4 A
❘
SATURDAY EDITION
❘ SEPTEMBER 16, 2017
Siuslaw News
P.O. Box 10
Florence, OR 97439
NED HICKSON , EDITOR
Opinion
❘ 541-902-3520 ❘
NHICKSON @ THESIUSLAWNEWS . COM
The First Amendment
C
ongress shall make no law respecting an estab-
lishment of religion or prohibiting the free exer-
cise 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.
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
Pursuit begun by forefathers continues
It was 230 years ago tomor-
row, on Sept. 17, 1787, that
delegates to the Constitutional
Convention in Philadelphia
our nation’s fabric as well as
those who have added their
own stitching to become fel-
low citizens.
From the Editor’s Desk
On the Opinion page in each
issue of the Siuslaw News,
usually in the upper right right
corner, you’ll find our obser-
vance of the First Amendment
as it is stated in our U.S.
Constitution — a brilliant, liv-
ing document that has guided,
protected and inspired the civil
liberties we hold dear as a
nation united under its promise
of life, liberty and the pursuit
of happiness.
N ED H ICKSON
officially adopted the United
States Constitution.
Celebrated nationally as
“Citizenship Day” until 2004,
when it was amended to
“Constitution
Day
and
Citizenship Day,” Sept. 17 has
been our time to reflect on the
privileges we all share as
Americans — those born into
It’s
because
of
our
Constitution that we are free to
pursue the kinds of conversa-
tions seen on these pages and
across our nation that chal-
lenge us to become better — as
individuals, local citizens and
Americans — through the
exchange of viewpoints that
ultimately define us as a peo-
ple united under the principles
of that living document.
Our nation has been divided
many times over the last two
centuries. It has gone to war
with itself, experienced doubt,
questioned its direction, suf-
fered through economic
depression and seen its sons
and daughters go to war and
never return.
Yet we have persevered in
spite of the things that have
divided us because of the
shared belief we have in those
pages from 230 years ago that
defined who we wanted to be.
We are still pursuing that
definition of ourselves.
And, God willing, we
always will be.
LETTERS
T HANK YOU FOR HELPING
HURRICANE VICTIMS
I would like to thank all who came to
the Kyle Building Yard Sale last weekend,
and gave generously in support of
Hurricane victims.
This morning, we were able to send
your donations of $315 to Global Giving,
which will go directly to hurricane relief.
Our original intention was to give our
proceeds to the Red Cross. However, after
some research, we settled on Global
Giving, which scores four stars in the
Charity Navigator and the Better Business
Bureau.
More than 96 percent of the organiza-
tion’s donated funds go directly to the
programs and services they vet and sup-
port in the affected communities. Their
focus is on those who need support the
most, by initially giving food, water and
shelter and then participating in rebuild-
ing.
Its current goal for donations is
$2,000,000.
If you are looking for a place to send
donations, this may be an option for you.
Although they have programs around the
world, you can specify relief for whichev-
er area concerns you the most.
Their
address
is
simply
globalgiving.com.
Thanking you,
— Joann Henderson
The Kyle Building
Oregon owns the water of Woahink Lake,
and perhaps were not notified of this
LUCS application so that they could
respond appropriately.
Being a waterfront property, many
agencies should be involved since this is
for a Tier II grow — meaning 40K square
feet of cannabis directly on the lakefront.
The LUCS form suggests that the LUCS
applicant needs to request a variance for a
fence higher than six feet.
Seems odd to add this since it’s water-
front. Nothing is mentioned regarding the
property is 1,000 feet from a public park,
yet we all know that being on the lake you
are living on the border of a state park.
This is why our city hasn’t been able to
control speeding or loud boats that use
this public park for recreation.
People swim, motorboat, canoe, kayak,
fish and waterski right near the docks.
Therefore, the LUCS application is in
question because it’s most certainly too
close to a “park.”
I am not sure why the city allowed its
use knowing this.
Nothing has been mentioned regarding
water, so I assume water will be drawn
directly from the lake?
Is it ok to irrigate directly from the
lake?
This grow should be cause for concern.
—Catherine Caudle
Dunes City Resident
O PTIONS FOR TEENS ISN ’ T
T IER II GROWS SHOULD
BE A CONCERN
A Mr. Jerry McGuire applied to the city
(Dunes City) for a Tier II marijuana grow
on his .30 acre waterfront lot (number
1912141002900), which is directly on
Woahink Lake and has a home and dock
located directly across from the swim area
and public dock day use area.
Additionally, I believe that the State of
BABYSITTING
In response to Jacquie Beveridge’s
reply (“School Isn’t For Childcare,” Sept.
9) to my Letter to the Editor (“Stop
Falling For The Lies,” Sept. 6), let me
start by saying that I believe in lively dis-
cussion.
We learn from other’s perspectives.
And although we can’t always change
their minds, if we listen with open minds
we can hopefully at least understand
opposing opinions.
I think it is wonderful that she was able
to provide great childcare for her children.
But for many who are working a full time
job at minimum wage, it is nearly impos-
sile to pay the rent or a mortgage, house or
renter’s insurance, car insurance, utilities,
food and other necessities too numerous
to mention, and still have enough money
left over for the good childcare she
referred to.
Quality childcare is very costly.
But I feel she completely missed the
point of my letter. I was not speaking of
youngsters whom you usually are refer-
ring to when speaking of childcare, name-
ly babies up to about 5th graders. I was
speaking of middle and high school age
kids; kids who are old enough to walk the
streets alone.
Think about that with an open, under-
standing mind.
Pre-teens and teens need a place to go.
I’m not talking about babysitting — I
mean a place for teenagers to hang out. A
place where they can socialize, do their
homework, maybe use a computer and
perhaps have a meaningful conversation
with a mentoring adult.
This is very different from daycare.
And if you believe that kids are our future,
and understand that some parents simply
can’t be there for their teenaged kids after
school, then I don’t understand why any-
one would object to tax dollars helping to
support after school programs.
Again, I applaud anyone’s ability to
provide childcare for their kids, but that is
not what I was talking about.
I do think that the last sentence of Ms.
Beveridge’s letter explains the main dif-
ference of opinion: “I don’t think taxpay-
ers should be expected to feed and care
for children whose parents can’t afford to
do so themselves.”
What, then, do you propose?
—Gail Katz
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
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