New homes in Old Town

Posted: Friday, Feb 3rd, 2012
A new house is installed in Old Town Thursday, high in the trees and completely blending in with its surroundings. Amen Fisher, who, with wife Maria, designs and builds Given Back Bird Houses, hung the driftwood, maple and manzanita structure in Old Town Park. He has installed other custom bird houses in the yards by UR Worth It, the Kyle ...more

Dunes City’s councilors go for the goals

Posted: Friday, Feb 3rd, 2012
Promoting Dunes City as "a nice place to live" was the impetus for many of the goals city councilors championed during their goal-setting session held Jan. 25.
"We would like more regional visibility," said Mayor Rebecca Ruede this week, adding that often the local media has focused on negative stories, when a lot of good things are happening in Dunes ...more

Where will these roads take us in 2035?

Posted: Friday, Feb 3rd, 2012
The City of Florence presented a detailed draft of its long-range transportation system plan at a public meeting Tuesday night at the Florence Events Center. A small crowd turned out to view lists and maps of potential roadway improvements that could head off transportation issues between now and the year 2035, depending on the area's growth and development. This meeting, ...more

Small setbacks delay child care center opening

Posted: Friday, Feb 3rd, 2012
There was no heat or furniture and only natural light in the new Quality Child Care of Florence (QCCF) child center during its Jan. 31 open house, but the friendly spirit of newly hired center director Jennifer Connor and QCCF President Sally Wantz kept the place warm.
Connor has worked with children throughout most of her career -- in ...more

Mapleton mows Mohawk

Posted: Friday, Feb 3rd, 2012
Mapleton: 34 Mohawk: 28

The Sailors continued their bid for a Mountain West League play-off spot on Tuesday, edging out Mohawk on the road to move three games ahead of third-place Lowell.
Mapleton had well-balanced scoring, matching an equally balanced defense that squelched an Indians' rally for a six-point win, 34-28.
Junior guard Abbie Webb led the Sailors ...more

Chamber hosts Siuslaw Awards gala evening

Posted: Tuesday, Jan 31st, 2012
Women and their businesses commanded the spotlight Friday night during the annual Siuslaw Awards ceremony. The event is sponsored by the Florence Area Chamber of Commerce and springs from the annual selection of a First Citizen and Future First Citizen, a tradition that has been honored since 1958.
More than a dozen commercial entities were named in the categories of ...more

Juvenile with BB gun arrested near middle school

Posted: Tuesday, Jan 31st, 2012
A 14-year-old male was arrested Friday when Florence police responded to calls that someone was pointing a rifle at Siuslaw Middle School.
Based on the description provided by callers, police found the boy and that he had a BB gun.
According to Ethel Angal, special programs director for the Siuslaw School District, the elementary and middle schools responded quickly ...more

Assessing the damage

Posted: Friday, Jan 27th, 2012
A team of government officials descended on Mapleton Monday to measure first-hand the scale of damages left by last week's flood and wind storms.
The group, which met with Mapleton fire and rescue workers and local engineer Mike McAllister, included Congressman Peter DeFazio, Lane County Commissioner Jay Bozievich and county emergency management officials Linda Cook and Sheriff Tom Turner, ...more

Plea bargain made in bear-shooting case

Posted: Friday, Jan 27th, 2012
Florence resident Blake Christensen, 29, pleaded no contest Tuesday to charges of first-degree animal abuse in connection with the Nov. 12 shooting of a bear cub in a neighborhood near Sandpines Golf Links.
"It came down to the prosecutor making an offer that would avoid all the costs of trial," said Christensen. "I don't have to pay $10,000 ...more

Old Town Coffee owner proposes Port Plaza

Posted: Friday, Jan 27th, 2012
Ideas to add pizazz and activity in Old Town, a recap of progress for a Siuslaw Estuary Trail, and a spot for an electric vehicle charging station were some of the issues brought before the Port of Siuslaw Board of Commissioners at Wednesday night's meeting.
Julie Strecker, owner of Old Town Coffee Company, situated behind the port office on ...more

Flash Mob for Life

Posted: Tuesday, Jan 24th, 2012
Nancy Bosket, above left, dances in Florence's first known "flash mob" to the song, "Do You Believe in Magic?," during Monday night's kickoff party for Relay For Life, held at Best Western Pier Point Inn. Glenna and Woody Woodbury, top right, share stories of their experience with fighting cancer as survivor and caregiver. Keynote speaker Jim Clark of Oregon Pacific ...more

High water rescues

Posted: Tuesday, Jan 24th, 2012
The aftermath of major flooding of the Siuslaw River left many with yards of debris and mud to clear up, but for some, what is also left behind are memories of the kind acts of others.
Nancy Stadtlander, 66, a 25-year resident of Swisshome, credits the efforts of local medical and rescue personnel with keeping her alive during the ...more

Chamber announces award nominees

Posted: Tuesday, Jan 24th, 2012
The fifth annual Siuslaw Awards event is fast approaching -- it's this Friday, Jan. 27. The gala event was established by the Florence Area Chamber of Commerce to recognize excellence in the local business community by distributing awards in Excellence in Customer Service, Curb Appeal, Spirit of Community, Community Caring and the Stu Johnston Business of the Year Award.
...more

Storm warnings for Northwest still in effect

Posted: Tuesday, Jan 24th, 2012
The National Weather Service issued another flood watch yesterday in effect through tonight, Wednesday, Jan. 25, for rivers and creeks in northwest Oregon and southwest Washington.
The flood watch includes the following areas:
North Oregon coast, central Oregon coast, Coast Range of northwest Oregon, central Coast Range of western Oregon, Lower Columbia, Greater Portland Metro Area, central Willamette Valley, south ...more