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SIUSLAW NEWS ❚ SATURDAY, JANUARY 2, 2016
Chase
from 1A
While on that investigation,
FPD
was
advised
by
Reedsport Police Department
of a white Honda Civic that
was stolen in Reedsport and
was possibly heading towards
Florence.
The two Douglas County
deputies and the FPD officer
observed the stolen vehicle go
by their location and initiated a
pursuit, but lost sight of it
south of Florence.
An FPD officer and an
Oregon State Police (OSP)
trooper were stationed at the
north end of the Siuslaw River
Bridge preparing to deploy
spike strips, but since there
were no pursuing patrol cars in
view the strips could not be
deployed.
The officer and trooper
observed the stolen vehicle
come across the bridge and
into Florence and also attempt-
ed to pursue the driver.
A Confederated Tribes
Police Department officer was
at the junction of Highways
101 and 126 and observed the
stolen vehicle go east onto
Highway 126, and also
attempted to pursue the stolen
car.
The driver of the stolen
vehicle continued to evade the
officers and nearly hit several
cars before crashing the vehi-
cle.
The officers discovered the
car abandoned on railroad
tracks near milepost 7 on
Highway 126.
Officers
from
OSP,
Confederated Tribes and FPD
searched the area but were
unable to locate the suspect
until a K-9 team responded
from
Eugene
Police
Department.
The K-9 officer located the
suspect hiding in the brush up
Death
from 1A
She called 911 when
Holmes’ behavior indicated
that “he was in the middle of
a meltdown.” According to
her, Holmes has been in and
out of psychiatric and regular
hospitals in the last couple
months, and that she ques-
tioned his release by health
officials.
She also said that authori-
ties were unable to detain
him earlier in the week unless
Holmes was actively causing
harm to himself or others.
Holmes was arrested
Tuesday and taken to the
Lane County Jail on the
charge of murder.
“All parties involved in
this incident have been iden-
tified and there is no belief
that there is any additional
threat to the public,”
Wilkerson said. “There are
no suspects outstanding.”
The investigation is con-
tinuing.
In the meantime, Julia
Youngblood is contacting
Rep. Peter DeFazio, Sen.
Arnie Roblan and attornies to
see if she has a case.
“I’m letting everybody
know. He should not have
been released in his mental
condition. This is the fault of
the hospitals. My husband is
in the morgue because no one
listened to me,” she said.
She plans to make sure
people know of the dangers
of severe mental illness,
especially when support and
services are not quickly
available.
“The story isn’t what hap-
pened here today — it’s that
this happened at all. I want to
raise money to go to mental
illness care and homeless
shelters, places where it
counts,” she said.
A fundraiser has been set
up online to raise money for
funeral costs and other
expenses at www.crowd
rise.com/legalcostshelpto
make/fundraiser/john
mason1.
__________
Follow Chantelle on Twitter
@SNews_Chantelle. Email her
at cmeyer@thesiuslawnews.com.
the hill and east of where he
had abandoned the wrecked,
stolen car.
“The K-9 was outstanding
and found the guy right away,”
Pitcher said.
The suspect, Gifford, was
taken into custody.
During this time, Douglas
County advised FPD that they
had arrested two women who
had been involved with break-
ing in to several cars in
Reedsport the morning of Dec.
29.
From that investigation,
officers discovered another
stolen truck in Florence,
parked at 12th Street near
Spruce Street.
Once FPD officers located
the stolen vehicle, the investi-
gation revealed that Gifford
stole the truck from Eugene,
drove the truck to Florence,
abandoned it on 12th Street,
stole the truck from 10th Street
and broke into a separate vehi-
cle in Florence.
Then, Gifford drove the
stolen Florence truck to
Reedsport, abandoned it and
stole the white Honda Civic.
The stolen truck from
Florence was recovered in
Reedsport.
Although it may be unusual
for so many agencies to work
together, the teamwork paid
off.
Gifford was charged with
unlawful use of a motor vehi-
cle, unlawful entry into a
motor vehicle, theft and reck-
less driving.
He was transported to
Reedsport Police Department,
where he will be charged with
several more crimes that
occurred in Douglas County.
Resolutions
from 1A
Jim Langborg
Siuslaw Valley Fire and Rescue
Fire Chief
“Here’s my 2016 resolution — to tell
my wife I love her every day.”
Tom Turner
Florence Police Chief
“I’ve reduced my New Years resolution
for the Police Department to one word:
‘Preparation!’ Easier to say then to do, but
we are going to do our very best!”
Brian Burright
Western Lane Ambulance
Interim Manager
“For me, New Year Resolutions are
always easy to make — but, like most of
us, very hard to stick with. Maybe a grand
yearly resolution instead of my every
Sunday night announcement to get out of bed and work out
will be more successful... New year, new hope! Coming up
with an organizational resolution is even tougher when you
recognize that every day the men and women who make up
Western Lane Ambulance District tirelessly respond to requests
for help and serve our communities with commitment and ded-
ication. That declaration will never change.”
Meg Spencer
Siuslaw Public Library Director
“My New Year’s Resolution for 2016 is
making the Siuslaw Public Library acces-
sible and exciting for everyone! On Jan. 9,
the Library District will be bringing
together more than 60 local residents to
create a five-year strategic plan. More
than 400 people visit the Library every day — but I think we
can do even more, interest new people in what we offer, and
2016
make the Siuslaw Public Library the best library system in
Oregon!”
Tim Tregoning
U.S. Coast Guard Station
Siuslaw River Senior Chief
“For 2016, I resolve to get out and
enjoy nature with family, provide a service
and safety oriented environment that pro-
motes personal and professional growth to
the crew of Station Siuslaw River and to invite our friends and
neighbors to learn more about their local Coast Guard Station
through an open house and community involvement.”
Dina McClure
Interim Port of Siuslaw Manager
“They are simple:
1. Organize the unorganized
2. Complete the incomplete
3. Think before taking action
4. Focus on fitness.”
Ethel Angal
Siuslaw School District
Superintendent
“1. Work out more.
2. Share more good news.
3. Continue to build community con-
nections. We live in a terrific community.
4. Spend more quality time with my husband, children and
grandchildren. Christmas celebrations were so wonderful this
year.”
Jodi O’Mara
Mapleton School District
Superintendent
“My New Year’s Resolution is to live
life to the fullest and be happy and healthy
the whole year through. My professional
New Year’s Resolution for 2016 is to
work hard to let every student know they are special and can
achieve anything they set their mind to, and to encourage them
to dream big!”
MAKE and KEEP your NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS this year!
County Transfer & Recycling
Th ank you for your excellent work in 2015!
EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR FOR 2015
DRIVER OF THE YEAR FOR 2015
Mark Metzler was awarded
Employee of the Year for 2015.
Curby Pinnock was awarded
Driver of the Year for 2015.
Mark has been a resident of Florence for almost
56 years and has been employed with us
for 15 years. Mark picks up our
residential and commercial recycle routes.
Curby is the 3rd of 4 generations of Florence
Natives and has been with us for 8 years.
Curby picks up our residential trash routes.
PLEASE MAKE THE COMMITMENT TO
‘RECYCLE, REDUCE AND REUSE’ IN 2016.
Look for items that have been repurposed when you make purchases.
Any step you can add to what you’re already doing, helps!
We provide the materials that make recycling easy to do, always at no
cost to our customers.
Please call us at 541-997-8233 if you have any questions.
From all of us at County Transfer & Recycling, Happy New Year!
Phone: 541-997-8233
Fax: 541-997-7345
85140 Hwy. 101, South, Florence, OR 97439