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About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (March 25, 2020)
E BR YOUR #1 LOCAL YARD, GARDEN, AND LANDSCAPE EXPERTS! WE’RE GLAD TO GET YOU GROWING! 31 st Anniversary RS 2020 WEDNESDAY EDITION | MARCH 25, 2020 | $1.00 EA CEL SN S SIU THESIUSLAWNEWS.COM W 1890 AW NE L S AT I N G 1 30 Y 88493 Hwy. 101 Florence Open 7 days a week Senior Discount Every Tuesday 997-5973 Updates for the Siuslaw Region I NSIDE — A6 Tourists come to Florence for Spring Break despite governor’s urging As COVID-19 continues to spread, Kate Brown issues strict ‘stay at home’ measures By Jared Anderson Siuslaw News “Now is not the time to travel far from home. Espe- cially to our amazing Oregon coastal communities,” Travel Lane County said in a press release on Sunday, March 22. “Visitors have been flocking to Florence and other coastal communities, making social distancing difficult for local residents and visitors.” The organization then quoted Flor- ence City Manager Erin Reynolds, who said, “Not only is it difficult to practice social distancing, it is put- ting a strain on our essential services, emergency responders and already depleted resources.” Travel Lane County stated that peo- ple could take a solitary walk, hike or bike ride to stay active, but that every- one should “… Do our part in slow- ing the spread of COVID-19 and stay close to home.” This, and other warnings by govern- ments up and down the coast, were ig- nored over the weekend as thousands JARED ANDERSON/SIUSLAW NEWS The beach near Driftwood Shores Resort and Conference Center was so crowded this weekend that it was hard for people to maintain the required six feet for social distancing. of tourists flocked to the beaches and sand dunes of the coast, including in the Siuslaw region. Prompted partly by this, Oregon Gov. Kate Brown instituted more se- vere social distancing measures with Executive Order 20-12, which she is- sued earlier today, March 23. “I started by asking Oregonians to stay home and practice social distanc- ing,” Brown said in a press release on Monday. “Then I urged the public to follow these recommendations. In- stead, thousands crowded the beaches of coastal communities, our trails, our parks and our city streets, potentially spreading COVID-19 and endanger- ing the lives of others across the state. Now, I’m ordering it. To save lives and protect our community.” The executive order directed state agencies to close parks and other out- door spaces where social distancing could not be maintained, while also closing outdoor and indoor malls, health clubs and yoga studios, bowl- ing alleys, amusement parks and pool halls. “All non-essential social and recre- ational gatherings of individuals are prohibited immediately, regardless of size, if a distance of at least six feet between individuals cannot be main- tained,” Brown ordered. As per the executive order, failure to comply will be considered an immedi- ate danger to public health and subject to a Class C misdemeanor. This comes days after the Center for Disease Control (CDC) released preliminary data on the mortality rates of the novel coronavirus disease See WLEOG page 5A VOL. 130, NO. 24 F LORENCE , O REGON WEATHER Rain with a high of 49 and a low tonight of 35. Full forecast on A3 COMMUNITY well-being are at stake due to coro- navirus/COVID-19,” Henry said. “My heart is breaking as I watch the widespread impacts this is having on all aspects of our daily family, social and business lives. We are with you in this, we care for you, we are doing committee meetings. Both resolutions are designed to be only temporary in duration. On March 23, Oregon Gov. Kate City Recorder and Economic De- Brown issued Executive Order 20- velopment Coordinator Kellie Weese 12, which took effect statewide im- was direct in her recommendation mediately and remains in effect un- that the councilors approve Resolu- til further notice. tion No. 5, which Executive Order in place tem- “I know this is an incredibly hard time. Our day-to- puts 20-12 enacts a host porary changes to of new, tougher re- day lives have taken a dramatic shift and our health and the required public strictions (See page well-being are at stake due to coronavirus/COVID-19. participation aspect A2) on public spac- My heart is breaking as I watch the widespread impacts of city functions es and businesses in and meetings. this is having on all aspects of our daily family, social an effort to increase Weese detailed social distancing and business lives. We are with you in this, we care for the current sta- requirements and you, we are doing our best as city and community lead- tus of county and slow the spread of ers to work through this and lead in this crisis. statewide efforts the novel coronavi- to limit the spread — Florence Mayor Joe Henry of COVID-19, ex- rus COVID-19. The Florence plaining that the City Council has responded to the our best as city and community lead- move to live streaming of public COVID-19 crisis in a similar manner, ers to work through this and lead in meetings and committee delibera- using Executive Order 20-12 as a tem- this crisis. tions is an integral part of the city plate for a set of updated COVID-19 “I want to assure you that as a city response to the virus. She also ex- guidelines and an emergency decla- we have a plan that is dynamic and pressed the importance of the limita- ration specific to Florence — both of responsive. I appreciate your patience tion of live comments and attendance which were adopted at the March 23 and support of the city as it works by the public, which also includes meeting of the City Council. through this crisis.” limiting of staff reports during meet- Florence Mayor Joe Henry greet- The city plan was delivered in the ings and finding alternate means of ed community members watching form of two resolutions, beginning allowing citizens to speak directly to remotely online or over Charter Ca- with Resolution No. 6, Series 2020: the council. ble Channel 191, making a brief in- “A Resolution Declaring a Tempo- City Manager Erin Reynolds then troductory statement and explaining rary State of Emergency within the presented councilors with back- the reasoning behind the city’s plan Boundaries of the City and Dele- ground on the actions taken by the in preparing for the unknown impact gating Authority to the City Man- governor, as well as state and county the COVID-19 virus will have on the ager,” and Resolution No. 5, Series agencies in response to the COVID area. 2020: “Temporary COVID-19 Public outbreak and asked for the adoption “I know this is an incredibly hard Meeting Procedures,” which initiates of the following Emergency Declara- time. Our day-to-day lives have taken major modifications to the public tion: a dramatic shift and our health and participation aspect of council and See CITY page 6A 2020 awards announced INSIDE — A3 SPORTS Tails and Trails of Florence INSIDE — SPORTS RECORDS Obituaries & response logs Inside — A2 NEW: TV GUIDE Inside — B3-4 KIDS CORNER Activities for kids Inside — B5 CLASSIFIEDS Listings and notices Inside — B6 FOLLOW US FOR THE LATEST NEWS : /S IUSLAW N EWS @S IUSLAW N EWS School district, Bloodworks team up for ‘social distance friendly’ blood drive The Siuslaw School By Jared Anderson pressed the need for blood,” said Siuslaw El- District is teaming up Siuslaw News with Bloodworks North- ementary School Prin- cipal Mike Harklerode, west to hold a “social distance friendly” blood drive at the who is helping to coordinate the effort. middle school on Tuesday, March 31, “They’re low and they’re very worried and Monday, April 6. Each drive will be about the emergency that we all see held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The dona- coming. And I frankly have more peo- tions are vital in helping to prepare for ple with time on their hands than they the oncoming spike of the novel coro- had a couple weeks ago. So, we decided navirus disease COVID-19. See DRIVE page 5A “Bloodworks Northwest has ex- T HE S IUSLAW N EWS . COM S IUSLAW N EWS 2 S ECTIONS | 24 P AGES C OPYRIGHT 2020 The West Lane Emergency Operations Group (WLEOG) met Friday, March 20, to imple- ment the West Lane Emergency Operations Plan and stand up its Emergency Operations Center in conjunction with regional partners. This ensures the ability to enhance coordination among partner agencies, maintain critical and essential services, as well as support state and county health efforts. An incident command structure has been established with Fire/ EMS Chief Michael Schick and Police Chief Tom Turner serving as unified command. According to the WLEOG Board, it has been in constant communication regarding COVID-19 since March 1 to monitor the global pandemic and has been participating in regional meetings with the Lane County Emergency Operations Center since that time. In addition, mem- bers have been participating in discipline-specific meetings with Lane County, the State of Ore- gon, the League of Oregon Cities and public health networks, with information being shared during calls among local partners. Oregon Gov. Kate Brown de- clared a state of emergency for the State of Oregon on March 8, and Lane County Board of Commis- sioners adopted Order 20-03-17- 06, declaring a local emergency as a result of public health response to COVID-19 this past Tuesday, March 17. As a result, the City of Florence City Council will consid- er a resolution to declare a local emergency at a Special Meeting to be held Monday, March 23. NEWS & VIEWS THAT DEFINE OUR COMMUNITY See AWAY page 6A WLEOG activates City of Florence declares ‘State of Emergency’ New rules for public meetings as changes are implemented citywide Emergency By Mark Brennan Siuslaw News Operations Center Staff Report Siuslaw News Siuslaw News
