4A |
SATURDAY EDITION
| DECEMBER 29, 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-
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free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom
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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
Be respectful of others
with dogs on the beach
First of all, full disclosure: I love dogs,
but not necessarily dog owners.
Our beaches are beautiful public open
spaces that should be enjoyed by all peo-
ple. As hard as it is to believe, there are
some people who are afraid of dogs and,
yes, some people who don’t even like
dogs.
Are they not allowed to go out on our
beaches to appreciate the beauty because
some dog owners think they have the
right to disconnect the leash?
Yes, I know your dog is friendly (real-
ly), but is mine?
Don’t get me wrong; there are many
owners who keep the leash attached and
we all thank you for that. But they are
also the ones getting harassed by loose
dogs. Dogs on leashes are being pro-
tected by their owners and leashed dogs
usually get defensive when approached
by a loose dog.
Can anyone tell me what happens to
a small dog when an excited larger dog
jumps on it? I don’t care how much mon-
ey you get sued for — a dog does not de-
serve to be hurt just because someone
wants to give their dog “freedom.”
We have a great dog park on King-
wood Street that is a perfect spot for dog-
gie freedom. Florence City Code Title 6
Chapter 6 explains “Animals at Large”
and that dogs are only allowed off-leash
when contained in or on private proper-
ty and in designated off-leash areas.
Please respect the rights and safety of
others and keep your dogs on a leash at
the beach, or at least when it is crowded,
because it is the right thing to do so we
can all enjoy the beach.
—Glenn Singley
Florence
Holiday cat tale continues
Thanks to those who donated cash to
help me with the abandoned cat (Letter
to the Editor “Abandoned Cat,” Dec. 15)
Florence people have the biggest
hearts!
A little history: I had to put down my
own old cat (20 years old) last Novem-
ber.
Then, in December 2018, I found my-
self again dealing with a sick cat. The fact
Ellie was “old” and abandoned made it
an emotional ordeal.
I enjoyed “Ellie cat” but felt I could not
give her the proper care because of the
cost and commitment. Ellie is about nine
years old, thin and had a bad cold.
I tried to get help in Florence but every
place was full or cost too much for my
budget. I called Eugene Humane society
and Ellie was welcomed with open arms.
She is now in a warm space and getting
the proper medical care.
I am happy that Ellie is getting the care
I could not provide. I did all that I could
for the her.
Do not get animals if you cannot care
for them. It is wrong to just dump. It is
also against the law. They are domestic
animals who are not equipped to sur-
vive on their own. Many Oregonians
are still not aware that Animal Aban-
donment is illegal in the state of Oregon
(ORS167.340). It is a Class B Misde-
meanor punishable by a maximum of 6
months in jail (ORS 161.615) and/or a
$2,500 fine (ORS 161.635) if convicted.
That all said, a huge thanks to all who
gave money to help with Ellie cat. I did
have to purchase items and hire a cat sit-
ter.
I plan to donate some of the money to
help others with care of pets.
Thanks to all the “Ellie” supporters!
—Pat Rongey
Florence
(Editor’s Note: As of Dec. 28, donations
to help Ellie had totaled $172. We will
continue to receive donations through
Dec. 31.)
Florence is a wonderful city
This is not a letter of complaining, it is
a letter of thanks! First, I want to thank
the City of Florence for the wonderful
dog park on Kingwood Street, across
from the airport.
I have an 88-pound Golden Retriev-
er, Ernie, and a 7-pound Papillon, Gra-
cie. I try to take them to the dog park at
least five mornings a week. Ernie is only
19 months old and has lots of energy.
He needs to run and play with his dog
buddies. We have an acre with plenty of
room to run, but after 16 months, Gra-
cie, who is 12 years old, just tolerates
Ernie.
I have been to the park when there
have been close to 20 dogs, running and
playing and pooping. The city provides
what I call poop bags and a nifty-lined
garbage can with a secure lid that is
changed daily. Thank you!
Several of us moms and dads have be-
come friends — almost family — and we
try to meet at the same time.
The park is a wonderful place for so-
cializing, both for the dogs and their
owners, and we all appreciate the city for
its generosity. It even provided a smaller
fenced area for dogs that don’t get along
with other dogs or are small and afraid
of the bigger dogs.
Plus, the city brought in about seven
dump truck loads of chips and, when
they had the time, they spread the chips
around the park. When the rains finally
started and we told the a city employee
who was in the park that there was a low
spot right by the second gate into the big
yard, they filled the low spot within a
week.
The only things that could make the
park better would a few more benches
and a bathroom. Some of us older folks
need both of them! However, thank you,
City of Florence — you guys rock!
Christmas evening, on the way home
from dinner with friends, my husband
and I drove the streets of Florence ad-
miring the many homes and businesses
who put up holiday lights. Wow! Many
of you went all out decorating with
Christmas lights.
It was a delightful drive.
Thank you all for helping to make
Florence so colorful and beautiful. Bay
Street has those big, beautiful lighted
snowflakes on the lamp posts and the lit-
tle park next to Coffee Roasters is wick-
ed-beautiful. Most of the businesses on
Bay Street were lit up, as well as many on
Highway 101. So many lights!
Thank you, citizens of Florence, for
helping to make Florence so bright and
colorful after dark. I wish you would
leave them up all year!
Florence is a wonderful little city. I
have lived here since 1972 and have seen
it grow from a very small town with
traffic lights at Highways 101 and 126;
a small, old hospital with just a handful
of doctors; to the wonderful, beautiful,
friendly town it has become.
Thank You, one and all.
And Happy New Year!
—Gail Katz Hanson
Florence
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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