4 A
❘
SATURDAY EDITION
❘ NOVEMBER 21, 2015
Siuslaw News
P.O. Box 10
Florence, OR 97439
DISASTER PREP
B Y D AVE R OBINSON
Special to the Siuslaw News
A
s the seasons change and we seem
to be working our way into winter,
we are all breathing a word of
thanks for the much-needed moisture. And
though adverse conditions are always a pos-
sibility, seems like the odds increase this
time of year.
For many, it may be time to take a look
at your emergency kit. If you stocked up on
jerky a few months ago, or if cheese crack-
ers are a part of your get home bag (like
mine), then you may want to rotate your
supplies. Check for freshness or vermin or
just make sure that the dates are current on
your canned goods.
If not, then it’s time to move those items
to the front of the shelf and re-stock with
fresh. I use a vacuum food sealer to store
some items (not just food) to keep them dry
and dust-free. I have found that sometimes
the seals come undone, so be sure to dou-
ble-check those items and re-seal the ones
that need it.
Check your emergency water supply.
Those 2-1⁄2 gallon jugs with the built-in
spigot are really handy for short-term use,
camping and sliding in the refrigerator, but
RYAN CRONK , EDITOR
❘ 541-902-3520 ❘
EDITOR @ THESIUSLAWNEWS . COM
Opinion
Just a little tune-up
they tend to leak if you leave them in the
closet for lengthy periods of time. Personal-
sized water bottles are handy to have, but
they, too, need to be swapped out for fresh
ones after a few months. Consider a stand-
alone water filter.
One lesson I’ve learned the hard way is
regarding rechargeable devices. Those
lanterns, Storm Stations and all sorts of
rechargeable devices, are designed to be
plugged in all the time (according to the
manufacturer) until you need them. It has
been my experience that if they’ve been sit-
ting unused, but plugged in as instructed for
a couple of years, the batteries tend to go
bad. Those things are expensive and in
some cases, difficult to replace. It is mad-
dening to think you’ve got things covered
only to learn you can’t rely on the very
thing you were relying on.
So if you have a rechargeable device sit-
ting on the shelf, use it once in awhile.
According to my electrical engineer friend,
that battery needs some exercise.
Unplugging it for about three weeks out of
four will also extend the life of most
rechargeable batteries.
I rarely recommend gadgets and gizmos
to purchase, but after you’ve saved up for
your water filter, I suggest buying a NOAA
(National Oceanographic and Atmospheric
Administration) weather radio. NOAA
Weather Radio (NWR) is a nationwide net-
work of radio stations broadcasting continu-
ous weather information 24/7.
NWR also broadcasts warning and post-
event information for all types of hazards,
including natural (such as earthquakes or
avalanches), environmental (such as chemi-
cal releases or oil spills), and public safety
(such as AMBER alerts or 911 telephone
outages). Make sure it’s one that is battery
powered. There are also several that are
solar, hand-cranked and battery powered.
One for every budget. Shop around and find
one that appeals to you.
______________________
Dave Robinson is the postmaster in
Bandon, Ore., and author of “Disaster Prep
for the Rest of Us.” He may be contacted at
disasterprep.dave@gmail.com. Visit his
website for more disaster preparedness tips,
www.disasterprepdave.blogspot.com.
YESTERDAY’S NEWS
MOMENTS IN TIME
The History Channel
• On Nov. 28, 1582, William Shakespeare,
18, and Anne Hathaway, 26, pay a 40-pound
bond for their marriage license in Stratford-
upon-Avon. Six months later, Anne gives birth
to their daughter, Susanna, and two years later,
to twins.
• On Nov. 27, 1703, an unusual freak storm
finally dissipates over England after wreaking
havoc for two weeks. Packing hurricane-
strength winds, the storm killed between
10,000 and 30,000 people, and sank hundreds
of Royal Navy ships.
• On Nov. 29, 1929, American explorer
Richard Byrd and three companions make the
first flight over the South Pole. In 1996, a diary
of Byrd’s was found that seemed to suggest his
plane had turned back 150 miles short of its
goal because of an oil leak.
• On Nov. 23, 1936, the first issue of Life
magazine is published, featuring a cover photo
of the Fort Peck Dam. When it folded during
the Great Depression, publisher Henry Luce
bought the name and re-launched Life as a pic-
ture-based periodical.
• On Nov. 26, 1941, President Franklin D.
Roosevelt signs a bill officially establishing the
fourth Thursday in November as Thanksgiving
Day. In 1789, President George Washington
had proclaimed a holiday of national thanks-
giving for the U.S. Constitution.
• On Nov. 24, 1971, a hijacker calling him-
self D.B. Cooper — wearing only wraparound
sunglasses, a thin suit and a raincoat — para-
chutes from an airplane into a thunderstorm
with 100-mph winds and temperatures well
below zero over Washington state. Despite a
massive search, no trace of Cooper or the
$200,000 in ransom money he carried was ever
found.
LETTERS
A nice tribute
Wow! What a wonderful trib-
ute, honoring and thanking local
veterans for their service in the
armed forces of the United States
of America. The Shorewood left
no stone unturned — great food,
great entertainment, a very warm
reception to all of the services.
It was an amazing example of
gratitude and giving to recognize
the services of all the veterans of
World War II and succeeding mil-
itary pursuits for the common
good.
Jim Kaul
Florence
Columbus Day
name change
Columbus Day is a U.S. holi-
day that commemorates the land-
ing of Christopher Columbus in
the New World on Oct. 12, 1492.
It is a celebration of the discovery
of our country. I understand that
there is evidence that the Viking
explorers from Scandinavia came
here first. I know that there was
already a population of indige-
nous peoples that had “discov-
ered” the Americas thousand of
years before.
Opposition to Columbus Day
dates back to the 19th century
where activists sought to eradi-
cate Columbus Day celebrations
because of its association with
immigrants and the Knights of
Columbus. They were afraid the
holiday was being used to expand
Catholic influence.
The most common opposition
today decrying Columbus and
Europeans’ actions against the
indigenous peoples did not gain
much traction until the latter half
of the 20th century. The
American Indian Movement
accused our ancestors of acts of
genocide. Columbus has been
shown to be a nasty character that
would do well in this day and
age because of his relentless
quest to advance his ambitions
and his self-promotion. Several
other historical figures spring to
mind as well.
To me, history should be factu-
al,
concise
and
honest.
Civilization has gone forward
from day one to invade and con-
quer land and its peoples for
food, water, minerals, land, etc.
In fact, someday sooner than I
want to believe, some group of
people will try to conquer
America’s land and people. Read
the paper, watch the evening
news, catch up on world events
on your computer — scary.
There are so many issues in
Florence that need the attention
of our local leaders. I would like
to suggest that these leaders con-
centrate on making Florence a
safer, less hungry and maybe a
little less politically correct first,
then tackle the other things.
Changing the name of this hol-
iday isn’t going to find a job for
an out-of-work citizen/veteran,
it’s not going to help feed a fami-
ly that needs community help or
find shelter for someone left out
in the cold this winter.
My lesson has now ended.
Elizabeth Burletson
Florence
Create another
day instead
In a recent edition of the
Siuslaw News, there appeared a
story on the front page regarding
a member of the city council, Ron
Preisler, recommending a change
in name from our holiday of
Columbus Day to Indigenous
Peoples Day (“City Considers
Columbus Day Name Change,”
Nov. 10).
Seems to me we are getting a
lot of PC (politically correct)
changes recommended these
days. I have contacted many of
my neighbors and friends, many
of my local military comrades
regarding his suggestion.
I have no objection to a day for
Indigenous Peoples Day whatso-
ever, and neither do the they, but
the consensus was leave our her-
itage alone and create another
date for them instead.
Hopefully, the mayor and
council will consider this sugges-
tion at the council meeting in
January.
Tony Cavarno
Florence
Welcome Syrians
My heart aches for the inno-
cent victims of the Paris attacks
and also for the Syrian refugees
who were just trying to live their
lives when war broke out in
Syria. They are suffering horren-
dous conditions with no safe
haven. I would not want to be in
their shoes.
We need to welcome Syrian
refugees. The United States has a
very thorough security process,
including Homeland Security,
FBI and CIA, before Syrian
refugees are allowed to stay here.
The horrific actions of an
extremist sect of Islam don’t
mean all Muslims are terrorists.
We cannot let our fear of terror
compromise our humanity, our
American history of welcoming
immigrants and our compassion
for those less fortunate.
Julie MacFarlane
Florence
• On Nov. 25, 1990, after a howling wind-
and rainstorm on Thanksgiving Day,
Washington state’s historic floating Lacey V.
Murrow Memorial Bridge breaks apart and
sinks to the bottom of Lake Washington. The
bridge had been made of 22 floating pontoons.
(c) 2015 King Features Synd., Inc.
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Published every Wednesday and Saturday at 148 Maple St. in Florence, Lane County, Oregon. A member of the National
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Postmaster, send address changes to: Siuslaw News, P.O. Box 10, Florence, OR 97439; phone 541-997-3441; fax
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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