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Siuslaw News Florence, Oregon Wednesday, March 27, 2024

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Police Chief, Deputy D.A. optimistic about HB4002

Number 13 • 133 years

The City of Florence will be installing an estuary trail through the treeline running from Highway 126 to Quince Street. Photo provided by Florence Police Department

By TONY REED Siuslaw News

With Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek’s promise to sign HB4002 into law, local law enforcement agencies are working to create programs to divert Florence Police Chief John Pitcher said the HB4002 would essentially roll back Measure 110 and “re-criminalize” drug possession in Oregon. Pitcher explained that from his perspective, Measure 110 made promises that weren’t kept. “Several years ago possession of drugs was a felony,” he said. “Then there was a change that had to do with the jails being so crowded and different things. They reduced a lot of them to misdemeanors and Ballot Measure 110 [was adopted]… a lot of people believed that criminalizing drugs made it hard for everyone who was struggling with drugs, so let’s decriminalize it and work on rehab. That’s what measure 110 did.” Pitcher said the effort to create rehab facilities and get people options never happened.” Pitcher said that from the department’s perspective, it was hard to tell where the funding from measure 110 went. “From what we can see, it never went to anyone,” he said. “ there was nowhere to send it.” “Ballot measure 110, the way it came out was that officers will give a citation and if they call the rehabilitation center, they be enrolled in a program,” he said. Pitcher said that after receiving a citation, people were supposed to call the Sheriff’s Office, Then later, calling was no longer a requirement, and requirements became even more lax. See HB4002, page A9

ESTUARY TRAIL APPROVED FOR FLORENCE A Conditional Use Permit application was submitted by Public Works Director Mike Miller on behalf of the City of Florence to develop a trail constructed of compressed fter continuing from Feb. 27, the gravel with associated parking area and trail Florence Planning Commission head. The trail will essentially follow the tree approved a conditional use perline from just south of Highway 126 near mit for the City to construct an estuary trail Munsel Creek to Quince Street about a half to connect Highway 126 to Quince Street, block south of the Florence Event Center. across from the Florence Events Center. At Community Development Director Wendy both meetings, commissioners heard lengthy public comment and had discussions regarding Farley-Campbell said further review showed lighting, hours, and the potential for the trail to that the proposed parking lot would need a variance. attract transient and homeless campers.

By TONY REED Siuslaw News

“That is an oversight that we did not identify earlier in the process,” she said. “We did notice for a Conditional Use Permit, so we thought we were at CUP and got it down to design review but now, we’re back at a variance.” She said the correct noticing was done but the applicable criteria were not met. Farley Campbell recommended that the commission approve the resolution for the trail portion of the project and come back later for the variance discussion. Asked by Commissioner Laurie Green asked if See TRAIL, page A4

Siuslaw High School students meet local employers showed up,” she said. “We have a good cross section of vendors. It’s just an amazing opportunity for students to get engaged with what’s out there, find summer employment and see The floor of the Siuslaw High School gym what’s out there.” was full of students and area business repreShe said teachers have been working with sentatives March 15 for the 2nd District Career students recently to prepare them for the Fair. employment world, coaching them on everyStudents visited 35 tables to ask questions about jobs, hear from people who work in the thing from resume writing to presentation. Grzeskowiak had the first table next to the industry and even file applications for summer door at the career fair and spoke to students and other employment. about education careers and offered some Organizer Pam Hickson said the event was career counseling. He said he spoke to them inspired when she used to arrange job fairs about what they want to do and how to get for the Three Rivers Casino and had a conthere before directing some to tables at the versation with District Superintendent Andy event. Grzeskowiak and decided to bring it to the school. “Last year, we had about 30 vendors show See CAREER, page A6 up and this year we had 36 scheduled and 35 By TONY REED Siuslaw News

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