4 A
❘
WEDNESDAY EDITION
❘ MAY 20, 2015
Siuslaw News
P.O. Box 10
Florence, OR 97439
RYAN CRONK , EDITOR
❘ 541-902-3520 ❘
Opinion
EDITOR @ THESIUSLAWNEWS . COM
DEAR READERS
S
iuslaw News aired a commercial on KCST
last week during Rhody Days that was
intended to be humorous. We apologize to
anyone who didn’t take it in that manner and
may have been offended. —Editor
1 2 5 T H A N N I V E R S A R Y F L A S H B A C K
1890 ❙
T
T HE W EST
F LORENCE T IMES
T HE S IUSLAW O AR
T HE S IUSLAW N EWS
S IUSLAW N EWS
❙ 2015
his year marks Siuslaw News’ quasquicentennial, our 125th anniversary, a remarkable achievement for any business in a small
community like Florence. To commemorate this milestone, throughout the year we’ll feature some of the town’s history as origi-
nally published in the newspaper, including historic articles and photos from more than a century ago.
Japanese television crew shoots Florence dunes
O RIGINALLY P UBLISHED M AY 15, 1980
T HE S IUSLAW N EWS , V OL . 20, N O . 20
Thanks to a fervid interest in American-
style football, the sand dunes near Florence
will soon be getting some international public-
ity.
It all has to do with the Nov. 30, 1980,
Mirage Bowl in Tokyo between UCLA and
Oregon State University, and a publicity
scheme on the part of the Nippon Television
Network in Japan.
A Japanese television film crew recently
spent a morning on the dunes south of town,
taking footage of the sand, dune buggies and a
pair of Japanese women trying to cross the
dunes in high heels.
The two women also will be shown crab-
bing in Newport, felling trees and rolling logs
near Albany and scrimmaging with the OSU
football team on a widely-watched morning
television show in Japan later this summer.
All of it is designed to show the public
there what sort of place the Beaver football
team comes from, and to help create interest
in the Mirage Bowl.
The week before, the TV people, described
as Nippon’s “No. 1 film crew,” spent the
week in Los Angeles, doing what people in
LA do, seeing what they see — material with
which to introduce the UCLA Bruins. There,
the women played basketball with Kareem
Abdul Jabaar, as well as running through
some of the more typical tourist sights.
The two women were selected by the net-
work for the LA-Oregon excursion after a
nation-wide contest. In return for the trip and
attention, the women will serve as the focus
of the program, lending a continuity to the
episodic nature of the show.
The women were dropped off at the foot of
a steep dune to attempt an ascent in nylons
and high heels, while cameras whirred. So
strenuous did one of the women find the two-
hour session that she had to be carried from
the dune back to the entourage’s van.
But then, what could be any more traumat-
ic as scrimmaging with 250-pound football
players in full padding — they’d done that
earlier in the week in Corvallis.
The Japanese crew was being shown the
countryside by Aki Hill, women’s basketball
coach at OSU, and her assistant Ross Cook.
Hill, originally from Japan, was serving as
interpreter for the group.
“They want to see what Oregon is about,”
Cook said. “The idea is that the program will
help the people decide which team to cheer
for.”
Hill further explained the reason for the
trip.
“The west coast of the USA is in a popu-
larity boom right now (in Japan). They have
magazines just about the west coast,” she
said.
That, coupled with the interest in
American football Japan has recently shown,
should make the television segments a suc-
cess. The game will be an official Pacific 10
conference game, the first to ever be played in
another country.
Cook said the bowl probably will sell out
the 80,000 tickets — with far more people
than the Beavers are accustomed to playing
before in Corvallis.
RJ Barret and Myron Fullmer, drivers of
dune vehicles at Sand Dunes Frontier south
of Florence, took the group across the dunes.
“They seemed to be terrifically interested
in the dunes,” Barrett said. “They had me go
over the same dunes several times, I think to
get a feel for the steepness.
“They were awfully nice people. We were
tickled to have them come.”
Director Takei Izumi headed the crew,
which consisted also of camera, sound and
light persons and an engineer.
Takei proved to be as accomplished a diplo-
mat as director when fielding touchy ques-
tions.
When asked through Hill which team he
expected to win the Mirage Bowl, he would
only say that it was too difficult to predict.
And when asked which place he preferred,
after seeing some of both Oregon and
California, he said it “depends.”
“If I were (concerned with) only living
myself, I would definitely take Oregon. But
for my work, I would like LA,” he said.
“Oregon really protects the environment. It
is quite popular and famous in Japan. Eugene
is especially well-known there,” he added.
After finishing the translation, OSU coach
Hill said, “Eugene? Not Eugene —
Corvallis!”
Which makes one wonder — have the
Japanese fans ever heard about a game called
the Civil War?
LETTERS
Good service
Deepest thanks
Having recently moved to Florence from
(gasp) California, my husband and I got ready
for the dreaded DMV visits to obtain our new
auto registrations and driver’s licenses. We
were not able to make appointments so we went
in and, as expected, it was very crowded.
We took our number and prepared to wait.
The first thing I learned from overhearing other
folks talking was that this was a very unusual
day because the office was usually fairly empty.
The second thing I learned is that this DMV
does not even resemble the California DMVs.
First of all, these people are nice. They are
patient. They are helpful. The two women
working the counter, Shannon and Christina,
were the absolute epitome of what customer
service should be and never is anymore.
These women never let the crowded condi-
tions rattle them or rush their customers; they
efficiently took as much time as necessary with
each transaction, being polite and kind with
everyone. You know what? We didn’t mind
waiting at all.
Cris Reep
Florence
I’ve lived here in Florence since 1972. It’s
been a good life, humble enough, but very
good. Thirteen years ago it was necessary to
replace both of my hips so that I could continue
serving my neighbors in my little barbershop in
Old Town’s Maple Street district. I’ll never for-
get the good folk of Florence who expressed
concern, helped me in and out of doors and got
more haircuts than usual, understanding the
“out of pocket” expenses that came my way.
Recently, I developed an abscess in my stom-
ach that raised my blood sugar to a deadly level.
My extended illness caused me to close the
doors of my business for five months. But for
the tons of well wishes, Christmas cards and
much-needed donations from all my beloved
friends and acquaintances, I’d not have this
chance to revive my shop.
Thank you all, from the deepest reaches of
my heart. You know who I’m talking to. This is
the best community in the world. Because of
you, I’m back.
Wende Jarman
Florence
Right to protect
Kelsey Juliana and Olivia Chernaik resorted
to a lawsuit to force Oregon lawmakers to
reduce carbon emissions and help forestall cli-
mate change. But Judge Karsten Rasmussen
said he lacks authority.
When the elected officials refuse to act, we
are told that our recourse is in the courts. Mixed
messages are being sent.
We want to encourage our youth to engage in
solution-oriented actions. We want them to help
us find solutions to the problems created by pre-
vious generations; those they will inherit. Then,
when they do, a judge shuts the door in their
faces.
I’ve no doubt that these young women are not
so easily dissuaded. They will continue to fight
USPS# 497-660
for fairness and justice. But what about our
response? Are we really willing to accept that
environmental rights shouldn’t be protected in
our courts? And further, that “We the People”
lack the power to require our government and
legal system to protect the welfare of the people
and the planet?
L ETTERS
E DITOR P OLICY
The Siuslaw News welcomes letters to the editor concerning issues affecting the Florence
area and Lane County. Emailed letters are preferred. Handwritten or typed letters must be signed.
All letters should be limited to about 300 words and must include the writer’s full name, address
and phone number for verification.
Letters are subject to editing for length, grammar and clarity. Publication of any letter is not
guaranteed and depends on space available and the volume of letters received. Libelous and
anonymous letters or poetry will not be published. All submissions become the property of
Siuslaw News and will not be returned.
Write to: Editor@TheSiuslawNews.com
Nobody’s fool
Shortly after my last letter to the editor
(“Beach Patrol,” April 29), I received a call
from a Lane County sheriff to inform me the
money used for patrolling the beach did not
come from the sheriff’s budget. It came from a
grant that they received from the state.
I talked to a fellow in front of the post office
and he told me the grant was from vehicle
licenses and gas taxes received from the forest
service and state. The curfew as far as he knew
was for noise in the sand dunes, not on the
beach.
Right on, Mary Jo Leach (“Can’t Fool Me
Twice,” May 13, page 4A). Fool me once,
shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.
Virgle Bechtold
Florence
Copyright 2015 © Siuslaw News
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WHERE TO WRITE
Published every Wednesday and Saturday at 148 Maple St. in Florence, Lane County, Oregon. A member of the National
Newspaper Association and Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association. Periodicals postage paid at Florence, Ore.
Postmaster, send address changes to: Siuslaw News, P.O. Box 10, Florence, OR 97439; phone 541-997-3441; fax
541-997-7979. All press releases may be sent to PressReleases@TheSiuslawNews.com.
John Bartlett
Jenna Bartlett
Ryan Cronk
Susan Gutierrez
Cathy Dietz
Ron Annis
Jeremy Gentry
TO THE
Check out Community Rights Lane County
online at http://communityrightslanecounty.org.
We believe community members have the right
to protect what we hold dear.
Michelle Holman
Deadwood
Pres. Barack Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington, D.C. 20500
Comments: 202-456-1111
Switchboard: 202-456-1414
FAX: 202-456-2461
TTY/TDD Comments: 202-456-6213
www.whitehouse.gov
Gov. Kate Brown
160 State Capitol
900 Court St.
Salem, OR 97301-4047
Governor’s Citizens’ Rep.
Message Line 503-378-4582
www.oregon.gov/gov
U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden
221 Dirksen Senate Office Bldg
Washington, DC 20510
202-224-5244
541-431-0229
www.wyden.senate.gov
FAX: 503-986-1080
Email:
Sen.ArnieRoblan@state.or.us
U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley
313 Hart Senate Office Bldg
Washington, DC 20510
202-224-3753/FAX: 202-228-3997
541-465-6750
State Rep. Caddy McKeown
(Dist. 9)
900 Court St. NE
Salem, OR 97301
503-986-1409
Email:
rep.caddymckeown@state.or.us
U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio (4th Dist.)
2134 Rayburn HOB
Washington, DC 20515
202-225-6416/ 800-944-9603
541-269-2609/ 541-465-6732
www.defazio.house.gov
State Sen. Arnie Roblan (Dist. 5)
900 Court St. NE - S-417
Salem, OR 97301
503-986-1705
West Lane County Commissioner
Jay Bozievich
125 E. Eighth St.
Eugene, OR 97401
541-682-4203
FAX: 541-682-4616
Email:
Jay.Bozievich@co.lane.or.us