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About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 13, 2016)
4 A ❘ SATURDAY EDITION ❘ FEBRUARY 13, 2016 Siuslaw News RYAN CRONK , EDITOR ❘ 541-902-3520 ❘ Opinion P.O. Box 10 Florence, OR 97439 VIEW FROM UPRIVER YESTERDAY’S NEWS New, under the sun W ESLEY V OTH For the Siuslaw News –––––––––––– A s I write this, we are having the warm sunny weather that we generally get here this time of year. Never mind that by the time this goes to print it will be raining, or that last year weather like this began in January and lasted for weeks. The crocuses in our yard opened Feb. 7 — the first hail-free opening in years — bumblebees responsively appeared, and people seemed universally cheerful. We opened the windows and gloried in temperatures that topped 60. Today I filled my gas tank at the station in Mapleton, where I always do. I paid $1.89 a gallon. National average today was $1.80, Oregon average $1.95. And you know what? Some Mapleton people, and not a few others that come up short as they pass, still come in and buy a paltry couple of bucks worth before going on to some other “greener grass” station to fill up. When I went to Florence later I was going to compare prices, but didn’t. I forgot because actually I don’t care what it costs else- where. I am going to support the businesses I depend on. On Jan. 31 I attended a memorial service for Bob Jackson. There were a lot of people there, friends and family, some of whom had traveled quite a distance. I was impressed by two very young men who were taking great time and care in writ- ing their whole long names into the sign-in book, and by the patient encour- aging man accompanying them, who I presume was their father. I thought how pleased Bob would have been. Bob was known for his drawing skills and care in writing. Bob and I knew each other only through our writing for this newspaper, and talking on the phone a few times over the years our columns both appeared. One of the things we had in common was growing up in rural Oregon, and leaving home young to hitchhike south with nothing in our pockets beyond belief in ourselves, confidence in our ability to make it in the world, and trust in the basic goodness of people. We both came back a little wiser about people, but no less positive overall. Having officiated at a number of memorial services over the years, and attending many more, I was disappointed that exactly 30 min- utes into a service that started right on time, the part where people shared memories about Bob was ended. I could have listened for hours, as long as people had stories to tell. Taps was played, there was a long spontaneous moment of silence, and the service was over. Bob’s napkin drawings adorned the walls, and I spoke with several people who were coping with the fact that what had seemed like a gen- erous and limitless supply were now limited editions. We were invited to partake of the huge and varied supply of donuts and told that Bob had eaten them and other desserts for “breakfast, lunch, dinner and in between, and lived in good health until the age of 94, and so we shouldn’t let anyone tell us that donuts were bad for us.” Well, all I can say to that is it’s proof again that Bob was a cut above the rest of us. ODOT is working on the Mapleton end of Highway 36, specifically the guardrails along the curves where the river and the road cozy up, the legacy of a nearly forgotten landslide. More metal railing is being added in places where vehicles have gone into the river in recent years, and wooden pilings that hold the railing in place are being replaced by metal, these probably more friendly to the environ- ment than treated wood and being driven deeper than what was replaced. It is heartening to see this infrastructure improved. Rumors that Alpha-Bit Café and Bookstore is closing are true. The Mapleton Storefront business, an outreach of Deadwood’s Alpha Farm Community for the past 44 years, will have its last day on Sunday, Feb. 14. According to people from Alpha Farm I spoke with, it has been decided that continuing this outreach is not the best use of their resources at this time. There are no immediate plans to sell or do anything else with the prop- erty. Details of their farewell dinner and closing schedule can be found at Alpha’s Facebook page and probably elsewhere in this paper. This local icon — with its lilac exterior paint, healthy food, friendliness to strangers and pol- icy of providing restrooms open to any and all — will be missed. MOMENTS IN TIME The History Channel On Feb. 20, 1792, President George Washington signs legislation renewing the United States Post Office as a cabinet depart- ment led by the postmaster general. Postmaster Benjamin Franklin had streamlined postal delivery with surveyed and marked routes from Maine to Florida (the origins of Route 1). On Feb. 17, 1865, soldiers from Union Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman’s army ran- sack Columbia, S.C., and leave a charred city in their wake. Sherman is most famous for his March to the Sea through Georgia in the clos- ing months of 1864. On Feb. 19, 1878, the technology that made the modern music business possible was born in the New Jersey laboratory where Thomas Alva Edison created the first device to both record sound and play it back — the phonograph. On Feb. 18, 1885, Mark Twain publishes his famous — and controversial — novel “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.” Its satirical look at racism, religion and other social atti- tudes of the time led libraries to ban the book. On Feb. 21, 1948, NASCAR — the National Association for Stock Car Racing — is officially incorporated. NASCAR held its first Strictly Stock race in 1949 at Charlotte Speedway in North Carolina. On Feb. 15, 1961, the entire 18-member U.S. figure skating team is killed in a plane crash in Belgium. The team was on its way to the 1961 World Figure Skating Championships in Czechoslovakia. After the crash, an American woman (Peggy Fleming) would not capture Olympic gold until 1968, while a U.S. man (Scott Hamilton) would not do so until 1984. LETTERS Ambulance plan Why don’t we combine fire and ambulance services in Western Lane like they do in most of the rest of this county? We would get faster responses as both fire and ambulance per- sonnel would be station based and ready to go. We would have fewer build- ings/administration to maintain and it would be more economi- cal overall. I’m sure some clever govern- ment person could figure out how to combine the two tax bases into something more effi- cient for us all and save a few tax dollars along the way. Larry Dunlap, M.D. Florence On Feb. 16, 1997, Jeff Gordon claims his first Daytona 500 victory, becoming at age 25 the youngest winner in the history of the 500- mile NASCAR race, dubbed the “Super Bowl of stock car racing.” (c) 2016 King Features Synd., Inc. L ETTERS TO THE E DITOR P OLICY My missing husband There are no words signifi- cant enough to give my and our family’s heartfelt and joyful thank-you to the several hun- dred folks that participated in some way in the search and res- cue of my husband’s safe return to our loving arms. As he was only wearing light- weight pajamas and a pair of shoes, and it was 36 degrees at the time he left Regency through his room’s window, we know he could probably not have existed through the dark night. Our fears turned to the dark- est of thoughts. There were several search- EDITOR @ THESIUSLAWNEWS . COM and-rescue teams out looking as well as a search dog trying to pick up the scent. Our daughter and her boyfriend came down from Waldport and joined the search: he also walked the creek behind our house from way north down to Highway 126 in the very dark, cold night to be sure Don had not fallen there. Neighbor friends got out of bed at 4:45 a.m. to join the search. Facebook, radio, TV and the like, as well as Mayor Joe Henry’s efforts, were a tremendous help. So thanks to all, named and un-named, for your great efforts and love. Don was given shelter and a large warm hoodie by a won- derful Good Samaritan, who possibly saved Don’s life. Don was welcomed and warmed the following morning by a person or persons near Sears, who then called police, namely Sgt. James Macfarlane, who did a wonderful job of informing me and keeping me up-dated thoughout the dark night, and finally the good news: He had been found! My husband, Don Schug, wants to thank the Siuslaw News for printing the Feb. 3 article (“Missing Senior Found Safe”) and say: “I am thankful to be alive and thankful for all the people who cared and put forth their huge efforts to find me. I had no idea the folks of Florence were and are so wonderful. All the folks in our ‘church family’ could not be more loving. I am very blessed for all those who helped me find my way.” Shirley Schug Florence 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 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 2016 © 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
