The Siuslaw News - Florence, Oregon

Tuesday, February 23, 2010
By Ryan Cronk

 

 Ice Machine Receives Funding Needed for Completion

 

Lane County awarded a $79,000 economic development grant last week to the Port of Siuslaw, covering the final costs required to complete the ice machine on the Old Town wharf by this spring.

Distributed from the Lane County Industrial Development Revolving Fund, the grant will pay for a metering device, auger and delivery components, as well as a catwalk to service the machine located between ICM and Mo’s restaurants.

“It’s for finishing the construction on the ice machine, getting it up and running,” said Bud Saulsgiver, chairman of the Siuslaw Fisherman’s Association (SFA) that has spearheaded the project.

The ice machine has been inactive since 2004 but was reassembled last year — a joint venture between the SFA and the port. Once finished, it can automatically produce up to 20 tons of ice per day for commercial fishermen.

Florence City Council last week submitted a letter in support of the SFA and port’s additional funding request for the project to the Lane County Board of Commissioners.

“(The ice machine) will bring commercial fishing boats back to Florence and Lane County, creating at least 12 new family wage jobs in the first year,” the letter stated. “It will also provide service for other businesses to locate on the wharf which will strengthen the regional economy of Florence and the surrounding area with increases in grocery, marine supply, retail, restaurant and lodging sales.”

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The Register-Guard (Eugene, Oregon)

April 8, 2009

 

Port of Siuslaw Being Reborn

 

Wow!  What a change at the Port of Siuslaw!  It is amazing what a few new open-minded port commissioners, a new port manager and a dedicated community group can do.

 

 In 2003 and 2004 the Port of Siuslaw seemed to be in its death throes. There were major disputes with the fishermen that brought standing-room-only crowds to port meetings.  The harbor had not been dredged in over 20 years.  The only fish buyer left town, and the ice house closed down.  In the years since then, the docks and facilities have steadily degraded and more and more boats left Florence.

 

Now, five years later, we have seen the port start its replacement of the transient dock — all the new pilings are in — have the marina dredged (I think it was 28 years after the last time), start upgrading the electrical system in the campground and, finally, the new ice house is set up on the Old Town Wharf.

 

The Port of Siuslaw is being reborn!  We will once again see fishing boats using this port and have fresh fish available.

 

Way to go, Port of Siuslaw, the Siuslaw Fisherman’s Association and all the supporters in the community! Keep up the great work. It is wonderful to see these active and conscientious members of our community persevere and succeed.

 

Oh, by the way, there are no abandoned boats at the Port of Siuslaw.

 

Mark Lull

Former President, Siuslaw Fisherman’s Association

Florence, Oregon

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KEZI 9 News (Eugene, Oregon)

April 7, 2009

 

New Ice Machine For Florence

 

View the ICE MACHINE story on KEZI 9 News

 

 

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The Siuslaw News - Florence, Oregon

Tuesday, March 31, 2009
by Ryan Cronk

 

Fishermen Rejoice
 

The highly anticipated ice house seemed to drift into the Port of Siuslaw Monday aboard an HDB barge (above), ready to be assembled and serve commercial fishermen once again.

 

In partnership with the Siuslaw Fisherman’s Association, the port was recently awarded $71,157 by Lane County to assist in the final funding needed for an ice machine in Florence.

The machine had been inactive on the wharf since June 2004, leaving local fishermen to look elsewhere for sources of ice.

 



Installation of the ice house (above), between ICM and Mo’s on Bay Street, is under way this week.

 

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KVAL News - Eugene, Oregon

February 27, 2007

By Meghan Kalkstein

 

 

Florence - The freeze on commercial fishing off the Port of Siuslaw is slowly melting. Soon anglers may make their way back to Florence, thanks to an anonymous donation.

The old ice house on the Port of Siuslaw was a vital tool in keeping the fishing industry alive. It's taken three years, but it's coming back to life.

"This is going to be where the new ice house sits, right across here," shows Ralph Saulsgiver, chairman of the Siuslaw Fisherman's Association.

A new state of the art ice house, sitting beside the old one, for folks with the Siuslaw Fisherman's Association, it's a great catch.

"It has a rake that comes up and down and it'll rake it down into the chute and then deliver the ice out to the boats," explains Saulsgiver over some diagrams.

"There's no one inside the house it's all delivered by automated system. You press a button tell it how much ice the boat needs and it delivers that much ice to the boat," explains Mark Lull, President of the Association.

The old house had it's problems and shut down in 2004, and with it, went the fishermen. "You can't blame the fishermen for going somewhere else we have to have the ice in order to fish," says Saulsgiver.

To lure them back, they raised money to fix the $20,000 ice machine. But they still needed $200,000 to replace the ice house. They got half of that this month with an anonymous donation of $100,000. "We're a big step closer," says Saulsgiver.

The folks with the Association say that bringing back the ice house will not only be good for commercial fishermen, but also for the whole city of Florence.

"Sure we've got the sand dunes, recreation, restaurants, great shops that's all wonderful. If you add the fishing boats, it becomes magical," says Lull.

A little bit of magic, some say will reel in the heart of the port: "fishing's not a matter of life and death it's more important than that."

They hope to get donations and grants to pay for the other $100,000 they need. But they say they're very hopeful it'll be up and running by the end of April.

To contact the Association:
www.siuslawfisherman.org
or
P.O. Box 2431
Florence, OR 97439

 

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To commemorate the first Rhododendron Festival (the Rhododendron Carnival on May 20, 1908) and the “naval parade” or “Triumphal Procession on the River” that started it all, the Siuslaw Fisherman's Association in association with the Florence Area Chamber of Commerce and the 100th Rhododendron Festival hosted the First Annual Rhododendron Festival Boat Parade on the Siuslaw River on Saturday, May 19th.

 

The SFA was in the Rhododendron Festival Grand Floral Parade for the third time.  We had a float for the first time.  It was overcast and drizzly to rainy for the entire parade but everyone had a great time.  (Did you know that it takes a lot longer for a leather jacket to dry out than it took for it to get soaked?)

 

The SFA was in the 2007 Memorial Day Parade in Reedsport on Monday, the 28th of May.

 

“All Lane County is proud of Florence.  All Oregon may well be.”  (John H. Hartog, The Sunday Oregonian, Portland, May 31, 1908)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Member - Florence Area Chamber of Commerce

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