4A |
WEDNESDAY EDITION
| DECEMBER 19, 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.
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Published every Wednesday and Saturday at 148 Maple St. in Florence, Lane County, Oregon.
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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
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Letters to the Editor policy
LETTERS
Abandoned cat fund
In response to the abandoned cat let-
ter ("Abandoned Cat," Dec. 15), I give
that person kudos for trying to help the
cat. Poor thing loses its owner, then has
to endure a cold outside that it is not
used to.
It is nobel to take responsibility for
animals. I have made a small donation
to help out with the vet bill and I hope
others will too.
Helping animals in distress is a good
thing.
—Madelyne Barnett
Florence
(Editor’s note: At the front desk of the
Siuslaw News is an envelope where Ms.
Barnett has started a collection for the
cat mentioned in Pat Rongey’s Letter
to the Editor. Th e envelope will remain
at the desk through Dec. 31 for anyone
who would like to help.)
Kindness is gift of
rare beauty
How very sad it made me feel to read
the Letter to the Editor about the diffi-
culty the person was having in trying
to take care of an abandoned cat in the
neighborhood when its owner died.
(“Abandoned Cat,” Dec. 15). The 9-year-
old cat was left to fend for itself and was
lying in the street, obviously in danger.
Neighbors had not been able to help
and the cat was beginning to look sick.
The person wrote “I had called our local
humane society but was told ’Sorry, we
are all full and are a no-kill shelter.’”
Our humane society, which is a no-kill
shelter with limited space, had no room
available and no open foster home avail-
able.
Then the letter writer called a local
vet who said they would do a physical to
determine the best alternative, but for a
charge of “at least $65.”
Finally, Greenhill Shelter in Eugene
agreed to examine the cat to determine
if it should be euthanized (i.e., killed due
to extreme suffering.) The writer warned
of the probability of being left with the
bill — or the cat — for their efforts to
help.
I think we might seriously consider
another option in our community. Flor-
ence is in need of many more foster care
homes for temporary care of pets. Being
a foster home is a short-term commit-
ment of time. No money is required and
it helps save precious lives.
These abandoned or forgotten animals
could be temporarily cared for in a lov-
ing home while they are being evaluated,
treated if necessary, and then re-homed.
It feels good to know you have helped
save a dependent, innocent pet with
love, warmth and a temporary safe place.
The Oregon Coast Humane Society
(OCHS) has recently been recruiting
foster families for kittens and puppies,
but abandoned pets create another very
real need.
If you have a little space, time and love,
apply at the OCHS on Rhododendron
drive and become a foster home.
In full disclosure, I am on the OCHS
board of directors but am writing as a
private citizen and long-time animal res-
cuer.
—Judy Roth
Florence
Cookies for first responders
On Dec. 6, it was the joy of giving that
caused the Women on Missions of the
First Baptist Church to prepare trays of
cookies to deliver to our local fire, po-
lice, ambulance service and Coast Guard
— from which some of us have received
emergency services.
We did this partly out of inspiration
by the spirit of Christmas, but also out
of appreciation for the important service
they provide for people in the Florence
area.
It was while at Western Lane Ambu-
lance that EMT Ronnie Pearson as on
duty and received a tray of our cookies.
WLAD was also the department that
trained one of my grandsons, a volunteer
there when he was still a teenager, and
encouraged him — along with hospital
employees — to become a respiratory
therapist. (He now works at the hospi-
tal.)
Each recipient of our cookies ex-
pressed appreciation for our show of
gratitude for their services.
—Elsie Caldwell
WOM Secretary
This poor man’s child
Since writing my last letter a few
months ago, in which I addressed the
horrific trauma inflicted upon the chil-
dren of immigrants seeking asylum on
the southern border, the situation has
only worsened.
As a mental health professional, I
know that these children will experience
immeasurable difficulties throughout
their lives. I wonder how we the people
have allowed this to happen?
This past week, 7-year-old Jakelin
Caal Maquin, from Guatemala, report-
edly died from apparent dehydration.
She was seeking asylum in America with
her father. The current administration
has been quick to blame victims, saying
they shouldn’t have attempted to enter
the country illegally.
We have always been the country
that welcomes the immigrant; it is what
makes America great. Unless we are
Native American, most of us are here
because our immigrant ancestors came
to America to escape persecution and
violence, similar to that experienced by
Jakelin and her father.
Have we forgotten our American his-
tory?
Charles Dickens wrote A Christmas
Carol in the 19th century, but it is just as
relevant today. While we are busy with
family and friends this Christmas, let
us remember the words of the Ghost of
Christmas Present to Ebenezer Scrooge:
“It may well be that in the sight of heav-
en, you are more worthless than millions
like this poor man's child.”
Contact your members of Congress;
these children and families need our
help.
—Barbara Crumrine
Florence
Sadly, declining Scouts
membership is no surpise
I was saddened — but not surprised
— to learn of the Boy Scouts of America
filling for bankruptcy this past week. I
am a former Scout Master of many hap-
py years with three different troops.
When I read a few years ago that they
went “politically correct” by allowing
male homosexuals to become Scoutmas-
ters, it was very obvious to me and sev-
eral of my friends who were also former
Scoutmasters that a death knell had been
struck for the movement.
There would be many parents who
would no longer encourage their sons to
become a Boy Scout for that very reason.
And recently they approved girls to join
the Boy Scouts, which does not help the
situation. It is no wonder the movement
has seen its membership decline from
over 4 million in 2017 to just over 3 mil-
lion currently.
A good active Scoutmaster will have
his troop out camping almost every
month of the year in their tents if possi-
ble. Opportunities could present them-
selves which would not be desirable.
I can almost bet there will be someone
who will disagree with my viewpoint
on the subject. That may be, but there
will be many who know from whence I
speak.
—Tony Cavarno
Florence
Help others by supporting
local charities
One of the most wonderful things
about Christmas in Western Lane Coun-
ty is meeting people in the grocery and
retail stores. They never seem to be too
busy to say hello or to be friendly to a
stranger. What a blessing.
Sadly, not every family nor every child
enjoys the joy of shopping and gifting
others. For them, food, clothing and
enough to pay the next utility bill or rent
is even more than they can hope for.
There are more than a dozen charities
in Florence that help with the needs of
“the least among us.” I urge everyone
reading this to consider picking one, two
or three charities and sending them a
generous year end gift.
Also, more than 150 volunteers are
ringing bells at local markets for The Sal-
vation Army’s red kettles. Ninety percent
of the moneys raised are re-allocated by
a local advisory committee to charities
and activities in our community.
Sam Spayd and his volunteers have a
goal to raise $30,000 in the few days re-
maining.
God bless Florence and all of Western
Lane County.
—Bill and Becky Olson
Florence
The Siuslaw News welcomes letters to the editor as
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As with all letters and advertising content, the news-
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manager and editor, reserves the right to reject any let-
ter that doesn’t follow the above criteria.
Emal 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
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