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Siuslaw News Wednesday, August 27, 2025 Florence, Oregon

Number 35 • 134 years

A sight seldom seen

For the second time in the last month, the Siuslaw River Bridge opened for the Aleta to pass under. Aug. 17. Spectators gathered at a few locations around the bridge to watch and a couple small motorboats also passed under before it closed. According to Oregon Department of Transportation, the bridge has opened about 16 times this year. Tony Reed photo.

Florence child care slots to increase 50% with Elm Park Early Learning Center Submitted by CHESTNUT MANAGEMENT and SIUSLAW CHILDCARE FRIENDS

A community member drops off a mattress during the City of Florence’s Black & White Recycling Event on August 16 at Siuslaw Middle School.

Florence Black & White Recycling Event Collects 170+ Items CITY OF FLORENCE

On August 16, the City of Florence brought back the Black and White Recycling day – a popular event to recycle tires, appliances, and more. The event allowed Florence residents the chance to recycle a number of items at no cost. The Florence Environmental Management Advisory Committee (EMAC) coordinated the event at See RECYCLE, Page A6

Community members were able to bring nonperishable food to the Black & White event, which volunteers then donated to Florence Food Share.

Child care access in Florence and the Siuslaw region of West Lane County will increase 50% next year with the completion of the Elm Park Early Learning Center. Developer Chestnut Management has received commitments for 87% of the cost of the center, which is designed to serve up to 16 infants, 20 toddlers and 40 pre-K children, increasing the area’s child care slots from about 150 to 230. The 5,000-square-foot center will have four 862-square-foot classrooms with attached child and adult restrooms, a kitchen, administrative and storage space, and a 2,250-square-foot outdoor play area. Head Start of Lane County (HSOLC) will provide Head Start programming in two classrooms, and

community providers will operate two classrooms. “Hopefully, the center will be the beginning of the end of our child care desert,” said Layne Morrill, the manager of Chestnut Management, LLC, who is developing the center in cooperation with HSOLC and the City of Florence. The center will be at 1025 Greenwood St., on a 0.37-acre site, part of the mixed-use Elm Park Planned Unit Development that the City of Florence Planning Commission approved in April. Construction is planned to start in November 2025 and be completed in August 2026. Elm Park Apartments, the residential component of Elm Park PUD, will include 32 affordable rental apartments (mostly twoand three-bedroom) serving families with incomes between 30% and 60% of the area median income. Construction of

the apartments began on June 13. The Florence City Council has identified housing and child care as significant opportunities for collaboration and economic development efforts in the City of Florence. Mayor Rob Ward said, “You can’t talk about finding solutions for one without the other. The Elm Park Early Learning Center and the Elm Park Apartments will help our community move the needle in filling the child care and housing needs gap in Florence.” The mayor and council “are excited to see these partnerships between existing and new organizations in Florence develop and can’t wait for this new project to help move our community forward.” “Elm Park is not just a school or an apartment building – it’s a place where families can come See ELM PARK, Page A7

City buys new dump truck SIUSLAW NEWS STAFF

The Aug. 18 meeting of the Florence City Council was procedural, for the most part, with only two action items on the agenda. The first was the authorization of over $100,000 to buy a new city dump truck. According to staff reports, Public Works requires a reliable,

INSIDE

Obituaries — A2 Sports & Lifestyle — B1

JIM HOBERG Broker/Owner

smaller capacity dump truck capable of transporting rock, gravel, asphalt, soil, and debris for street and park maintenance, water, wastewater, and stormwater operations. “A 3–4 yard dump body mounted on a Ford F550 4x4 extended cab chassis provides the payload capacity, durability, and maneuverability necessary for work in

Opinion — A3 Classifieds — B6-7

urban, residential, and rural environments,” said staff reports. “This vehicle will be the first of its kind in the City’s fleet, expanding our operational capabilities and allowing staff to perform more efficient and effective maintenance without relying on the much larger 10-12 yard dump trucks.” See TRUCK, Page A7

1870 Hwy. 126, Suite A • PO Box 3040, Florence, OR