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About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (July 2, 2016)
4 A ❘ SATURDAY EDITION ❘ JULY 2, 2016 Siuslaw News P.O. Box 10 Florence, OR 97439 DISASTER PREP B Y D AVE R OBINSON Special to the Siuslaw News ne of the more popular summer activities in our area is camping. We live in the middle of one of the most beautiful outdoor recreation areas in the world. No matter where you live in the south Coast region of Oregon, you are only a short drive from an amazing camping location. Whether you need full hookups for your home on wheels or simply a flat spot to pitch your tent, southwestern Oregon has the camping venue to meet your need. While I have always loved to go camp- ing, not everyone is in love with a back-to- nature weekend. “We have a nice house, why go live in a tent with no shower, no toilet and rough it?” It is a lot of extra work, and when you get home, you have to clean up your stuff and put it away while you’re feeling grimy, tired and a little weird from eating too much junk food. On the “plus” side, you have just made an amazing memory with your kids. But with all this being true, a family camping trip is a great way to test your dis- aster preparedness skills. How organized are you? I don’t think I have ever gone O RYAN CRONK , EDITOR ❘ 541-902-3520 ❘ Opinion Go camping camping when I didn’t forget something I needed. A few years back I took my grand- son up in the Siskiyou National Forest for a three-day trip. When we arrived at the Forest Service campground we set up the tent, arranged our ice chest full of food and it was then I discovered I had forgotten the Coleman stove. I took stock of my situation and decided to go it without the stove. It was too far to go back home and retrieve the thing, it was also too far to go to town and buy another one. Besides I looked at my menu and decided I could cook everything on my list over an open campfire. So we did. It wasn’t as handy as the stove would have been, but other than blackening some of my cooking utensils, we made do with no serious conse- quences. Maybe a camping trip would be a good shake-down cruise for your disaster preps. Make a list, check off the items and spend a weekend in the wild. You will invariably learn what you should have brought along. You will even learn what you could have left behind. If the power grid fails, or a YESTERDAY’S NEWS major earthquake strikes, your camping gear will be your key to maintaining some kind of normalcy. If you have it arranged in a general location, you’ll be able to lay your hands on what you need quickly. Maybe even in the dark. Your lantern, your cook stove and other gear will get you through while your neigh- bors are still trying to hunt up their flash- light. While we’re on the topic of your neighbors; once your home is stabilized, make sure your neighbors are OK. It’s pos- sible they are completely unprepared and are sitting in the dark hoping the lights come back on soon. If you’ve ever gone camping and forgot- ten something important, I’d like to hear about it. ______________________ Dave Robinson is the postmaster in Bandon, Ore., and author of “Disaster Prep for the Rest of Us.” He may be contacted at disasterprep.dave@gmail.com. Visit his website for more disaster preparedness tips, www.disasterprepdave.blogspot.com. LETTERS Gun control Let me ask: Who benefits from all the mass killings in this country? The gun manufactur- ers. Who benefits from the endless quagmire of war we are involved in? The military-indus- trial complex, weapons manufacturers and multi-national corporations who make “killing” off of stealing other countries’ resources to provide for our excessive amounts of consumer products. It is past time for meaningful gun control in this country — background checks with no loopholes and a ban on assault weapons. Although I respect the right of Americans to own guns, is it really necessary to own an assault rifle as a toy at the expense of so many lives lost due to their accessibility? Other countries have done it, Australia for instance, with a drastic reduction of deaths due to gun violence. Internationally, while still maintaining a defense, it is past time for us to stop the inter- ference of our empire in countries all over the world for our own profit. There have been endless places over the decades — El Salvador, Chile, Honduras, Columbia, Mexico, Haiti, Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, Libya, Pakistan, Somalia, Yemen and Nigeria, to name a few. It is past time to start promoting sustain- ability instead of consumerism; peace and diplomacy instead of war; and to care for the innocent civilians of those wars we’ve had a part in — refugees who need a safe haven. It is time for change. Julie MacFarlane Florence Our rights to initiatives Our Community, Our Rights just received a big win in court that protects our right to the initiative process. The majority of county commissioners, in conflict with Judge Carlson’s June 3 ruling, is seeking to nullify it. This entire initiative review process is uncon- stitutional. The constitutional right of initiative belongs to the people, not the whims of elected officials. The “matters of county concern” argument these commissioners refer to is a Trojan horse. It pro- vides an excuse to attack the substance of any ini- tiative before the people have spoken. Initiatives are the people’s business. This action by the commissioners is an attack on direct democracy. It’s time to get involved, EDITOR @ THESIUSLAWNEWS . COM MOMENTS IN TIME The History Channel On July 5, 1775, the Continental Congress adopts the Olive Branch Petition, which appeals directly to King George III and expresses hope for reconciliation between the colonies and Great Britain. George refused to accept the peti- tion. A year later, the Declaration of Independence took a much stronger stance. On July 4, 1804, Lewis and Clark stage the first-ever Fourth of July celebration west of the Mississippi River. The expedition stopped near a creek, which they named Independence Creek in honor of the day. On July 9, 1877, the All England Croquet and Lawn Tennis Club begins its first lawn ten- nis tournament at Wimbledon. The tournament was suspended after semifinals were held July 12 in order to leave London fans free for a cricket match. On July 10, 1925, in Dayton, Tennessee, the so-called Monkey Trial begins with John Thomas Scopes, a high-school science teacher, accused of teaching evolution in violation of Tennessee law. The town took on a carnival-like atmosphere and included a chimpanzee that wore a plaid suit, brown fedora and white spats. On July 6, 1942, in Nazi-occupied Holland, 13-year-old Anne Frank and her fami- ly are forced to take refuge in a hidden area of an Amsterdam warehouse. The day before, Anne’s older sister, Margot, had received a call- up notice to be deported to a Nazi work camp. On July 8, 1960, captured CIA pilot Francis Gary Powers, who was shot down two months before while flying a secret spy mission over Moscow, is charged with espionage by the Soviet Union. It was a huge setback in U.S.- Soviet relations. Lane County. Join us in protecting our consti- tutional right to the ballot box. Go to CommunityRightsLaneCounty.org. Michelle Holman Deadwood Saving Capitalism Truth? “You can’t handle the truth!” But if you value clarity, and you have the “cojones” to see how the sausage is made, read “Saving Capitalism” by Robert B. Reich. It’s “Just the facts, ma’am.” But isn’t that what we need to make functional decisions? “When people feel that the system is unfair and arbitrary, and that hard work does not pay off, we all end up losing.” It’s called “The Negative Sum Game.” “Again and again we have saved capitalism from its own excesses by making necessary corrections. It’s time for us to do so again.” SB Starlight Swisshome Time for a change As a native Oregonian from a pioneer fam- ily, I have become disappointed with my state government. There was a time when our state government listened to the people of Oregon. But, in the last 20-plus years those elected (and appointed) have been controlled by big money and special interest groups. The mind- set seems to be if the state needs money, let’s tax the people, even if we have to hide the tax. No matter what your political leaning is, you need to take a look at how our state gov- ernment is being run. You will agree it is time for a change. New ideas. New vision. There is only one person running for governor that is willing to make the changes that benefit the people of the state of Oregon. Bud Pierce is that person. He is smart, understanding and not beholden to any special interest groups. He is not a career politician, and is willing to listen to the people of Oregon with an open door policy. Bud Pierce is willing to debate Kate Brown, who seems to be hiding from the people of Oregon. Kate Brown has turned down debat- ing with Dr. Bud Pierce, stating she is too busy. Dr. Pierce is still taking care of his oncology practice, as well as going to speak to groups and listening to people’s concerns. Kate Brown seems to not be able to make the tough decisions or multi-task. Bud Pierce has made these hard decisions many times in his career. He has been asked many times to speak on these matters. Pierce has been all over the state talking to Oregonians about their needs, their concerns and what they expect from their governor. When was the last time Kate Brown traveled the state or visted any small town outside of the Portland metro area? Mickie Stephens Salem On July 7, 1983, Samantha Smith, an 11- year-old girl from Maine who had written to Soviet leader Yuri Andropov about her worries of a nuclear war, begins a two-week goodwill visit to the Soviet Union at Andropov’s invita- tion. (c) 2016 King Features Synd., Inc. L ETTERS TO THE E DITOR P OLICY 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