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SATURDAY EDITION
VIKINGS FINISH
SEASON
FISH CLEANING
STATION OPENS
SPORTS — B
INSIDE — A3
❘ MAY 16, 2015 ❘ $1.00
SERVING WESTERN LANE COUNTY SINCE 1890
FLORENCE, OREGON
FLORENCE WINS
Florence
Mayor Joe
Henry
(center)
stands
with City
Councilor
Susy Lacer
and City
Manager
Erin
Reynolds
before the
duathlon
began last
weekend.
MAYORAL DUATHLON CHALLENGE
B Y C HANTELLE M EYER
Siuslaw News
During Dunes City’s third
annual
Oregon
Dunes
Triathlon and Duathlon, the
competition was fierce. Of
the eight teams running and
biking in the sprint duathlon
relay, two teams in particular
were racing the clock and
each other.
The whole rivalry began
when Dunes City Mayor
Rebeca
Ruede
invited
Florence Mayor Joe Henry to
form a team to compete in
the duathlon.
Both cities made teams
consisting of city officials.
The
Dunes
City
Councilors, a team of coun-
cilors Maurice Sanders and
Duke Wells, was sponsored
by Ruede. They have com-
peted in the event before.
Team Florence, consisting
of City Manager Erin
Reynolds and Councilor
Susy Lacer, was sponsored
by Henry.
On race day, Team
Florence finished with a time
of 1:35:58.
See
RACE 7A
PHOTO BY MEGAN MESSMER
City letter
stresses
water
protection
R HODY D AYS
Sen. Roblan, city council
discuss importance
of Florence aquifer
B Y C HANTELLE M EYER
Siuslaw News
INSIDE
See
WATER 7A
Ambulance . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Community . . . . . . . . . . . .
Courts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
A2
B5
B5
A2
PHOTO BY CHANTELLE MEYER/SIUSLAW NEWS
Rockin’
Rhody
F
estival-goers of all ages appear to be enjoying the sights,
sounds and flavors of the 108th Annual Rhododendron
Festival, which continues through the weekend. Airboat
tours on the Siuslaw River (below) began Thursday and
are a new feature this year, while the carnival returned this week to
the Port of Siuslaw (at left). On Friday, the ladies above showed off
their festive costumes during the Rhody Mosey down Bay Street.
See page 7A for a complete schedule of festival events.
PHOTO BY NED HICKSON/SIUSLAW NEWS
Area legislatures discussed the
preservation of the Florence aquifer dur-
ing the May 2 Town Hall and the May 4
Florence City Council meeting.
Sen. Arnie Roblan held the Town
Hall to meet with local Democrats. He
answered questions about the law
process, funding, school budget and
pesticide spraying, both locally and
across Oregon.
One citizen asked, “Do you have any
plans to help reduce the risk of pesticide
impact?”
Roblan said that there have been nine
pesticide bills in the State House and
Senate. A team of senators and represen-
tatives then decided which bill they
would pursue.
“I have told people we have to do
stuff on pesticides,” he said.
The bill is currently in the Joint
Committee on Ways and Means.
“However,” Roblan said, “apparently
the conversation is still going on about
what will be in that bill.”
Florence City Council hopes a letter
written by Councilor Joshua Greene and
his employee Shawn Penrod will help
make sure that bill goes to a vote.
Mayor Joe Henry said, “As a result of
your concerns, and concerns that the
city and the council share to a great
extent, we have agreed to write a letter.”
The letter is addressed to Roblan,
District Rep. Caddy McKeown and the
other state senators and representatives.
“It has become clear to us on the
Florence City Council that Oregon’s
regulations regarding the spraying of
chemical pesticides are woefully inade-
quate,” a draft of the letter said.
“Although this issue is of great impor-
tance to Oregonians in general, it is par-
ticularly important to Florence and sur-
rounding area residents.”
Some of those residents are part of
Protect Florence Aquifer, a local group
started by Shauna Boyd and others who
wish to preserve the area’s sole source
aquifer, the only one in the state.
Impound . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
SideShow . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
PHOTO BY JACK DAVIS/SIUSLAW NEWS
A2
A4
B4
B
THIS WEEK ’ S
TODAY
SUNDAY
MONDAY
TUESDAY
59 46
60 50
59 52
59 50
WEATHER
Full Forecast, A3
S IUSLAW N EWS
125 TH Y EAR ❘ I SSUE N O . 39
C OPYRIGHT 2015
CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK
Oregon Dunes Triathlon and Duathlon features first city vs. city contest