Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 21, 2021)
6A | SATURDAY, AUGUST 21, 2021 | SIUSLAW NEWS COVID from page 1A Twenty patients are in the ICU, with 10 needing ventilators. According to OHA, the week of Aug. 9 through Aug. 15 rep- resents a 53% increase in cases over the previous week — mark- ing the fifth consecutive week of increases. In the state, there have been 31,394 confirmed and presump- tive cases of COVID-19 among people under 18 years old. OHA is now tracking pediatric COVID-19 case data through its Tableau Public dashboard at public.tableau.com/app/profile/ oregon.health.authority.covid.19. Statewide, more than 845 Or- egonians are hospitalized for COVID-19, with 226 in ICU. Hospitals are currently at 93% capacity. “This isn’t just about beds–– it’s about having enough trained health care professionals to treat patients,” Brown said Thursday. “Our nurses, doctors, and health care workers have been on the frontlines of this pandemic––in full PPE––for over 17 months. They are being stretched to their absolute limits providing life-saving treatment for the pa- tients in their care. This puts all of us at risk. When our hospi- tals are full, there may not be a staffed bed for you if you have an unexpected medical emer- gency. When ambulances have nowhere to go, people die pre- ventable deaths.” Lane County Public Health released this visualization created by PeaceHealth showing the vaccination status of the medical group’s COVID-19 patients from April 1 through Aug. 18. COUNCIL from page 1A The council meeting began with the reading of a Procla- mation by Mayor Joe Henry which recognized an import- ant development in Ameri- can history. “Whereas, Sept. 17, 2021, marks the 234th anniversary of the drafting of the Consti- tution of the United States of America by the Constitution- Shoppe LOCAL #MyFlorence Shop. Eat. Support. SAVE. SHOP al Convention; and where- as, it is fitting and proper to officially recognize this magnificent document and Its memorable anniversary; and Whereas, it is fitting and proper to officially recognize the patriotic celebrations which will commemorate the occasion; and whereas, public law 915 guarantees the issu- ing of a proclamation each year by the President of the United States of America des- ignating Sept. 17 through 23 as Constitution Week, there- fore, I, Joe Henry, Mayor of the City of Florence, do here- by proclaim Sept. 17 through 23, 2021 to be ‘Constitution Week’ in the City of Florence and ask our citizens to reaf- firm the ideals the Framers of the Constitution had in 1787.” Following this, the pub- lic comments section of the meeting again included com- ments by activist Mike Allen, which updated the council on the Lane County actions related to the development of a countywide plan to mit- igate future climate related impacts. As the bulk of the meet- ing was related to property annexations, Florence Public Works Director Mike Mill- er was on hand to provide insight on issues related to sewage and water. Through- out the meeting, councilors engaged with Miller to clarify these types of issues. The process for annexation includes consideration from JOIN LIFEMED TODAY! SUPPORT the Florence Planning Com- mission and extensive work by Planning Department staff. All of the evening’s re- quests were approved by the Planning Commission and forwarded to the city council for final approval. Each annexation request requires coordination and communication between numerous entities. These consulting entities often in- clude Lane County Trans- portation, Siuslaw Valley Fire and Rescue, Heceta Water District and the Flor- ence Police Department. Generally, annexation requests come in the form of ordinances with an ac- companying public hearing. There may also be a request for a related zoning mod- ification connected to the proposed annexation ordi- nance. That was the case for all of Monday’s six annexation related requests, which in- cluded Ordinance No. 14 through Ordinance No. 19, Series 2021. Ordinances 16 and 17 passed unanimously. The Pear Blossom Annex- ation review was presented by Senior Planner Roxanne Johnston while the Gott and Mantzouranis requests were reviewed by Planning De- partment Director Wendy FarleyCampbell. There was also an exten- sive review of the applicable city codes which govern an- nexation. Staff entered into the re- cord the responses from ef- fected municipal and county agencies which supported the annexation as possible and legal. City Councilor Maggie Wisniewski was the singu- decompression units to free up bed space, and removing barri- ers to discharging patients who no longer require hospital-level care. This week, OHA also released information on the demograph- ics of those currently contract- ing the virus. “OHA’s most recent update on COVID-19 breakthrough cases … found that 85.6% of the 20,701 reported COVID-19 cases between Aug. 1 and Aug. 14 occurred in people who were unvaccinated. There were 2,982 breakthrough cases, accounting for 14.4% of all cases,” the report stated. To date, there have been 7,138 COVID-19 vaccine break- through cases in Oregon. The report shows that the rate of COVID-19 in unvaccinated peo- ple is currently approximately six times higher than in vaccinated people. Learn more about break- through cases in Oregon at www.oregon.gov/oha/covid19/ D o c u m e nt s / D at a R e p or t s / Breakthrough-Case-Re- port-08-19-2021.pdf. People can watch the governor’s Aug. 19 press conference at www.you- tube.com/watch?v=AxfQIRoP- jyw. To learn more about COVID-19, visit healthoregon. org/coronavirus and covidvacc ine.oregon.gov, as well as lane county.org/coronavirus and lane county.org/vaxclinics. lar holdout on approval of the evening’s zoning change requests, as she expressed concern with changing the density of these locations from low to medium. Wisniewski explained the reasoning behind her “yes” vote on the first annexation request, which did not in- clude a related ordinance for a zoning change, and her vote against the two later re- quests. After the discussions and votes on annexation, City Manager Erin Reynolds spoke about the upcoming celebration scheduled for the 25th anniversary of the Florence Events Center. Reynolds informed the council that the scheduled recognition will be held as planned. “The city is proceeding with all of our plans for the Florence Events Center cel- ebration. Our contingency planning to this point has been active and everything is planned to be outdoors, predominantly at the Flor- ence Events Center,” Reyn- olds said. “We will continue evaluating the situation and making adjustments as nec- essary, but at this point we are hopeful that we will see everyone there.” For more information, visit ci.florence.or.us. We are open and ready to assist you! Get Results...List With Tim. Tim Sapp Owner / Principal Broker 541 999-8230 Price Reduced 87808 Saltaire St – Nice 3 bdrm, 2 bath home with open living and dining area, large master bedroom with attached bathroom, and a peaceful back deck. Easy- care landscaping on this quiet, dead end street. $420,000. #3228-21428023 1749 Highway 101 • 541-997-1200 $65 Per Year WesternLaneAmbulance.com __________________ Serving Western Lane County Since 1976 Mission Statement: “To provide quick, effi cient, professional emergency medical services, transport, and community education with the highest standards of excellence and compassion.” Renewal Applications are in the mail and can be dropped off at one of two secure locations: • 2625 Highway 101 • 410 Ninth Street For Questions or an Application Call 541-997-9614 or Visit: WesternLaneAmbulance.com The governor announced two new vaccination measures to ad- dress the hospital crisis, as well as the education system as schools prepare to reopen. Oregon’s vaccination require- ment for health care workers will no longer have a testing alterna- tive. Health care workers will be required to be fully vaccinated by Oct. 18 or six weeks after full FDA approval, whichever is later. In addition, all teachers, ed- ucators, support staff and vol- unteers in K-12 schools will be required to be fully vaccinated by Oct. 18 or six weeks after full FDA approval, whichever is later. “I know we had all hoped that, by now, we could put the chal- lenges of 2020 behind us. But after the last year and a half, I also know what we are capable of when we all work together. Last year, we stood together for our nurses, doctors, and health care workers. We saved lives by following science and data. I’m asking you to do it again for our health care heroes, vulnerable community members and Ore- gon’s kids,” Brown stated. “Our best tools to keep our schools, businesses and communities open are wearing masks and get- ting vaccinated.” The governor outlined steps Oregon is taking to support hospitals during the ongoing surge in cases and hospitaliza- tions, including deploying the National Guard and nurse strike teams, establishing temporary Johnston Motor Company Since 1939 2150 Hwy. 101 • Florence (541) 997-3475 • 1-800-348-3475 Join a League! Tuesday Night - Open League Wednesday Aft ernoon - Seniors Wednesday Night - Mixed Social Th ursday Night - Men’s League Friday Aft ernoon - Seniors Holiday Bowl 27th and Highway101. Florence Everyone is Welcome 541-997-3332 Holiday at Bowl
