4 A
❘
WEDNESDAY EDITION
❘ OCTOBER 25, 2017
Siuslaw News
P.O. Box 10
Florence, OR 97439
NED HICKSON , EDITOR
Opinion
❘ 541-902-3520 ❘
NHICKSON @ THESIUSLAWNEWS . COM
The First Amendment
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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
LETTERS
L OCAL LEVY RENEWAL
BENEFITS EVERYONE
Our community, in the past, has rec-
ognized the value of supporting local
schools and children by passing a
school local option levy.
Twice.
This levy is up for renewal and it
again has our wholehearted support. As
a renewal levy, there is no additional
cost to the taxpayer and, most impor-
tantly, all levy dollars go directly to
local Siuslaw students to support the
specific educational needs in our dis-
trict.
The Siuslaw Local Option Levy
brings roughly $1 million dollars per
year to the schools. It has allowed our
district, through sound financial judge-
ments by the Siuslaw School Board of
Directors, to maintain small class sizes,
keep electives, fund vocational pro-
grams and provide greater technology
and safety to our students.
Our children in Florence are fortu-
nate to have a community that supports
them and values their future.
A “yes” vote for Measure 20-281 is
also a vote for a stronger, vibrant com-
munity. Medical practitioners, profes-
sional workers and new businesses are
attracted to communities with quality
schools. As a result, our community as a
whole reaps the benefit of this levy.
—Jim and Deena Mitchell
Florence
OPPORTUNITY MISSED AT
I NTERPRETIVE LOT
No doubt effort was made to do a
good job, but I contend the Interpretive
site on Bay Street has completely
missed the mark of offering a signifi-
cant opportunity of enriching our enjoy-
ment of the Siuslaw River.
This is a two-fold issue, the first
being it has introduced non-native estu-
ary vegetation plantings that block the
sidewalk and street views of the river
and bridge — much like the gazebo lot
now does.
The lot used to be an open view
point; now it is a jungle of vegetation
blocking the view of even the gazebo —
a real shame.
Most importantly, the new interpre-
tive lot fails to give a history of all the
pilings (what they were for), which
could have been explained with infor-
mation gathered from our Pioneer
Museum.
There is no mention of the bridge or
ferry that used to cross the river there.
There is no mention of the three busi-
ness that sat on the pilings on the south
east side ... etc., etc., etc.
It is really sad that such an opportu-
nity was missed and that vegetation that
does not normally grow in the estuary
zone was planted. The interpretive info
presented describes those non-estuary,
man-introduced plantings.
I would offer that the vacant lot that
occupied the site was, in fact, indicative
of the estuary zone. I have a 34-acre
parcel on the estuary (that at one time
was occupied by native people), and I
would offer that the plants depicted in
the interpretive location are not indica-
tive of estuary plant life and (salt marsh
zones) along the river.
It is interesting, though, that should
the private sector want to obstruct a
valuable panoramic view, the city can
make it extremely difficult for such a
developer. I had thought the purchase of
the vacant interpretive lot was in fact a
way of preserving the “natural openness
to the river.”
Guess I was wrong.
Additional effort to address and
resolve the openness and historical val-
ues should be undertaken.
Justifying a mistake, however, would
have to be put aside.
—Brian Cole
Florence
M AKE A DIFFERENCE
FOR OUR STUDENTS
Each one of us has the power to make
a difference.
On Nov. 7, we can make a difference
with our voting power. I have worked in
the Siuslaw schools since 1979 as an
aide, a teacher, a substitute teacher and
a volunteer. I have experienced, first-
hand, how much each vote matters.
Over the years, I have had the privi-
lege of observing our students become
writers, scientists, artists, musicians,
mathematicians, athletes and leaders as
they explored opportunities in the class-
room and beyond, all because our com-
munity has voted for funding.
Currently, as an ASPIRE volunteer, I
am inspired daily by students reaching
for opportunities beyond high school.
Voting to renew the Local Option
Measure 20-281 on the Nov. 7 ballot
will help our schools maintain academ-
ic classes, retain courses in music, art,
shop and P.E., and provide extra-curric-
ular activities that allow Siuslaw stu-
dents to succeed and thrive.
At no additional cost to the taxpayer,
the Local Option Measure 20-281 sim-
ply renews the current levy to maintain
the stability of current programs
throughout the 2019-24 school years.
—Karen Perry
Florence
R EGULATION CAN REDUCE
GUN VIOLENCE
In a Letter to the Editor from Ian
Eales (Oct. 18), he argued that regula-
tions aren’t the answer to gun violence.
I answer that regulations have
reduced gun violence.
Here are two recent examples.
First, in a study motivated by the
mass shooting in Newton, Conn. In
2012, Harvard professor Deepak
Malhotra and two associates recently
reported that handgun waiting periods
reduce gun deaths.
The study published in the
“Proceedings of the National Academy
of Sciences” on Oct. 16 found that wait-
ing periods in 17 states prevented
approximately 750 gun deaths each year
in the United States.
If more states pass waiting period
laws that delay acquisition of firearms
by a few days, it stands to reason gun
homicides will further go down across
the country.
Secondly, public health scholars at
Boston University found that states with
minimum concealed carry licensing
standards have 10.6 percent higher
homicide rates than states with stricter
standards. Their study published in the
“American Journal of Public Health” on
Oct. 19 revealed that states that require
people to demonstrate good character
and a real need to walk around armed
have lower homicide rates.
Congressional Democrats have
repeatedly called for more gun violence
research.
Unfortunately,
the
Dickey
Amendment of 1996 mandates that
“none of the funds made available for
injury prevention and control at the
Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC) may be used to advo-
cate or promote gun control.”
A bill in Congress by Stephanie
Murphy (D-FL) calls for the repeal of
the Dickey amendment. I urge everyone
to call their members of Congress and
demand they support the repeal.
Sensible regulations derived from
research will reduce gun violence.
—Michael Allen
Florence
A PPRECIATION FOR
‘G OOD L IFE E XPO ’
I want to express my appreciation to
the Siuslaw News for presenting the
Good Life Boomer and Senior Expo,
and my thank to its sponsors, Roby’s
Furniture & Appliances, Hillside
Retirement
Community
and
PeaceHealth Peace Harbor.
For me, it was a five-hour escape
from the insanity (not the rain) going on
in the world outside the FEC doors.
Thanks to three selfless prostate cancer
survivors Tom Wilson, Gary Sanders
and Dennis Hamilton, our Us TOO
Florence booth was in great hands and I
was free to “move about the cabin.”
With that freedom, I was able to chat
with presenters in other booths, meet
new PeaceHealth staff at their booth
and observe what happens when people
come together with a common goal of
helping others. Yes, the weather outside
was frightful, but the caring inside was
so delightful.
I left with my faith intact!
Here in Florence, we continue to look
out for each other — meeting the needs
of friends, neighbors and total strangers.
It was a joy to watch it all taking place.
I hope others felt as refreshed as I did
when leaving for home at the end of the
day … with that delicious BJ's ice
cream melting in my tummy.
—Bob Horney
Florence
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DEADLINES:
Wednesday Issue—General news, Monday noon; Budgets, four days prior to publication; Regular classified ads,
U PHOLD D UNE C ITY ’ S
C OMPREHENSIVE P LAN
Woahink Lake Association’s mission
is to promote the understanding, protec-
tion and thoughtful management of
Woahink Lake and its watershed and
ecosystem. As residents, when we see
our neighbors and others attempting to
do things contrary to our mission, we
become very concerned.
The Dunes City Charter and
Comprehensive Plan were carefully
crafted to protect our lakes and environ-
ment so that all residents could enjoy
our special part of the Oregon Coast.
We do not want anyone to circum-
vent our charter.
We are happy that the Dunes City
Council has made its first strides to
override what many agree are ill-con-
ceived attempts by commercial mari-
juana growers to establish operations
that would threaten Woahink Lake and
its residential environment.
The recall of improperly submitted
Land Use Compliance Statements
(LUCS) is an important step to protect-
ing our community. It was dishearten-
ing, however, to listen to the recording
of the special council workshop and
council members discussion of what to
do with the LUCS (Wednesday, Oct.
11).
They seem to be concerned with any
errors in preparation of the LUCS, not
the underlying issue of compliance with
the Comprehensive Plan and allowing
commercial enterprises to be estab-
lished in residential neighborhoods.
Not once did they talk about concern
for marijuana grows potential to harm
the waters of Woahink Lake with run-
off of fertilizers, insecticides and other
contaminants.
We believe the council needs to have
another work session to concentrate on
the issues of importance to Dunes City.
We now look to the Planning
Commission and City Council to take
such steps that will rectify the error,
uphold our Comprehensive Plan, adhere
to our Charter and assure all of the citi-
zens of Dunes City that our environ-
ment and the waters of Woahink Lake
will continue to be protected.
—Del Riesenhuber
President, Woahink Lake Association
C ONTINUE SUPPORT
OF 90 BY 30 P ROJECT
What a wonderful article about the
90by30 Project (“A Part To Play,” Oct.
18). I have been aware of this program
for some time, but it was explained so
well in the article by Jared Anderson.
The thing that realy struck me was the
statement about identifying those
organizations that might be able to
move this project [to reduce child abuse
by 90 percent by 2030] along.
I am the president of the Pregnancy
and Parenting Center (formerly Caring
Pregnancy center) and we currently
offer many of the educational classes
that were spoken of in the article.
It is our aim to help parents learn to
cope with many of the frustrations that
come with being a parent. Just so that
people know, our doors are open to both
men and women. In fact, we have just
begun a class for future fathers and cur-
rent fathers about what it means to be a
man and a father.
I commend all those who are working
on the 90by30 project and want to
encourage the newspaper to keep our
population up to date on what is hap-
pening with it.
In the meantime, I hope people will
remember that there is an organization
that offers training on what it means to
be a parent.
—Don Frerichs
Florence
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classifiedad,sThursday 1 p.m.; Display ads, Thursday noon; Boxed and display classified ads, Wednesday 5 p.m.
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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
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Libelous, argumentative and anonymous letters
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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
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Ensure any information about a candidate is accu-
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Candidates themselves may not use the letters to
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As with all letters and advertising content, the
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general manager and editor, reserves the right to
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Send letters to:
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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