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❘ JANUARY 2, 2016 ❘ $1.00
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SERVING WESTERN LANE COUNTY SINCE 1890
FLORENCE, OREGON
CRIME
N EW Y EAR ’ S R ESOLUTIONS
Man arrested
for murder of
stepfather
Jeffrey Holmes, 41, accused
of killing Jack Youngblood, 80,
after dispute north of Florence
B Y C HANTELLE M EYER
Siuslaw News
Community members share their
resolutions for the New Year
C OMPILED BY S IUSLAW N EWS S TAFF
Erin Reynolds
Florence City Manager
Joe Henry
Florence Mayor
“I resolve to continue to thank God
for the blessings that have been
bestowed upon me and my loved ones. I
resolve to do my best to use those gifts
in these difficult times to strive for the
leadership, communication and team-
work to keep our fair city on the path to
becoming a great place for all our citizens to live and work as
well as to make it the premier destination on the Oregon coast. I
resolve to work harder to keep our attention focused on the tasks
at hand and not be distracted by agendas that are not in the best
interests of the majority of the people of Florence.”
“My personal resolution is the
cliché answer that I’m sure a lot of
people will have, that 2016 may be a
more balanced year. For me that
means work out more, eat healthier,
spend more time with family and
friends and read a few good books
along the way. As city manager, my resolution is to stay the
course and complete the projects that we put in motion this
last year — all the while continuing to make progress on the
city’s priorities that will add to and improve this amazing
community of Florence that we call home.”
“I am excited for Dunes City to
move forward with a strong, caring
City Council and equally strong and
caring staff. The holiday season also
brings to mind the importance of fami-
ly, friends and neighbors. I want to
offer my sincere appreciation to every-
one that has supported me throughout the year. Nobody stands
alone in civic service. Beside them are their family, friends,
and co-workers, who share their time, advice and listening ear.
I encourage us all to continue our efforts to work together as
neighbors and volunteers for the common good of all. It is
important that we remember that we can affect change in our
community by volunteering. That will continue to be my pri-
ority in the coming year. And, as I look optimistically to the
future, I’m hoping 2016 is our best year ever.”
See
“As outgoing executive director of
the Florence Area Chamber of
Commerce, I would like to see the
Chamber continue to flourish in 2016,
and fulfill its mission to the communi-
ty. I also urge the Florence business
community to become engaged with our Chamber. With near-
ly 1,000 business licenses issued in the city, and only 300
Chamber members, there is a lot yet to be accomplished, and
it is only through the collective effort of the business commu-
nity members that this can happen. The Chamber can not
accomplish its mission without their engagement. Together,
we can do so much more for our community.”
See
Florence Police join other
agencies to stop multiple
vehicle-related crimes
B Y C HANTELLE M EYER
Siuslaw News
RESOLUTIONS 6A
Popular jazz quartet returns to City Lights
B Y J ACK D AVIS
Siuslaw News
J
INSIDE
azz enthusiasts and
music lovers in gen-
eral will want to be
at City Lights Cinemas
Thursday, Jan. 7, to expe-
rience the Florence-based
Miles To Go (MTG) jazz
quartet, featuring guest
pianist Ken Wannberg
and three local female
vocalists performing pop-
ular jazz standards.
“Ken has worked on
every major film score
that Stephen Spielberg
and George Lucas has
ever produced, until he
retired in 2005 and chose
Florence as his home,”
percussionist Nate
Kaplan said. “He is not
only a brilliant music edi-
tor, he is also a brilliant
composer.”
MTG will feature at
least one original jazz
composition by
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Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Coastal Events . . . . . . . . . . .
Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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B5
A8
A4
COURTESY PHOTO
Miles To Go jazz quartet will perform Thursday,
Jan. 7, at 6:30 p.m. at City Lights Cinemas.
Religion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A5
SideShow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B4
Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B
Word on the Street . . . . . . . A7
THIS WEEK ’ S
Wannberg, who will be
on keyboard. The group
will also feature three
female vocalists, each
performing four songs.
“Maree Beers recently
played Roxy in the local
production of ‘Chicago,’”
Kaplan said. “Anything
she does, she brings it
home. She is amazing.”
Denise Dee and Judi
Kelly will also perform.
See
SUNDAY
MONDAY
TUESDAY
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48 37
45 39
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WEATHER
Full Forecast, A3
Florence Police Department (FPD) reported the
arrest of Larry L. Gifford, 29, of Veneta, on Tuesday
in connection with several
vehicle-related crimes in Lane
and Douglas counties.
“It’s a long, drawn-out
story,” FPD Lt. John Pitcher
said. “People saw us driving
around all over.”
On the morning of Dec.
29, FPD received a report of
a vehicle stolen from 10th
Larry Gifford
Street off of Spruce Street in
Florence, and of a second vehicle broken into and
tools stolen in the same area.
At about 10:50 a.m., officers from FPD and
Douglas County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) investi-
gated a hit-and-run accident that had occurred in
Florence. DCSO stopped the suspect vehicle on
Highway 101 in Douglas County.
CONCERT 9A
TODAY
DEATH 6A
High-speed
chase ends in
crash, arrest
Cal Applebee
Florence Chamber
Executive Director
Rebecca Ruede
Dunes City Mayor
A 41-year-old man was arrested Tuesday after-
noon following an alleged dispute and the murder
of his stepfather in Florence, according to the
Lane County Sheriff’s Office.
On Dec. 29, at approximately 11:59 a.m., sher-
iff deputies were dispatched to a “dispute or dis-
turbance call” at 5330 Knoll Way, located in the
northern outskirts of Florence.
Upon arrival, deputies located a deceased per-
son, Jack Harvey Youngblood, 80 years old, at the
scene.
Detective Sgt. Carl Wilkerson said the initial
information indicated Jeffrey Whitman Holmes,
Youngblood’s 41-year-old step-son, had been in a
dispute with people at the location.
Holmes was no longer on scene. A deputy locat-
ed Holmes about a mile away from the residence
and detained him.
Investigators from the Florence Police
Department, the Oregon State Police and the sher-
iff’s office responded to the area and began inves-
tigating Youngblood’s death.
The investigation revealed that Youngblood
died as a result of being assaulted by Holmes.
In an interview Wednesday morning with the
Siuslaw News, the victim’s wife, Julia
Youngblood, said, “I’ve lost two of the most
important men in my life.”
S IUSLAW N EWS
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