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About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (April 24, 2019)
4A | WE WEDNESDAY | APRIL 24, 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 Refl ecting on our ‘Breaking the Silence’ series (Editor’s Note: Today marks the final installment in our month-long col- laborative series with the Cottage Grove Sentinel, The Creswell Chronicle and Newport News-Times focusing on Oregon’s rising suicide rate. It was the first collaboration of this kind. And it won’t be the last. What follows is an editorial by Creswell Chronicle edior Erin Tierney, who reported on today’s final piece in our series. — Ned Hickson) pleasure to be part of their journey as Cora, Ashley, Eli and other loved ones learn to grow from the pain they have suffered. The topic of suicide seems to bubble up in my career wherever I go. I was first introduced to the power of these conversa- tions when I was serving as cousin; a daughter who lost her mom; a son who lost his mom; a mother who lost her son; a man who attempted suicide as a teen; and a woman who suffered from severe depression and anxiety — and how they grappled with the after- math. I remember them all so Guest Editorial Erin Tierney, Th e Creswell Chronicle an editor in Pennsylvania in 2014. It started with a wom- an by the name of Kathy Merrill, who came to the paper as she was trying to start an Out of the Dark- ness suicide survivor walk want to commend the in our county. subjects of the “Break- She told me her experi- ing the Silence” series for their bravery in coming ence with suicide; losing forward about their experi- her husband, Carl. It was a heartbreaking story worth ences with suicide. telling, and Kathy wanted I sit in awe of their to tell it. courage and candidness Shortly thereafter, in telling their accounts, beloved comedian Robin knowing it would be read Williams died by suicide. by thousands. In this week’s piece, I am humbled People couldn’t have been more shocked. The merit by those I interviewed for in expanding on the sub- trusting me to tell their ject became clear. story. And so began a series I always say that as a called “Stepping Out of journalist, I am the vessel the Shadows,” a series that, for which people can tell very similar to this one, their stories. I am merely recounted loss after loss of a transcriber; they are the loved ones by suicide. ones who do all the work, The series followed a the ones who make the woman who lost her hus- story. It’s especially true band; a man who lost his in this case, and it was a I vividly. They’re the kind of interviews that stick with you, become part of you. Just as the series titles suggest, it all starts with one story — one person to come out of the shadows, one person to break the silence. That one story inspired another person to come forward, and another. And then another. Kathy got her walk organized that year, and I attended as a reporter and as a supporter. People came out in droves to walk for their losses, and I felt so proud of Kathy and all she’d accomplished. A memorial vigil was held in town next to a quaint gazebo after the series concluded. People lit candles, sang songs and I received the warmest embrace from one of my interviewees. With tears in his eyes, he thanked me and said telling his story had helped him to heal. I couldn’t be more inspired, more touched by the whole experience. And the same goes for this one. We are proud to have partnered with The Cottage Grove Sentinel, Siuslaw News and Newport News- Times on this important subject this month. It’s a collaboration that rarely, if ever, occurs between community newspapers in Oregon, but is one that supports, strengthens and upholds local journalism, as well as its network of journalists. It’s a collaboration that has enabled our newspa- pers to share resources and readership, to spread information far and wide for the betterment of all our communities. We’re thankful to have been a part of it. Though the series has concluded, The Creswell Chronicle, The Cottage Grove Sentinel, Siuslaw News and Newport News- Times encourage people to keep talking; to let their stories be known; to continue to work toward healing; to watch for those who may be suffering si- lently; to try and help those in need. Everybody is somebody’s loved one. No one is immune to the pain of losing someone to suicide. No matter what, someone cares about you (Editor’s Note: As we wrap up our month-long series collaboration focus- ing on suicide, this week’s Guest View- point is particularly poignant, submit- ted by a Cottage Grove High School senior willing to share their first-hand experience dealing with the loss of a friend to suicide. Though the series is ending, we hope community members will continue to keep this important conversation going with one another as well as within these pages.) There are hidden sides to losing someone. Most feel sadness, a sense of loss, and some even feel happiness. Yet all these feelings are mixed up when you lose someone to suicide. Last summer, I lost a dear friend to suicide. I had known her for more than four years. She was one of my closest friends. Even with us growing apart before her death, we always had each other’s back. Her passing was very sudden just as anyone lost through suicide is. But even if I knew she was going to take her life, there’s no handbook on how to handle it. Once I learned the news, I had many mixed emotions. But the biggest was guilt. I felt guilty for a lot of things. Not talking to her as much, growing dis- Guest Viewpoint By Tyler Rhynes Cottage Grove High School senior tant from her, and not checking in on her. The biggest was that I forgot to wish her a happy birthday. I had set a reminder to message her but time slipped away — and I never did. Now that her birthday is coming up again next month, I feel terrible for forgetting; I now make sure to mes- sage everyone that simple message when it’s their birthday. Another thing was the unanswered questions. Her death left me with more questions than answers. Things like this are difficult because you can ask anyone — and everyone — and they never can give you an answer. Some questions I began asking were “Did she know I loved her?” “What pushed her to this?” “Why did she not message me?” and “I thought she was getting better?” Now, I never will get an answer to those questions. At the same time, those questions have helped change me to who I am. The tragedy is an open door to grow. Her passing has taught me to make sure my friends and family know I care for them and how quickly some- one can be gone. And as it gets close to one year since she passed, all I can say is that if anyone ever feels like she did to please reach out. Someone cares about you and wants you to be happy. There are other ways to relieve the pain you are feeling. Many people are willing to help you through this. Some resources are the National Suicide Hotline (1-800-273- 8255) and the online chat. Just remember: No matter what, someone cares about you. 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 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
