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About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (March 1, 2017)
THESIUSLAWNEWS . COM ❘ / SIUSLAWNEWS ❘ @ SIUSLAWNEWS WEDNESDAY EDITION HUFF WINS STATE ❘ MARCH 1, 2017 ❘ $1.00 Home & Garden Show opens Friday INSIDE — C SPORTS — B 127TH YEAR ❘ ISSUE NO. 17 SERVING WESTERN LANE COUNTY SINCE 1890 S PECIAL S ERIES ( PART FLORENCE, OREGON III ) Despite drawbacks, ODDA unlikely to change T B Y M ARK B RENNAN Siuslaw News (Editor’s note: This is the conclusion of a three-part series focusing on Oregon’s Death With Dignity Act, and the gaps with- in the ODDA that many fall through when it comes to those who can make the choice to die and those who can’t under the cur- rent rules.) he Oregon Death with Dignity Act (ODDA) was enacted 20 years ago. During that time nearly 2,000 people have used the medications provided by the state to end their lives. There are, however, a number of other indi- viduals who were unable to utilize the law to legally end their own lives. This is due primarily to the requirements of the act, which mandate that the requesting indi- vidual’s physician has determined a date specif- ic for their death. The individual requesting the legal right to die must also be judged to be of sound mind at the time of their request. As highlighted in the first two parts of this series (Feb. 15 and Feb. 22), there are numerous circumstances that may preclude someone from being able to meet these requirements. The choices for these people are less than appealing. They are often left to their own meth- ods to end their lives. However, there is one organization that attempts to assist individuals who fall through the gaps in the act. Known as The Final Exit Network, members of the group are put into contact with those suffering a terminal or life- threatening disease. The group’s work in assisting those who wish to take their own lives is an illegal act. The “exit guides,” as they are known, have undergone extensive training to determine the best methods to help with “self deliverance.” There are state- based exit guides who are contacted by residents of their state to assist with suicide. These actions, by both the stricken individual and the guide, are also considered illegal under current ODDA rules. Oregon’s Final Exit Network exit guide is a Portland resident who goes by the name of “Peter.” For reasons of confidentiality, he was unwill- ing to go into the specifics of either the proce- dure used for assisted suicide or the diagnoses See FINAL EXIT 7A Home and Garden Show returns in magical new ways Friday F r a ud v i l le so f in e Vendors feature large and ‘tiny’ offerings at Florence Events Center March 3 to 5 W PHOTOS BY MARK BRENNAN/SIUSLAW NEWS Boys and Girls Club’s seventh annual Fraudville kicked it up with lip sync routines and more at Three Rivers Casino Resort. Fraudville sets new O fundraising record B Y M ARK B RENNAN Siuslaw News n Saturday, Boys and Girls Club of Western Lane County held Fraudville, its primary fundraising event of the year, at Three Rivers Casino Resort. The event consists prima- rily of a lip sync contest, copious amounts of food of all types and both a silent and live auction. This is the seventh year of the highly popular event. Lip sync competitors are from local businesses and organizations that want to support the Boys and Girls Club and have some fun at the same time. Their performances are judged by a panel of “celebri- ty” judges who determine the best act, which this year was returning winner Hal’s Electric. Boys and Girls Director Chuck Trent said the large turnout for Fraudville is indicative of the car- ing nature of the Florence commu- nity. “From the board’s perspective, you can’t imagine the joy we felt to see the community stand along- side us to make sure every child in this community has the opportuni- ty to have a great future. See FRAUDVILLE 9A hen the 21st annual Florence Home and Garden Show opens Friday, be prepared for a variety of new exhibits and delectable treats in many sizes. From Mid- Valley Tractor, with B Y C HANTELLE M EYER three full-scale Siuslaw News Kubota models on hand, to Laurel Bay Gardens’ signature “Taste of Spring” display, complete with fairy gardens, there is something for everybody March 3 to 6 at the Florence Events Center. Jon Thompson, owner of Coast Radio and founder of the Home and Garden Show, said, “The highlights for me this year are that we have a tiny house, that Mid-Valley Tractor is showing with us for the first time and Laurel Bay Gardens will be there, as always.” See HOME AND GARDEN 7A ‘Tenacious’ owner N URSES ENDURE THIRD ROUND OF NEGOTIATIONS avoids foreclosure PeaceHealth representatives ask for mediation before end of talks Tuesday auction at port B Y J ACK D AVIS Siuslaw News eace Harbor Medical Center nurses and Oregon Nurses Association (ONA) union representatives met with PeaceHealth corporate represen- tatives on Monday and Tuesday for a third round of negotiations to try and reach agreement on a new contract. The nurses have been working without a contract since Jan. 31. During a noon rally held Tuesday at the Peace Harbor cafeteria, RN Elaine Beers said, “Peace Harbor has been good to us. I don’t want you to think that we have problems with the local administration.” INSIDE P Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B7 Community . . . . . . . . . . . . . A3 Home and Garden Show . . . . C Entertainment Review . . . . . . A5 JACK DAVIS/SIUSLAW NEWS Peace Harbor Medical Center nurses gather during a noon rally before the start of the Tuesday afternoon negotiations with PeaceHealth management over a new contract. The two- day negotiation did not resolve the differences. Both sides will begin mediation April 10. Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A4 Records . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A2 Scoreboard . . . . . . . . . . . . . B2 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B THIS WEEK ’ S Beers talked about the overall loss of medical staff, both doc- tors and nurses, that Peace Harbor has been experiencing over the past several years. She said most nursing school graduates were going to metro- politan rather than rural areas because of better pay and more opportunities. “We have a fabulous facility. The community has given gener- ously,” Beers said, and then ref- erenced the $5 million raised to remodel and expand the emer- gency department. “The staff and the community are very tied together. You sup- port us and we take care of you,” Beers said. See CONTRACT 7A TODAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY 50 41 49 44 50 43 46 39 WEATHER Full Forecast, A3 Gordon Owen, owner of the 40-foot sailboat Tenacious, avoided a foreclosure sealed-bid auc- tion Friday, Feb. 24, B Y J ACK D AVIS by paying the Port of Siuslaw News Siuslaw almost $3,900 in back moor- age, late fees, attorney fees and an impound fee. Owen had not made a moorage payment to the port since last April. Port of Siuslaw put Owen on notice of intent to foreclose and hold a sealed-bid auction in November. By the Feb. 24 bid deadline, the port had received 27 sealed bids, some from as far away as Hawaii, Alaska, Michigan and California. Owen paid the bill in full just hours before the 4:30 p.m. Friday deadline. Port Manager Steven Leskin said, “I am happy to say that on Friday afternoon, Gordon Owen S IUSLAW N EWS 3 S ECTIONS ❘ 30 P AGES C OPYRIGHT 2017 See TENACIOUS 9A CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK ‘Self Deliverance’ may be some individuals’ only option to end suffering
