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About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 19, 2016)
4 A ❘ WEDNESDAY EDITION ❘ OCTOBER 19, 2016 Siuslaw News B Y D AVE R OBINSON Special to the Siuslaw News S tarting about a week ago, the news and weather folks began warning us a storm was coming. Heavy rain, coupled with 100-plus miles per hour winds, were predicted to strike the Southern Oregon Coast, bringing widespread regional destruc- tion with comparisons to the 1962 Columbus Day storm the old timers remember so well. Travelers were advised to stay home unless absolutely necessary. Even yours truly topped off the gasoline cans, stocked up on junk food and even discovered I couldn’t locate one of my extension cords. I leisurely made my way to the hardware store and non- chalantly purchased a new extension cord. Through casual conversation with the hardware store manager I learned they were sold out of flashlights, batteries, camping stoves, lanterns and candles. When I went to the grocery store, the story was the same. Some items had been pretty well thinned out and there were no AA or AAA batteries left on the battery display rack. According to the grocery clerk, folks had been stocking up all day on snack food, cookies, crackers and in ❘ 541-902-3520 ❘ EDITOR @ THESIUSLAWNEWS . COM Opinion P.O. Box 10 Florence, OR 97439 DISASTER PREP NED HICKSON , EDITOR The Un-Storm my case, squirt cheese. So what ultimately happened? Not much really. The storm, with a few minor exceptions “kind of tore itself apart,” according to one meteorologist. Citing a faulty computer model, the weather girl indicated that the storm simply dissipated due to a competing low pressure system. All this may be difficult to explain to the residents of Manzanita, Ore. This small coastal town suffered massive damage by a waterspout turned tornado which wreaked havoc on buildings and trees. Multiple other waterspouts were observed offshore with no reports of any further damage. On the South Coast there were a few scat- tered power outages and some windfall limbs and branches. No reports of major damage. The heavy rains made for a few interesting football games on Friday evening. The game I attended was delayed 45 minutes in the middle of the second quarter due to concerns about lightning. At least one contest was cancelled mid- game for the same reason. So what are some steps to take when a major storm is pending? In my case, I topped off the gas tank on my generator and ATV. (That’s when I discovered the missing extension cord.) I had filled all my propane tanks weeks ago, then made the trip to the gas station to top off my gas cans. My wife made sure the laundry was all caught up. This is a task she usually reserves for the weekend, but since Saturday was sup- posed to be D-Day in storm language, she made sure everything was done ahead of time. A few snacks and comfort foods are always the order of the day when waiting out the weather. I rounded up a handfull of small flashlights and put new batteries in each. That way if a family member needs to make a trip to the bedroom or bathroom, they don’t have to take a lantern or candle with them. And the downside? I suppose there is the danger of the “little boy who cried wolf” syn- drome. Will people take the next weather warning seriously? I think we’re all smart enough to know that every so often the weather changes its mind. And the upside? We checked our preparations and, in some cases, made a few dry runs. One person I know started his generator and let it run for a few minutes just to make sure it was going start when he needed it. Others double-checked their supplies and filled in where needed. Just like the fire drills of our high school days, we will know exactly what to do when the need arises. No harm done. ______________________ 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 web- site for more disaster preparedness tips, www.disasterprepdave.blogspot.com. 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 let- ter is not guaranteed and depends on space available and the volume of letters received. Libelous and anonymous letters or poetry will not be published. All submissions become the property of Siuslaw News and will not be returned. Write to: Editor@TheSiuslawNews.com LETTERS I am afraid Okay, I am afraid. When the candidate of a major party says the Secret Service protecting his opponent should be disarmed and “see what happens to her,” I am afraid. When that candidate suggests “Second Amendment people” could take matters into their own hands if she wins, I am afraid. When that candidate urges his supporters to go to the inner city precincts to look out for bus- loads of minorities there to vote in a rigged election, I am afraid. When a 50-year-old supporter at a Trump rally tells a Boston Globe reporter, “If Hillary’s in office, I hope we can start a coup. She should be in prison or shot,” I am afraid. When that supporter can say, “We’re going to have a revolution and take them out of office if that’s what it takes. There’s going to be a lot of bloodshed. But that’s what it’s going to take. . . I would do whatever I can for my country,” I am afraid. When that supporter’s candidate blows the international-banker and news-media conspira- cy dog whistle, I am afraid. USPS# 497-660 When that supporter’s candidate will not say that he will accept the results of the election if he loses, I am afraid. Being afraid, I think to paraphrase Pastor Martin Niemöller: First they came for the Hispanics, and I did not speak out because I was not an Hispanic. Then they came for the Muslims, and I did not speak out because I was not a Muslim. Then they came for the Liberals, and I did not speak out because I was not a Liberal. Then they came for me — and there was no one left to speak for me. My being afraid is not about competing poli- cies or principals or issues or ideals. Of these there can be honest, differing opinions. But, when there is open talk of violence, rebellion and assassination and nothing is said to discour- age it… I am very afraid. You should be too. Arnold Buchman Florence Many are hoping Having just finished reading the Saturday edition of Siuslaw News, I reached for the Amazingly painless More than once, Western Lane Ambulance has shown up at my door to help me or my wife. How grateful I am. This is an opportunity for the Florence com- munity to show our support. Simply vote yes on Measure 20-266. It is amazingly painless. Dick Smith Florence Focus on actions As adults, we are confronted with insults and rants of unkind verbiage from all sectors of society. The political arena is filled with such rants on both sides. We must filter out such language from the political rhetoric and foucs on actions — which more often define one’s true value to society. Mr. Trump is a new participant in the politi- cal arena and so we tend to judge him by his words alone; whereas Secretary Clinton has been around for decades and has much to be judged by. A person must decide by doing their own research as to what is relevant and what isn’t. Too often, we rely on the news media for the right answers. But over the years, I feel even those reporting the news have developed a political agenda. Jimmie Moe Florence Copyright 2016 © Siuslaw News 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. John Bartlett Jenna Bartlett Ned Hickson Susan Gutierrez Cathy Dietz Ron Annis Jeremy Gentry Register Guard. In it, I read that Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg mentioned her remarks regarding NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick’s silent protests during the National Anthem as “dumb and disrespectful.” When asked about the prospect of Donald Trump winning the White House she said, “I don’t want to think about that possibility.” Half-jokingly, she added she was thinking of moving to New Zealand if he won. Many of us are hoping Trump does and Ginsburg does. Tony Cavarno Florence 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
