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About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (April 10, 2019)
4A | WEDNESDAY EDITION | APRIL 10, 2019 Siuslaw News P.O. Box 10 Florence, OR 97439 NED HICKSON , EDITOR | 541-902-3520 | NHICKSON @ THESIUSLAWNEWS . COM Opinion The First Amendment C ongress shall make no law respect- ing an establishment 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 Govern- ment 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 2019 © Siuslaw News 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 Pub- lishers 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 Bartlet Ned Hickson Susan Gutierrez Cathy Dietz Ron Annis Jeremy Gentry Publisher, ext. 318 Editor, ext. 313 Marketing Director, ext. 326 Office Supervisor, ext. 312 Production Supervisor Press Manager DEADLINES: Wednesday Issue—General news, Monday noon; Budgets, four days prior to publica- tion; Regular classified ads, Monday 1 p.m.; Display ads, Monday noon; Display classified ads, Friday 5 p.m. Saturday Issue—General news, Thursday noon; Budgets, two days prior to publication; Regular classified ads, Thursday 1 p.m.; Display ads, Thursday noon; Display classified ads, Wednesday 5 p.m. Soundings, Tuesday 5 p.m. NEWSPAPER SUBSCRIPTION RATES: In Lane County — 1-year subscription, $79; 6-month in-county, $56; 10-week subscrip- tion, $25; Out of Lane County — 1-year subscription, $102; 6-month out-of-county, $69; 10-week subscription, $35; Out of State — 1-year subscription, $134; E-Edition Online Only (Anywhere) — 1-year subscription, $65. Mail subscription includes E-Edition. Website and E-Edition: TheSiuslawNews.com Letters to the Editor policy LETTERS Wouldn’t the water tower be a better canvas? It is incongruous to me why our Public Art Committee (PAC) would go far afield to find an artist. We live in Florence because we don’t want the hassle of big city life. We certainly don’t want a frazzled city dweller’s version of our fair city. A simple beautification project would be to paint the Spruce Street water tower. It is a common topic among friends as to why the city ne- glects it so. It could be painted three times around the circumference, so it can be read from Highways 101 and 126: “Florence — America’s Most Beau- tiful Small Town” I’d be willing to bet that we could get the paint, labor and equipment donat- ed. Failing that, a subscription to get ‘er done for a damned site less than $48,000! —Ian Eales Florence Kent should represent Zone 4 on Lane ESD I’m voting for Nora Kent for Lane Educational Service District Board. I devoted 32 years of my professional life to teaching students from kinder- garten through middle school in pri- vate and public schools in New York and California. Here’s why I believe Nora Kent is the best person to fi ll this important position: 1. Nora is a lifelong educator who has experience in alternative pro- grams with students of all ages and backgrounds. 2. She has developed programs for students and families of varying needs. 3. She is currently an instructor at LCC Florence where she teaches GED testing prep and Adult Basic Skills. 4. She has organized a number of community events to raise our aware- ness about issues facing our students and families. 5. Nora supports our schools through promoting levy and bond measures. 6. She will be a voice for the needs of rural school districts including ours. In Kent’s own words she states, “I want all of our students in Lane County to have the opportunity to succeed.” Given this information alone, I urge your support of Nora Kent by voting for her to represent Zone 4 on the Lane ESD Board. —Judith Preisler Florence Some help and hope for Oregon’s suicide crisis (Editor’s Note: This editorial is organizations have too often chosen that allows family members and po- part of a week-long focus by media the easy way out by simply keeping lice officers to petition a court to take sources throughout Oregon on the silent. Meanwhile, the suicide rate away firearms from someone at risk subject of the state’s rising suicide rate in Oregon and the United States has for suicide or causing harm to others. We also need to recognize that Or- among teens and the elderly. It was continued to climb. Clearly, silence hasn’t worked. egon’s youth are struggling. Nearly 9 originally published in The Oregonian This week, news organizations percent of eighth-graders self-report- on Sunday and shared as a statewide collaborative from April 7-14. For its around the state are collaborating to ed having tried to kill themselves one part, Siuslaw News has teamed up bring attention to the problem of sui- or more times in the previous year with Newport News-Times, the Cot- cide, report on populations at high- and nearly double that percentage tage Grove Sentinel and The Creswell est risk and share resources on how considered it, according to Oregon Chronicle in a month-long, four-part to prevent it. While the “Breaking Health Authority data. That children just entering collaborative series focusing on their teen years would even different components of suicide think of suicide as an option in Oregon. The second part of that series is on A1 of this edi- By the Editorial Board of The Oregonian should be its own open-and- shut case for more counsel- tion, contributed by Stephanie ing, support and training in Blair of the News-Times.) the Silence” project won’t necessari- schools. And health officials can lead That 825 Oregonians died in a sin- ly provide answers, it aims to start a by providing guidance for families, gle year by suicide is a sobering as- statewide effort to confront it. Using schools, health departments, physi- sessment of our collective ability to responsible reporting practices that cians and nonprofits on how to talk help those who feel trapped in their examine, not sensationalize, suicide, about suicide both as a general pub- these stories can provide the com- lic health issue and on an individual own despair. That it’s such a hidden statistic, mon understanding, motivation, basis. This is not an insurmountable however, is an embarrassing reflec- tools and questions that can help tion of our collective ignorance. Hun- the community mobilize against this problem. Resources already exist and show that crisis counseling lines and dreds more people died by suicide in public health threat. The data show just how widespread other outreach efforts make a differ- Oregon in 2017 than by traffic crash- es, firearms or drug overdose. The a problem this is. Oregon’s suicide ence. Even friends and family mem- suicide rate in Oregon is well above rate is 14th highest in the country and bers can take steps to help a loved the national average, as it has been for suicide is the second leading cause of one who is struggling by asking a se- the past three decades. Yet this unde- death for those ages 10 to 34, accord- ries of questions about whether they niable public health issue has lacked ing to the Oregon Health Authority. have wished they were dead, thought the public attention and sustained One fifth of those who kill them- about killing themselves or made any selves are veterans. More than half plans toward killing themselves. outcry that it desperately needs. But it requires the willingness to Some of that stems from the stigma the deaths are caused by firearms. While those statistics may seem have those uncomfortable conversa- that persists around mental illness and suicide, shutting off conversa- daunting, they can also provide pos- tions in the first place. The effects of suicide reach far be- tion or even acknowledgment that sible avenues where leaders can make a suicide has occurred. Some may a difference. Such data, in the aggre- yond the individual. The injury is stem from the fear of encouraging gate, can help build support for in- borne by families, friends, communi- “copycat” behavior. Regardless of the creased funding for veterans’ health ties and the public at large. motivation, however, our families, services or provide tangible preven- It’s long past time to start treating schools, communities and media tion options, such as the 2017 law it that way. Guest Viewpoint The Siuslaw News welcomes letters to the edi- tor 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 sub- ject to editing for length, grammar and clarity. Publication of any letter is not guaranteed and depends on space available and the volume of let- ters received. Letters that are anonymous, libelous, argumen- tative, 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 pub- lished at the discretion of the editor. Political/Election 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 campaigns on behalf of (or by) candidates; 2) En- sure any information about a candidate is accu- rate, fair and not from second-hand knowledge or hearsay; and 3) Explain the reasons to support candidates based on personal experience and perspective rather than partisanship and cam- paign-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 newspaper, at the sole discretion of the publish- er, general manager and editor, reserves the right to reject any letter that doesn’t follow the above criteria. Email 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 @oregonlegislature.gov 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
