The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current, April 15, 2020, WEDNESDAY EDITION, Image 9

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    THESIUSLAWNEWS.COM
WEDNESDAY EDITION | APRIL 15, 2020 | $1.00
Hunting, fishing
closed in Oregon to
non-residents
Sports &
Recreation
Calendar
All sporting
activities
at Siuslaw
and
Mapleton
high schools
have been
cancelled for
the rest of
spring
Tide Tables
COURTESY HECETA LIGHTHOUSE/OPRD
Entrance Siuslaw River
High Tide
Low Tide
April 15
6:25am / 6.2
8:39pm/ 5.7
12:44am/ 3.6
1:41pm/ 0.6
While restrictions and social distancing measures are in place to help slow the spread of
COVID-19 in Oregon, the Heceta Lighthouse continues serving as a solitary sentinel at
Heceta Head from its home overlooking a stretch of the Oregon Coast north of Florence.
I CONIC BEACON CELEBRATES 126 YEARS
B Y M ARK B RENNAN
Siuslaw News
April 16
7:42am / 6.0
9:37pm / 5.9
2:09am / 3.4
2:48pm / 0.7
April 17
8:56am / 5.9
10:21pm/ 6.1
3:22am/ 3.0
3:45pm/ 0.8
April 18
8:56am / 5.9
10:21pm / 6.1
3:22am / 3.0
3:45pm / 0.8
April 19
9:58am / 6.0
10:56pm / 6.3
4:18am / 2.4
4:31pm / 0.9
April 20
10:50am / 6.0
11:26pm / 6.6
5:03am / 1.8
5:10pm / 0.9
April 21
11:35am / 6.2
11:54pm / 6.8
5:41am / 1.2
5:45pm / 1.1
T
he Heceta Head
Lighthouse and the
near-by
Lightkeepers House, two
of Oregon’s most visited
attractions, recently cele-
brated their 126th anniver-
sary.
Originally opened to
assist mariners with navi-
gating the treacherous cen-
tral Oregon Coast, the
lighthouse is now main-
tained by the Oregon
Parks and Recreation
Department (OPRD)
while the assistant light-
house keepers’ house,
operated as a private-
ly-owned bed-and-break-
fast inn, is maintained by
the U.S. Forest Service.
Unlike many of the pre-
vious anniversary celebra-
tions, there was not a pub-
lic gathering to acknowl-
edge what has become one
of the nations most famil-
iar landmarks, due to cur-
rent social distancing
restrictions.
There was however an
effort made by a new
COURTESY PHOTO
Heceta Head Lightstation Lightkeepers, Robert (Bob) Bay
& Lillie Bay on the left. Eugene & Martha Hayward on the
right. Circa 1920.
munity members who
want to share the rich his-
tory and stories of life at
Heceta Head Lighthouse
with other interested indi-
viduals.
The building of the
lighthouse began in 1892
and the 55 foot tall struc-
ture was named for the
Spanish seafarer Don
Bruno de Heceta, who
non-profit, “Keepers of the
Heceta Head Lightsta-tion”
(KHHL) which has been
formed, according to the
group’s Facebook page to
share the story of Heceta
Head Lightstation, and to
support the preservation
and enhancement of the
structures and grounds so
they are accessible to all.
The founding board of
KHHL is made up of
Yachats and Florence com-
See
BEACON 2B
ODFW is closing recreation-
al hunting, fishing, crabbing
and clamming to non-resi-
dents due to concerns about
travel to Oregon to participate
in these outdoor activities.
Such travel could spread the
virus and put more of a burden
on Oregon’s rural communi-
ties.
As of Friday, April 10, be-
ginning at midnight, non-resi-
dents may no longer participate
in these activities in Oregon.
The restriction extends un-
til COVID-19 restrictions are
lifted and it is deemed safe to
travel into Oregon.
This order does not apply
to anyone living in Oregon for
less than six months who has
not yet established residency.
Some
states,
including
Washington, have closed hunt-
ing and fishing to limit the
spread of the virus.
While seasons remain open
in Oregon (except for Colum-
bia River salmon/steelhead
fishing), resident hunters and
anglers should not be travelling
to participate.
ODFW is hearing concerns
from rural communities about
people visiting to hunt and fish
and placing additional burdens
on these communities’ limited
resources.
“Rural communities are con-
cerned about the potential im-
pact of COVID-19 on medical
and emergency services, search
and rescue and their citizens.
Some have asked us to close
seasons to reduce travel,” said
ODFW Director Curt Melcher.
“We would like to keep seasons
open to give locals an outlet
during this difficult time, but
that doesn’t mean it’s OK to
travel to these communities.
Stick close to home and fish
at your local lake, pond or
river and do not go crabbing
or clamming unless you live
on the coast, and then only
to places where access is still
open.”
ODFW monitoring has
shown that while Oregonians
are still participating in fish-
eries, clamming, shed hunt-
ing, and wildlife viewing it is
in significantly lower num-
bers and that the majority of
participants are doing it close
to home and practicing social
distancing.
“We appreciate that many
Oregonians are taking the Stay
Home, Save Lives order seri-
ously,” added Melcher.
ODFW field staff monitor-
ing participation in the field
have seen out of state license
plates and out of state angling
and shellfish licenses in use.
Staff are also fielding numer-
ous calls from non-residents
inquiring about plans come to
Oregon to hunt or fish.
“ODFW believes this action
restricting non-residents will
help local communities enforce
the restrictions on out-of-state
travelers violating the order,
See
CLOSED 2B
‘Message from outdoors to Oregonians: Stay home for now’
Sunny, warm weather typi-
cally sends Oregonians out in
droves to their favorite outdoor
recreational destinations.
‘However, the message from
state leaders, health care work-
ers, and those on the front lines
responding to the COVID-19
outbreak is: please continue to
stay home to save lives … even
when it’s sunny.
State parks, many federal trail-
heads, and all private and public
recreational campgrounds are
closed to prevent people from
congregating and to protect the
staff that maintain these areas. ‘
Some local parks are still
open, but physical distance of at
least six feet needs to be main-
tained to stay safe. Whether in-
doors or outdoors, the virus can
still be easily passed from per-
son to person, even if individu-
als are not showing symptoms.
All non-essential travel (such
as for boating, hunting, or fish-
ing) should be short and mini-
mal, if at all. Oregonians who do
not live at the beach should not
travel there; most public access
points are closed.
Minimizing travel will less-
en the chance of spreading
COVID-19, especially to rural
communities that do not have
the hospital capacity to treat an
influx of patients from other
parts of the state.
Visiting a closed area poses a
danger to the visitor, the limit-
ed park staff, and the area itself.
Parking and restrooms are
See
HOME 2B
Oh my goodness!
Lynnette Wikstrom
Broker
Has it really been a month since we’ve started social distancing? It feels like the new normal may be the normal.
It’s hard to only go to the store once a week when I can usually popped by any time I wanted.
And darn it, gas prices are so low when we really can’t go anywhere?
Th is will pass and hopefully it will make us thankful and appreciate where we live.
Coldwell is still closed but we are answering the phone and still here to serve you if you need us!
COAST REAL ESTATE
My email is Lynnette@ cbcoast.com
Or call me at 541-999-0786
100 Hwy. 101, Florence, OR • 541.997.7777
“We’re next to the Bridge.”