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About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 5, 2015)
4 A ❘ SATURDAY EDITION ❘ DECEMBER 5, 2015 Siuslaw News P.O. Box 10 Florence, OR 97439 DISASTER PREP B Y D AVE R OBINSON Special to the Siuslaw News I always wear my seat belt. I wear a hel- met when I ride a motorcycle. Most of us have learned that these things are in our best interest, just in case something goes wrong. I do these things because in the event of an accident I am protected. I do not wear them out of fear, but out of wisdom. An ancient Hebrew proverb says, “A wise man foresees trouble and plans for it. A fool goes on blindly and suffers the conse- quences.” If you make preparations out of fear, then you’re going to a lot of effort for the wrong reasons. Some time back we held a disaster preparedness class at our church. About 25 people attended. At the class we discussed being prepared, having a kit, making a plan and being informed. Among the topics dis- cussed was the probability of an earthquake off the coast followed by a tsunami and the impact such an event would have on our region. One of the attendees was a young mom who went home, grabbed her kids and pitched a tent out in a field near her house for fear of an earthquake leveling her home in the night. That’s not exactly what we had RYAN CRONK , EDITOR ❘ 541-902-3520 ❘ Opinion The Fear Factor in mind when we scheduled the class. The point is, get your kit together but not out of fear. Make your plans and prepara- tions out of wisdom so that when things do go wrong, you will be better off than others. You will be in a position to extend help to your neighbors rather than being a victim. Not long ago there was an article in the newspaper headlined, “Deputies Rescue Two Motorists Stuck in Snow.” It seems that this couple was on a Forest Service road near Bend, Ore., when their car became stuck. After trying to get unstuck, the guy took off on foot for help. Eventually the woman got worried and dialed 911. He got very cold after walking about three miles, turned around and went back to the vehicle. The story has a happy ending as searchers found them in their vehicle that same evening. Now get this, a deputy sheriff reports that the man was wearing tennis shoes, jeans and a T-shirt. Huh? Let’s analyze this. Number one, if they have cell service why didn’t they just call for help to begin with? And secondly, a T- shirt? Don’t you think that if you are going YESTERDAY’S NEWS to be out in the hills playing in the snow you might at least have a sweatshirt or jack- et? After all, you could get stuck and have to walk out. Not many of the canyons and gullies in our area have cell phone cover- age. At least he did have the presence of mind to get back to the vehicle, but overall I’d give him a “D-minus” in survival sense and an “A-plus” in dumb luck. When you plan your winter outing, do a little “what if” thinking. What if we slide off in the ditch and can’t get unstuck? What if a tree falls across the road behind us, blocking our way out? Then fill your coffee thermos and toss your “get home” bag in the back. That’s because you already have it loaded with the supplies and equipment you would need if one of the “what ifs” hap- pens. Just in case. ______________________ 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. LETTERS I wish to express my genuine thanks to the Siuslaw High School seniors for the wonderful Pie Social held at the school on Nov. 24. Add all superlatives you can think of — It was super great and the pie was delicious! The smil- ing, beautiful faces of the young men and women serving with such grace and pleasure made the entire event just beyond perfect. Thanks to all who worked for this lovely time had by all in attendance. Carol Strenkoski Florence The insane rhetoric of some of our wannabe presidential candi- dates and representatives regard- ing the intake of Syrian refugees is embarrassing. For instance, some of these candidates are saying, “We will only take ‘Christian’ Syrian refugees” or “Look what ISIS does — I think water-boarding is OK” or “We’ll send them back, just send them back,” like these people are a shipment of goods. • On Dec. 11, 1918, author Alexander Solzhenitsyn is born in the Caucasus Mountains in Russia. The publication of parts of “The Gulag Archipelago” in Paris in 1973 led to Solzhenitsyn’s arrest and exile in 1974. • On Dec. 10, 1901, the first Nobel Prizes are awarded in Stockholm, Sweden, as Alfred Nobel, the Swedish inventor of dynamite, had directed in his will. It is believed that he did so out of moral regret over the increasingly lethal uses of his inventions in war. • On Dec. 9, 1921, General Motors engi- neers discover that leaded gas reduces “knock” in auto engines, eliminating the pinging sounds. Ethyl alcohol also worked, and it was cheap — however, anyone with an ordinary still could make it, which meant that GM could not patent it or profit from it. • On Dec. 7, 1941, hundreds of Japanese warplanes attack the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, killing more than 2,400 naval and military personnel. The U.S. declared war against Japan the following day. • On Dec. 8, 1993, the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) is signed into law by President Bill Clinton. NAFTA eliminated all tariffs and trade restrictions between the U.S., Canada and Mexico. • On Dec. 13, 2003, in Seattle, the iconic Hat ‘n’ Boots Tex Gas Station is hauled away for restoration. The 44-foot–wide Stetson hat had perched atop the filling station’s office, while the 22-foot–tall cowboy boots had housed the men’s and women’s restrooms since 1955. A must read Justice for all MOMENTS IN TIME The History Channel • On Dec. 12, 1980, American oil tycoon Armand Hammer pays $5 million at auction for a notebook containing writings by Leonardo da Vinci. In 1994, the book was sold to Bill Gates, founder of Microsoft, for $30.8 million. Gates has since loaned the manuscript to a number of museums for public display. Perfect pie social Florence should be so proud that it supports such a richly diverse newspaper as Siuslaw News. Wesley Voth’s column is always a must read, but I thought his column in the Nov. 28 issue (“Words Worth Living Up To”) was outstanding. Balanced, full of common sense, whilst admitting past and current problems and providing a short history that was totally new to me, it was pithy in its subtle suggestions as to where correc- tions are needed. Barbara Prisbe-Sutton Oceanside, Calif. formerly of Florence EDITOR @ THESIUSLAWNEWS . COM (c) 2015 King Features Synd., Inc. It’s ignorant, inhumane and arrogant. These comments based on fear ignore that there are good and bad people in all walks of life — Christians, Jews, Muslims, Atheists, etc. After all, unfortu- nately, we have had plenty of mass shootings in this country and one of the highest crime rates in the Western world. And, while these politicians sit there in luxurious homes and cars, eating fulfilling meals, they don’t pretend to have an iota of compassion for the innocent Syrian civilians. Besides our moral imperative, this kind of crazy rhetoric and proposed sanctions is foolish as it plays right into ISIS’ hands. They would love to see Syrians have no escape and for us to declare a war on Muslims to feed their propaganda and to gain recruits. Lastly, these kinds of words and actions of our “so-called” leaders are dangerous to the American ideals that I hold dear L ETTERS TO THE 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 — diversity, liberty, religious freedom and equality for all peo- ple. Julie MacFarlane Florence Just remember Before your heart aches too much, please remember that the Syrian survivors said that when the boats became overloaded, the Muslims threw the Christians overboard and let them drown. That goes along with anyone who is found to be Christian is tortured and beheaded in Syria. These people would be coming to a Christian USA. Maybe next door to you. Martin Cable Florence is not guaranteed and depends on space available and the volume of letters received. Libelous and anonymous letters as well as poetry will not be published. All submissions become the property of Siuslaw News and will not be returned. Write to: Editor@TheSiuslawNews.com USPS# 497-660 Copyright 2015 © Siuslaw News John Bartlett Jenna Bartlett Ryan Cronk Susan Gutierrez Cathy Dietz Ron Annis Jeremy Gentry Publisher, ext. 327 General Manager, ext. 318 Editor, ext. 313 Advertising Director, ext. 326 Office Supervisor, ext. 312 Production Supervisor Press Manager DEADLINES: Wednesday Issue—General news, Monday noon; Budgets, four days prior to publication; Regular classified ads, Monday 1 p.m.; Display ads, Monday noon; Boxed and display classified ads, Friday 5 p.m. Saturday Issue—General news, Thursday noon; Budgets, two days prior to publication; Regular classified ads, Thursday 1 p.m.; Display ads, Thursday noon; Boxed and display classified ads, Wednesday 5 p.m. Soundings, Tuesday 5 p.m. NEWSPAPER SUBSCRIPTION RATES: In Lane County — 1-year subscription, $71; 10-weeks subscription, $18; Out of Lane County — 1-year subscription, $94; 10-weeks subscription, $24; Out of State — 1-year subscription, $120; Out of United States — 1-year subscription, $200; E-Edition Online Only (Anywhere) — 1-year subscription, $65. Mail subscription includes E-Edition. Website and E-Edition: www.TheSiuslawNews.com 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. 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
