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About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (April 22, 2017)
THESIUSLAWNEWS . COM ❘ / SIUSLAWNEWS ❘ @ SIUSLAWNEWS SATURDAY EDITION ❘ APRIL 22, 2017 ❘ $1.00 CLEAN SWEEP E XTRAORDINARY P EOPLE : Ginny Kelly SPORTS — B INSIDE — A5 127TH YEAR ❘ ISSUE NO. 32 SERVING WESTERN LANE COUNTY SINCE 1890 FLORENCE, OREGON KXCR celebrates three years of broadcasting Local nonprofit, volunteer-run radio station has a variety of shows to ‘educate, inform and entertain’ F lorence’s non-profit radio station KXCR is inviting the public to its third anniversary celebration today at noon. The station’s anniver- sary coincides B Y M ARK B RENNAN with Earth Day. Siuslaw News KXCR’s programming schedule has grown steadily since tak- ing to the air and now has a wide vari- ety of shows for listeners to enjoy. There has also been a change in the leadership of KXCR’s board, with Rick Ulrich taking over the helm as the station moves into its fourth year of broadcasting. Ulrich is a retired educator, having taught at Lane Community College and worked at the Mapleton School District prior to his retirement. He has been involved at KXCR since the station’s inception and has recently taken on new duties. “I started out as chief operator when the station first started. That was the one position required by the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) for the station to go on the air,” Ulrich said. As chief operator, Ulrich kept logs for the emergency alert system, pub- lic records and other official docu- ments. “After having been a board member for the past three years, I was asked to fill the position that is required for our 501c3 status, president of the Board of Directors, and I agreed to take on that responsibility,” Ulrich said. When asked why he was willing to expend such a great deal of his time and energy in this effort, Ulrich point- ed to the organization’s mission state- ment: KXCR is broadcasting to “edu- cate, inform and entertain.” Ulrich believes they have made great strides in meeting that lofty goal. See STATION 7A Nonprofit radio station KXCR is dedicated to providing a platform for community members to dis- cuss pertinent issues or explore topics. DJs also host music shows and other entertainment. MARK BRENNAN/SIUSLAW NEWS Honoring the spirit of volunteerism Procedural gaffes FACC recognizes the efforts of those who volunteer to make Florence better B Y M ARK B RENNAN Port votes to settle with Abel Insurance over insurance agent of record issue Siuslaw News he Florence Area Community Coalition (FACC) hosted its annual vol- unteer appreciation luncheon on Wednesday, April 19, at the Florence Events Center. The event, “Cheers for Volunteers,” recognizes the individuals that give freely of their time and talents to enhance the quality of life for all the residents of Florence. The FACC is tasked with “Improving the quality of life in Western Lane County through partnerships, network- ing, volunteerism, community involvement, education and awareness.” This may sound like a large order but FACC President Karen Earshaw says the goal is only reachable due to the efforts of the individuals that volunteer in Florence. “Our members and our entire community benefit from the act of volunteerism. Not only do agencies benefit from a financial aspect, many times they are also gaining a commu- cost Port of Siuslaw T uring the April 19 Port of Siuslaw meeting, com- missioners voted 3 to 2 to approve res- B Y J ACK D AVIS olution 4-19- Siuslaw News 78 to resolve an insurance agent of record protest letter submitted by Abel Insurance. Commission President Ron Caputo said, “Basically, Abel Insurance filed a protest against (the port) for choosing an insurance agent of record. It has been in the hands of our attorneys and our attorney at this present time suggests that we pay Abel and Swank $8,866.62 for damages because of the way we did the resolution for insurance agent of record.” Caputo and commissioners Nancy Rickard and Mike Buckwald voted to approve the resolution. Commissioners Terry Duman and Dave Huntington voted no. The protest letter was the result of a contentious port D MARK BRENNAN/SIUSLAW NEWS Florence Area Community Coalition held a volunteer appreciation luncheon, “Cheers for Volunteers,” April 19 at the Florence Events Center. More than 200 community members attended the event. nity member that has a skill or knowledge that is quite valu- able,” said Earnshaw. The FACC counts among its members and participating agencies many high profile organizations including Habitat for Humanity, the Siuslaw Library District, Florence Food Share, PeaceHealth Peace Harbor and KXCR radio, all of whom sponsored tables at the G R A V E C O M E DY event for their volunteers. The luncheon was well attended, with about 200 volunteers from local agencies See VOLUNTEERS 7A meeting held Nov. 16, when Duman, Buckwald and Huntington opposed Port Manager Steven Leskin’s rec- ommendation to appoint Abel Insurance as the port’s insur- ance agent of record. Duman rejected the recom- mendation. Duman, Buckwald and Huntington then voted to approve Coast Insurance Services as the port’s insur- ance company of record. Both insurance companies and a third company had applied to become the port’s insurance agent of record for the next three-year contract term. All three companies would receive the same commission, so price was not a considera- tion. Because Buckwald did not tell commissioners that Coast Insurance Services was a ten- ant in a building owned by Ourown Investments LLC, a See INSURANCE 7A Nurses vote for informational picket May 1 picket to be held at Highways 101, 126 B Y J ACK D AVIS Siuslaw News eaceHealth Peace Harbor Medical Center nurses voted to authorize an informa- tional picket to be held May 1 at the intersection of U.S. Highway 101 and Oregon Route 126. According to Oregon Nurses Association (ONA), an infor- mational picket is not a strike. Nurses continue to work their scheduled shifts, but walk the picket line on breaks and their days off. ONA is required to give PeaceHealth a 10-day notice prior to a picket. According to ONA Comm- unications Manager Kevin Mealy, the nurses voted in favor of the informational picket after P PHOTOS BY MARK BRENNAN/SIUSLAW NEWS hildren’s Repertory of Oregon C Workshops (CROW) held two outreach performances of “The Addams Family INSIDE Musical” for area elementary schools at the Florence Events Center (FEC) Thursday. The show runs at 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday, April 22, and at 2 p.m. Sunday, April 23, at the FEC, 715 Quince St. Visit eventcenter.org or call 541-997-1994 for more information. Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Community . . . . . . . . . . . . . Extraordinary People . . . . . . . Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B7 A3 A5 A4 Records . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A2 This Week on the Coast . . . A8 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B Weather Data . . . . . . . . . . . A2 THIS WEEK ’ S TODAY SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY 57 48 54 47 52 49 53 47 WEATHER Full Forecast, A3 an unsuccessful contract media- tion session with PeaceHealth’s corporate administrators earlier this month. Mealy said, “Despite signifi- cant efforts by nurses and the help of a federal mediator, PeaceHealth’s corporate admin- istrators made limited conces- sions and refused to make meaningful progress on a fair contract that addresses nurses’ primary community health con- cerns; including ending exces- sive call requirements, correct- ing below-market wages and increasing patient and staff safety.” The 75 Peace Harbor nurses have been working without a contract since Jan. 31. After more than three months of unsuccessful negotiations, both sides agreed to federal media- S IUSLAW N EWS 2 S ECTIONS ❘ 20 P AGES C OPYRIGHT 2017 tion. The first mediation session held April 10 ended with limit- ed progress reported. Community members and supporters are invited to join nurses at the informational picket Monday, May 1, at the intersection of Highways 101 and 126 in Florence from 8 to 10 a.m., noon to 2 p.m., and 4 to 6 p.m., Mealy said. ONA member and emer- gency department nurse at Peace Harbor Toby Knight- Meigs said, “We appreciate the support we’ve received from people up and down the coast and throughout Lane County. It’s clear our community recog- nizes the vital role nurses play in keeping our friends and fam- ily members healthy.” See PICKET 7A
