NED HICKSON , SPORTS EDITOR
❘ 541-902-3523 ❘
SPORTS @ THESIUSLAWNEWS . COM
SATURDAY EDITION
❘ JULY 22, 2017 ❘
SECTION B
Siuslaw News
Sports & Recreation
On the
Bite
A
T IME ’ S
“Burn with a steady light,
Torch against the dark
of night.
And forget not
that the day, too,
has its shadows....”
WEEKLY
FISHING REPORT FOR
THE LOCAL REGION
www.dfw.state.or.us/RR
MID COAST LAKES:
Most of the North Coast
lakes were stocked with
trout recently. Water temps
are great and fish should be
hungry, so go catch them.
Stocking of Mid Coast
lakes has ended for the
See
SILENT SENTINEL
B Y L LOYD L ITTLE
Retired teacher, coach
and game official
— Author unknown, writing of the Heceta
Head Lighthouse
Calendar
UPCOMING
• AUG. 5
S TORY AND PHOTO BY
B Y N ED H ICKSON
GOLF TOURNEY
AT
C OAST
O CEAN D UNES
10 A . M .
SHS FOOTBALL
A NNUAL KIDS CAMP
H ANS P ETERSEN F IELD
K THRU 4 TH GRADE :
NOON TO 1:30 P . M .
5 TH THRU 8 TH GRADE
3 TO 5 P . M .
T IDE T ABLE
Entrance Siuslaw River
High Tide
Low Tide
July 22
12:34am / 6.2 6:04am / -1.9
11:53pm / 8.4 5:57pm / 1.9
July 23
1:21pm / 6.6
6:52am / -2.1
6:50pm /1.7
July 24
12:43am/8.3
2:06pm/ 6.8
7:38am /-2.0
7:42pm/ 1.5
July 25
1:33am / 8.0
2:50pm/ 6.9
Siuslaw News
AT THE
• AUG. 7-10
NED HICKSON/SIUSLAW NEWS
For 123 years, the Heceta Head Lighthouse has stood resolutely overlooking its charge along the Oregon coast.
P
positioning devices and high-tech
with Oregon State Parks who helped
erhaps it’s the need to connect
warning
systems
have
essentially
oversee operations at the lighthouse.
with something that remains
made lighthouses obsolete in terms of
“It’s like stepping back in time and
solid and virtually unchanged
stark necessity, the fact that six out of
connecting with history. It’s still there,
even as the world changes
the 11 remain in operation (with seven
still working, and you can see it, feel it
around it that draws us like inquisitive
still open to the public) hints that our
— and at night, it’s really beautiful.”
fireflies to the rotating beam of our
connection with them runs deeper than
Which is why, on an overcast
lighthouses.
Thursday evening, two dozen
Braced against both time
or so people made the short trip
and nature, there are few
from nearby Washburne State
icons along the coast repre-
Campground for a chance to
senting a stronger image of
see
the
Heceta
Head
resoluteness and unwavering
Lighthouse at night. Even
loyalty. In some ways,
though it wasn’t a planned tour,
they’re our fathers — strong,
it only took a few hours to get
silent types offering safe pas-
the word out via a small note
sage through troubled waters,
attached to the park’s activities
and whose momentary beam
— Debra Bender, Oregon State Parks Ranger
board, and a little word of
both inspires and comforts in
mouth.
the span of a lazy wink.
After a brief introduction of
Long before August was
surface logic and thoughts of efficien-
the area, two dozen flashlights sudden-
declared Lighthouse Month in Oregon
cy.
ly illuminated the darkened path as the
by Governor Ted Kulongoski in 2007,
In June 2000, when Heceta’s beam
group began making its way uphill
people have been coming to visit these
was extinguished because of mechani-
toward the beacon.
silent sentinels along the coast. Last
cal failure after 106 years of continued
Coming up on the old lightkeeper’s
year alone, more than 45,000 visitors
service,
a
grass
roots
campaign
began
house,
everyone saw the rotating
climbed the gravel path leading up to
spreading throughout Florence and
shafts of light for the first time as eight
Heceta Head Lighthouse, averaging
beyond with the help of fishermen,
sequential beams swept over the sur-
200 people per day. This year has been
community leaders and local citizens
rounding trees, across the shoreline,
no different — and, in fact, will more
who demanded that the light be
and 21 miles out to sea in a one-of-a-
than likely surpass last year’s figures.
reignited — a notion that even kindled
kind pattern repeated once every 10
Altogether, there are 11 beacons
the support of U.S. House Rep. Peter
seconds.
still perched along Oregon’s coastline,
DeFazio who, a year later, attended the
“Whoa!” was the response from one
the intention of which was to allow
rededication
ceremony
when
the
light-
young
boy, as well as a few adults, as
each distinctive beam to meet and
house resumed operation.
the group continued up the road.
cross with the other so that ships
“There’s just something about
would never be without sight of light
See LIGHTHOUSES 3B
them,” said Debra Bender, a ranger
during their passage. While global
“There’s just something
about them. It’s like stepping
back in time and connecting
with history.”
8:22am /-1.7
8:33pm/ 1.4
S TATE F IRE M ARSHALL
July 25
1:33am /8.0
2:50pm/ 6.9
8:22am /-1.7
8:33pm / 1.4
July 26
2:23am /7.5
3:33pm/ 6.9
9:05am /-1.2
9:26pm / 1.3
July 27
3:13am / 6.9
4:16pm / 6.8
9:48am/ 6.9
10:20pm/ 1.3
S IUSLAW
N EWS
148 Maple St.
Florence
541-997-3441
(With more than 55
years as an athlete, coach,
official, parent and specta-
tor, I’ve gained some
insights and perspectives
regarding athletics. In this
weekly column, I share
what I’ve learned about
sports from these multiple
points of view.)
laying sports requires
dedication and com-
mitment from both
players and parents.
That’s not easy.
Family and school obli-
gations often conflict,
which means athletes and
parents mist be willing to
accept the responsibilities
for athletic competition on
both the school and home
fronts.
Players and parents are
given handouts that include
practice times, game sched-
ules and behavior guide-
lines and expectations.
This is in addition to an
athletic handbook students
must sign before participa-
tion in any sport.
Coaches plan practices
for an entire team and
missed practices disrupt
team coordination, mean-
ing that players need to
inform their coach, before
practice, if they will not be
at practice.
In my 11 years of play-
ing football, I missed one
practice. I was in college,
and my older brother
thoughtlessly decided to
get married during football
season.
It may sound silly, but I
still wondered if I missed
some football knowledge
that had been shared that
day.
While practices and
home games present their
own challenges for athletes
and parents, away games
present their own kinds of
challenges.
For one, they can be
expensive, not to mention
time consuming. Often,
parents are unable to miss
work to attend these away
games, prompting them to
choose home games
instead.
One week, my wife and
I traveled to Klamath Falls
for a basketball play-off
game. With the win, both
the boys and girls teams
were in Corvallis for state
play-offs, with the teams
competing on alternate
days. We logged more
than 1,100 miles in seven
days to support our chil-
dren and their teams.
Keep in mind that state
play-off tickets cost more
than regular season admis-
sion, too.
While traveling on the
bus, some athletes utilize
that time to do homework
and maintain grades that
can be a deciding factor in
scholarships and college
admission later.
Nutrition is also an
important consideration,
along with getting the
proper rest. An athlete
requires both components
to perform their best on the
field or hardwood, as well
as in the classroom.
It’s up to parents to
make sure their student
P
FISHING 3B
S PORTS
C OOL
“Time
Out”
As Oregon’s summer travel season
gets in full gear, State Fire Marshal Jim
Walker is cautioning all campers to
heed campfire safety rules and tips.
“Camping is an excellent way to
enjoy all of the outdoor beauty and
recreation Oregon has to offer, said
Walker. “However, that beauty can only
be maintained if people follow campfire
safety.”
The OSFM encourages everyone to
follow these campfire safety guidelines:
• Check if campfires are allowed in
URGES CAMP FIRE SAFETY
the area in which you will be staying.
• Keep a shovel and water nearby to
extinguish any escaped embers.
• Select a site away from grasses,
shrubs, overhanging branches, and fire-
wood. Existing fire pits in established
campgrounds are best.
• Scrape away leaves and debris to
bare soil, at least 10 feet on all sides of
the fire pit.
• Circle your campfire pit with rocks;
start your fire with paper or manufac-
tured fire starters, never use gasoline;
keep the fire small and add wood in
small amounts.
• Never leave a campfire unattended.
• Before going to bed or leaving the
campsite, drown the campfire with
water, stir the coals, and drown again.
Repeat until the fire is out and the coals
are cool to the touch.
For more wildfire prevention infor-
mation and restrictions, visit www.keep
oregongreen.org and the Oregon
Department of Forestry at www.oregon
.gov.
Public meeting set on halibut, bottom fish seasons
The Oregon Department of Fish and
Wildlife is seeking input from recre-
ational anglers to help shape the 2017
Pacific halibut and 2018 and 2019-2020
bottomfish seasons.
Anglers are encouraged to participate
in the season-setting process by attend-
ing one of four public meetings in late
July.
“It is important that we hear from a
wide range of anglers before making
decisions,” said ODFW Recreational
Halibut and Bottomfish Project Leader
Lynn Mattes.
Meetings will be:
• Tuesday, July 25, 6 to 8 p.m., in
Newport, at the Marine Resources
Program office, 2040 SE Marine
Science Dr. This meeting will also be
webcast.
• Wednesday, July 26, 6 to 8 p.m., in
Salem, at ODFW Headquarters (4034
Fairview Industrial Drive SE) in the
Commission Room.
• Monday, July 31, 7 to 9 p.m., in
Brookings, at the Best Western
Beachfront Inn (note time is different
than the other meetings).
• Tuesday, Aug. 1, 6 to 8 p.m., in
North Bend at the Public Library.
Anglers who wish to provide input
but cannot attend a meeting in person or
via webcast can contact Lynn Mattes at
541-867-4741 ext. 237, or email her at
lynn.mattes@state.or.us; or Maggie
Sommer at 541-867-4741 ext. 227, or
email her at Maggie.sommer@state
.or.us.
See
COACH 2B