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About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 10, 2015)
COUPONS INSIDE www.shoppelocal.biz SATURDAY WWW.THESIUSLAWNEWS.COM SERVING THE COMMUNITIES OF FLORENCE • DUNES CITY • WESTLAKE • MAPLETON • SWISSHOME • DEADWOOD • YACHATS AND ALL POINTS BETWEEN 124 Y T H E A R • I S S U E N O . 57 J U LY 19 • 2014 75 C E N T S Queen Rhododendra’s royal robe retires S TORY AND P HOTO C HANTELLE M EYER BY Special to the Siuslaw News fter more than 30 years of use, the Rhododen- dron Court retired the queen’s robe. On Monday, July 14, Senior Rhody Court Coordinator Cindy Wobbe, 2013 Rhody Queen Jade Herbert and current Queen Rhododendra, Katrina Greenlief, presented the board of the A Siuslaw Pioneer Museum with the robe, which was officially retired in 2013 with Herbert’s reign. “What we would like to do is create a permanent display in the museum,” Wobbe said. “We want to work with the museum to showcase the last 100 years.” The robe, combined with the poster boards created by many of the Rhododendron Queens since the Rhododendron Pageant began in 1908, would highlight an important tradition of the Florence community. The Rhododendron Court has shifted from being a pageant to a program to promote the youth in the community. The name changed to “Scholarship Showcase” in 2014. This year also brought the addition of five senior princes who competed for the King of the Coast title. See ROBE 6A Rhody Queens Jade Herbert and Katrina Greenlief (center) present the robe to members of Siuslaw Pioneer Museum’s board of directors. Hospital issues health warning Patients with flu-like symptoms on the rise. B Y J ACK D AVIS Siuslaw News The Richards family gathers at ICM restaurant for dinner Wednesday. Earlier in the week, some members went clam digging (below). A FAMILY AFFAIR Richards family reunites to share Florence heritage. S TORY AND P HOTO BY R YAN C RONK Siuslaw News N early 70 descendants of the Richards family reunited this week in Florence to share sto- ries from their heritage that dates back 65 years when patriarch Frank Richards established the town’s first garbage service. Most arrived in town last Saturday and stayed through this weekend. They came from around the country — California, Colorado, Florida, Nevada, Ohio, Oregon, Utah, Washington, West Virginia and Wyoming — for the reunion. The weeklong gathering, planned several years in advance, was the group’s first get-together in Florence and the first reunion ever for the more than 30 children present. The last time the family reunited was 20 years ago in Utah, before any of the youngsters were born. SPORTS — B INSIDE S AT U R D AY Angling Classifieds Community In Brief B1 B6 A5 A7 Obituaries Opinion SideShow Sports This trip gave the children a chance to learn about the family’s history. In 1949, Frank Richards could no longer sup- port his growing family, which included his wife Margrett and children Beverly, Kathrin, Tom and Cherie, as a part-time professional musician. He began to look for work elsewhere and found that the small coastal town of Florence did not have a garbage service. He knew how to drive a truck and thus created Frank’s Sanitary Service, serving the Florence community for the next 35 years. During that time, another child was born, Julie, to complete the family. All five of the children gradu- ated from the Siuslaw school sys- tem. Frank and Margrett were also involved in the town’s activities. He served on the Florence Chamber of Commerce, the Boosters Club and in local the- ater, while she was a member of the area’s garden club and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- day Saints. COURTESY PHOTO In addition, Frank was a founding member of the Rhodo Dunes golf course, now known as Ocean Dunes Golf Links, and was “proud of his hole-in-one,” according to his daughter Kathrin. “He almost quit golfing on that day, stating it would never be any better than that shot,” she said. Frank and Margrett eventually moved to St. George, Utah, to live out the rest of their years. Their descendents now total 94, and though none of them currently live in the Florence area, they all still share this connection. Your A2 A4 B5 B Weather T ODAY S UNDAY M ONDAY T UESDAY Partly sunny 70 57 Partly sunny 65 54 Mostly cloudy 65 54 Partly sunny 64 45 See REUNION 6A Over the past two weeks both the PeaceHealth Peace Harbor Medical Center clinic and emergency room have seen increases in patients suffering from flu-like symptoms. “I talked with both Dr. Graham (ER physician) and with Linda Sherwood (infection control nurse),” Dr. Ron Shearer said. “There has been an upswing in nausea/vomiting/diarrhea cases over the last two weeks. “So far there has been no common source for the episodes nor has the norovirus been implicated.” According to Shearer, Sherwood is continuing to monitor the situation and is investigating to search for a common link that would indicate the cause of the upswing in cases. “Sherwood reminds us that the first line of defense against this type of out- break is good hand washing, as well as general cleanliness,” Shearer said. “Treatment for these disorders consists of conservative treatment with fluids and identifying any common vector.” If you are experiencing these symp- toms, you are advised to see your health care provider. School board elects new officers Board also extends interim superintendent position. B Y J ACK D AVIS Siuslaw News During the July 16 Siuslaw School District board meeting, directors elected Tammy Butler chairwoman and John Barnett vice-chairman for the 2014-2015 school year. The term of office will be from July 2014 through June 2015. Butler was vice-chairwoman for the 2013-2014 school year and replaces Paul Burns as chairman. Barnett has been a school board member since July 2013. In other business, the board voted to extend the appointment of Ethel Angal as interim superintendent of the Siuslaw See BOARD 6A P ETE LOVES B EA Th e SIUSLAW PIONEER MUSEUM is the home of historic displays, pictures and other information about the Siuslaw River area, including Th e Pioneers and the City of Florence. Th ese displays feature the Pio- neers whose occupations were primarily as loggers and fi shermen. In the early days the Siuslaw River was the primary and nearly exclusive means of travel in the area. Visi- tors to the museum will have the opportu- nity to see real settings that these early pio- neers lived in. You could spend just an hour or two at the Siuslaw Pioneer Museum or perhaps make a day of it and include a self guided Historic Walking Tour which begins at the museum and brings you by 21 diff erent buildings & locations in the Old Town Florence area. Th e museum’s Research Library has documentary information regarding our lo- cal history and pioneer families. An audio- visual presentation shows a brief history of Florence along with information on early shipwrecks. Museum Hours: February to April & October to December - Tuesday through Sunday 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. --------------------------------------- May 1st through September 30th Open 7 days a week 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. 278 Maple St in Florence, OR 8 • F AVORITE F RONT P AGES 2014 www.siuslawpioneermuseum.com
