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About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 17, 2018)
4A | WEDNESDAY EDITION | OCTOBER 17, 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) Do the Albatross know what real food is? (Editor’s Note: Viewpoint submis- sions on this and other topics are always welcome as part of our goal to encourage community discussion and exchange of perspectives.) Imagine a 22-pound ocean-going bird with a wingspan of up to 11 feet, taller than man if you look at it askance, as if it was on its side. The Albatross lives and breeds in the North Pacific. There are three species of Diomedeiade on Midway Island: the Laysan, the Black-footed, and the endangered Short-tail. Young, from the parent’s only egg, take flight and soar over the ocean between three and 10 months after hatching. One will glide for hours without flapping its wings or settle on the surface of the ocean without returning to land for five to 10 years until it is time to reproduce. These birds and three billion people rely on the ocean for survival. They are carnivores; they eat squid and schooling fish. And yet, there are signs that they are increasingly confused about what is real food. They are dying by the thousands on Midway Island, and the shocking sight of rotting corpses with stomachs full of plastic is prevalent. There are two great garbage patches in the ocean: one in the eastern Pacific be- tween California and Hawaii, and one in the Western Pacific near Japan — both spinning off debris that ends up on coast lines around the world or is pulled into the eye of the Great North Pacific Gyre where four currents meet and flow clock- wise. Eighty percent of this debris is plastic. Nearly every piece of plastic ever made still exists. The Journal of Science reports that 8 million metric tons of plastic go into the ocean each year. By 2025, the Guest Viewpoint By Joanna Henderson Florence cumulative estimate will be 20 times that number — or 100 plastic bags for each foot of ocean coastline. According to the World economic Fo- rum, we produce 300 million tons of plas- tic a year. Plastic takes decades to break down. You will find whole electronics whose parts may eventually sink to the ocean floor, decaying blocks of styrofoam, every manner of plastic item from throw-away lighters, straws, plastic bags and six pack rings to toys, chairs, containers — all breaking down in massive soups over de- cades — in garbage patches in the ocean and on the coastlines of islands and con- tinents. Plastic’s last stage of decay becomes styrene based micro-plastic particles that are now being found in every part of the ocean, floating in seemingly clear water everywhere and washing up on beaches to become the new sand. These micro-particles are small enough to be ingested by phytoplankton, the base of the ocean food chain, and then affect marine organisms up to birds, mammals and the tissue of fish we eat. We are lit- erally eating the plastic we haphazardly discard. So why is the fish-eating Albatross eating plastic? Along with what washes ashore, these birds fly in 5 tons of plastic in their bellies each year. Perhaps garbage patches of plastic are now substitutes for less abundant shoals of fish. Perhaps the adults feed their chicks shiny bits of plas- tic shards without discriminating. Whatever thw case, speculation is that the young Albatross, having been fed plastic as a chick, now eats what he be- lieves to be food. In any case, volunteers on Midway are removing an increasing number of carcasses whose rotting bodies leave only piles of plastic behind to mark their deaths. Perhaps it’s time we kick this habit of convenience and get plastic out of our lives before it kills us as well — in the fish we eat and in the destruction of an ocean that could eventually have more plastic than fish. LETTERS Argumentu againut Meauure 105 don’t hold water The opponents of Measure 105 have tried to label those who favor this mea- sure as hate mongering anti-immigra- tion bigots. I will try not to be so intolerant to per- sons with a different point of view, no matter how misguided and uninformed. I believe that legal immigration is vital to America’s well-being with an ongoing transfusion of new ideas and talents. My own extended family and friends include Mexican, Philippine, Sikh and Vietnamese who have come here legally, and have become citizens. I have great admiration for them, along with the oth- er 750,000 people who participate in cit- izenship ceremonies each year. To compare their accomplishments with those who remain here illegally is demeaning. Its said that illegal immigrants are necessary to harvest our crops. The big farming corporations agree, because they have a cheap labor supply that they can control and abuse with low salaries and poor working conditions. As Cesar Chavez pointed out, it’s very difficult for legal, organized farm workers to negotiate for fair salaries and working conditions when illegals under- cut their efforts. You should vote no on 105 if your cheap lettuce, produced on the backs of oppressed illegals, is that important to you. The argument that by cooperating with the enforcement of federal laws, crime will increase because illegals will be afraid to assist local police doesn’t seem to hold water with the 18 County Sheriffs that support Measure 105. —Keith R. Kraft Florence Florence needu ukill and experience of Miltenberger I first met Maureen Miltenberger when she attended a committee meeting where I was a member. She spoke effec- tively though briefly, stayed on topic and brought insights based on what I later understood to be her skill and experi- ence in committees at many levels. It was not a surprise to learn she was not just a member but chair of the EMAC committee for the city. She knows how to lead, how to involve everyone, how to not push beyond what can be accom- plished and to get things done which benefit our entire community. The Polystyrene (styrofoam) ban is working and the community is still whole. The proposed single-use plastic ban is moving as quickly as the com- munity can accept it so that our oceans can be kept from deteriorating by the amount of plastic we together discard. Florence needs her skill and ex- perience on our Council so that her strengths can be applied to every pro- gram and issue affecting our lives. Join me in voting for Maureen Miltonberger for City Council. —Milton Nelson Florence Thanku to community for uupport This letter is to the community who came out Sunday for the Rally for Siu- slaw Schools. Thank you, thank you. It is really great to see so many people who want better schools for our kids. Several students made beautiful posters for the contest. The bond measure is expensive. How- ever, if we don’t pass it this year, it will cost all of us more next time. Construc- tion costs keep going up and the back- log of maintenance needed in the high school won’t go away. The high school uses 48 percent of the district utility budget and 42 percent of its maintenance budget. This could fund a new teacher. Quality schools attract health profes- sionals and new businesses. Currently, our schools need a lot of upgrades to get to code and as a result we can’t keep new doctors very long as their families want better schools and better opportunities for their children. —Nancy Rickard Florence McKeown takeu all uideu into conuideration In an atmosphere of corruption and un-American values associated with the current White House, and the spectacle of a judicial nominee making an embar- rassment of himself on national televi- sion, I found it very refreshing to hear and talk to my local state legislator last week. I wish all politics were local these days. Our House District 9 Representative Caddy McKeown is rooted in Oregon values. She was a school board mem- ber when her children were in public schools, was appointed by the Governor to be a Port Commissioner on the cen- tral coast, and she knows the lay of the land in our diverse district very well. Representing all of us in Salem is a tough job, and for pay that is bare- ly above minimum wage. Caddy is a straight-talker and listener, always tak- ing every side of an issue into lengthy consideration. She has supported bi-partisan legisla- tive work on transportation infrastruc- ture, quality schools including trade and technical courses, greatly reducing tuition at Oregon Community Colleges, and expanding affordable health care in Oregon that includes keeping cover-age for pre-existing conditions. Caddy McKeown's parents were both veterans. Her father at age 97 gives Caddy a personal understanding of the needs of our senior citizens. We have a sincere and well-liked rep- resentative who knows this district and our state. I will be voting to re-elect her. —Karin Radtke Yachats Vote for a well-qualified candidate with integrity It is my privilege to recommend Mau- reen Miltenberger for Florence City Council. I met her two years ago when she offered to volunteer for my Adult Basic Skills class at LCC. I feel fortunate to have such an experienced and com- petent retired educator work with my students. She brought her many resources and her compassion to help our lowest lev- el students gain reading skills and con- fidence. She made a huge difference in their lives. As in my classroom, Maureen makes a difference wherever she com- mits her time, energy and skills. She has so many wonderful qualifica- tions. Maureen serves on the Environ- mental Management Advisory Commit- tee for the City of Florence; she is also the chair of Siuslaw Climate Alliance. She has former experience as a council member for the City of Canby. Maureen has shown the courage of her convictions as an outspoken advocate for the rights of all people in our communi- ty. We would be blessed to have such a competent, caring person representing all of us in Florence. —Nora Kent Florence CLARIFICATION In the Oct. 3 edition of the Siuslaw News, the Guest Viewpoint “Time To Ask Serious Questions of State Legis- lators” was attributed to “Joe Henry — Mayor of Florence.” Siuslaw News would like to clarify that the viewpoint submitted by Mr. Henry was as a citizen, and not as Mayor or as a representative of the City of Florence or Florence City Council. Siuslaw News appologizes for any con- fusion. 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. All press releases may be sent to PressReleases@TheSiuslawNews.com. Jenna Bar tlett Ned H ickson Erik Chalhoub Publisher, ex t. 318 Editor, ex t. 313 Co n s u l t i n g E d i to r 8 3 1 -7 6 1 -7 3 5 3 echalhoub@register-pajaronian.com M ar k e t i n g Di re c to r, e x t . 3 2 6 O ffice Super visor, ex t. 312 Pro d u c t i o n Su p e r v i s o r Pre s s M a n a ge r Su s a n G u t i e r re z Cathy Dietz Ron Annis Je re my G e n t r y 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, Wednes- day 5 p.m. Soundings, Tuesday 5 p.m. NEWSPAPER SUBSCRIPTION RATES: In Lane County — 1-year subscription, $76; 6-month in-county, $52; 10-weeks subscription, $23; Out of Lane County — 1-year subscription,$99; 6-month out-of-county, $65; 10-weeks subscrip- tion, $29; Out of State — 1-year subscription, $125; E-Edition Online Only (Anywhere) — 1-year subscription, $71. Mail subscription includes E-Edition. Website and E-Edition: TheSiuslawNews.com Letteru to the Editor policy 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. Political/Election Letteru: 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
