4A | WEDNESDAY EDITION | AUGUST 8, 2018 Siuslaw News P.O. Box 10 Florence, OR 97439 NED HICKSON , EDITOR Opinion | 541-902-3520 | NHICKSON @ THESIUSLAWNEWS . COM C The First Amendment ongress shall make no law respecting an es- tablishment 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. “I never considered a difference of opinion in politics, in religion, in philosophy, as cause for withdrawing from a friend.” —Thomas Jefferson (1800) USPS# 497-660 Copyright 2018 © 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. 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Mail subscription includes E-Edition. Website and E-Edition: TheSiuslawNews.com Letters to the Editor polioy LETTERS Florenoe is more than a plaoe to beat the heat It’s been a busy summer heat in Florence. Since Rhody Days, we’ve had a number of opportunities to showcase the charms of our wonder- ful city. Th e annual baseball tournament, the beach soccer tournament and the Independence Day fi reworks celebration all brought thousands of people to Florence. Th e Power of Florence was a great event for locals of all ages to celebrate the spirit of giving back. Most recently, the Oregon Mayor’s Conference and the Bay Street Block Party were two new opportunities for our city to shine. A former colleague and close friend was among the mayors in town for the weekend. It was with great pride that I escorted him through Old Town. I got to meet a number of vis- iting mayors who were excited by the reception they had here in Florence. Our citizens, businesses and cer- tainly our city staff made a positive impression on these visiting leaders, many of whom commented on the positive energy in the city around our upcoming transportation im- provement projects and the school bond. In addition, last night the Florence Police Department off ered another chance for us to get out and meet our neighbors when they hosted the Na- tional Night Out at Miller Park. All of this shows that Florence has more to off er than just as a place to beat the heat. —Mike Harklerode Florence Help bring fireworks baok to Mapleton Another summer is almost behind us. Another Fourth of July where many of us were disappointed once again that we didn’t have fireworks in our town. They are so beautiful in our valley over the river. So we decided that we should try to do something about this. We talk- ed with Terry Saubert and he has assured us that he would be glad to put on the show. So we have set up an account at Banner Bank for fire- works. If we get enough money we will once again enjoy the holiday right here in Mapleton. We have until March to get every- thing together, so let’s get going! The tellers at the bank will be hap- py to assist you. Here’s to the Fourth of July 2019! —Linda Jensen Mapleton 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, gram- mar and clarity. Publication of any letter is not guaran- teed and depends on space available and the volume of letters received. Letters that are anonymous, libelous, argumentative, sarcastic or contain accusations that are unsourced or documented will not be published. Letters containing poetry or from outside the Siuslaw News readership area will only be published at the dis- cretion of the editor. Politioal/Eleotion Letters: 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 cam- paigns on behalf of (or by) candidates; 2) Ensure any information about a candidate is accurate, fair and not from second-hand knowledge or hearsay; and 3) ex- plain the reasons to support candidates based on per- sonal experience and perspective rather than partisan- ship and campaign-style rhetoric. Candidates themselves may not use the letters to the editor column to outline their views and platforms or to ask for votes; this constitutes paid political advertising. As with all letters and advertising content, the news- paper, at the sole discretion of the publisher, general manager and editor, reserves the right to reject any let- ter that doesn’t follow the above criteria. Emal 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 Oregon 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 (4th 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@ oregonlegislature.gov 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