m., people can win $100 cash as well as 100 entries into the giveaway for a Ford Raptor. For every 50 points earned, people receive one entry into the drawing. On Dec. 31 at 8 p.m., Call-for-artists issued for City’s ‘Art Exposed’ program The City of Florence is inviting emerging, mid-career and estab- lished artists to submit their work to the Public Art Committee’s (PAC) program, Art Exposed, a rotating outdoor art gal- lery. The artwork will be on display throughout Flor- ence’s Historic Old Town district for a two-year pe- riod starting in the spring of 2020. Art Exposed is a ro- tating art gallery located along Bay Street, in the heart of Old Town. Cur- rently, the program has four pieces that are on display, which are due to be replaced in May 2020. The pieces are for sale to locals as well as the es- timated 750,000 people that visit Florence annu- ally. It has been one of the most successful programs of the City of Florence’s Public Art Committee, providing members of the local arts communi- ty as well as internation- al artists an opportunity to display their work in Florence. Art submitted must be available for sale to the public. Each art piece will be displayed for two years and each artist will be provided a stipend of $1,000 for installation of the art. The City of Flor- ence will be providing the bases for the art and may assist in installation. All artwork must be the original design and art- work of the entrant and suitable for viewing by all ages. Deadline for submis- sions is Friday, Jan. 24, 2020. Applications can be submitted through CaFE, an online database of national public art calls. Artists can register for free by visiting www.call- forentry.org. There is a $25 fee per artist to submit work. The call for artists can be accessed at www. artist.callforentry.org/ festivals_unique_info. php?ID=7334. For more information, contact Sarah Moehrke, Community & Econom- ic Development Assis- tant, at sarah.moehrke@ ci.florence.or.us or 541- 590-4019. one lucky winner will win a brand new 2019 Ford Raptor valued at over $60,000.00. Beginning at 9:30 p.m. and playing all the way until 12:30 a.m., the party band Groove Inc. from Las Vegas will be performing. They play a variety of genres ranging from the 1960s to present day hits. This event is open and free to the public. In ad- dition, free party favors will be available while supplies last. A cash bar will be of- fered to guests wanting to purchase refreshments as well. Blue Bills will be offer- ing a special Prime Rib or Stuffed Salmon from 4 to 11 p.m. Both will be served with a choice of seasoned fries, rice pilaf or mashed potatoes, gra- vy chef ’s vegetable and a warm roll with butter all for only $25. Starting at 8:30 p.m., The Bret Lucich & Paul Biondi Experience will be helping to ring in the New Year, playing until 12:30 a.m. This variety band has a wide array of sounds. Lu- cich can do it all — play a multitude of instruments and do great imperson- ations; in combination with Bondi’s saxo-phone, this creates a unique ex- perience. For more events at Three Rivers Casino Re- sort in Florence, visit www.threeriverscasino. com.
