10A | SATURDAY, JANUARY 4, 2020 | SIUSLAW NEWS
IN REVIEW 4 from page 8A
In March, WLAD Director
Larry Farnsworth clarified
that the creation of WLFEA
did not mean the two districts
would consolidate completely.
“It’s not a merger,” he said.
“It may never be a merger. It
doesn’t need to be a merger for
us to realize a lot of the syner-
gy that’s before us. So, we can
speak with one voice and we
can give better direction to the
chief. I’m sure the chief would
appreciate having a single
voice to direct his work and
the work of his staff.”
The creation of WLFEA
also helps bring financial
transparency and simplicity to
the IGA.
“The concept is to give
overall management to both
districts,” WLAD Director
Rick Yecny said. “Under the
proposal, the third entity,
which would be a non-taxing
entity, would have two board
members from each board sit
on the committee. If there was
ever a tie vote, the full boards
would convene with all 10
board members required to
make a final decision by vote.
The idea, too, is that all three
boards would meet at the same
time, which would cut the to-
tal number of meetings down
from 24 to 12. We will have
fewer meetings, which also
means reducing the amount
of time spent creating meeting
packets, scheduling meetings
— and it allows the boards to
communicate directly.”
Operationally, SVFR and
WLAD (along with their
boards) will still be in charge
of base operations: SVFR over
fire prevention and suppres-
sion, WLAD over ambulance
operations and Mobile Inte-
grated Healthcare. But WL-
FEA will house the admin-
istration, including Schick,
House, Fire Ops Chief Jim
Dickerson and office staff for
both agencies. The budget for
WLFEA will come from con-
tributions from SVFR and
WLAD.
Climate Change Debate
In October, Siuslaw News
launched a three-part series
looking at the different per-
spectives regarding the debate
over climate change. The argu-
ing and acrimony surround-
ing the issue often threatened
to drown out the reason for
the concern. While millions of
people around the planet voice
deep concern for the need
to take action in reducing or
eliminating man-made toxins
and pollutants as part of im-
pacting climate change, mil-
lions of others go about their
lives with little or no concern
over the issue, choosing to be-
lieve that the human impacts
on the planet are not as critical
as others portray.
Regardless of where a per-
son stands on the debate, each
side believes there is validity in
their point of view that should
be acknowledged. However,
there is an axiom that seems to
apply in this situation, which
is to hope for the best but plan
for the worst.
This philosophy is em-
braced by the U.S. military,
the Federal Emergency Man-
agement Agency and state
and municipal governments
around the country. The rea-
son is simple: science and
what people understand
about it is always evolving and
changing, creating the possi-
bility of misinterpretation —
which seems to be the main
thrust behind the current
debate over climate change.
Not to say the series couldn’t
find common ground in the
debate.
Most agreed that the plan-
et’s resources are finite, and
the processes often used to
extract and consume them can
be destructive, causing inter-
ruption of other natural cycles.
Humans now have the abil-
ity and the necessary tools to
alter, modify or destroy every
habitat on Earth. This can oc-
cur through intent, neglect,
misjudgment or inaction.
But do we understanding
the long-term impacts of hu-
manity’s power to impose its
will on the planet? And do we
understand the Earth’s abili-
ty to impose its own will hu-
manity through its changing
climate?
Those questions, and the
debate over them, continue
into the new decade.
PAC adopts guidelines
The City of Florence Public
Art Committee (PAC) met on
Dec. 2 at Florence City Hall
for the first time since the city
council approved the com-
mittee’s modified workplan
at its Nov. 4 meeting. The ap-
proval of the revised workplan
removed the metaphorical
“Sword of Damocles” that was
hanging over the organization,
as members worked success-
fully to respond to calls earlier
this year for the committee’s
reorganization or dissolution.
These calls came after the
selection of PAC’s purchase of
the “Stitching Time, Weaving
Cultures” mural on the east
side of the Lincoln Public Util-
ities District Building, on the
corner of Quince Street and
Highway 126.
The process by which art
is integrated into the differ-
ent aspects of the city’s overall
public art program was crit-
icized by many residents as
a direct result of the mural’s
installation. Public meetings
were held to packed rooms of
residents upset with or in fa-
vor of the subject matter and
the style of the piece created
by Marino-Heidel Studios of
Portland. The makeup of PAC,
its reporting process, and how
the city funds public art all Asphalt and sinkhole repair.
changed drastically because of
the mural controversy.
• Democracy: On Dec. 17,
more than 200 people gath-
Additional 2019
ered in front of Florence City
Highlights:
Hall in support of the House
• Awards: On Jan. 23, Flor- of Representatives’ action to
ence Area Chamber of Com- formalize Articles of Impeach-
merce held the 11th annual ment for President Donald
Siuslaw Awards at the Flor- J. Trump. Other protests or
ence Events Center to honor petitions throughout the year
local individuals and busi- included the “Women’s Wave”
nesses for their contributions rally in January, the Red for Ed
to the Siuslaw region. Winners “grade-in” and signs in front
included: 2018 Distinguished of Siuslaw schools in support
Service Award – Jenna Bart- of funding Oregon’s schools
lett, Non-Profit Achievement in May, the Lights for Liberty
Award – Florence Habitat for vigil at Florence First United
Humanity, Community Car- Methodist Church in July, cli-
ing Award – TR Hunter Real mate change protests in sev-
Estate, Curb Appeal – City of eral locations and Florence
Florence Public Works, Cus- 4 Life’s pro-life gathering on
tomer Service Award – Hece- Highway 101 in October.
ta Head Lighthouse Bed and
Breakfast, Innovation in Busi-
• Dunes City: Dunes City
ness Award, which went to the Council and staff continued to
Florence Public Art Commit- discuss reasons the communi-
tee and Stu Johnston Business ty should remain a city, espe-
of the Year – Siuslaw News. cially as the city dealt with is-
The Florence First Citizen sues of taxation and revenues.
was Dee Osborne and the Fu- In addition, a housing devel-
ture First Citizen was Audrey opment on Little Woahink,
Lowder.
water conditions and wild-
life were all important topics
• Collard Lake Road: Lane throughout the year.
County voted to maintain
Collard Lake Road, County
• Education — Mapleton:
Road No. 2216, and completed Mapleton Elementary School
opened its preschool in Oc-
tober. One parent said, “The
preschool adds an important
steppingstone for students,
parents and the community.”
New school counselor Brittany
Anderson now meets with stu-
dents three half-days and one
full day each week. The Ma-
pleton Community Resource
Center, part of the Western
Lane Health Network, made
progress towards opening.
• Education — Region: Siu-
slaw Vision completed a qual-
itative report on education in
the entire region, ultimately
determining “that learning is
very personal and people are
looking for it to apply to ex-
actly what they want to learn
in their lives,” according to
Siuslaw Vision Coordinator
Stephanie Sarles. “In general,
we discovered that our Siu-
slaw residents love and value
learning and what it provides
for them. They believe edu-
cation is the key to whatever
they want.” Food Backpack
for Kids, foodbackpackfor
kids.com, continued to offer
pre-packaged,
ready-to-eat
food to children who are food
challenged.
See IN REVIEW 5 page 11A
FIRST WEIGH-IN JAN. 29TH (MANDATORY!)
It’s BACK...
Be Florence’s
Biggest Weight
Percentage Loser
Buying or Selling? I can help.
Over $1000 in Prizes & Gifts!
FREE ENROLLMENT
Richard Beaudro
Principal Broker
541 991-6677
14-Week Contest • January 29-May 7, 2020
85545 Pine St – Private 10 acre estate. Luxury
4 bdrm, 4 bath home with granite, Italian tile,
stone fi replaces, media room with bar, garages,
shops, and mini barn. Park-like setting on multiple
lots. Siuslaw River, historic bridge and Old Town
views! $1,250,000. #2745-17283691
Only your weight loss percentage will be published
Weigh in each week at
COASTAL FITNESS & AQUATICS
Each Wednesday, Jan. 30-May 8, 2019
7:30am-9am and 4:30pm-6pm
1749 Highway 101 • 541-997-1200
Watch
“In Search of the Lord’s Way”
Sunday, 7:30 AM
KMTR Cable Channel 12
Western Lane Translator Channel 16.2
Then visit the
Florence church of Christ
1833 Tamarack
Florence, Oregon
Weekly leaders in each category (male & female) will be
pictured in the Saturday edition of the Siuslaw News
and online at thesiuslawnews.com.
and experience the joy and simplicity of
pre-denominational New Testament Worship. (Romans 16:16)
• Learn Healthy Weight Loss Steps
• Look Good - Feel Good
Bible Study: Sunday, 10:00 am
Worship: Sunday, 11:00 am
CONTEST INFORMATION LINE: 541.997.3441
www.churchofchristfl orence.org
Come see Jim about
this 2020 Transit!
SPONSORED BY
Siuslaw News
148 Maple St., Florence
541-997-3441
2285 Hwy. 101, Florence
541-997-8086
FREE CONTEST PARTICIPATION • REGISTRATION FORM
Registration is FREE. Contestants must be
a minimum of 18 years old or with parental
consent and sign a waiver form to participate.
Previous first place winners are
not eligible to win in 2020.
Johnston Motor Company
Since 1939
2150 Hwy. 101 • Florence
(541) 997-3475 • 1-800-348-3475
Your registration form must be received at the
Siuslaw News, by 5pm January 27th.
148 Maple Street,
Mail: PO Box 10, Florence, OR 97439
Fax: 541-997-7979
or via our website
www.thesiuslawnews.com
Name: __________________________________________________________
Address: ________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
Phone: __________________________________________________________
Email: ___________________________________________________________
Are you a subscriber of the Siuslaw News?
OFFICE USE ONLY
Face Photo #__________ Full Portrait Photo # _________ Disclaimer Signed
YES
YES
NO
NO