Be Aware! Saturation Patrols Planned This Weekend for Rhododendron Festival

The annual Rhododendron Festival in Florence turns 100 this year.

Image: Florence Chamber of Commerce

(FLORENCE, Ore. ) - Deputies from the Lane County Sheriffs Office Traffic Safety Team in cooperation with the Oregon State Police and the Florence Police Department will be conducting a saturation patrol of Western Lane County this weekend.

Funds from the Multi Agency Traffic Team Grant, a grant from the Oregon Department of Transportation, will be used to fund patrols for the Sheriffs Office and the Florence Police. Oregon State Troopers will be working on DUII enforcement overtime during this saturation patrol.

Deputies, Troopers and Officers will be conducting this patrol due to the increase in traffic on Western Lane County roads due to the Rhododendron Festival.

This patrol will focus on Minors In possession of alcohol, DUII, Open Container Violations, Speeding, Following Too Close, Driving Uninsured, Failure to use safety belts and other traffic safety violations.

Deputies will also assist the Lane County Forest Patrol Deputies with enforcement in the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area.

The purpose of the Multi Agency Traffic Team Grant is to provide enforcement on targeted Lane County Roadways that have frequent traffic collisions and traffic fatalities.

The intent of this saturation patrol is to provide an increased presence to deal with DUII drivers and address traffic safety issues.

According to ODOT statistics from the 2006 Oregon Traffic Crash Summary, Lane County had 3,636 documented traffic collisions.

Of these collisions 1,934 resulted in injuries, 2,221 resulted in property damage and 40 people died on Lane County Roadways.

Since 1908, the greater Florence area has celebrated the Rhododendron Festival.

The flower that the Central Oregon Coast is historically know for, wild Rhododendrons, cover Florence, Glenada, Westlake and up the Siuslaw River to Mapleton, Swisshome and Deadwood area.

These Rhododendrons come in all sizes, shapes and variety of colors.

Bay Street in Florence is home to hundreds of motorcycles that come every year for this local event. Harleys, hogs, even some Japanese and German two-wheeled vehicles can be found over Rhody Days.

Events include: car show n’ shine, car cruise, Rhododendron flower show, pageant, carnival, arts and craft show and sale, Rhody 5k and 10k run.

To help celebrate this historical event will be an outdoor music venue on Saturday night.

Special this year will the be appearance of the Budweiser Clydesdale horses, both to view and to participate in the grand floral parade and the Vietnam Veteran’s “moving wall” memorial.

For more information call (541) 997-3128.