4 A
❘
WEDNESDAY EDITION
❘ NOVEMBER 5, 2016
Siuslaw News
P.O. Box 10
Florence, OR 97439
NED HICKSON , EDITOR
❘ 541-902-3520 ❘
EDITOR @ THESIUSLAWNEWS . COM
Opinion
VIEW FROM UPRIVER
Cast a line, cast a vote in hope
W ESLEY V OTH
For the Siuslaw News
I
see many ballots in the mail now. This is
still called casting one’s vote, something
done in faith, hoping for a good result.
Sadly, I have seen some political signs
destroyed in the Mapleton area; it does not
make me feel better when they are for candi-
dates I did not choose.
I have noticed a wide variety of stamps on
people’s mailed ballots — I know people think
about these things because I often see a differ-
ence in what they have chosen to put on their
ballot as opposed to what is on their water bill
or credit card payment or property taxes.
Many have U.S. flags, one had two. Others
have flowers. One, picked up at Mapleton
School, had a whimsical Hogwarts stamp from
the JK Rowling series, another a classic 1953
Chevy.
Me? I didn’t mail my ballot,and chose to uti-
lize the drop box instead. As a mail carrier
maybe I ought to have more faith in the postal
system. And I know we try especially hard
with ballots, checking for example to make
sure the voter remembered to sign the outside
of the envelope. But, this somehow seemed too
important to leave to someone as fallible as I
sometimes am.
For me, it is usually this time of year when
my most intense — I would say even religious
— experiences happen outside.
Especially when fishing. Times when poli-
tics and the struggle to make a living, when all
of the should and should nots of life, are
washed away, blown away and only that which
is most fundamental stands.
My favorite kind of fishing among the many
types I’ve done over the course of my life is
here on Oregon coastal rivers, bobber fishing
for salmon or steelhead in fast water during
stormy weather, especially when it involves
wading and feeling the intensity of rushing
water on top of everything else.
Using a bobber means less lost tackle to lit-
ter the river, gives a moving point of visual
focus, and the wonder when that orange and
black indicator goes under if this is because of
a fish or the bottom. I use steel shot rather than
lead, which is also healthier for the river.
The hook has colored yarn and salmon roe,
and why chinook and steelhead — but usually
not coho — will strike at this is a mystery I
spend little time puzzling over.
It is a zen thing, but fish tend to strike very
randomly, often when nothing has happened
for many hundreds of casts. Each of those casts
is an act of hope
Of faith.
Of endurance.
Okay, quickly, one perfect couple of hours
this past week. Lake Creek was high and no
one was fishing my favorite stretch. When I
got out and looked, I realized I could just make
it by wading 20 tricky yards to access the best
place. The first cast I hooked into a fish and
we struggled for a time; eventually it got close
enough to look me right in the eye, a bright
female chinook of about 15 pounds, and then
she quite neatly threw the hook.
For 15 minutes I felt several other fish, and
then ran out of bait. Was it worth going back to
Mapleton to get more?
Yes!
Back on the water conditions had changed
and there was nothing happening. Not a fish
cast after cast as the daylight waned and the
heavens opened. There were bursts of wind
and the raining down of leaves and whirly-gig-
ging maple seeds. Time to call it a day.
Maybe one last cast, despite the bait reduced
to a thread of white tissue along the pink yarn.
And then, bobber down, fish on, and a lively
dance between one who lives in water and one
who only fantasizes he does. There was the
surge of current moving fast, the pull of
salmon on line, the flexing of rod and sinews,
the croaking of a heron driven from its place.
Some long time passed in this struggle, with
me retracing my steps through deep rushing
water while hanging on to my rod and reaching
toward the bank for the net. The salmon tried
to wrap the line around every rock, to tangle in
every submerged patch of vegetation, and just
when I began to move it toward the net in my
other hand, the defibrillator implanted in my
chest sensed my heart beating too fast — and
for only the second time in the two years it has
been standing guard, shocked me like a charge
of lightning.
Somehow I didn’t lose focus or balance, and
while feeling especially alive and grateful to be
so, landed the fish, which I cradled and spoke
to in deepest thanksgiving as the light in its
eyes and the day and the water faded to black.
LETTERS
EDITOR’S NOTE: With this being our
final issue before the Nov. 8 elections, today’s
Opinion page has been cleared of everything
except our bi-weekly “View From Upriver” fea-
ture and required banner information in order to
allow as much room as possible for your letters.
Thanks to all of you for adding your voice to the
many important community discussion these
last several weeks as we prepare for the final
votes at the county, state and national levels.
— Ned Hickson
Education remains a passion
State Representative Caddy McKeown is a
champion for coastal communities. Her heart
lives on the coast and she commits her time in
Salem to speak for coastal Oregon residents.
She is a native coastal Oregonian who cares
deeply about our rural communities.
I have listened to the passion in her voice as
she talks about “Oregon Promise,” which
ensures that students can attend community col-
lege tuition-free or the Office of Small Business
Assistance, which gives small business owners
a leg up, helping the economic recovery and
vitality of our coastal communities.
Representative McKeown’s first experience
as a public official was on the school board in
Coos Bay. She worked as a volunteer with the
ASPIRE program, which pairs adult mentors
with high school students to help them be best
prepared for post-secondary educational
endeavors.
She served as 2016 chair of the Oregon
Coastal Caucus which brings together voices
from various sectors on the coast.
She is a native coastal Oregonian, born and
raised in Coos Bay. She understands and has
lived through the economic roller coasters that
have affected our rural communities. Her oppo-
nent, in contrast, moved to Oregon one year
ago. She doesn’t have the experience and under-
standing needed for us in Salem.
Please join me in casting a vote for
Representative Caddy McKeown. She holds
our communities in her heart and will continue
to work tirelessly for improved economic, edu-
cational and social vitality.
Becky Goehring
Florence
USPS# 497-660
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Dire state of
the planet
If you didn’t see National Geographic’s
“Before The Flood” (aired on National
Geographic Oct. 30), you need to check it out
on Netflix, Youtube, etc. for free.
It reports on the dire state of the planet and
global warming caused by excessive carbon
pollution, continued fossil fuel development
and methane releases.
Satellite imagery and renowned scientists
research with fact-based conclusions expose the
fossil fuels industry’s blatant denial and callous
disregard for the future of humanity on this
planet.
The scientific analysis is that we are hurtling
toward an environmental “Armageddon” much
sooner than anticipated, documented in events
taking place right now. If you care for the future
generations and livability of this planet, watch
this outstanding documentary that is so impor-
tant in a time of climate denial and partisanship.
Corporate lobbyists for the fossil fuels indus-
try control Washington and will wage war on
anybody that gets in their way. The passing of
Citizens United by the Supreme Court has
allowed money to represent “freedom of
speech,” with a huge corporate influx of money
that does not have humanity or the planet’s
health in mind.
Jon Tipple
Dunes City
why is there any unemployment here?
It seems corporations would be lined up on
the borders making a mad rush to relocate their
businesses here. I just don’t see that happening.
What I do see is a lot of job creation from our
neighbor to the south, California, where in the
land of high taxes, jobs and wages are on the
rise. So I find a big flaw in the correlation of
high taxes and poor employment opportunities.
It just isn’t factually true.
If it were true, Oregon should be busting at
the seams with corporations wanting to relocate
here.
Maybe our poor education and graduation
rates are an issue and giving them pause, i.e.,
not enough young people with the skills to pro-
vide them with a work force required to fill the
positions available.
Measure 97 can help correct this issue and
give our children a boost to acquire the skills
needed for these jobs.
Corporations need an educated work force. I
see this as a boon for Oregon, her people and
the corporations. Asking those that need an edu-
cated work force to help contribute their share is
a reasonable request.
Please read Measure 97 in its entirety. Don’t
just obtain your information from TV ads and
mail box flyers. Give our children and our com-
munity a fair start.
Vote “Yes” on Measure 97 for our children’s
future.
Sarah Bower
Florence
Calm diplomacy
I have had the pleasure of knowing Arnie
Roblan and his family for over 30 years. I have
watched him go from respected math teacher to
much-loved high school principal to state legis-
lator.
Through all those transitions one thing has
remained constant with Arnie: his incredible
ability to treat everyone with respect.
I have watched him quietly and diplomatical-
ly deal with angry students, frustrated parents
and upset community members.
This calm diplomacy has carried over to his
service in the Oregon Legislature. Always a
strong voice for the South Coast, he has also
proven to be an effective statewide leader on
education and economic development for rural
Oregon.
The economic forum that he established on
the coast each year brings statewide and nation-
al leaders to the coast to hear our issues.
Within state government he is respected and
listened to which, ultimately, benefits the South
Coast.
As we watch the acrimony and distrust play
out on the national level, it is nice to see that
you can be an effective leader who maintains a
high level of self respect.
I will vote for Senator Roblan on Nov. 8.
Mike Lehman
Coos Bay
A big flaw
Just an observation, but I’ve been looking at
the pros and cons of measure 97 recently. The
one thing that leaps out at me is that the state
with the lowest corporate taxes doesn’t have the
most corporations.
If the mantra “Low tax rates create jobs...”
It isn’t just talk
I encourage my fellow residents to vote for
Lane County Justice of the Peace candidate
Woody Woodbury.
I have personally known Woody for many
years and know him to be a community-driven
individual who cares for others around him. It’s
a quality often spoken about but not always
acted on by politicians.
He is the owner of Grocery Outlet, a small
business that offers food at a substantial dis-
count to citizens on a budget.
Woody currently serves on the boards of the
Florence Urban Renewal Agency and for
Siuslaw Valley Fire and Rescue, both of which
are entities that benefit the community. He is
active as a community volunteer, particularly
with Florence Food Share.
Having previously served on the Florence
Area Chamber of Commerce Board as both
president and vice president, Woody has been
active in business retention and as well as help-
ing businesses build foundations for success.
He also serves on the board of the Good Deed
Project Foundation, a community movement
working to promote random acts of kindness.
There is a distinct pattern here; it’s not just
talk for Woody. He is the real deal: an honest
person who at his core is unselfish and treats
others with respect.
Join me in voting to elect Woody Woodbury
as Justice of the Peace for Lane County.
Joshua Greene
Florence
Meeting the
challenge
I support wholeheartedly the election of
Judge Rick Brissenden to the position he holds
by appointment, Lane County Justice of the
Peace.
My respect for Judge Brissenden goes back
to 2007, when I learned how he as judge of the
Florence Municipal Court, was meeting the
challenges caused by severe underfunding of
Lane County law enforcement.
Challenge No. 1: In 2007, all driving-under-
the-influence-of-intoxicants (DUII) offenders
were required to go to Lane County Mental
Health in Eugene to undergo evaluation. Once
evaluated, they were usually assigned to com-
plete on-going treatment or attend classes at a
drug and alcohol treatment program.
Previous to the severe cut-back in county
funds, Lane County Mental Health evaluators
came to Florence to perform their assessments.
Approximately 14 percent of DUII offenders
failed to report for their evaluations and evalua-
tors stopped coming — and DUII violators had
to travel to Eugene.
Since nearly all had had their driver’s licens-
es suspended by the time they were referred for
evaluation, close to 50 percent of them were not
reporting as scheduled.
Challenge No. 2: Individuals sentenced to be
incarcerated knew that the Lane County Jail
was woefully understaffed.
Many misdemeanor offenders sentenced to
30 or more days in custody were being released
from jail a day or two after they were admitted.
Consequently, many Florence offenders
believed it was in their best interest to request
that county jail time be imposed on them rather
than fines or drug treatment.
Judge Brissenden used the threat of jail —
and actual commitments in the city jail — as
motivation to encourage DUII offenders to
report to Eugene and to pay fines and complete
drug treatment.
Those offenders released from Lane County
Jail after a day or two of incarceration had to
appear before Judge Brissenden in court on the
first court day following their release, and they
were returned to the county jail — as many
times as it took — until a substantial majority of
their sentence had been served.
I learned that Judge Brissenden and his staff
were committed to holding each violator of the
law accountable. I also recognized that the
Judge and his staff were determined that each
law breaker addicted to drugs and alcohol
would receive rehabilitative treatment.
Judge Brissenden’s service to our community
should be rewarded.
Harold Titus
Florence
Warms the heart
A very special thank you to all those that
attended the Van Fans luncheon and card party
Oct. 19. It warms my heart to live in a commu-
nity so caring and supporting as Florence.
These fund raisers are a labor of love and
thanks to the Florence community so many
people with cancer have a means to Eugene to
receive radiation treatment.
Again, our appreciation for your support.
Karen Lee
Van Fans President
Florence