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127TH YEAR ❘ ISSUE NO. 76
❘ SEPTEMBER 23, 2017 ❘ $1.00
SERVING WESTERN LANE COUNTY SINCE 1890
FLORENCE, OREGON
Gov. Brown recognizes first responders Erosion project expects further delay
with Appreciation Week Sept. 24 to 30 FEMA funding to fix Port of
Siuslaw’s eroded riverbank
put on hold due to hurricanes
B Y M ARK B RENNAN
Siuslaw News
B Y J ARED A NDERSON
O
regon Gov. Kate Brown
recognized the signifi-
cant contributions made to the
public by first responders, issu-
ing a proclamation on Aug. 31,
declaring the week from Sept.
24 to 30 as “First Responders
Appreciation Week.”
The proclamation states,
“Oregon first responders do
not hesitate to risk their own
lives in order to save the lives
of others. Their commitment to
continued
training,
skill
enhancement and interagency
cooperation make them pre-
pared to serve, protect and res-
cue our citizens 24 hours a day,
365 days a year. … They are a
vital part of every community,
maintaining safety and order in
times of crisis.”
The importance of strong,
brave individuals making
themselves available to help
others when disaster strikes has
been especially noticeable in
the U.S. lately, as recent severe
weather conditions — which in
the past 60 days have included
multiple hurricanes, major
earthquakes, intense flooding
and raging wildfires — have
required responders to serve
with selflessness and courage.
Florence Police Chief Tom
Turner said he was apprecia-
tive of the governor’s com-
ments and emphasized the high
Siuslaw News
T
MARK BRENNAN/SIUSLAW NEWS
Siuslaw Valley Fire and Rescue Chief Director Jim
Langborg congratulates Captain Jeff Larson after being
sworn in as a permanent member of the department.
Larson is the Training and Volunteer Coordinator for the
district and participated in suppression efforts at the
Chetco fire in Southern Oregon.
level of support the Florence
Police Department receives
from the community.
“I think it is fantastic that the
governor expanded the recog-
nition of first responders in her
proclamation. Our police offi-
cers, firefighters, EMTs, 911
dispatchers and search and res-
cue professionals are always
depended on by the public and
often not recognized for their
day-to-day selfless work,”
Turner said. “We in the City of
Florence are very fortunate to
have such a supportive com-
munity and do get frequent
recognition; however, I know
PeaceHealth
announces October
leadership change
New Chief Administrative
Officer Hawkins will begin
on Oct. 30 as Yecny retires
PeaceHealth Florence has announced the hir-
ing of a new Chief Administrative Officer
(CAO) for Peace Harbor Medical Center.
Jason Hawkins will
B Y M ARK B RENNAN
take
over for current
Siuslaw News
CAO Rick Yecny on
Oct. 30. This date will
allow for a smooth transition to new leadership
for PeaceHealth, as Yecny is due to retire later
this year.
A statement provided to the media by Rand
O’Leary, Chief Executive of PeaceHealth
Oregon, touted the qualifications and experi-
ence of the new CAO.
“We are very happy to announce that Jason
Hawkins will be joining our PeaceHealth
Oregon community as CAO for Peace Harbor
Medical Center in Florence. ... Jason has nearly
30 years of proven and diverse experience in
the healthcare industry — most of which has
been in leadership positions with a focus on
operations and finance,” O’Leary said. “He has
extensive experience in the development of
long-range vision planning for rural health sys-
tems and their communities, while netting a
proven track record of successful fiscal per-
formance and quality ratings.”
Most recently, Hawkins served as Chief
Executive Officer for Fulton County Medical
Center in McConnellsburg, Pa.
In that role, Hawkins was responsible for
overall planning and operations for the hospital
facility and physician services recruitment,
strategic planning and leadership development.
INSIDE
See
he Port of Siuslaw Board of
Commissioners was faced with a difficult
decision as a further delay in repairing the ero-
sion damage at the east end of the campground
came to light.
“As a result of the hurricanes, the disaster
relief fund has been put on hold. The funding
has not been taken away, it’s been postponed,”
Marine Engineer Jack Aiken, who has been
working on the project since 2016, said during
the port’s board meeting Wednesday.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA) offered grant funding for the project,
but has since become tied up in emergency relief
efforts since recent hurricanes Harvey, Irma and
Maria. Those hurricanes hit Texas, Florida and
Puerto Rico, respectively.
Aiken suggested the port apply for a “bridge”
loan that would keep the project afloat until
FEMA funding was released.
“The (loan) is managed by Business Oregon
and ports are high on their priority,” Aiken said.
“If the port has already had funding, and gone
through the progression of this, and you want to
continue, it’s a low risk.”
But the commission had concerns about
FEMA’s ability to release funds in a timely man-
ner.
“We’re just finished with Harvey, and then
Florida, and then the one now, and the season’s
just started. Maybe they’ll redirect everything,”
Commissioner Mike Buckwald said. “Congress
can only do so much. That’s what worries me
about getting a loan, and obligating ourselves to
a debt service.”
“It’s traditional to take the interest and add it
into your FEMA request,” Aiken said.
this isn’t the case in other areas
of the state, so for all the first
responders to have this recog-
nition week is essential and
deserving.”
Natural disasters in Texas,
Puerto Rico, Florida and
Mexico have to some degree
overshadowed the wildfires
and dangerously dry condi-
tions that continued through
last week here in Oregon.
The scope and intensity of
the wildfires at Chetco Bar
have drawn firefighters from
across the state to assist in
See
RESPONDERS 5A
A SPIRATIONS
OF SUCCESS
SHS ASPIRE volunteers start another year of mentoring
B Y H ANNA A NDERSON
Siuslaw News Intern
For the past few weeks,
students across Oregon have
been settling in for another
school year. For many stu-
dents, however, the focus
isn’t so much on their educa-
tion, but what they’ll do once
their high school education is
over.
The possibilities are nearly
endless. Some students can
enter immediately into the
workforce after graduation,
while others will need to earn
a college degree before they
enter their preferred career.
Even more students may split
the difference and attend a
trade school, while a rising
number of students are decid-
ing to take a gap year before
they decide on anything at all.
It is a daunting decision,
especially for today’s youth.
Even once they make that
decision, that is only the first
step in reaching their post-
high school goals.
Luckily, students are not
alone in this endeavor, thanks
to the “Access to Student
Assistance Programs in
Reach of Everyone” program,
better known as ASPIRE.
The ASPIRE program’s
main goal is to provide all
students with opportunities
for life after high school, with
the help of volunteers who
mentor both individual and
groups of students.
“ASPIRE has been a pro-
gram throughout the state of
Oregon in over 130 sites for
over 10 years,” said Bou
Kilgore, the team leader of
the ASPIRE program at
Siuslaw
High
School.
“Students explore interests,
search for programs and
apply for funding by working
one on one with volunteer
mentors.”
The ASPIRE team is also
led by Robert Orr, who has
volunteered with ASPIRE in
the past, but is taking on his
first year of leadership in the
program.
ASPIRE kicked off the
2017-18 year with a
September meeting to discuss
goals for the current school
year.
One such topic was the
upcoming plan for a scholar-
ship night and a financial aid
night at Siuslaw High School,
on Oct. 9 and 16, respectively.
These will be open to students
and their families, and are the
first chance to introduce
youth to local scholarship
opportunities and other finan-
cial aid options available.
The most important form
of financial aid stressed at the
meeting was the Free
Application for Federal
Student
Aid
(FAFSA).
Starting Sunday, Oct. 1, the
FAFSA will be made avail-
able online, with possible
financial aid being awarded
for the 2018-19 school year.
ASPIRE’s other goals
included getting more stu-
dents signed up for mentor-
ing.
“Every year, we try to hook
up a couple more kids with
the program, whether they’re
freshmen, sophomores, jun-
iors or seniors,” said Siuslaw
High School Principal Kerri
Tatum. “We’re trying to get
more students to fill out the
FAFSA, and every year we
try to do better than the year
before.”
One way that the ASPIRE
program has measured its
success is by how much local
scholarship money is award-
ed to students at the end of the
school year. At the end of the
2017 school year, more than
$230,000 was awarded to stu-
dents from local scholarships.
As well as discussing what
the volunteers could do to
help students over the year,
the need for more volunteers
was also stressed over the
course of the meeting.
See
ASPIRE 7A
SIUSLAW NEWS FILE PHOTO
The Port of Siuslaw may have to wait six
months or longer to begin repairs of the
erosion on the east riverbank of the
Siuslaw River.
He also said that could be another burden on
the Port, adding, “That is above my paygrade.
You guys have a lot more considerations than I
do.”
Commissioner Nancy Rickard asked if wait-
ing would have any negative effect on project
funding.
“If we were to just completely delay the job,
and had another year like we had that does more
damage, then we’re really asking for trouble,”
she said.
“I know that projects sometime get delayed
for years,” Aiken said. “I don’t believe you’re
checkmated here. I don’t believe that you have
to get a loan and start the project.
But he cautioned against further damage that
additional storms may bring to the site.
“My belief is that every one of these winter
surges will cause more problems,” Aiken
said.
See PORT 5A
Latest OCHS
board meeting leads
to little progress
OCHS board requests police
presence at meeting
B Y M ARK B RENNAN
Siuslaw News
The Oregon Coast Humane Society (OCHS)
held its most recent board meeting Thursday,
Sept. 21, at Laurelwood Community Center.
The board has been under scrutiny from
some OCHS members, volunteers and Florence
residents during the last few months due to
concerns over shelter management and board
leadership.
The OCHS Board responded to rigorous
questioning and volatile crowd responses that
took place at last month’s meeting by request-
ing police presence for this latest meeting.
Though the session began with fewer mem-
bers of the public in attendance than last month,
the tension in the room was still tangible, due in
part to the defensive tone of board members
during the meeting.
The meeting was chaired by Board President
Robert Bare, who spoke briefly about the orga-
nization’s mission while ignoring what many
felt was a need to explain the reason for a
police presence.
With Shelter Manager Tanya Garrett, Public
Outreach Coordinator Danielle Dickson,
Treasurer Deborah LaMonica and Thrift Store
Manager Kat Cunningham not present at the
meeting, Bare seemed unprepared in his
attempts to give reports covering their areas of
responsibilities.
Bare was at times dismissive and unrespon-
sive to questions or comments from the audi-
ence, responding with a level of irritation when
pressed.
PEACEHEALTH 7A
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