4 A
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SATURDAY EDITION
❘ AUGUST 6, 2016
Siuslaw News
P.O. Box 10
Florence, OR 97439
RYAN CRONK , EDITOR
❘ 541-902-3520 ❘
Opinion
Outpouring of support appreciated
I
just wanted to thank everyone
in the Florence Community for
the outpouring of support and
B Y T HOMAS M. T URNER
kindness shown to the Florence
Chief of Police, Florence Police Department
Police Department over the recent
weeks. It has been a very difficult
defend and protect the commu-
time for law enforcement across the country.
nities we live in and care about.
In my 35 years in this profession, I can tell
Your support of our officers
you that this support is absolutely unparalleled
as they serve our community is
anywhere that I know of.
always welcome. The Florence
This past July, I gave the commencement
Police Department has received numerous
address at the Oregon Police Academy in
cards and letters expressing support and con-
Salem, Ore., for Basic Police Class No.
dolences since the recent tragedies around the
BP358 — 38 brand new police officers,
country began. Additionally we have received
deputies and troopers from around the state
numerous baked goods, which we have placed
who are entering this very challenging,
in the community areas of our building to be
rewarding and potentially dangerous career,
shared by all the employees.
and at one of the most chaotic times.
We thank the community for showing their
One of the things that I told them was that
support, but need to request that this particular
they are about to become the guardians of
show of support come to an end. We have no
their communities. They defend and protect
their communities from within, are an integral place to keep all these baked goods and, of
part of their community, and a reflection of its course, we have to be mindful of how much
we eat.
values. We, as law enforcement, are here to
GUEST VIEWPOINT
There are a number of groups
around the country set up to help
the families and loved ones of the
police officers that have been
directly affected by these recent
tragic events, and they will will-
ingly accept donations. We encour-
age our community members look-
ing to show this level of support to
contact one of these organizations
to see what they can do to help.
In addition, we have many local charities
whose work assists the police department by
helping those in need and in keeping our com-
munity the beautiful place it is. We encourage
citizens to donate or volunteer with those
organizations to show your support for our
community.
Florence is a wonderful city and a great
place to live, work and play. On behalf of the
men and women at the Florence Police
Department it is our honor to serve and pro-
tect you.
Thank you.
LETTERS
On Aug. 2, I conducted a fire
flow test at Driftwood Shores. This
test created a severe dirty water
problem for the entire area. It is
with regret that I did not notify the
area affected by the dirty water
before conducting the test.
I apologize for my actions
and will in the future, working
in conjunction with Heceta
Water PUD, notify all possible
affected customers of the flow
testing and/or flushing of fire
hydrants ahead of time.
Please accept my heartfelt
apology.
Sean Barrett
Fire Marshal, Siuslaw Valley
Fire and Rescue
I would like to respectfully
respond to the letter Lisa Readel
submitted regarding so-called
“assault weapons” (“Being
Responsible,” July 27). In it she
condemns our local True Value
family-owned store of basically
being irresponsible for selling
what she called assault weapons
and declares she will never shop
their store again unless they stop
selling such rifles.
I personally own several auto-
matic pistols and a rifle, but not
one as she describes. I would
have no problem in owning one
of which she describes, but as of
this date haven’t purchased one.
I would remind her and our
local citizens that it is not a gun
MOMENTS IN TIME
The History Channel
On Aug. 14, 1784, a Russian fur trader
founds Three Saints Bay, the first permanent
Russian settlement in Alaska. In 1867,
Secretary of State William H. Seward signed a
treaty with Russia for the purchase of Alaska
for $7.2 million, a bargain at 2 cents an acre.
On Aug. 10, 1846, President James Polk
signs the Smithsonian Institution Act into law.
In 1829, James Smithson died, leaving behind a
will giving money to the United States for the
creation of the “Smithsonian Institution” and a
fortune worth well over $500,000.
On Aug. 13, 1899, Alfred Hitchcock, the
macabre master of moviemaking, is born in
London. His innovative directing techniques
made “The Master of Suspense” one of the
most influential filmmakers of the 20th century.
On Aug. 8, 1974, with impeachment pro-
ceedings underway, President Richard Nixon
announces he will resign as president of the
United States.
On Aug. 9, 1985, Arthur Walker, a retired
U.S. Navy officer, is found guilty of espionage
for passing top-secret documents to his brother
John, who then passed them to Soviet agents.
John Walker, also a Navy veteran, had been
involved in spying for the Soviets since 1968.
On Aug. 12, 1990, fossil hunter Susan
Hendrickson finds three huge bones jutting out
of a cliff near Faith, South Dakota, part of the
largest and most complete Tyrannosaurus rex
skeleton ever discovered. Nicknamed “Sue,”
the skeleton is 42 feet long, and its massive
2,000-pound skull has 58 teeth. It can be seen
today at the Field Museum of Natural History
in Chicago.
Hard to leave
The real culprit
YESTERDAY’S NEWS
On Aug. 11, 1965, in the Watts neighbor-
hood of Los Angeles, two white policemen
scuffle with a black motorist suspected of
drunken driving, sparking a riot. Five days of
violence left 34 people dead, 1,032 injured and
nearly 4,000 arrested.
Letter of apology
The city of Florence is making it
harder for us to leave soon,
because of the gorgeous display of
the many flower baskets of color
throughout Old Town. These spec-
tacular baskets have brightened
everyone’s mood while driving or
walking in the area.
Thank you, David Wiegan and
others who were involved in
spearheading this major effort to
beautify Florence.
We will truly miss this magical
city.
Peg and Bob Peters
Florence
EDITOR @ THESIUSLAWNEWS . COM
or rifle that is the culprit, but the
person abusing its use, and fur-
ther that the family-owned True
Value store has been in business
in Florence for over 30 years,
having been started by the father
of the present three sons that now
run the store. That is 30-years-
plus of serving this community
faithfully, fulfilling the needs of
our citizens.
I hear no cries to remove ham-
mers and knives that statistically
cause more fatalities than guns
and rifles each year, or letters
saying they will not shop a store
that sells such “weapons” as
knives and hammers.
That certain people, and I am
not accusing Lisa of being one,
will use any excuse to frown on
gun ownership is well known. I
would remind those people that
had not our forefathers had their
pistols and rifles back during the
Revolutionary War, we would not
be the free country that we are
today, thank God.
One last remark regarding the
desire of a few to do away with
our Second Amendment privi-
leges is that you will never stop
the “bad guys” from having
weapons of all sorts any more
than stopping birds from perch-
ing in trees.
(c) 2016 King Features Synd., Inc.
L ETTERS TO THE
E DITOR P OLICY
I’m sure the owners of our
True Value store are sorry to have
lost a customer, but they I pre-
sume are in the business of serv-
ing their public as a whole.
Tony Cavarno
Florence
Recruit young
professionals
My wife and I moved here in
2000, and since then I have had
seven primary doctors at
PeaceHealth. My first one and
now my present one have been in
Florence for years.
Over these past 16 years I have
had some six other wonderful
doctors, but they were all out of
country from places like
Pakistan, India and Miramar.
My perception is that they
came to Florence to improve their
resume and then move on to big-
ger and better things. One moved
for personal problems and anoth-
er went back to his homeland to
practice medicine and grow cof-
fee beans.
Not to say we should not try
and recruit doctors out of country,
but we should focus on recruiting
young professionals who love our
area and want to grow a practice
here.
Win Jolley
Florence
The Siuslaw News welcomes letters to
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www.oregon.gov/gov
U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden
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State Rep. Caddy McKeown
(Dist. 9)
900 Court St. NE
Salem, OR 97301
503-986-1409
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rep.caddymckeown@state.or.us
U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio (4th Dist.)
2134 Rayburn HOB
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www.defazio.house.gov
State Sen. Arnie Roblan (Dist. 5)
900 Court St. NE - S-417
Salem, OR 97301
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West Lane County Commissioner
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125 E. Eighth St.
Eugene, OR 97401
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FAX: 541-682-4616
Email:
Jay.Bozievich@co.lane.or.us