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About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (April 8, 2020)
2A | WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8, 2020 | SIUSLAW NEWS On The Record City’s annual residential backflow testing taking place this month With spring also comes the City’s annual residential premise isolation backflow assembly testing. Beginning this month, the City of Florence will begin the annual testing of residential premise isola- tion backflow assemblies throughout the City. These tests are required for compliance through the City Code and the Oregon Administrative Rules to help protect the city water system. The City is contracting with Olson LLC to per- form these tests during the spring. Olson person- nel will be conducting the tests during the next several weeks in order to complete the testing cycle in a timely manner. Olson LLC personnel have been completing the City’s residential backflow assembly testing for the last several years. In an effort to reduce the risk of contracting and/or transmitting the COVID–19 virus, Olson LLC staff will be practicing social distancing anytime they have an interaction with a customer. As well, they are working independently and travel- ing in individual company vehicles. For the majority of our residential customers, the testing of the premise iso- lation backflow preven- tion assembly is simple and quick. Most customers won’t even know that the testing crew has been to their residence. The testing of the back- flow assembly does require the water to be turned off for a few minutes while the test procedure is performed. The testing procedure is to knock on the door and let the resident know what the crew is doing. Again, Olson LLC personnel will practice social distancing at all times. If water is being used, the contractor will move to the next location until the water is no longer being used by the resident. In the event no one answers the door, the installer visually inspects the meter to make sure there isn’t an appliance using water or to make sure the homeowner isn’t in the shower and didn’t hear the door knock. The City also realizes that there are some customers that don’t answer the door because they assume the installer is a solicitor, and in these cases Olson LCC staff will rely on the visu- al inspection of the meter by observing the low flow indicator on the meter to avoid a water disruption. The contractor strives to time the 2-minute water interruption for backflow assembly test to be between usage intervals by the resi- dent, so no one is without water or inconvenienced. There can be rare occa- sions when an expansion tank is installed in the home, that a shower or ap- pliance can be started with the water turned off at the street and water will appear to be available for a short time. This is rare and Olson LCC staff will try to avoid the situation by commu- nicating directly with the resident. Oregon Department of Revenue warns of increased COVID-19 scams Department of Revenue warns of COVID-19 scams The Oregon Department of Revenue is warning tax- payers of calls and email phishing attempts related to the novel coronavirus, or COVID-19, pandemic and federal government re- lief payments. These scams can lead to tax-related fraud and identity theft. Taxpayers should watch not only for emails but text messages, websites and so- cial media attempts that request money or personal information. “Oregon taxpayers should take extra precau- tion to guard their personal information from these un- scrupulous scam attempts,” said Oregon Department of Revenue Director Nia Ray. “Most people who qualify to receive a stimulus check do not need to sign up, ap- ply, or verify any personal information, online or else- where.” The Oregon Department of Revenue and the IRS re- mind taxpayers that scam- mers may: • Emphasize the words “stimulus check” or “stim- ulus payment.” The official term is economic impact payment. • Ask the taxpayer to sign over their economic impact payment check to them. • Ask by phone, email, text, or social media for ver- ification of personal and/or banking information say- ing that the information is needed to receive or speed up their economic impact payment. • Suggest they can get a tax refund or economic impact payment faster by working on the taxpayer’s behalf. This scam could be conducted by social media or even in person. • Mail the taxpayer a bo- gus check, perhaps in an odd amount, then tell the taxpayer to call a number or verify information online in order to cash it. Taxpayers should look out for phishing emails asking them to verify their personal information in or- der to receive an economic stimulus check from the government. While talk of economic stimulus checks has been in the news cycle, government WEATHER DATA D ATE Earth System Research Laboratory Global Monitoring Division Dec. 2019: 412.02 ppm Dec. 2018: 408.94 ppm Last updated: March 5, 2020 H IGH March 31 April 1 April 2 April 3 April 4 April 5 April 6 51 48 48 49 45 56 48 L OW R AIN 38 36 33 33 34 42 40 0.27 0.34 0.10 0.03 0.42 0.92 0.08 agencies are not sending unsolicited emails seeking taxpayers’ private informa- tion in order to send them money. Phishing emails may also claim to be related to: Char- itable contributions, gen- eral financial relief, airline carrier refunds, fake cures and vaccines, as well as fake testing kits. The IRS doesn’t initiate contact with taxpayers by email, text messages, or so- cial media channels to re- quest personal or financial information. People should be alert to scammers posing as the IRS to steal personal information. The IRS initiates most contacts through regular mail delivered by the Unit- ed States Postal Service. Reporting coronavi- rus-related or other phish- ing attempts Those who receive unso- licited emails, text messag- es, or social media attempts to gather information that appear to be from either the IRS or an organization closely linked to the IRS, such as the Electronic Fed- eral Tax Payment System (EFTPS), should forward it to phishing@irs.gov. Taxpayers are encour- aged not to engage potential scammers online or on the phone. Learn more about reporting suspected scams by going to the Report Phishing and Online Scams page on IRS.gov. Official IRS information about the COVID-19 pan- demic and economic im- pact payments can be found refund, or make payments. You can also call 503-378- 4988 or 800-356-4222 (toll- free) or email questions. dor@oregon.gov for addi- tional assistance. For TTY for hearing- or speech-im- paired, call 800-886-7204. OFF BAY STREET BISTRO Dunes Memorial Chapel New Hours! Take Out or Delivery serving Florence and the surrounding area Open Th ursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday New Hours: 12:30 pm to 6:30 pm (closed Monday and Tuesday) Pizzas, calzones, paninis “ Our Family, Serving Your Family” Burial & Cremation Service • Onsite Crematory Columnbarium Spaces • Pre-need Planning Now Offering “READY MADE MEALS” Check out our Serving Lane, Douglas and Coos County Page for More information! Dunes Memorial Chapel 541-590-3569 165 Maple Street Florence, OR 2300 Frontage Road, Reedsport, Oregon 97467 • 541-271-2822 Life’s Short. Get Dirty. Visit us on Time for Spring Planting at the web LAUREL BAY GARDENS! T HE S IUSLAW N EWS . COM Let’s Keep Your Gardens Growing! WE WANT TO HELP YOU WITH YOUR GARDEN PROJECTS THIS SPRING! Rainfall Week: 2.16” Month: 1.89” Year: 29.55” on the Coronavirus Tax Re- lief page on IRS.gov. The page is updated quickly when new informa- tion is available. For more information on taxpayers protecting themselves, or what to do if they’re a victim of identi- ty theft, taxpayers can visit www.irs.gov, www.consum- er.ftc.gov or visit www.ore- gon.gov/dor to get forms, check the status of your S IUSLAW N EWS Courtesy of Roger Cunningham Take Advantage of our Daniel V. Stinger FLORENCE – Daniel V. Stinger (Dan), 90, died on Monday March 23, 2020 in his home surrounded by his family. Dan was a Timber Faller (aka: Widowmaker), Log- ger and Log Truck Driver for over 70 years. He retired in 2015 at age 84 due to health-related reasons. His passion was hunting. He loved to elk hunt in the coastal range for many years, but his biggest joy was hunting in Eastern Oregon, mainly John Day. At age 84, he was successful at drawing and harvesting a Pronghorn Antelope in Fields, Oregon. His greatest treasure was his family. It didn’t really matter where he went as long as he had his family with him. He was the most loving Dad, Grandpa and Papa. Even if you weren’t related to him, you where still one of his kids. He was truly loved by so many and will be missed by so many. Dan was born on October 19, 1929 in McCammon, Idaho to John Wal- ter and Anna Elizabeth Stinger. He married Vivian Jean Stinger on October 29, 1949 in Toledo, Washington. Th ey were married for 70 years. He has 11 brothers and sisters. Preceded by Walter Leland Stinger, Anna Gwenlion Stinger, Melna Stinger Nelson, Th omas Ross Stinger, John William Stinger, Keith Gill Stinger, Herchell Francis Stinger, Henry Dale Stinger, Shirley Stinger Watson, and Joseph Bert Stinger. Survived by Atherton Warren Stinger. He has 5 children. Preceded by Diana Grover. Survived by Calvin Stinger, Daniel Stinger married and preced- ed by Susan Stinger, Craig Stinger married to Leslie Stinger, and Tony Stinger. He has 10 grandchildren. Survived by Angela Grover, Misty Berg married to Justin Berg, Eric Stinger, Matthew Stinger, Shaundra Calkins married to Bruce Calkins, Jeff rey Stinger married to Kimberly Stinger, Tiff any McMillan married to Wil- liam McMillan, Crystal Ouellette married to Justin Ouellette, Heidi Lusk mar- ried to James Lusk, and Kaleb Stinger married to Heather Stinger. He is survived by his 24 great grandchildren; Madison Anderson, Chehalis Stinger, Shakina Grover, Kya Jackson, Zachary Stinger, Dalton Stinger, Shantay McGraw, Jayden Calkins, Brianna Jackson, Madelyn Stinger, Keonan McGraw, Coleton Calkins, Hadley Lusk, Kylee Stinger, Zaelyn Stinger, Kydan Calkins, Brynlie Lusk, Vaeya Ouellette, McCainley Berg, Nikila Berg, Skylyn Calkins, Taryn Stinger, Kynslee Stinger and Evelyn Stinger. Celebration of Life will be announced at a later date. FREE DELIVERY FOR THE MONTH OF APRIL plants, bark, and soil for purchases over $75.00 in the Florence Area. SEED POTATOES! VEGETABLE STARTS RHUBARB & BLUEBERRIES FRUIT TREES & BERRIES SPECIALTY CONIFERS BONSAI PLANTS Time to Fertilize Lawns & Shrubs! SLOW RELEASE LAWN FERTILIZER Five Iron ............................................... $19.95 RHODODENDRON & SHRUB FERTILIZER CFM ....................................................... $19.95 VEGETABLE GARDENS Organic Chicken Manure .................. $7.95 31 st Anniversary LCB#6718 1929-2020 Award-winning Landscaping Service Patios • Pathways • Fire Pits Outdoor Lighting • Irrigation Systems Home & Garden Décor 10% Senior Discount Every Tuesday Offering Curbside and Phone Orders New Temporary Hours Monday - Saturday 8:00 AM - 2:00 PM, Closed Sundays 88493 Hwy. 101 Florence Just 2 min. N. of Fred Meyer 997-5973 www.LaurelBayGardens.com Find us on Facebook