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About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (May 31, 2017)
THESIUSLAWNEWS . COM ❘ / SIUSLAWNEWS ❘ @ SIUSLAWNEWS WEDNESDAY EDITION ❘ MAY 31, 2017 ❘ $1.00 L IONS HOST E LLIOTT B ASS MAY SCHOOL ZONE F UN T OURNAMENT J UNE 3-4 SPORTS — B 126TH YEAR ❘ ISSUE NO. 43 INSIDE SERVING WESTERN LANE COUNTY SINCE 1890 M e m or i a l D a y ac t iv i ti e s ho n or fa ll e n v e ts FLORENCE, OREGON PORT OF SIUSLAW Port places Leskin on paid administrative leave Complaint from tenant causes commissioners to act B Y J ACK D AVIS Siuslaw News PHOTOS BY MARK BRENNAN/SIUSLAW NEWS (Top) The Florence community salutes as a bugler plays “Taps” while U.S. Coast Guard Station Siuslaw River lays memorial wreaths on the river. (Lower left) Kyung Peterson and son Lance from Florence Cub Scout Pack 721 hammer in crosses at the graves of veterans at Pacific Sunrise Cemetery on Saturday morning. Local Boy and Cub Scouts set approximately 500 crosses. Ceremonies recognize the sacrifices made by veterans M emorial Day in Florence is always a somber occasion, as it is in many small towns across America. A large number of veterans from all four branches of the military B Y M ARK B RENNAN have retired here and Siuslaw News made Florence their home. Many of these individuals and patriotic community members were involved in veteran-related ceremonies during the Memorial Day weekend. Events took place at local cemeteries and parks to honor and recognize the ultimate sac- rifice made by the more than 1 million American soldiers who died while serving in the military. See CEREMONY 6A During a special meeting held Tuesday, Port of Siuslaw commis- sioners voted unan- imously to place Port Manager Steven Leskin on paid administrative leave. Port of Siuslaw Board of Commissioners met in an executive JACK DAVIS/SIUSLAW NEWS session before the Port Manager special meeting. Steven Leskin President Ron Caputo said, “You are being put on paid admin- istrative leave while we check on a complaint we have from Amber Novelli concerning some sexual advances that she perceived that you made.” Novelli and her husband Kyle operate Novelli’s Crab and Seafood market located on the Port of Siuslaw docks. The Novellis also operate a commercial fishing vessel. Also attending the special meeting was Special Districts Association of Oregon Assistant General Counsel Spencer Rockwell. Leskin was hired as port manager in February 2016. No further information was available at press time Tuesday. Sen. Ron Wyden speaks to packed town hall Sunday J ENNA B ARTLETT TO LEAD AS PUBLISHER President, healthcare, immigration among topics discussed at Sunday forum B Y J ACK D AVIS Siuslaw News More than 200 people turned out for Sen. Ron Wyden’s 41st town hall meeting of the year Sunday at the Florence Events Center. Topics ranged from healthcare and immigration to the Electoral College, privatization of the Bonneville Power Authority and the president’s tax returns. More than 20 people were able to ask Wyden questions during the 90-minute town hall. Participants were offered raffle tickets to determine who would be chosen to address the senator. State Sen. Arnie Roblan and Florence City Councilor Joshua Greene, who filled in for Mayor Joe Henry, drew tickets and read out the numbers. Prior to the start of the question and answer session, Wyden pre- sented Florence resident Steve Olienyk with a flag that was flown over the U.S. Capitol in recognition of his military and humanitarian service. Wyden serves on the Senate Intelligence Committee and is a ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee and the Energy and Natural Resources Committee. As a member of these commit- tees, Wyden is in the thick of cur- rent congressional inquiries and investigations. “This town hall speaks to the legitimacy of our government,” Wyden said. “What has happened with Russia has raised real ques- tions about whether our govern- ment is for us or if it is really beholden to special interests, and maybe doing things with foreign powers that shouldn’t be done. “This administration has moved on Russian policies dra- matically differently than other administrations, Democrats and Republicans.” He added, “Much of the Trump portfolio, by their admis- sion, not mine, really was Russian investments. In the Russian investigation, I’ve taken the lead in what I call the ‘follow the money' issue. See TOWN HALL 7A SVFR, Department of Forestry respond to ‘controlled’ burn Friday Small burn pile fire grows to engage 20 acres off Clear Lake Road B Y M ARK B RENNAN Siuslaw News INSIDE On May 26, Siuslaw Valley Fire and Rescue (SVFR) respond- ed to a call for assistance at a con- trolled burn off of Clear Lake Road, south of Florence. According to Fire Chief Jim Langborg, the incident had not been expected to be unusual or to Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Community . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kid Scoop . . . . . . . . . . . . . Library Tidings . . . . . . . . . . . B9 A3 B8 A5 require SVFR support. “On my arrival, I found a large slash fire that was in attendance of a responsible person, who had obtained burn permits and con- tacted Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) to ensure it was a safe day to burn,” Langborg said. “After lighting the fire, he noticed spot fires popping up and called us. ODF was also notified and had Monthly Calendar . . . . . . . . A8 Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A4 Records . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A2 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B an overhead person on-scene approximately 40 minutes after my arrival.” The initial attempts at suppres- sion of these spot fires were not successful and the blaze grew to the point where additional resources were required. “In total, approximately 25 SVFR firefighters were on-scene, along with mutual aid resources THIS WEEK ’ S from Reedsport and Gardiner. Approximately 27 ODF personnel were on-scene with three private bulldozers and a water tender,” Langborg said. “A unified com- mand structure was utilized and the incident was large enough to split into north and south divi- sions.” See FIRE 6A TODAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY 60 53 60 50 63 49 61 49 WEATHER Full Forecast, A3 As of May 22, Siuslaw News has a new pub- lisher as Group Manager John Bartlett focuses his efforts in California. General Manager Jenna Bartlett now assumes B Y C HANTELLE M EYER the role of publisher. Siuslaw News John said, “I am so excited for News Media Corporation to promote Jenna to a publisher position in Florence. This is a well-deserved pro- motion and long overdue.” As publisher, Jenna will manage operations in Siuslaw News’ editorial and marketing depart- ments and continue to oversee the Central Coast Publishing Press Plant in Coos Bay. She will tend to many of the day-to-day operations of the busi- ness, including the hiring process, budget, com- munity response and more. Jenna will also work with Editor Ned Hickson to direct the style and content of the Siuslaw News’ printed and online publications. Besides working at Siuslaw News, Jenna is the current Florence Area Chamber of Commerce Board President and is active with the Rotary Club of Florence, Boys and Girls Club of Western Lane County and other area nonprofits. “Jenna is so active in the community and has done a wonderful job leading the Siuslaw News these past three years. She has been a leader in the digital transformation of the newspaper to a daily online paper and I have no doubt she will continue to grow this media leading publication,” John said. “I am also very proud of her as any father would be.” S IUSLAW N EWS 2 S ECTIONS ❘ 24 P AGES C OPYRIGHT 2017
