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SATURDAY EDITION | DECEMBER 21, 2019 | $1.00
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THESIUSLAWNEWS.COM
Hanukkah begins at sunset
Sunday, Dec. 22
Siuslaw News
Postal Customer
Florence, Ore. 97439
VOL. 129, NO. 102
NEWS &
VIEWS THAT
DEFINE OUR
COMMUNITY
F LORENCE , O REGON
PEACEFUL ASSEMBLY
WEATHER
Rain with a high
of 50 and a low
tonight of 40.
Full forecast on A3
COMMUNITY
PHOTOS BY MARK BRENNAN/SIUSLAW NEWS
L
Siuslaw Glass and
Mirror Giving Tree
INSIDE — A3
SPORTS
ast Tuesday evening, Dec. 17, more than 200 people gathered in front of
Florence City Hall and across the highway in support of the House of
Representatives’ action to formalize Articles of Impeachment for President
Donald J. Trump. The protest was peaceful, with rally attendees holding a multitude
of signs on both sides of the highway. The group chanted for the president’s remov-
al, receiving responses of both support and disagreement by passing motorists as
the group exercised its right to peaceful assembly.
‘We need to District raises excise tax on local construction
Move will not raise taxes for existing homeowners
have each while
helping Siuslaw School District’s aging facilities
other’s back’ “W
By Jared Anderson
Siuslaw News
Groups seek to mitigate
the downside to
the holiday season
Mapleton plays
Triangle Lake
INSIDE — SPORTS
RECORDS
Obituaries &
emergency
response logs
Inside — A2
SIDE SHOW
Activities and
comics every
Saturday
Inside — B4
CLASSIFIEDS
Listings and public
notices
Inside — B5
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By Mark Brennan
Siuslaw News
While the holiday season is a time
for family and celebration for many,
it is also a time of sadness and lone-
liness for others. There is a percep-
tion among the public that the hol-
idays are the worst time of year for
those suffering with depression. In
contrast, the facts show the months
of November and December actual-
ly have the lowest recorded suicide
rates overall — and per day — of any
month each year.
This is not to diminish in any way
the depth of the sadness that can af-
fect some during this special time of
the year.
Siuslaw Outreach Services (SOS)
See PREVENTION page 6A
e were told, in no uncer-
tain terms, that the $119
million school bond package
is a ‘no,’” Siuslaw School District
Board President Guy Rosinbaum
said. “That doesn’t change the fact
that the school board has to sup-
port a 55-year-old school. We have
to do that knowing the community
will be growing quite a bit in the
next couple of years.”
With 233 homes already estimat-
ed to be built in the Florence area
within five years, coupled with the
possibility of construction of hun-
dreds more, the Siuslaw School Dis-
trict is finding itself in a difficult po-
sition. With facilities in poor shape
and the delicate balancing act of
hiring teachers, the region’s march
toward housing sustainability could
put a considerable strain on district
resources.
Yet the district’s school bond,
which was put to the voters in 2016
and 2018, was strongly rejected.
“I think we were asking for a lot,”
Rosinbaum admitted. “I will be the
first to tell you that I wasn’t aboard
the $90 million school with the ex-
tras on top of it. I thought it was way
too expensive for what we were try-
ing to do.”
Currently, the district is not
proposing another school bond,
though the board of directors have
created a facilities committee to ex-
amine what is needed to sustain the
district’s buildings. This could even-
tually lead to another bond proposal
down the road.
“I’m hoping that the communi-
ty will support a new high school,”
Rosinbaum said. “We need one,
and I think that there’s a reasonable
number out there that the commu-
nity would support.”
But with an increase in new hous-
ing, it stands to reason that the pop-
ulation will increase as well, putting
a stress on district facilities in a
number of ways.
To help ease that stress, the Siu-
slaw School Board raised its con-
struction excise tax from $1 per
square foot to $1.35 during last
week’s school board meeting. The
tax is only on new construction
and will not filter down to existing
homeowners. It is expected to bring
in an additional $40-45,000 annu-
ally for the district and will go into
effect Jan. 1, 2020.
The funds will only be used for fa-
cilities maintenance, and the district
will be evaluating the tax yearly.
The move is not expected to put a
damper on the region’s growth.
According to City of Florence
Planning Director Wendy Far-
ley-Campbell, “Will it keep some-
one from pulling a permit if they
wanted to? Probably not,” she said.
To avoid higher costs, developers
could just build smaller homes.
“And that’s what a lot of peo-
ple need,” she added. “I have a lot
of older friends that would love to
move into a place that is less than
1,000 square feet.”
Rosinbaum said that the tax is not
intended to hurt the growth of the
city at all.
See DISTRICT page 8A
Red Kettle bells continue to ring in Western Lane County
S IUSLAW N EWS
2 S ECTIONS | 18 P AGES
C OPYRIGHT 2019
Still time to
volunteer as bell
ringers for The
Salvation Army
By Mark Brennan
Siuslaw News
The familiar ringing of
bells near a bright red kettle
reminds shoppers entering
Fred Meyer and other area
stores that there are neigh-
bors that need a little help
FLORENTINE ESTATES
during the holidays.
The tradition of filling
The Salvation Army’s red
kettles is well established
in the Florence area. This
year, retired Col. Sam Spayd
turned over primary respon-
sibilities for the effort to
Colinda Harris. Harris is a
married veteran with grand-
children, and she assumes
the leadership role in what is
best described as well func-
tioning unit.
“Last year, over 100 good
people stood at our kettles,
AFFORDABLE & CLEAN
some for several
two-hour shifts,”
said Spayd, who
was kettle coor-
dinator for the
past two years.
“Our new kettle
coordinator will
need these folks
and more to step
COURTESY PHOTO
up and serve People can volunteer to ring bells to
again!”
raise funds for The Salvation Army
Spayd agreed
through Christmas Eve, which then
to lead the col-
are distributed locally.
lection effort for the Red cerns were raised regarding
Kettle Campaign after con- the distribution of the mon-
BEACH AREA PROPERTY
ies collected locally. There
was a sense that not enough
of the money collected lo-
cally was being distributed
in Florence.
“Four years ago, when I
first got involved in the Bell
Ringing campaign, I received
assurances from the Salvation
Army that any funds raised in
western Lane County would
stay in western Lane County,”
Spayd said. “Previously, the
funds collected here were
sent to Eugene and they
See KETTLE page 6A
YACHATS CUSTOM
NG
I
N D
COAST REAL ESTATE
P E
541-997-7777
515 ROBIN LANE
Spacious home in gated community. New exterior paint in
June, 2019. Patio area at front of home, large deck off master
bedroom. Large living room that leads to dining room off eat-
in kitchen. Laundry room & pantry just off kitchen. Large
garage with work bench and shelving. $325,000 #11925
MLS#19437956
2120 17TH STREET
Well maintained 17th St. bungalow with new roof, fascia
boards, and ductless heat pump. Vintage charm w/ hardwood
floors and built-ins. Brick fireplace w/ pellet insert, double-
paned windows, updated kitchen and ceiling fans. Large double
garage, carport, and flat fenced yard. Charming affordable
home - ready to go. $237,900 #11910 MLS#19399625
87527 RHODOWOOD DRIVE
Tucked back off scenic Rhododendron Dr. sits this newly
remodeled manufactured home. Almost a half-acre with yard,
garden, sprinkler system & additional RV parking & hook-ups.
New Kitchen, bathrooms & flooring bring this home up to date
and ready to move in. A two-car garage and enclosed sunroom
complete this property located just minutes from the beach and
town. Backs to Lane Co. owned acreage for privacy. $259,900
#11909 MLS#19234369
30 STONE BRIDGE CT, YACHATS
This Traditional Beauty is for the discerning buyer looking
for a unique home lending itself to single floor living while
offering 2nd and 3rd story suites designed for multi-use living.
Awesome living room/media room with soaring rock fireplace,
PacNortWest style library/office, formal dining room & bright
kitchen. MUST SEE!! $529,500 #11850 MLS#19391723
“We’re next to the Bridge”
100 Hwy. 101
See all Florence Listings at cbcoast.com