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❘
SATURDAY EDITION
❘ DECEMBER 12, 2015
Siuslaw News
RYAN CRONK , EDITOR
❘ 541-902-3520 ❘
Opinion
P.O. Box 10
Florence, OR 97439
VIEW FROM UPRIVER
YESTERDAY’S NEWS
Celebrating policies that value
the wild and natural
W ESLEY V OTH
For the Siuslaw News
____________
consider the return of wolves to Oregon
to be one of the most wonderful events of
my lifetime. That they got here on their
own, and have managed to hang on, gives me
hope in a way that nothing else has. That
despite the mass transformation of farmland
to development and forest to tree farm, per-
haps we have not yet so completely altered
our wild areas that this region’s historic apex
predator cannot live among us once again.
Half a dozen years before I was born, wolf
control policies in place for a hundred years
paid out the last bounty in 1946 for an
Oregon wolf killed in the Umpqua National
Forest. The last of the state’s native stock
eradicated. Extinct. For those interested, very
complete and excellent articles on the history
of wolves in Oregon can be found online
written by Zach Urness of the Statesman
Journal.
We do not control the wind, nor complete-
ly control either water or fire. Respect for
I
these is a bridle on our human hubris.
I find the same to be true entering an
environment that is home to predators
that could easily kill me. When I lived
in Hawaii, and spent considerable time
in the ocean, coming eyeball to eyeball with a
great white shark gave me respect for that
environment in a way that just waves and
storms did not. I have also been in very close
proximity to large grizzlies and one wolf
while in Alaskan wilderness, and found the
same to be true there. Such experiences
altered my sense of my place on the earth.
We don’t even know what complex effects
the presence of wolves has on landscape, but
people who study such things were amazed
that when wolves were reintroduced to
Yellowstone, changes in elk behavior resulted
in more streamside vegetation that led in turn
to more songbirds and more beavers. Many
other changes are being observed, including
improved stream health.
Part of what has made life possible for
wolves again here is changes in thinking
about the management of public land, in rec-
ognizing the value of forests beyond being a
timber source. One of the people who has
made a difference in Forest Service practice
here and nationally is Jim Furnish, who
recently published his memoir, “Toward a
Natural Forest: The Forest Service in
Transition.” I found this 200-page book so
fascinating I read it in a single sitting. Jim’s
years as forest supervisor of Siuslaw National
Forest, 1991 to 1999, is particularly interest-
ing, as is his mention and appreciation of
such local heroes as Lynn Hood and Charlie
Dewberry in the restoration work on Knowles
Creek. But the heart of his story is his own
transformation as he spent time in our nation-
al forests and inside the changing agency in
charge of their management. He went on
from the Siuslaw to become deputy chief of
the Forest Service, based on successes forged
here in finding solutions with a broader base
of support.
As a community, we have the incredible
opportunity to hear Jim speak and to ask
questions this Tuesday, Dec. 15, from 6 to 8
p.m. at City Lights Cinemas. The event is
called “Book-Film-Panel Discussion.” Jim
will talk about his book; a new 30-minute
video, “Seeing the Forest,” about the Siuslaw
will be shown; Jim and three others involved
in Siuslaw partnerships will form the panel.
Admission is free, sponsored by the Siuslaw
Stewardship Group and the Siuslaw
Watershed Council.
MOMENTS IN TIME
The History Channel
• On Dec. 16, 1773, in Boston Harbor,
Massachusetts colonists disguised as Mohawk
Indians board three British tea ships and dump
342 chests of tea into the harbor in protest of
the British Parliament’s Tea Act of 1773.
• On Dec. 18, 1865, following its ratification
by the requisite three-quarters of the states ear-
lier in the month, the 13th Amendment is for-
mally adopted into the U.S. Constitution,
ensuring that “neither slavery nor involuntary
servitude ... shall exist within the United
States.”
• On Dec. 14, 1909, workers place the last of
the 3.2 million 10-pound bricks that pave the
Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indiana. Since
then, most of that brick has been buried under
asphalt, but a 1-yard strip remains exposed at
the start-finish line.
• On Dec. 15, 1936, writer George Orwell
delivers the manuscript for his book “The Road
to Wigan Pier,” which chronicles the difficult
life of the unemployed in northern England.
Orwell’s last novel, “Nineteen Eighty-four,”
brought him lasting fame with its grim vision of
a future where all citizens are watched con-
stantly.
• On Dec. 20, 1963, more than two years
after the Berlin Wall was constructed by East
Germany to prevent its citizens from fleeing its
communist regime, nearly 4,000 West Berliners
are allowed to cross into East Berlin for one
day to visit relatives.
LETTERS
A memorable visit
with Helen
I recently had the pleasure of
meeting Helen Cunningham, who
is 105 years old and moved to the
Florence area 11 years ago with
her husband. One of her passions
is knitting and crocheting afghan
blankets, which she has been giv-
ing to the Elks Lodge.
When her husband became ill
and needed hospice care, Helen
discovered there were many veter-
ans receiving hospice care. He
daughter, Kat, picked up red,
white and blue yarn at Goodwill
for her to use. This gave her the
idea of making patriotic afghan
blankets for veterans.
Over the past five years, she has
made 29 afghan blankets and is
currently working on number 30.
Helen contacted Commander Stitt
of the local Disabled American
Veterans (DAV), Chapter 23, to
inquire about giving afghan blan-
kets to veterans on behalf of the
DAV. This led to my memorable
visit with this wonderful lady.
Helen told me that she is not
planning to make any more blan-
kets, but I could see the twinkle in
her eyes as she described the ones
she has already made. So, I think,
there may be more in the future.
Her family also gave the DAV
nine boxes of men’s clothing to be
given out this Christmas to veter-
ans who need clothing for the win-
ter.
Commander Stitt and I wish to
thank the Cunningham family for
their generosity to veterans.
The light in Helen’s eyes and
her zest for life still burns strong,
making one proud to be a fellow
American.
Ralph Martin
Adjutant, DAV, Chapter 23
EDITOR @ THESIUSLAWNEWS . COM
• On Dec. 17, 1975, a federal jury in
Sacramento, California, sentences Lynette
“Squeaky” Fromme, a follower of incarcerated
cult leader Charles Manson, to life in prison for
her attempted assassination of President Gerald
Ford.
• On Dec. 19, 1998, the House of
Representatives approves two articles of
impeachment against President Bill Clinton,
charging him with lying under oath to a federal
grand jury and obstructing justice. Clinton,
after being acquitted on both articles of
impeachment, said he was “sorry.”
(c) 2015 King Features Synd., Inc.
L ETTERS TO THE
E DITOR P OLICY
Need for faster
health care
In regards to a letter that was
written by Becky Beckner
(“Waiting for Care,” Sept. 12): I
too had a similar experience.
I arrived at PeaceHealth’s
Walk-In Clinic in Florence in
September only to wait 5-1/2
hours and never to see anyone
other than the receptionist, who
did sign me in. Later I was told I
could drive to an emergency clin-
ic in Eugene. Had I known, I
would have done this instead since
it would have been a lot quicker.
Like Beckner, it was not an ER
case. I finally felt so ill that I had
to go home, which was a 25-
minute drive one way. I did get a
call in the early evening saying
they could see me now.
This, I feel, is a very significant
problem for the city of Florence.
There are so many tourists in town
that I wonder how many times this
happens to other people. We have
a vacation home in Florence, but
are not on the PeaceHealth insur-
ance plan.
There needs to be a better sys-
tem for handling a walk-in clinic.
Chris Hile
Grants Pass
The Siuslaw News welcomes letters to
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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