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About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 21, 2017)
4 A ❘ SATURDAY EDITION ❘ JANUARY 21, 2017 Siuslaw News P.O. Box 10 Florence, OR 97439 NED HICKSON , EDITOR ❘ 541-902-3520 ❘ EDITOR @ THESIUSLAWNEWS . COM Opinion The biggest part of democracy is that it starts small Before putting the final touches on today’s edition, we did something we haven’t done in eight years. At the bot- tom of this page is a small sec- tion with the heading “Where to Write.” In it are the address- es of your representatives at the federal, state and county levels. At the top of the list is our nation’s President, which has been updated to reflect yester- day’s inauguration of Donald J. Trump. The peaceful transition of government has officially been achieved for the 45th time since George Washington took the first — and very same — Oath of Office some 227 years ago. At the time, Washington remarked that it wasn’t his inauguration but the second inauguration that would be the most significant. He recognized one of the first and most important tests of Democracy would be the peaceful transition of power — something that had never been achieved in human histo- ry in such a way or on such a grand scale. Eight years later, when Washington handed over the presidency to the newly-elect- ed John Adams in 1797, it was proof that the “grand experi- ment” of Democracy was more than a notion; it was a reality. But, more importantly, it was an example of how a nation of people could partici- pate in a process of discus- sion, debate and even dis- agreement but still emerge unified as Americans thanks to a shared belief in our nation’s Constitution and what it repre- sents. However, yesterday morn- ing as I sat listening to cover- age of the inauguration taking place in our nation’s capitol, I was struck by the notion of How every voice counts. How voting is a part of that voice. And how participation is important. Grace and her classmates already understand — and have participated in — the From the Editor’s Desk N ED H ICKSON another inauguration taking place almost simultaneously just a few miles away at Siuslaw Elementary School. As President Trump addressed the American peo- ple promising a new direction, a “return to greatness” and more accountability in gov- ernment, 8-year-old Grace Dotson stood before her third- grade constituents and spoke about the basic principles that make a Democracy. fundamentals of a working and successful Democracy. Like President Trump, an Oath of Office was adminis- tered to President Dotson. It was done so without the level of fanfare taking place in our nation’s capitol. No crowd control. No military bands. No live coverage on media platforms around the world. Because of this, we often forget that the heart of democ- racy isn’t in Washington D.C. It beats within the hearts of Americans of all ages through their faith in, understanding of and commitment to the ideals we share as a nation. Those ideals don’t begin in grandeur within the halls of the Capitol Building. Instead, they start small, with citizens and communities willing to voice those ideals to their elected officials at the city, county, state and, eventually, federal level. It’s important to remember that the biggest part of democ- racy is that it starts small. It’s not a large rock being lobbed into the center of a lake; it’s the ripple effect caused by Americans willing to take the time to toss enough small peb- bles into the same lake. For that reason, those who supported President Trump have a right to be happy; those who didn’t support him have a right to be unhappy. But as Americans, we have a much more important right, which is to be active partici- pants in our democracy now and in the years ahead. Yesterday, while our nation participated in another peace- ful transition of power in the aftermath of one of the most polarizing elections in American history, a small group of students some 2,883 miles away here in Florence were participating in their own version of the democratic process — and beginning their own ripple effect by embrac- ing the ideals that have served us well for nearly 230 years. Ideals that live on in the hearts of small pebbles like Grace Dotson. Write Siuslaw News editor Ned Hickson at nhickson@thesiuslaw news.com or P.O. Box 10, Florence, Ore. 97439. LETTERS S IMPLE LOGIC My wife and I are writing to voice our oppo- sition to having a marijuana operation at the subject location. This location is in near prox- imity to the Siuslaw School District’s school bus barn, Alternative School classroom, high school football and track fields, and grounds of the elementary and middle schools. Although approved by state legislation, exist- ing federal law still provides penalties for pos- session, sale and cultivation of marijuana and marijuana paraphernalia. Even if the proposed change of permit is technically legal given Oregon Land Use and Florence City codes as they apply to location of marijuana businesses, if this Change of Use is authorized, it will set a precedent. We do not think Florence’s community development department should allow for the possible proliferation of marijuana operations in close proximity to school grounds and facili- ties. Simple logic would dictate that we keep mar- ijuana operations away from our schools and children. In the best interest of our city, schools and children, the proposed facility should be located at greater distance away from our school grounds. Ray and Marilyn Ebert Florence W ONDERFUL WORDS L ETTERS TO THE E DITOR P OLICY Thank you so very much for the Saturday, Jan. 14, edi- tion of Siuslaw News. It drew tears from me for the memo- ries it brought back, and of the wonderful words of Martin Luther King Jr. Also, tears when I read edi- tor Ned Hickson’s very per- sonal “Rufus Valentine” story. The articles caused me to stop and think that, just maybe, if we as a people look within ourselves and take hold of that “hope” that Martin Luther King Jr. inspired, we can make the beautiful “Dream” come true. Thank you also to our city’s Mayor, Joe Henry, for his stand and words. Joni Glover Romano Florence The Siuslaw News welcomes letters to the editor concerning issues affect- ing 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 guaran- teed 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 proper- ty of Siuslaw News and will not be returned. Write to: Editor@TheSiuslawNews.com It would be great to be guaranteed a “hate free” community, everywhere. Unfortunately an official proclamation is a collection of words unless, as Denise Straws remarked (Siuslaw News, Jan. 18), “we get behind it and with an attitude that ‘we can do it.’” And we must. It will require an open mind and honesty of heart. If it means that public comments of disagree- ment are perceived as motivated by hate, we won’t get there. However, if we remain silent, as many of us have been for the past 40 years or so, we will only have ourselves to blame if the quality of our local air and water becomes unsafe; as our oceans become increasingly more toxic to the fish we depend on; when, unchecked, some of the food on the grocery store shelf becomes more of a threat to our health than it already is; if our taxes, intended for public education, are diverted to private and/or charter schools where USPS# 497-660 VALUE IN THE COMMON GOOD R EMEMBERING R ALPH I met Ralph Ingram in 1955 and never thought he would turn out to be such a good friend. I will always remember the good times we had hunting together, which we did a lot. Ralph was also a great neighbor, friend and man. He was like a family member and will be missed every day. Virgil Bechtold Florence The First Amendment C ongress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibit- ing the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. Copyright 2017 © Siuslaw News Publisher, ext. 327 General Manager, ext. 318 Editor, ext. 313 Marketing 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 the curriculum could be restricted by those who discredit science; and, if we lose our right to health (insurance), either by rising costs for the sake of corporate profit or because of pre-exist- ing health conditions; then our civil rights will have been subverted and our democracy will have failed — because we failed to become public about these issues. Hate is not only what we say and do, but also what we don’t say and do. I’m convinced racial hate has played a role in much of the Congressional inaction during the last adminis- tration. Based on what I’ve seen so far, the agenda of the incoming administration will not be favor- ing the common good. Those of us who value the common good cannot be spectators. We must rely on our local free press to encourage dialogue and diversity. This is a time to put our representatives’ and senators’ telephone numbers on speed dial to let them know we care when an issue arises — something that is known to be an effective moti- vational tool. But most importantly, we must unite. Nan Harvey Florence Pres. Donald Trump 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 202-224-5244 541-431-0229 www.wyden.senate.gov U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley 313 Hart Senate Office Bldg Washington, DC 20510 202-224-3753/FAX: 202-228-3997 541-465-6750 www.merkley.senate.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. Rep. Peter DeFazio (4th Dist.) 2134 Rayburn HOB Washington, DC 20515 202-225-6416 541-269-2609/ 541-465-6732 www.defazio.house.gov U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden 221 Dirksen Senate Office Bldg Washington, DC 20510 State Sen. Arnie Roblan (Dist. 5) 900 Court St. NE - S-417 Salem, OR 97301 503-986-1705 FAX: 503-986-1080 Email: Sen.ArnieRoblan@state.or.us State Rep. Caddy McKeown (Dist. 9) 900 Court St. NE Salem, OR 97301 503-986-1409 Email: rep.caddymckeown@state.or.us 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
