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WEDNESDAY EDITION
LUV COAST LIFE
— B
IN
ART
126TH YEAR ❘ ISSUE NO. 12
❘ FEBRUARY 10, 2016 ❘ $1.00
SAILORS
FALL SHORT
SPORTS — C
SERVING WESTERN LANE COUNTY SINCE 1890
FLORENCE, OREGON
City aims to become ‘Oregon’s premier coastal community’
B Y C HANTELLE M EYER
Siuslaw News
The City of Florence not only has
five new goals for 2016, it also has a
new vision, as approved by the
Florence City Council at its Feb. 1
meeting.
City Manager Erin Reynolds said,
“We didn’t spend a lot of time to do a
true strategic plan for the city. We really
hit the ground running. One thing we’ve
been saying over and over again is that
our vision is to be ‘Oregon’s premier
coastal community.’ We would love to
have it officially adopted by you.”
POLICE
Body found
at Baker Beach
identified
Joshua Paulus, 31, was
one of two missing fishermen
after crash in Coos Bay
The city council approved the new
vision, making it official.
“It’s a really great vision,”
Reynolds said. “That’s what we’re
working toward.”
“We are well on our way,” said
Florence Mayor Joe Henry.
Councilors also approved a new city
work plan and five consolidated city
goals after a presentation by Reynolds.
“One thing we wanted to make
clear is we are a city in motion, so we
consider this an iteration of other
things to come,” Reynolds said.
“We’re asking for the adoption of this
concept of going down to five goals
and priorities for the council.”
The goals for 2016 are city service
delivery, livability and quality of life,
economic development, communica-
tion and trust and financial and orga-
nizational sustainability.
Reynolds placed emphasis on liv-
ability, saying it is interwoven
through all of the goals and all
aspects of the city.
See
VISION 9A
RELEASE THE CRACKIN’
Saturday’s Crab Crack
deemed ‘most successful’ in
fundraiser’s 5-year history
S TAFF R EPORT
A body found washed ashore Saturday
afternoon at Baker Beach, seven miles north
of Florence near Heceta Head, has been
identified as one of the two missing men
involved in a commercial fishing vessel acci-
dent last month in Coos Bay.
Oregon State Police and Lane County
Sheriff’s Office conducted the initial investi-
gation into the deceased male found Feb. 6
at 1:56 p.m. The Lane County Medical
Examiner later identified him as Joshua
Paulus, 31, of Port Orford.
Paulus was reported missing Jan. 19 after
the boat he was on capsized near the North
Jetty in Coos Bay. Four men were aboard the
Eagle III at the time of the accident, but only
Captain Glenn Burkhow survived.
One man, Blain Steinmetz, 52, of Port
Orford, was found dead a day later. Daniel
Matlock, 37, of Port Orford, is still missing.
Coos County Sheriff’s Office is continu-
ing the investigation.
LCC president
announces
retirement
PHOTOS BY JACK DAVIS/SIUSLAW NEWS
A
sold-out crowd of 400 diners helped make
this year’s Crab Crack, held at the Florence
Events Center last Saturday, Feb. 6, the most
successful Florence Food Share fundraiser in
the event’s five-year history, according to organiz-
ers. The meal included unlimited Dungeness crab,
pasta, coleslaw, rolls and beverages.
Mary Spilde to step down
June 2017 after 36-year
community college career
B Y J ACK D AVIS
Siuslaw News
Lane Community College (LCC)
President Mary Spilde announced her plans
to retire last week dur-
ing the LCC Board of
Education meeting.
Spilde, who has
served as LCC presi-
dent since 2001, will
step down in June
2017. She held two
vice-presidential posi-
tions at the college for
six years before being
Mary Spilde
selected president.
“I simply want more time to pursue my
many other interests and to enjoy my first
grandchild who is expected to arrive at the
end of this month,” Spilde said in a statement
released Feb. 3.
INSIDE
See
Ambulance . . . . . . . . . . . . . A2
Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C6
Coast Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B
Library Tidings . . . . . . . . . . . A5
LCC 9A
New port manager
takes charge
Public invited to meet-and-greet reception Friday
N
ewly hired Port of Siuslaw Manager
Steven Leskin began the first week
of his five-year contract with the port
on Monday, Feb. 1.
Leskin took over from Dina McClure,
who had been the interim port manager
since Bob
B Y J ACK D AVIS
Forsythe vacat-
Siuslaw News
ed the position
––––––––––––––––––
Nov. 6. McClure
will continue in her former capacity as
administrative assistant.
Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A4
Police . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A2
Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C
Weather Data . . . . . . . . . . . A2
THIS WEEK ’ S
“I look forward to working with port staff
and commissioners,” Leskin said.
Leskin was the project manager for the
Port of Bandon. Prior to that, he worked as
an intern assistant to the general manager of
the Port of Cascade Locks.
In addition to earning a law degree from
Lewis and Clark College in 1992, Leskin
has received the Pacific Coast Congress of
Harbor Managers Certification Level III and
JACK DAVIS/SIUSLAW NEWS
See
TODAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
59 52
61 49
57 46
53 48
WEATHER
Full Forecast, A3
PORT 9A
Steven Leskin
S IUSLAW N EWS
3 S ECTIONS ❘ 24 P AGES
C OPYRIGHT 2016
CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK
Council adopts new 2016 vision, work plan and goals for Florence