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About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 13, 2017)
4 A ❘ WEDNESDAY EDITION ❘ SEPTEMBER 13, 2017 Siuslaw News P.O. Box 10 Florence, OR 97439 NED HICKSON , EDITOR ❘ 541-902-3520 ❘ NHICKSON @ THESIUSLAWNEWS . COM Opinion USPS# 497-660 Copyright 2017 © Siuslaw News Published every Wednesday and Saturday at 148 Maple St. in Florence, Lane County, Oregon. A member of the National Newspaper Association and Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association. Periodicals postage paid at Florence, Ore. Postmaster, send address changes to: Siuslaw News, P.O. Box 10, Florence, OR 97439; phone 541-997-3441; fax 541-997-7979. All press releases may be sent to PressReleases@TheSiuslawNews.com. Oregon Group Publisher 541-265 8571 Publisher, ext. 318 Editor, ext. 313 Consulting Editor 831-761-7353 Email: echalhoub@register-pajaronian.com Marketing Director, ext. 326 Office Supervisor, ext. 312 Production Supervisor Press Manager James Rand Jenna Bartlett Ned Hickson Erik Chalhoub Susan Gutierrez Cathy Dietz Ron Annis Jeremy Gentry DEADLINES: Wednesday Issue—General news, Monday noon; Budgets, four days prior to publication; Regular classified ads, Monday 1 p.m.; Display ads, Monday noon; Boxed and display classified ads, Friday 5 p.m. Saturday Issue—General news, Thursday noon; Budgets, two days prior to publication; Regular classifiedad,sThursday 1 p.m.; Display ads, Thursday noon; Boxed and display classified ads, Wednesday 5 p.m. Soundings, Tuesday 5 p.m. NEWSPAPER SUBSCRIPTION RATES: In Lane County — 1-year subscription, $71; 10-weeks subscription, $18; Out of Lane County — 1-year subscrip- tion,$94; 10-weeks subscription, $24; Out of State — 1-year subscription, $120; Out of United States — 1-year subscription, $200; E-Edition Online Only (Anywhere) — 1-year subscription, $65. Mail subscription includes E-Edition. Website and E-Edition: www.TheSiuslawNews.com L ETTERS LETTERS A GAINST DECORATING THE BRIDGE I saw in the Aug. 26 issue of the Siuslaw News that a “Call to Artists” has gone out to turn the steps leading between Old Town and the Siuslaw River Bridge into an art installation — making them “a canvas” on which to create art, making them “eye-catch- ing and interactive while still main- taining their functionality and safety.” First of all, I’m against decorating them. While they may not be technically a part of the bridge and not protected from decoration as the bridge is through its listing on the National Register of Historic Places, they are considered a part of the bridge. Everyone refers to them as the bridge steps. I think enhancing them through landscaping and better lighting is a much better use of the money. Right at the top of the steps, within only a few feet, is fast moving traffic. The stop sign located right there says 30 mph and traffic usually travels faster than the signs. An art installation attracts and invites usage of all ages. I think safe- ty is another and possibly more important reason to be against an “interactive art installation” located so close to heavy traffic. Because of the two books I’ve writ- ten on the coastal bridges and the fact that many people refer to me as The Bridge Lady, I feel I have to speak up. —Judy Fleagle Local author and historian D ISMAYED BY LACK OF SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS How sorry I was to read the news that the Twilight programs at our schools are being reduced. I have seen firsthand the work that educators and aides do during these programs to help our community’s children learn and grow. The opportunity for some extra tutoring and assistance for these stu- dents is invaluable. That they may receive a nourishing snack of an ener- gy bar, a piece of fruit or a carton of milk is a bonus. So, I was dismayed to see the Letter to the Editor in the Sept. 9 edition, praising the end of these programs because the writer opined, “I don’t think taxpayers should be expected to feed and care for children whose par- ents can’t afford to do so themselves.” Have we really become so jaded that offering a hand up is seen in the same context as a hand out? I hope not. As a community, we rely on many of those parents to provide the servic- es and work to this heavily weighted retirement community. I know a num- ber of young parents who are working multiple jobs to make ends meet. These are not living-wage jobs that afford any luxuries; sometimes these parents are faced with making choices between paying bills and putting food on the table. Affordable housing is nearly non- existent here, so a disproportionate percentage of their paychecks go to providing a roof over their family’s heads. The after school programs provide a safe, nurturing environment for their children. They offer stability, purpose, accountability. It is not a childcare program, but an opportunity for students to have an alternative to the peer pressures that are very real and hard to avoid. It offers academic assistance and tutor- ing to help these kids succeed in school and, by extension, in life. And it gives parents the reassurance that their child is safe and cared for. I am tired of the conservative mind- set that turns its back on those who are less fortunate, who are struggling to make ends meet. I am saddened by those in this community who vote against our schools and thus, by extension, the future of our communi- ty that is embodied in these children. A very disturbing message is sent to these kids and their parents: “I’ve got mine, get your own.” Shameful. —Becky Goehring Florence H ANDLING A CRISIS BETWEEN TWEETS After hurricane Sandy, the likes of Ted Cruz, John Cornyn, Key Bailey Hutchison and Rick Perry did not want to fund FEMA. Recently, President Trump was in favor of dras- tically cutting funds to FEMA, which I assume was an effort to get funding for the “Wall.” Now the wall will likely never hap- pen. For decades man has been in search for the sunken city to Atlantis without success. We now have our own Atlantis and it is called Houston. I assume that after our government funds FEMA to do the basic recovery needed, it will take years and trillions of dollars for Houston to be whole once again and arise from the waters. My concern is how President Trump will handle the current situa- tion beyond his tweets. To paraphrase the Englishman Edmund Burke: “All that this necessary for the trump of evil to succeed is that good men do nothing.” —Win Jolley Florence 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 L EFTIST TACTIC I want thank Rand Dawson for his Letter to the Editor “Track Record on “‘Science’” (Sept. 9). It is a classic leftist tactic of attack- ing the messenger when there is noth- ing to refute facts. The Guardian is one of the most leftist, biased newspapers regularly engaging in the same tactics. The facts Dr. Spencer stated are verifiable on the NOAA website. If science were ever settled, we’d still be living in caves and chipping stone tools. — Ian Eales Florence The First Amendment C ongress shall make no law respecting an establish- ment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. 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
