4 A
❘
WEDNESDAY EDITION
❘ AUGUST 16, 2017
Siuslaw News
P.O. Box 10
Florence, OR 97439
NED HICKSON , EDITOR
Opinion
We don’t mind taking our lumps
when it leads to real discussion
Maybe it’s the eclipse.
Maybe it’s the heat.
Or maybe it’s a form of cli-
mate change that has nothing
to do with melting ice caps.
In my 20 years here at
Siuslaw News, I honestly
can’t remember a time when
we’ve waded into as much
controversial, polarizing or
“hard” news reporting on a
regular basis.
In the past three months
alone we’ve covered issues
dealing with teen hunger,
homelessness, an attack on
police officers, the justified
killing of an active shooter,
the termination of our Port
Manager as well as three top
administrators by the Tribal
Council, a drowning, five
accidental deaths and, most
recently, accusations of neg-
lect and abuse at the local ani-
mal shelter.
Along the way, we’ve also
covered many of the positive
things happening in our town,
from local events like Wings
and Wheels and new pro-
grams at the local Boys and
Girls Club, to the amazing
community
support
for
Malakai Kirk and efforts to
address hunger for our
Upriver neighbors.
These are the kinds of sto-
ries that offer hope and no
small amount of inspiration.
But it’s that first group of
stories that tend to linger here
in the newsroom, as well as in
the minds of the community
also recognize when they con-
nect to the county, state and
even national level — such as
the opiod crisis, teen suicide,
Death with Dignity Act,
Sanctuary City designation,
etc.
The result has been front
pages that sometimes include
the juxtaposition of a story on
student art alongside an inves-
From the Editor’s Desk
N ED H ICKSON
we serve. I say this because
we are reminded on a regular
basis — through emails,
phone calls, letters to the edi-
tor, Facebook posts and
anonymous notes left in our
front door mail slot — when
people are either happy or
unhappy with our reporting.
Ironically, those same
avenues have become utilized
more and more often to relay
concerns that people would
like us to look into.
When I became editor near-
ly a year ago, my goal was to
make our coverage more
timely, comprehensive and
relevant by exploring not only
the impact of events and
issues on a local level, but
tigation into teen homeless-
ness.
Our objective is to remain
just that: objective. It’s not
our job to sway opinion; it is
to provide both sides of an
issue with information veri-
fied through official docu-
mentation, direct quotes
based on first-hand knowl-
edge, or first-hand experience
observed and documented on
our own.
We can’t report on what
someone said they heard
someone else witnessed; we
need to talk to the actual wit-
ness and verify what they saw.
In this time of at-a-whim
social media posting of specu-
lation, rumor and accusation,
I understand why some read-
ers get frustrated when the
gears of a story we’re work-
ing on seem to grind much
more slowly than on
Facebook — or when the
information they provided us
isn’t included in a story
because we couldn’t verify it
beyond word-of-mouth.
Over the last few weeks,
we’ve taken our lumps from
readers on both sides of sto-
ries we’ve covered.
The fact that we needed to
expand today’s Letters to the
Editor section to a second
page I hope is an indication
that the kind of community
conversations that lead to
solutions have begun to take
place.
The fact that we have
received both support and
criticism for our coverage, I
hope, is an indication that
we’re offering the kind of
objective reporting that
inspires real dialogue.
Because when everyone
agrees with your reporting,
chances are you aren’t doing
it right.
— Write Siuslaw News editor
Ned Hickson at nhickson@the
siuslawnews.com or P.O. Box
10, Florence, Ore. 97439.
LETTERS
C OUGAR PROBLEM ISN ’ T
GOING AWAY
A cougar was seen walking down my
driveway at 10 a.m. yesterday. This is
twice the cougar has been seen mid day.
and the third time it has been seen by
my house in the past few months.
Also, a cougar was seen at the dog
park by the airport.
I lost one llama to a cougar attack in
January and now have a baby llama that
I believe the cougar is anxious to get.
Here is what the ODFW has to say to
us regarding living with cougars:
www.dfw.state.or.us/wildlife/living_
with/cougars.asp.
I called ODFW on Friday and they
connected me with the Charleston
office — who responded with: “Please
contact the Newport office.”
The issue is very troubling as cougars
are very difficult to defend against
because they generally attack from
behind.
Years ago, while hunting with a
buddy, I witnessed a cougar drop from
a tree after my friend had passed and I
witnessed the cougar stalking him.
Fortunately I was able to shoot toward
the cougar with my hunting rifle and
scare the cat away from him.
I have also found cat tracks in my
tracks in the snow while I was hunting.
It’s not a pleasant realization that you
could be being stalked in your own
neighborhood.
—Brian Cole
Florence
B OARD SHOULD BE HELD
ACCOUNTABLE
Referencing the article in
Saturday’s paper about neglect and
mismanagement at the Oregon
Coast Humane Society (“Past and
Present Board Members, Volunteers
Clash Over Care,” Aug. 5), we, as
volunteers in the thrift shop for three
years, were witness to many mis-
takes and evidence of poor judge-
ment by newly hired management
and directors.
Case in point: Why would so
many volunteer workers leave and
several well-liked paid employees
be “forced out” or fired?
Things went down hill quickly
after the two-week closing to redo
the Thrift Shop. The prices also
were raised at that time. In addition,
the decision to begin closing on
Sundays — with all the summer foot
traffic downtown — was a mistake.
We found that many of the fre-
quent customers were happy with
the way it was and didn’t like the
new “boutique” treatment.
They want to shop in a thrift shop
with some of the best prices in town.
Nothing more.
As for self-appointed board mem-
ber Ed Gervais, I feel he only offers
excuses for these and other criti-
cisms from ex-staff. Many of us feel
that our suggestions as to the opera-
tions in the thrift store were ignored.
It would seem, if there are monies
available, that some of it should be
made available to correct some of
the problems at the shelter. It is the
OCHS Board’s responsibility to
make the wise decisions for the ani-
mals and should be held account-
able.
Let’s get a good, reliable board in
there to do the job. Volunteers are
there because they love animals and
can’t stand by while hearing of them
getting anything but the best possi-
ble care.
—Jeanie Raiser, Sue Hale
OCHS volunteers
Florence
N OTHING BUT LOVE AND
AFFECTION
Since moving to Florence 10
years ago, I have walked dogs at the
shelter — at first seven days a week,
now three to four days a week.
For one year I cleaned the kennels
one day a week; for a year I drove
my own vehicle to Eugene once a
month with cats and dogs to show
the animals for adoption.
During this time, I have never
seen the staff treat the dogs with
anything but love and affection. I
have never had a dog shy away from
returning to the shelter other than a
dog that wants to keep walking.
With one exception, I know of no
discord with staff at the shelter,
although the thrift shop may be
another matter.
I am not familiar with board
members but have not noticed any
change in the way the dogs are treat-
ed. To me, the kennels are of ade-
quate size. I might mention that I
have never been named as volunteer
of the month but the company of the
dogs makes up for any oversight.
—Frank Keavy
Florence
C LEAR UP ‘ CONFUSION ’
ABOUT P RES . T RUMP
Our country is divided and there cer-
tainly is a lot of “Fake News” adding to
the confusion. Our president is presi-
dent of the entire country and was elect-
ed correctly by our laws.
Thanks to the people who voted for
Donald Trump, I feel the president has
been keeping the promises he made.
Just look at some of the many positive
things that have been accomplished
under President Trump.
1. Illegal immigration down to lowest
level in many years
2. Consumer confidence highest
since 2000
3. Mortgage applications for new
homes rose to a 7-year high
4. Keystone pipeline approved
5. Over 600,000 jobs created
6. Stock market at highest level
7. Many billions saved in regulation
rollback
8. Targeting MS 13 gangs
9. Signed 41 bills to date
10. Unemployment lowest since
2007
11. Promoted businesses to create
American jobs
12. Highest manufacturing surge in 3
years
13. $700 million saved with F-35
renegotiation
14. Saved $22 million by reducing
white house payroll
15. Signed Executive Order to pro-
mote energy independence and eco-
nomic growth
In my opinion, President Donald
Trump is off to a very good start and we
are in good hands.
—James Perry
Florence
MORE LETTERS 5A
❘ 541-902-3520 ❘
NHICKSON @ THESIUSLAWNEWS . COM
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L ETTERS
TO THE
P OLICY
E DITOR
The Siuslaw News welcomes letters to the editor
as part of a community discussion of issues on the
local, state and national level.
Emailed letters are preferred. Handwritten or
typed letters must be signed. All letters need to
include full name, address and phone number; only
name and city will be printed. Letters should be
limited to about 300 words. Letters are subject to
editing for length, grammar and clarity. Publication
of any letter is not guaranteed and depends on
space available and the volume of letters received.
Libelous, argumentative and anonymous letters
or poetry, or letters from outside our readership
area will only be published at the discression of the
editor.
P OLITICAL /E LECTION L ETTERS :
Election-related letters must address pertinent or
timely issues of interest to our readers at-large.
Letters must 1) Not be a part of letter-writing
campaigns on behalf of (or by) candidates; 2)
Ensure any information about a candidate is accu-
rate, fair and not from second-hand knowledge or
hearsay; and 3) explain the reasons to support
candidates based on personal experience and per-
spective rather than partisanship and campaign-
style rhetoric.
Candidates themselves may not use the letters to
the editor column to outline their views and plat-
forms or to ask for votes; this constitutes paid polit-
ical advertising.
As with all letters and advertising content, the
newspaper, at the sole discretion of the publisher,
general manager and editor, reserves the right to
reject any letter that doesn’t follow the above crite-
ria.
Send letters to:
nhickson@thesiuslawnews.com
WHERE TO WRITE
Pres. Donald Trump
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
NW
Washington, D.C. 20500
Comments: 202-456-1111
Switchboard: 202-456-1414
FAX: 202-456-2461
TTY/TDD Comments:
202-456-6213
www.whitehouse.gov
Gov. Kate Brown
160 State Capitol
900 Court St.
Salem, Ore. 97301-4047
Governor’s Citizens’ Rep.
Message Line:
503-378-4582
www.oregon.gov/gov
U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden
221 Dirksen Senate Office
Bldg
Washington, DC 20510
202-224-5244
541-431-0229
www.wyden.senate.gov
U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley
313 Hart Senate Office
Bldg
Washington, DC 20510
202-224-3753/FAX: 202-
228-3997
541-465-6750
www.merkley.senate.gov
U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio
( 4 th Dist.)
2134 Rayburn HOB
Washington, DC 20515
202-225-6416
541-269-2609
541-465-6732
www.defazio.house.gov
State Sen. Arnie Roblan
( Dist. 5 )
900 Court St. NE - S-417
Salem, OR 97301
503-986-1705
FAX: 503-986-1080
Email: Sen.ArnieRoblan@
state.or.us
State Rep. Caddy
McKeown
( Dist. 9 )
900 Court St. NE
Salem, OR 97301
503-986-1409
Email: rep.caddymckeown
@state.or.us
West Lane County
Commissioner
Jay Bozievich
125 E. Eighth St.
Eugene, OR 97401
541-682-4203
FAX: 541-682-4616
Email:
Jay.Bozievich@
co.lane.or.us