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WEDNESDAY EDITION | JUNE 13, 2018 | $1.00
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S WING OF
S UMMER
History of
Flag Day
INSIDE — A4
SPORTS — B
128TH YEAR | ISSUE NO. 47
FLORENCE, OREGON
SERVING WESTERN LANE COUNTY SINCE 1890
Presenting the Class of 2018
PHOTOS BY JARED ANDERSON, MARK BRENNAN AND NED HICKSON/SIUSLAW NEWS
SIUSLAW
“High school has brought some of the most memorable times
in my life. It wasn’t always fun, but I made so many memories and
good friends in the last four years. It was all worth it. … I’m ready for
the new memories in the new chapter of my life.”
— Tanner Wilson, Mapleton High School Valedictorian
MAPLETON
Staff Report
Siuslaw News
H
undreds of community members attended the 2018 Siuslaw and Mapleton
high school graduations last weekend.
Of Siuslaw’s 93 graduating seniors, who walked in a ceremony on June 8,
Principal Kerri Tatum said, “This group is special because they are a very kind group.
The care they show for each other and those around them is unparalleled. They also
led the school as a solid unit, winning Spirit Week three years in a row.”
On June 9, five Mapleton seniors graduated in a smaller ceremony, filled in a
big way by picture slideshows created by the graduates themselves.
Mapleton School District Superintendent Jodi O’Mara said, “I am so proud of
each of our five graduating seniors. They worked hard and deserved to celebrate
their accomplishments through graduation.” — See more photos page A12
Attack of BANNERS YET WAVE
Local Kiwanians, businesses keep flags flying all year
the crows
Annual nesting leads to
reports of crow assaults
in Old Town Florence
By Jared Anderson
Siuslaw News
As tourists begin to descend on the sce-
nic avenues of Historic Old Town Florence
this June, so too do the crows, swooping
down on unsuspecting pedestrians in
what can often be described as a terrifying
attack.
“During the last couple of weeks, we have
received reports from citizens about crow
attacks in Old Town, particularly in the
Laurel Street area between Bay and First
streets,” Florence Public Works Director
Mike Miller said. “The increased activity
suggests eggs have hatched and some of
the chicks may even be fledging from the
nest, making parents especially aggressive
because their young can’t fly yet and are
helpless on the ground for a day or two.”
INSIDE
See ATTACKS page 8A
Classifieds. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Community. . . . . . . . . . . . .
Kid Scoop . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Library Tidings . . . . . . . . . . .
B6
A3
B5
A5
By Mark Brennan
Siuslaw News
T
hursday, June 14, is Flag Day. This day of na-
tional recognition commemorates the adop-
tion of the flag as the symbol of the United
States of America by the
Second Continental Con-
gress on June 14, 1777.
While celebrated national-
ly, Flag Day is not a Feder-
al Holiday.
Florence
has
a
long-standing tradition
of proudly displaying the
American flag on streets
and sidewalks through-
out town on this day, with
local groups, in particular
the Florence Kiwanis Club, coordinating the distribu-
tion and placement of flags around Florence.
Tomorrow, and on many nationally and locally rec-
ognized holidays, Highway 101 and Bay Street will
have block after block of striking red, white and blue
flags moving smoothly with the ever-changing breezes.
Each of those flags has been sponsored by a local
business or individual that contributes $30 to Kiwan-
is’ Flag Program Fund.
Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A4
Records . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A2
Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B
Weather Data . . . . . . . . . . . A2
THIS WEEK ’ S
The development of the current flag program is
the result of work by many individuals. This year, ap-
proximately 450 flags will be displayed and picked up
by six to eight teams, working from before dawn to
after sunset. One of those teams will be led by one
individual that has been most closely associated with
the Flag Day program over
the years, Kiwanian Steve
Olienyk.
Steve took the fledgling
flag program under his
wing in the late 1980s and
helped to transform it into
the robust effort we see to-
day.
Steve’s daughter Lori
recounts the growth of the
program.
“Back then, the local
American Legion was in desperate need of volunteers
to put out flags. There were around 35 flags scat-
tered along Highway 101. Steve wanted to see the flag
program grow, so he began talking to fellow banker
Lonnie Iholts about Kiwanis possibly becoming in-
volved,” Lori said. “At that time, Kiwanis was look-
ing to promote a patriotic program to serve Florence.
By Mark Brennan
Siuslaw News
There is no question that the majori-
ty of residents of Florence support recy-
cling. In a survey taken last year, nearly
80 percent of residents wanted and were
willing to pay for a comprehensive recy-
cling program.
Unfortunately, the specifics of what can
be recycled at this time in the Florence
area remains confusing to many local con-
sumers. There has been a wider realization
over the past year, in Florence and around
the world, of the growing amount of plas-
tic related waste making its way into the
planets rivers, oceans and landfills. These
materials are now being detected in all
types of sea creatures and in land-based
food chains, creating the potential for long
term impacts for humans.
See FLAGS page 10A
TODAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
61 48
60 49
61 50
57 47
WEATHER
Full Forecast, A3
New waste
removal
fees take
effect July 1
oregon coast military museum
jeep junction
Jeep-only Show & Shine to celebrate the birth of the jeep in WWII and the iconic vehicle it has become!
e!
saturday, june 16th, 2018
10 a.m.—2 p.m.
johnston motor co. on hwy 101
Sponsored by & Johnston Motor Co., Tony’s Garage
& Scott Ryland Plumbing
S IUSLAW N EWS
2 S ECTIONS | 20 P AGES
C OPYRIGHT 2018
See RECYCLING page 10A