SIUSLAW NEWS ❚ SATURDAY, JULY 22, 2017
Fiber
from 1A
Once the fiber optics are laid,
only the connectors at the ends of
the lines will need to be modified
for future upgrades, versus other
communication utilities, which
would need much more work to
modify.
Currently, standard Internet
packages in town provide any-
where from 3 Mbps to 80 Mbps of
data. Movie streaming services,
such as Netflix or Hulu, require at
least 5 Mbps for a two-hour
movie, so common packages start
at 6 Mbps.
The standard for Hyak’s fiber
will be 1 Gbps, or 1,000 Mbps. It
could go all the way up to 10
Gbps.
Cemetery
from 1A
Grants helped fund cemetery
mapping, a new website and sig-
nage to direct travelers to the desti-
nation.
One of the major problems the
“Think of it as a water pipe,”
Wright said. “A hose letting in 60
liters of water just isn’t going to
compare to a hose bringing in
1,000 liters of water. One is just
going to get you more power and
speed.”
To get the pilot project started,
Wright worked with private
investors, Oregon Pacific Bank,
Florence City Recorder Kelli
Weese, the Planning Department
and Public Works, as well as the
city’s economic development cat-
alyst, Jesse Dolin.
“You don’t have to live in an
urban center now to have access
to high speed Internet, an impor-
tant aspect to many thriving busi-
nesses,” Dolin said. “Now, you
can live in a beautiful city like
this.”
Dolin sees the speed fiber
brings as essential to education at
Siuslaw School District and Lane
Community College Florence
Center, especially as instructors
stream educational content or stu-
dents learn how to interact with
and thrive in the modern world.
“Fiber goes beyond streaming
high-definition movies,” Dolin
added. “It allows us to compete in
the global economy — for both
businesses, like Top Hydraulics at
the business park, and for home-
based businesses and startups.”
He said that the City of
Florence has been as supportive as
they can be, but the best way is for
businesses to “help themselves,”
so that legislative action can fol-
low.
Wright, who serves on the
cemetery faced was the use of tem-
porary markers.
Occasionally, families were
unable to put up permanent head-
stones for various reasons, usually
financial. Small blocks of diverse
materials — primarily stone and
metal — with simple phrases were
placed instead, with the intention
of purchasing proper headstones
down the road.
But for years, in some cases
decades, only the markers
remained.
Sometimes the money never
came through for the families.
Other times they moved — or
passed — away. As the families
disappeared, so did the information
on the stones.
In one instance, “Grandfather”
was simply etched in stone, with
no other identification.
Time could be unkind to these
markers. In some cases, general
wear and the infamous Oregon
rains eroded the simple phrases,
leaving no identifying information
at all.
What the cemetery board need-
ed was a good genealogist to trace
these burials, and it just so hap-
pened they found one in Pat
Rongey, a member of the Siuslaw
Genealogical Society.
“Pat is awesome,” Gerber
exclaimed. “She came on board
three years ago with all these ideas.
She’s really enthusiastic with peo-
ple finding their heritage and has
been a terrific source of informa-
tion.”
Rongey and the board began
making lists of the unknown head-
stones and unearthing names.
It was a painstaking process,
tracking down relatives or search-
ing obituaries. Most of the graves
were identified. For those that
weren’t, respectful but anonymous
headstones needed to be placed.
The grant will pay for these.
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FUNDRAISER
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Florence Economic Development
Committee and as a board mem-
ber of the Florence Area Chamber
of Commerce, said the city has a
strong desire for and sees the need
for this service in town, “but it
hasn’t been a budget priority.”
He said he hopes people will be
able to see the feasibility and the
demand for fiber as they expand
the pilot project.
“We’ve been seeing some great
response already,” Wright said.
“We know the technology and the
community well, so we plan to
demonstrate success to our part-
ners.
“In a perfect world, I would
love to see fiber access all over
western Lane County.”
Looking into options for the
future, Dolin said the pilot project
7 A
could lead to increased occupa-
tion of the Pacific View Business
Park, which currently has 24
remaining lots for sale or lease.
“It could incentivize businesses
to move to Florence, as well as
encourage people looking to relo-
cate,” he said. “Florence is beauti-
ful. Who wouldn’t want to live
here? Now, people can have a
thriving business, increase their
educational and job skills and
transition to new industries.”
The pilot project will be acces-
sible to up to 627 individual lots.
Businesses and residents in the
area will have to sign up for inclu-
sion.
More information, including
how to register, will be available
at SiuslawBroadband.com.
JARED ANDERSON/SIUSLAW NEWS
Headstones at Deadwood Cemetery date as far back as
the 1800s. The gravesite is still in use today.
While the headstone replace-
ments are a major breakthrough,
the board isn’t stopping there.
An annual Heritage Day is held,
with Civil War reenactors invited
to relive the first burial in front of
a giant crowd who enjoy food, his-
torical displays and educational
games.
Of particular concern are the
burials of veterans. There are cur-
rently 33 known sites held by
them, dating back to the Civil War.
A memorial is being designed to
honor those, with plans to build on
a newly sown area overlooking the
river.
A gazebo is being planned to
overlook the memorial. An ash
scattering garden will also be
placed, an important addition con-
sidering that the cremation rate is
48.6 percent of the population,
according
the
Cremation
Association of North America.
All of this has reignited interest
in the cemetery. The board now has
six members. Donations and vol-
unteer labor have been given from
people across the Siuslaw region.
Deadwood resident Kathleen
Brooks said, “Rural areas run a
risk for losing their identities. A
place like the Deadwood cemetery
is a link to our past. It’s a beautiful
place where people can gather and
have that link to the past.”
For Gerber, the ultimate goal is
to have the site become a welcom-
ing place for everyone to visit.
“It’s so the (community) can
look after the people,” she
explained. “To honor our heritage
and the family members, and to
make a place that is respectful.”
Anyone interested in volunteer-
ing, donating or researching are
encouraged to email deadwood
cem@gmail.com or call 541-964-
3345.
Relay For
Life of
Florence
“Paint Your
World Purple”
Relay For Life
Charms
$2.00 each
e
only
l available
ai l bl at
Florence Relay For Life Event
Siuslaw
News
+
Today, July 22nd, 2017
Noon - Midnight
Look for the charms next
to the Relay Store
Team: Love Connection
www.RelayForLife.org/FlorenceOR
We are TRYING SOMETHING NEW!
Everyone is invited to celebrate our 18th Relay For Life in Florence!
Join us at the Florence Events Center this year! You’ll be glad you did!
A NEW VENUE
* Survivors lap * Live music * Food * Family friendly games
Join us as we light up the night with the largest Luminaria display in Oregon!
RELAY FOR LIFE
When: July 22nd, 2017 • Noon - Midnight (registration begins at 10:00 am)
Where: Florence Events Center
www.shoppelocal.biz
For more information about Relay For Life go to WWW.RelayForLife.org/FlorenceOR
or contact Amy.Bickleman@cancer.org or 541-271-9240