SIUSLAW NEWS ❚ WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2015 OPB eliminates ATM, adds drive-through Oregon Pacific Bank will be installing a new drive-up ATM at the Florence Branch on Monday, Aug. 31. The installa- tion will take most of the morning and early afternoon. The Safeway branch ATM will also be removed on the same day. Clients are encouraged to come into the Florence main branch to complete their trans- actions during the instal- lation process, or to search for an alternative surcharge- free ATM by visiting w w w. o p b c . c o m / a b o u t _ 3 A Raising the roof for Habitat for Humanity locations.html. The new ATM will be locat- ed in the same spot between the Florence main branch and the financial center. It will be a more advanced model with newer features, including the ability to accept client deposits. To learn more about Ore- gon Pacific Bank, stop by the Florence Branch at 1355 Highway 101 or visit www.opbc.com. For more information or to voice concerns, call 541-997- 7121. COURTESY PHOTO SIUSLAW PIONEER MUSEUM ANNUAL MEETING AND LUNCHEON WHEN: SATURDAY, AUGUST 29TH 2015 ALL MEMBERS AND GUESTS WELCOME WHERE: ELKS RV PARK ON MERCER LK RD Gather at 10:00AM and Start to Eat at Noon IN THE ELKS RECREATION BULDING. POTLUCK: YOUR FAVORITE DISH OF BAKED BEANS SALADS AND DESERTS ARE WELCOME. WE WILL FURNISH: BBQ PULLED PORK CHIPS, COFFEE, PUNCH, PLATES, AND EATING UTENSLES. ANNUAL REPORT: BY VP STEVE SKIDMORE Please come and join us for a good time, visiting with friends and old timers, telling your stories, and learning what is happening at the museum. We hope to see you there. Be hungry when you come and full when you leave. FOLLOW US FOR THE LATEST NEWS /S IUSLAW N EWS ❘ @S IUSLAW N EWS The Pacific Jazz Septet performance raised more than $1,100 for the Florence Habitat for Humanity building fund Sunday, Aug. 16. The concert, sponsored and directed by Robin DeVour, played to approximately 100 jazz enthusi- asts. The next major Habitat fundraiser will be the annual BeachWalk, Sept. 12. City Club features forest policy activist at Sept. 4 meeting Significantly expanded tim- ber cutting over more than 4,000 square miles of Oregon public forests under the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will be discussed before the City Club of Florence on Friday, Sept. 4, at its noon luncheon at Ocean Dunes Golf Links, 3345 Munsel Lake Road. Featured speaker is Chuck Willer, executive director of the Coast Range Association, who has headed Oregon-based timber policy organizations for more than 24 years. Florence City Wide Garage Sale September 11-13, 2015 presented by the Florence Area Chamber of Commerce COURTESY PHOTO Coast Range Association director Chuck Willer will address City Club on Sept. 4 on BLM proposed major forest policy changes. The meeting is open to the public. Beverages are offered and a light lunch may be ordered starting at 11:30 a.m. In April, the BLM intro- duced what it called a “draft Resource Management Plan” covering its Oregon forest lands, and then, responding to Congressional requests, extended public comment until Aug. 21. “These BLM proposals spell out a possible end of the 1994 Northwest Forest Plan,” says Willer, “and appear to strongly reduce key protections provid- ed by riparian or aquatic con- servation zones. The public should be concerned.” Willer, who was working with biologists and forest ecol- ogists to finalize public com- ments last Friday, says, “This 1,500-page plan appears prima- WEDNESDAY THURSDAY rily shaped to increase the cut. Their alternative plans reduce riparian protection areas by almost 60 percent in some cases. Their ‘alternative’ options uniformly appear to weaken fish, wildlife or stream protections, while increasing agency discretion to cut in so- called ‘reserve’ areas.” Ron Sadler, former BLM chief of forest planning for operations for Oregon and Washington for 11 years, and now retired in North Bend, offers the view that “the truly scarce and endangered entity is the old-growth ecosystem itself.” “We’re at the point of no- return for maintaining the Douglas Fir Eco-system, espe- cially given climate change,” Sadler says. He has provided formal comments to the BLM regarding their 2008 and 2015 proposals. In 2008, the BLM attempted major revision of management authority under the Northwest Forest Plan. Called the “WOPR” for Western Oregon Plan Revision, it was opposed by the Coast Range Association and other environ- mental groups. “It remained in effect for less than a year,” says Sadler, “but was withdrawn in 2009 by the Secretary of Interior as being ‘legally indefensible’ in terms of its compliance with National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the Endangered Species Act (ESA).” Sadler feels this new effort appears to comply with the NEPA. But other federal laws, such as the ESA remain at issue. And strong interest in these BLM draft efforts is anticipat- ed. Additionally, BLM planning is widely regarded as being, in part, politically responsive to county funding issues, now seemingly associated with a recent history of declining shares of federal timber rev- enues. Nick Cady, legal director for one such regional environmen- tal organization, Cascadia Wildlands, founded in 1998, says, “The BLM Districts in Oregon have been hitting their timber targets for over a decade. Pursuant to the BLM’s own analysis, more timber vol- ume introduced into the current market at lower prices will only serve to destabilize local economies. “The BLM claims that its guiding laws provide for ‘no specific wildlife conservation mandate.’ The Coast Range Association believes other- wise. Florence is an important audience and I look forward to sharing this information,” he says. City Club is a nonpartisan citizen forum focused on com- munity concerns. Meetings are the first and third Fridays of each month. FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY AUGUST 26 AUGUST 27 AUGUST 28 AUGUST 29 AUGUST 30 AUGUST 31 SEPTEMBER 1 Times of Clouds and Sun Mostly Cloudy Partly Cloudy Showers, Thunder Storm Cloudy, Showers Cloudy, Showers Cloudy, Rain Possible 67°F 51°F 71°F 54°F 69°F 59°F 68°F 58°F 67°F 57°F 66°F 49°F 66°F 46°F How To Participate The fee to participate is $15. An ad for the City Wide Garage Sale with a map of all participation sales will be published in the Siuslaw News on September 9th and 12th. The event will also be listed on several yard sale websites. Because of print deadlines, the registration deadline is 5pm September 2nd.