Water and sewer rates going up, wings and wheels a sucess, gala goers taste for food share

Water and waste-water rate increases could be finalized tonight…

The Florence City Council is being asked to take final action tonight on approving a 20-percent increase in waste-water rates and an accompanying hike of eight-percent for water rates. In addition, the council will most likely approve a $2-per-month fee that would be used to pay for street lighting. All told, residential utility customers in Florence that get water from the city will pay about $10-per month more beginning July First. The increased fees are as a result of higher operating costs according to Public Works Director Mike Miller who explained the potential increases to the council earlier this month.

The Council will also deal with several other important matters tonight. One of the final items on the agenda is the question of whether or not to rename Florence Garbage Dump Road. The access road to the Lane County Solid Waste Transfer Site also serves the Florence Area Humane Society. Some suggestions for new names include Estuary Drive, New Hope Lane, and Silver Lining Drive.

The council meets tonight at City Hall at seven.

Organizers say they’ll do it again. Yesterday’s first ever “Wings and Wheels’ at the Florence Municipal Airport. Two dozen different aircraft, about 75-classic autos and 30-or-so vintage military vehicles were on display along the flight-line as hundreds of visitors strolled around. The event was produced by the Oregon Coast Military Heritage Museum and it also included the observance of Flag Day.

Several hundred people were on hand for Saturday night’s Coastal Cuisine Gala to benefit Florence Food Share. Ticket sales were down, Food Share Manager Karen Lyn said there were only about a hundred tickets pre-sold but several walk-ins helped swell the crowd by the time doors opened. More than two dozen restaurants, wineries and breweries donated products for tasting during the three hour gala. The People’s Choice Award went to the Reedsport Coffee House for the second year in a row. The best ‘bite’ was judged to be Los Comprades Tacqueria and the best ‘sip’ came from Eola Hills Winery. The Prime Steak House at Three Rivers Casino was awarded the best ‘presentation’.

A Coast Guard helicopter from North Bend evacuated a man who suffered a head injury while playing basketball on a cruise ship Friday off the Oregon Coast. A Coast Guard spokesperson did not identify the 46-year old man but said he was plucked from the ship, 40-miles west of Florence, Friday afternoon and taken to River Bend Hospital in Springfield.

TAKING A LOOK INTO COAST RADIO SPORTS:

On The Schedule:

League play begins for the Three Rivers Sandblasters this evening at Siuslaw High School as they host Salem’s Post 9 at five o’clock. Airtime on Coast Radio Sports will be at 4:45.

Registration is open for the Ocean Fest Triathlon July 18th in Winchester Bay. Registrants can enter as a team or individually in any of the legs. The race will include a four-mile kayak race, eight-mile bicycle leg and a four-mile run. Entry fees go to the Gardiner-Reedsport Lions Club. Entry information can be found at the Reedsport-Winchester Bay Chamber of Commerce.