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SIUSLAW NEWS ❚ WEDNESDAY, MAY 17, 2017
OBITUARIES
BRUS—Sonja Gale Krause
Brus left those who love her
dearly here on Earth, to join
our Lord and Savior in heaven,
Saturday morning, May 13,
2017.
She was at her home in
Eagle, Idaho, where she was
cared for tenderly by her fami-
ly during her prolonged, coura-
geous battle with breast cancer.
Sonja was born Aug. 14,
1963, in Florence, to Harlan
Jay and Lois Esther (Smith)
Krause. She was the second of
three daughters.
Her parents took them on
many cross country vacations,
taking in the wondrous beauty
of our nation along with its his-
tory.
In 1981, she won the title of
Queen Rhododendra at the
local yearly Rhododendron
Festival, and graduated saluta-
torian from Mapleton High
School.
She spent a year at Lewis
and Clark College before trans-
ferring to Oregon State
University. She earned a bach-
elor’s degree of liberal arts in
Communications in 1986. Her
post-graduate
employment
began in the claims department
of State Farm in Vancouver,
Wash.
She met Mario Brus while
living in that area, and they
were married Sept. 18, 1988, in
the gardens of the scenic
Columbia Gorge Hotel.
They moved to the Idaho
area in 1989 and settled even-
tually in Eagle, Idaho.
Sonja’s greatest joys were
the two children they raised
together, Olivia Rochelle
(Brus) Mangeac and Andrew
Mario Brus. Her husband says
they are a reflection of her
efforts in raising them and the
guidance she provided, as they
grew into being wonderful,
intelligent and accomplished
adults.
Both children reside and
work in the Eagle, Idaho, area.
Sonja is survived by her hus-
band, Mario; their children:
Olivia (husband Alex) and
Andrew; as well as her father,
Harlan; sisters Rachelle (hus-
band Kim) Krause-Campbell,
and Dione (husband Jeff)
Young; sister-in-law Heather
(Brus) Clements and husband
Ken; brother-in-law Will Brus
and wife, Nancy; and her
nieces and nephews: Nathan
(wife Laura) Campbell, Sean
Campbell, Joseph Campbell,
Matthew Campbell, Seth
Campbell, Justin Young, Jacob
Young, Kristi Clements,
Ashley Clements, Tiffany Brus
and Katrina Brus.
She will be remembered by
all who knew her for her
Christian convictions, generos-
ity of heart, outrageously fan-
tastic family vacations and her
love of dessert.
A graveside service is
planned for Friday, May 19, at
noon, at Dry Creek Cemetery
near Eagle, Idaho.
Flowers should be sent to
3238 N. Falstaff Place, Eagle,
Idaho 83616.
EDWARDS—Ellen
E.
Edwards was born in 1925 in
Magna, Utah, and raised in
Garfield, Utah.
Mrs. Edwards owned and
operated
the
Oak
Harbor
Diet Center
o
n
Whidbey
Island from
1976
to
1993. She
in
Ellen Edwards lived
Salt Lake
City, Utah; St. Louis, Mo.;
Kailua, Hawaii; Tachikawa,
Japan and Whidbey Island,
Wash.
She died in Florence, Ore.,
on April 29, 2017.
Mrs Edwards was a Born-
Again Christian. She was mar-
ried to John W. Edwards, Lt
Col., USA Ret. (deceased), for
59 years. She is survived by
three
children:
Richard
Kartchner, Susanne Caskey
and Holly Cassidy; and one
brother, Wade Edwards.
Burns’s Riverside Chapel
Florence Funeral Home was in
charge of arrangements.
State begins review of 2018 proposed health insurance rates
SALEM — Oregonians can
now see proposed rates for
2018 individual and small
employer health insurance
plans. Health insurance compa-
nies submitted rate requests to
the Department of Consumer
and
Business
Services,
Division
of
Financial
Regulation on Monday.
The division must review
and approve any rates before
they can be charged to policy-
holders. The proposed rates are
for health insurance plans that
comply with the Affordable
Care Act (ACA) for small busi-
nesses and individuals who buy
their own coverage rather than
getting it through an employer.
“This marks the beginning
of our open and transparent
health insurance rate review
process,” said Insurance
Commissioner Laura Cali
Robison. “Oregonians will be
able to follow along and pro-
vide comments as we analyze
the requested rates to ensure
they adequately cover health
care costs without being too
high or too low.”
In the individual market,
eight companies submitted
average rate change requests
ranging from a 6.9 percent to a
21.8 percent increase. In the
small group market, 10 compa-
nies submitted average rate
requests ranging from a 2 per-
cent to an 8.5 percent increase.
A chart is available online at
dfr.oregon.gov/news/docu-
ments/2018-proposed-health-
ins-rates.pdf for the full list of
rate requests.
Rates are required to reflect
the average cost of providing
healthcare to a member in
Oregon’s health insurance mar-
ket. The division has deter-
mined that the average cost of
paying claims in the individual
health insurance market in
2016 was $384 per member per
month.
In 2015, the average cost of
paying claims was $385 per
member per month. Health
insurance companies are
required to justify any differ-
ences to this average in their
rate filings.
This year’s rate requests fol-
low two years of significant
rate increases as insurers have
adjusted to changes in the indi-
vidual market. Rates increased
an average of 23 percent in
2016 and 27 percent in 2017.
Medical
claims
for
Oregonians have been higher
than expected, and federal pro-
grams aimed at limiting risk for
insurers have ended. Many
health insurers have also cho-
sen to shrink their presence in
some areas of the state.
Although there have been
signs that the market is stabiliz-
ing, there is significant uncer-
tainty about the future as repeal
or changes to the Affordable
Care Act are considered by
Congress.
Other examples of uncer-
tainty include whether the indi-
vidual mandate will be
enforced and whether cost-
sharing subsidies will continue
to be paid to insurers. Changes
to either of these programs
would create significant chal-
lenges for Oregon’s health
insurance market.
Insurance companies are
required to file rates assuming
that cost-sharing subsidies will
be paid and that the Affordable
Care Act will continue to be in
place in its current form in
2018. In the event of changes
to these programs or the law,
the division will work with
companies to make adjust-
ments as needed.
“We know there are still
many unknowns facing insur-
ers and consumers as we look
ahead to 2018,” Cali Robison
said. “Now that the filings are
in, we will begin our vigorous
review to ensure the proposed
rate changes, including the
potential impact of various
sources of uncertainty, are
actuarially sound and justi-
fied.”
The rate filings also provide
a glimpse into what choices
will be available to Oregonians
in 2018. Based on the filings,
most counties in Oregon will
have multiple companies to
choose from on and off the
marketplace.
The exceptions are Lane,
Lincoln, and Tillamook coun-
ties — in those counties only
two carriers filed plans (just
one, Providence, with plans on
the marketplace).
DCBS will work with insur-
ers during the rate review
process to try to provide more
choice in these areas.
“We continue to be con-
cerned about the level of
choice for Oregonians across
the state,” said Patrick Allen,
DCBS director. “In the coming
weeks, we will be exploring
our options to ensure all
Oregonians have access to
plans that fit their needs.”
Starting Monday, May 22,
Oregonians will be able to
search rate filings and submit
comments at oregonhealthrates
.org.
Once scheduled, hearing
information will be posted to
this website. Oregonians are
encouraged to comment on rate
change requests during the
public comment period, which
is open Monday, May 22,
through Tuesday, July 11.
The public can submit com-
ments online and during public
rate hearings.
Preliminary decisions will
be announced Thursday, June
29, and final decisions will be
released Thursday, July 20.
Dr. Mark Immel,
Naturopathic
Physician
Let me Showcase your property.
your source for natural medicine
Ed Kopilec
Principal Broker
541 991-8630
Patricia Immel,
Lic. Acupuncturist
& Herbalist
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6157 Canary Rd – Country living on almost
5 acre just minutes from downtown Flo-
rence. Creek with spring runs through prop-
erty. Built in 1927, it’s a great starter home
for those willing to turn it into their dreams.
$275,000. #2669-16333213
1749 Highway 101 • 541-997-1200
DENTURE SERVICES INC.
LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED
USFS to close part of
S. Jetty Road this weekend
A portion of road
and two parking areas
in the South Jetty area
near Florence will be
temporarily closed for
maintenance May 19
and 20.
The parking lot at
the South Jetty No. 6
crab dock and Sand
Dunes Road north of
the South Jetty No. 7
parking area will be
closed to vehicles
while workers repair
road and lot surfaces.
Visitors will be able
to park at the No. 7
parking area and An area between the crab dock
access the crab dock and Sand Dunes Road at South
Jetty No. 7 will be closed for road
and beach by foot.
A crew of Marine repairs.
Reserves
out
of
Springfield, Ore., will be grad- Forest Service.
Visitors to the South Jetty
ing and graveling surfaces, as
well as removing sand that has area are encouraged to use
accumulated around the dock caution as they may encounter
pathway, as part of a heavy heavy equipment and road
equipment training-service flaggers throughout the week-
partnership with the U.S. end.
YOU AND A GUEST ARE INVITED
FOR AN AFTERNOON OF MUSICAL
ENTERTAINMENT, SPEAKERS AND DOOR
PRIZES IN HONOR OF
OUR SURVIVORS AND CAREGIVERS
7 TH ANNUAL
CANCER SURVIVOR
CELEBRATION
HOSTED BY THE LADIES OF THE ELKS
June 16, 2017 FROM 1-3PM
THE ELKS LODGE, 1686 12TH STREET, FLORENCE, OR
97439 (north entrance)
R.S.V.P. BY JUNE 9 APPRECIATED TO:
AMY BICKLEMAN, 541.272.9240
AMY.BICKLEMAN@CANCER.ORG
Save the Date for yoru local Relay For Life of Florence -
July 22 @ Florence Events Center
Survivor’s Lap & Openining Ceremonies @ Noon,
sign-up at:
www.RelayForLife.org/FlorenceOR
Introducing
Mapleton High School Senior
P rincess Jewel
541-902-8860
1845 Hwy. 126, Suite H, Florence, OR 97439
TheWellspringClinic.com
I N HONOR OF THE
100 TH A NNIVERSARY OF R OTARY F OUNDATION
Florence Rotary Club’s
100 Acts of Good
Open 4 days a week!
Here to serve your denture needs:
Dentures
Partial Dentures
Immediate Dentures
Implant Dentures
Relines & Repairs Same Day
Monday-Thursday
10am - 2 pm
524 Laurel St.
541-997-6054
William Foster LD
Sherry, Offi ce Manager
“As a denture wearer myself,
I can answer your
questions and address
your denture concerns.”
~ William Foster, LD
Financing: Citi Health Card
12 Month no Interest
80. Rotarian Dr. Holmes travels to Grenada for a dental services
mission supported by a Florence Rotary and Rotary International
Foundation sponsored grant.
81. Florence Rotary Interact conducts the annual Easter Egg
Hunt at Miller Park for local youth with nearly 4000 Easter eggs
for the fi nding
82. Rotary recognizes 7th grader Joseph Shepard and 11th
grader Tanner Wilson as Mapleton Students of the Quarter
83. Rotary recognizes Siuslaw Middle School student Matthew
Fusaro and Siuslaw High School student Taylor Coolidge as
students of the quarter
84. Rotary Club of Florence honors Shasta McMullen with an
Honorary Membership in recognition for her service to the club
and community
For more information Call President, Pat Riley: 541-991-6371
www.TheSiuslawNews.com
www.thefl orencerotary.org
Sponsored by: