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About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 12, 2020)
E BR RS 2020 SIUSLAW NEWS: A LOOK B ACK AT 130 Y EARS EA CEL SN S SIU THESIUSLAWNEWS.COM SATURDAY EDITION | SEPTEMBER 12, 2020 | $1.00 W 1890 AW NE L S INSIDE — A7 AT I N G 1 30 Y ‘Our city is Constructing a gateway prepared to help these people’ Siuslaw News Community prepares to help those affected by wildfires WEATHER By Chantelle Meyer Siuslaw News Much of the western United States has been blanketed by a thick layer of smoke since Monday night as eastern-blowing winds brought dry heat to California, Oregon and Washington. This has compounded already dry conditions and sparked wildfires in both rural and heavily populated areas. In the first days of an emergency of this scale, official reports and social media pages have been limited to getting areas evacu- ated and keeping people safe. “In an emergency like this, and this is a fast-moving emergency, the first 24-48-72 hours in this case, all you’ll see those responders talking about is life and safety,” said Megan Messmer, City of Florence Public Information Officer and coordinator of Western Lane Emergency Opera- tions Group. “They’re getting people to safety because it is basically now or never for some of those areas.” The City of Florence partners with many governments and agencies across the state, including Lincoln County, where the Echo Mountain Complex fire is burning, and the eastern part of Lane County, where the Holiday Farm Fire is burning. Like other groups, it is in commu- nication with the Red Cross and is ready to assist with evacuees. “In the first few days, you don’t see a lot of where people can donate from the official sources. … Once people are safe, then we can figure out the community can wrap around them and provide the support and help they need,” Messmer said. “That’s what you’re starting to see yesterday and today.” Towards the end of this week, local community members started several drives for water, food and other supplies. Unfortunately, how- ever, it was unclear on what could be accepted by the Red Cross. Other than financial donations, the threat of COVID-19 has changed how peo- ple can give in an emergency. See COMMUNITY page 5A PHOTOS BY MARK BRENNAN/SIUSLAW NEWS COMMUNITY T he installation of one of the main features of the ReVision Florence project began this week as the Old Town Gateway Memorial structure was completed. The project has taken years to come to fruition and the cost of the gateway is more than $425,000 to this point. David Dougherty, the designer working with MurraySmith Engineers and the City of Florence on the project, said he was pleased with the first stages of the install. “It seems to be going well up to this point,” he said on Thursday. “We are working on the lighting inside the columns.” Dougherty said crews planned on having the gateway ready for a test of the lighting last night. Smoke and fire cause concern, confusion, rumors on edge right now, including our for people to be cautious when firefighters. We are reasonably disposing of dry materials or any- certain that the Sweet Creek fire thing else that could potentially The recent extreme fire events was intentionally set but none of start a fire. throughout California and the our other recent fires were con- “For example, be very cautious Pacific Northwest are dramati- sidered to be suspicious,” said when dumping ashes from a bar- cally impacting becue. They may the lives of res- seem to be cool, idents in Flor- “We are still responding to multiple calls each day but it only takes ence. Drifting for individuals using chain saws or with small fires in one hidden em- banks of smoke ber to be ex- their yard. Anything that can produce a spark is not al- posed to a little and toxic partic- ulates have dark- lowed during these extreme fire conditions. ... It only breeze to start ened local skies takes one fire associated with strong, hot winds to start it actively burn- since Monday, a conflagration.” ing again,” said finally lessening — Siuslaw Valley Fire and Rescue Chief Michael Schick Schick. later in the week In fact on as Pacific winds Friday, Lane began moving the massive clouds SVFR Chief Michael Schick. “We County Waste Management an- of smoke away from the area. had two dumpster fires occur nounced that it had temporarily There has also been a series about the same time the other closed seven of its waste transfer of smaller fires responded to by day but, geographically, they were stations through the weekend due Siuslaw Valley Fire and Rescue very far apart and neither is be- to hazardous air conditions, in- (SVFR), raising concern among lieved to be arson.” cluding the Swisshome transfer residents and sparking un- Schick explained that dumpster station. Florence remains open as founded rumors on social media fires are most often due to the of press time Friday. that arsonists were at work in the improper disposal of materials Another problematic situation area. — car ash trays, cigarette butts, has been the dryness of the air, as “These are certainly unusual cleaning solutions, small batteries well as grass and brush. times, and everyone is extremely — making it extremely important See FIRES page 6A Where to donate water and supplies INSIDE — A3 LIFESTYLE By Mark Brennan Siuslaw News to move forward with the applica- tion process. Chairperson John Murphey asked for a roll call, led the pledge of alle- giance and turned the meeting over to Florence Senior Planner Roxanne Johnston, who updated the commis- sion on the application process. The applicant, Mercedes Serra of 3J Consulting, is coordinating the applications on behalf of APIC Florence Holdings, LLC, which is seeking approvals for the expansive proposed PUD. The project would include 31 detached single-family residences, 49 single-family attached residences, and 46 multi-family units. The properties are comprised of approx. 9.28 acres located at the NE intersection of Rhododendron Drive and 35th Street, zoned Mo- bile/Manufactured Home Residen- tial District (RMH) and regulated by Florence City Code Title 10, Chap- ter 10. The scale of the PUD has caused concern among surrounding neigh- bors who are questioning both the city and developers on a number of aspects of the pending approv- al, including concerns over major traffic increases in the area, as well as the manner in which stormwa- ter will be collected and disbursed. Other concerns include the need for a turn indicator on Rhododendron Drive and the overall livability of the neighborhoods surrounding the de- velopment. The city has determined that a number of conditions must be met by the applicant before final approv- al can be given and construction would be allowed to begin. See MEETINGS page 6A Community Voices INSIDE — B RECORDS Obituaries & emergency response logs Inside — A2 SIDE SHOW Activities and comics every Saturday Inside — B4 CLASSIFIEDS Listings and public notices Inside — B5 FOLLOW US FOR THE LATEST NEWS : /S IUSLAW N EWS @S IUSLAW N EWS T HE S IUSLAW N EWS . COM S IUSLAW N EWS 2 S ECTIONS | 18 P AGES C OPYRIGHT 2020 The Sept. 8 Florence Planning Commission meeting had a short agenda as the two-and half-hour meeting was primarily focused on the Planned Unit Development (PUD) planned at 35th Street and Rhododendron Drive. Commis- sioners had continued the testimony from Aug. 25 regarding the devel- opment meeting in order to gather materials required by the city and the planning commission in order VOL. 130, NO. 73 F LORENCE , O REGON Partly cloudy with a high of 61 and a low tonight of 49. Full forecast on A3 City of Florence Planning, Transportation committees meet By Mark Brennan Siuslaw News NEWS & VIEWS THAT DEFINE OUR COMMUNITY Gutter Covers • Gutter Service