4 A
❘
SATURDAY EDITION
❘ APRIL 8, 2017
Siuslaw News
P.O. Box 10
Florence, OR 97439
NED HICKSON , EDITOR
Opinion
❘ 541-902-3520 ❘
EDITOR @ THESIUSLAWNEWS . COM
The First Amendment
C
ongress shall make no law respecting an estab-
lishment of religion or prohibiting the free exer-
cise 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.
LETTERS
T HERE ’ S NO ‘ HATE ’ IN ‘ LEGAL ’
I want to thank Immigration and
Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents for
not forgetting our town. I hope in the
future they will continue to monitor
our community. It is important that
people understand that getting illegal
immigrants out of our community is a
plus.
If what was written about the raids
[Siuslaw News, April 1] was accurate,
then we know that at least one job was
opened up for a legal resident. It is also
important to understand that federal
immigration laws are not superceded
by state, county or city laws no matter
what is being said differently.
The governor and our mayor may
think as they wish, but it doesn’t
change the law.
I am amazed that anyone could asso-
ciate hate with following the law.
There is no hate in “legal.”
Are we haters when we obey the
speed limit? Or stop for a school bus
letting kids off?
Of course not.
If the U.S. is to continue to be a bea-
con for good, we must remain a nation
of laws — not of men. If not, and we
choose to simply follow the laws we
like, that is when hate will come into play as
people of little character destroy our nation.
In my opinion, we got a taste of that during
the last eight years and the results are with us
every day.
David T. Eckhardt
Florence
S IMILAR EXPERIENCE
WITH PORT MANAGER
The recent article “Port special meeting gets
contentious” captured my attention. I had a sim-
ilar experience with port manager Steve Leskin.
L ETTERS TO THE
E DITOR P OLICY
The Siuslaw News welcomes letters to
the editor as part of a community discus-
sion of issues on the local, state and
national level.
Emailed
letters
are
preferred.
Handwritten or typed letters must be
signed. All letters need to include full
name, address and phone number; only
name and city will be printed. Letters
should be limited to about 300 words.
Letters are subject to editing for length,
grammar and clarity. Publication of any
letter is not guaranteed and depends on
space available and the volume of letters
received.
Libelous, argumentative and anony-
mous letters or poetry will not be pub-
lished.
P OLITICAL /E LECTION L ETTERS :
Election-related letters must address
pertinent or timely issues of interest to our
readers at-large. The newspaper does not
publish partisan letters that promote or
endorse local political candidates based
solely on their record, reputation and qual-
ifications; this constitutes paid political
advertising.
Candidates themselves may not use the
letters to the editor column to outline their
views and platforms or to ask for votes.
This also constitutes paid political advertis-
ing.
As with all letters and advertising con-
tent, the newspaper, at the sole discretion
of the publisher, general manager and edi-
tor, reserves the right to reject any such
letter.
The newspaper is particularly sensitive
to organized “letter-writing campaigns.”
The newspaper reserves the right to reject
any such letter.
Write to: editor@thesiuslawnews.com
USPS# 497-660
of darkness must have been planted
deep into the soil of our land — and
from it slowly and silently grew a
hatred, an intolerance, an air of
supremacy, an aggression and a fear
that the “others” would take what was
ours.
That seed of divisiveness created a
wound that has taken us over 150 years
to mend.
And now, just when it looks like all
the hard work of several generations is
going to pay off, someone picks the
scab and, under the dark of night,
plants another poisonous seed in our
soil.
This time however, the people were
watching.
Susan Weathers
Florence
S TEP UP TO THE PLATE
FOR S YRIA
My 50-foot sailboat, “Dharma,” a blue
Pilothouse world class cruising sloop, was
moored through the winter of 2015-16 in the
Port of Siuslaw.
All was well through the winter. In the spring
I visited the boat (I live in Eugene) to do main-
tenance. The shore power became intermittent,
so I checked the breaker on the dock and it was
becoming hot to touch.
Upon calling the Port Office to inform them
of the fire hazard, their response was that I
would pay for repairs. So I scheduled a meeting
with Port Manager Leskin to discuss the matter.
My view was that this was routine maintenance
of the dock. I was not responsible for the elec-
trician’s fee to fix the Port’s dock.
Leskin said that it wasn’t the Port’s responsi-
bility and got angry. I then left the office and, a
week later, received a termination letter to
vacate my slip — which I did on April 19, 2016.
I then asked for a refund of the 2.5 months pre-
viously paid dockage fee since I was paid up
until July 21, 2016.
Leskin refused that as well.
I still believe Leskin and the Port owe me the
unused portion of my contract with the Port.
I’m glad the newspaper is bringing this issue
to the surface.
Fred Mallery
Eugene/Florence
N OT A SLAP IN THE FACE
TO ALL VETERANS
This is in response to Mr. Cavarno’s recent
letter regarding illegal aliens (Siuslaw News,
April 5). In it he says the “sanctuary city” pro-
posal is “a slap in the face” to military veterans.
Like him, I am a military veteran. However, I
did not consider the proposal to be a slap in the
face at all. Instead, I considered it a proposal by
a concerned citizen. Though the proposal was
not to Mr. Cavarno’s liking, and some veterans
may indeed considerate it a slap in the face, that
is their right. But I know there are other veter-
ans in the area that feel as I do — and I never
authorized Mr. Cavarno to represent me or my
views as a veteran.
Larry Englund
Florence
E VEN H EAVEN HAS
‘ EXTREME VETTING ’
I have read many articles about immigrants
and sanctuary cities. Some were on the internet,
some were in Siuslaw News.
I also read many comments from people. But
one comment from a man really stood out and
makes sense to me. He said when people ask
him what God would think about immigrants
and sanctuary cities, this is what he wrote: “God
W HAT NOT TO PUT IN
THE VETERANS PARK
There has been some discussion of a new
park on Kingwood near the military museum
honoring veterans.
This is a great idea. I love getting a new park
in town. I also support the idea of honoring our
veterans with the park.
However, the concept of displaying surplus
deactivated weapons such as tanks, missiles and
so on is something I do not support.
These items are weapons of war and destruc-
tion, used for inflicting the worst mankind has
to offer.
Is this the face of Florence we want to pres-
ent to visitors and potential new residents?
Foreign visitors, especially (and we have
many) are put off by such displays. Having
lived in a community that thought this was a
good idea, I can tell you it is not.
We can honor our veterans in other ways,
such as a statue or wall of honor. We have a
community full of artists — surely we can do
better than Soviet-style displays.
Raymond C. Plumery
Florence
B AD SEEDS
One would be hard pressed to find anyone
more “American” in heart and soul than I. It’s a
rare National Anthem played within my earshot
that doesn’t bring a tear to my eye and lump in
my throat while singing the final verse, “...land
of the free and the home of the brave.”
I’ve often wondered how we, in that long
ago place in time, allowed ourselves as a nation
to reach a point where a Civil War was the only
solution being considered.
How could we have been so divided in our
sense of justice?
So separated in our hearts?
So morally and fundamentally distanced in
our innate beliefs that even brothers raised by
the same parents could take up arms against
each other, both fighting for their vision of what
American freedom represents?
Somewhere, stealthfully disguised under the
cover of a clouded euphoric new nation, a seed
E QUAL PAY FOR NURSES
It has come to my attention that the negotia-
tions with nurses at Peace Harbor have not
come to any mutual agreement. It seems
extremely unfair that PeaceHealth’s corporate
headquarters in Washington state is making
determinations about the livelihood of nurses in
Florence, Ore., offering them less pay than a
hospital in Eugene about 65 miles away.
Our nurses are just as worthy as a nurse any-
where else. PeaceHealth should agree to the
nurses’ requests for equal pay, which would also
encourage more nurses to live in Florence and
work at our hospital.
Nurses should also have adequate health
insurance instead of something that leaves them
with huge debt after an illness.
The hospital and people in Florence were
supportive of the RiverBend Hospital when it
needed funding to build. We need that same
consideration for staffing our hospital with
enough nurses so that they also might have a
life, instead of working 80-plus hours a week,
counting on-call time.
A not-for-profit hospital should be just that
by ensuring that doctors and nurses are equi-
tably paid.
Then, we just might be able to get doctors we
need along with the primary physicians and
nurses needed to assist them.
Nancy Rickard
Florence
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
would probably say something like, ‘Remember
folks, even Heaven has a wall, a gate and
extreme vetting. Only a foolish leader would let
anyone and everyone in.”
Didn’t the Boston bombing and the tragedy
of 911 teach us what happens when we side-step
our established laws?
Maybe that old saying “better safe than
sorry” needs to be looked at a little closer.
Gail Luciani
Florence
By now, most of us have seen the
news footage of innocent children,
women and men, who were hit with
chemical weapons in Syria this past
week by their own leader, Bashar Al
Assad.
I don’t know of anyone who has
seen these pictures who isn’t horrified.
These were innocent children, women and
men, many of whom would flee this vicious
dictator if they were able.
They are people from all walks of life, just
like you and me — trying to raise their children,
and live a normal life.
The majority of the Syrian people are not ter-
rorists. They are victims of a brutal dictator. If
the Syrian people wish to come to America, and
apply for citizenship as refugees, they should be
allowed in as refugees.
The definition of a refugee is: “A person who
has been forced to leave their country in order
to escape war, persecution or natural disaster.”
And yet, Syria is one of the countries subject
to President Trump’s travel ban and “extreme
vetting.”
Vetting is necessary; however, I’m not sure
what “extreme vetting” entails. Of course we
can’t accept them all, but other countries have
stepped up to the plate — and so should
America.
We are a country of immigrants. We should
welcome these refugees with open arms.
Marybeth Marenco
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