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About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (April 1, 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 | APRIL 1, 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 Chamber announces cancellation of 2020 Rhododendron Festival By Scott Steward Creative Wave Marketing T he Florence Area Chamber of Commerce has announced it is canceling the 113th Rho- dodendron Festival, originally planned for May. Chamber Executive Director Bettina Hannigan met Monday, March 30, via virtual meeting with the chamber’s presidential team and Florence City Manager Erin Reynolds to forward the recom- mendation to the chamber’s board of directors to cancel the event. The board approved. For perspective, this will be the first time since WWII that Rhody Fest has been canceled. “Based on the most current facts, government guidelines and trend- ing information, we must cancel Rhody Fest for 2020,” said Han- nigan. “We gave this decision as long as we could and the deepest consideration. We had hoped for better news and a faster recovery. “Logistically, there is no way to predict or plan for a new date this year, or postpone it until fall,” added Hannigan. “Many chambers across the country are canceling events through July and some even into August.” The Rhododendron Festival makes the single largest economic impact on Florence’s tourist-driven economy and serves as the kick-off to the tourism season. “Because there is a lot at stake for our economy, we took the ut- most consideration in this decision for our local businesses. We are a chamber of commerce and Rhody Fest brings our small businesses hundreds of thousands of dollars in commerce. Around 1,900 people in Florence rely on tourism-based employment, and tourism pumps about $147 million into our com- munity each year,” she added. See RHODY page 5A ‘There are helpers afoot’ What people in the Siuslaw are doing for each other By Chantelle Meyer Siuslaw News people are making to help protect The family is making masks in the community. adult and child sizes. For each one they sell for $10, they are donating t might be the worst of times, two. but in many ways, the novel “My current goal for dona- coronavirus COVID-19 is tions is 90 for the operat- bringing people together ing room staff,” Sabrina in a way that feels like said. “I’m kind of biased the best of times in there.” terms of community Her husband, Ca- unity. Siuslaw News sey Hand, is a surgi- and other media are cal nurse. In fact, Sa- getting near-constant brina began making reports of the ways Casey masks when he that people are sup- was still in the Navy. porting their neighbors She has had many years and connecting with each to find a best fit and best other even while social dis- fabrics. tancing continues. Here are just She even posted an instruc- a few examples of people stepping tional video to YouTube on March in and providing positive inter- The Hand sisters — (from left) Eleanor, 21 that has already been action with the community. Matilda and Sylvia — prompted their viewed 12,840 times. There is caution to these mom Sabrina to help sew PPE masks “Many health care person- tales, however. People must and gowns to fill the gap for local medi- nel have been using and asking stay at home as much as possi- cal and emergency personnel. for pleated masks of this type. ble unless they are providing an Two layers (just how I made essential service. Local seamstress Sabrina Hand, them in the video) can be worn along with her three daughters El- over existing masks,” Sabrina said. Sew Important eanor, Sylvia and Matilda, began “If you slip in a filter layer of your It started in March and rolled making masks when the girls heard choice, they can be worn without out slowly to affect hundreds of that Oregon’s hospitals could face a mask and have better protection.” people. No, not the novel coronavi- a shortage of personal protective rus — the hand-sewn masks local equipment (PPE), such as masks. See HELPERS page 7A I Port of Siuslaw declares emergency, closes indefinitely to campers, anglers Story & Photos By Mark Brennan Siuslaw News VOL. 130, NO. 26 F LORENCE , O REGON By Jared Anderson Siuslaw News Rumors circulating online sug- gesting that the Siuslaw region had its first case of the novel coronavirus COVID-19 were denied this week by Lane County Public Health (LCPH), which stated that as of March 29 there were no confirmed cases of the disease in the region of western Lane County. However, this does not mean that Siuslaw region residents should ignore social distancing guidelines, according to LCPH and the Western Lane Emergency Operations Group (WLEOG). Both organizations stressed the vital importance of following social distancing guide- lines to help mitigate the spread, and that residents should stay home regardless of whether or not there is a confirmed case. WEATHER Rain with a high of 48 and a low tonight of 38. Full forecast on A3 COMMUNITY See REGION page 5A President approves Oregon disaster declaration Library Tidings INSIDE — A3 SPORTS By Mark Brennan Siuslaw News U.S. President Donald Trump ap- proved a major disaster declaration for the State of Oregon early Sunday in response to calls from Gov. Kate Brown and a unified Oregon Con- gressional delegation to do so. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) released a state- ment Sunday announcing the pres- ident’s decision and the availability of federal emergency aid to support recovery efforts in the areas affect- ed by the Coronavirus Disease 2019 pandemic. The president’s order, retroactive to Jan. 20, allows for the activation of FEMA’S Public Assistance pro- gram for reimbursements of emer- gency actions taken by state, terri- torial, tribal and local government entities, as well as certain nonprof- its. Brown responded to the declara- tion positively but pointed to spe- cific instances where additional aid has been requested from the feder- al government and to this point in time has not been forthcoming. “This declaration is an import- ant first step towards unlocking all available federal resources for Ore- gon’s state, tribal and local response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and I appreciate the responsiveness of Vice President Pence and the fed- eral administration officials to our requests for aid,” Brown said. “How- ever, this is far from everything Or- egon needs from the federal gov- ernment to actively and effectively combat this crisis. We have a num- ber of significant requests pend- ing with the federal government — See FEDERAL page 5A Recreate from a distance 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 T HE S IUSLAW N EWS . COM S IUSLAW N EWS 2 S ECTIONS | 16 P AGES C OPYRIGHT 2020 The Port of Siuslaw Board of Commissioners held a special session Monday evening to con- sider approving a resolution that declares the marina, docks and campground to be under a state of emergency and to close the facility to campers and anglers. The meeting was closed to the general public as the port is oper- ating under the social distancing guidelines put in place statewide by Oregon Gov. Kate Brown in March. Port of Siuslaw has restricted public access to the marina and docks. “We are taking this very serious- ly and want to do everything we David Huntington. limited access to the port’s boat can to keep our staff and visitors as Port Commissioners briefly dis- ramp, but there was a clear sense safe as we can,” said Port Manager cussed the possibility of allowing See PORT page 6A Rumor of local Siuslaw News NEWS & Covid-19 case VIEWS THAT DEFINE OUR unconfirmed COMMUNITY by Lane County Barbara Martin TAXES & BOOKKEEPING To our customers: For everyone’s protection and our own, at this time we will not have regular open offi ce hours. We are continuing to take drop off s in our mail slot and receiving information that is mailed to us, but no in offi ce appointments at this time. Please be safe! We look forward to getting back to normal practices soon. (541) 997-8833 • Toll Free (877) 549-6899 2285 Highway 101 Suite “K” • Florence, Oregon, 97439 Shari & Barbara (In the Coastal Fitness Shopping Center) BARBARA MARTIN Licensed Tax Consultant #71554 • EA #00107916 SHARI JAMES Licensed Tax Preparer #31250-P
