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About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (April 18, 2020)
RS 2020 E EA SIU S CEL SN BR SATURDAY EDITION | APRIL 18, 2020 | $1.00 THESIUSLAWNEWS.COM W 1890 AW NE L S AT I N G 1 30 Y CUTEST PET PHOTO CONTEST thesiuslawnews.secondstreetapp.com/Pet VOTE TODAY Vo No te Ap w 15 ril -30 th Peace Harbor Volunteers donate to local PeaceHealth COVID-19 fund I NSIDE — A3 Earth Day 2020 goes digital ‘A momentous opportunity to examine our ... collective relationship with the natural world’ By Mark Brennan Siuslaw News Fifty years ago next week, a group of students, hip- pies, farmers, educators and scientists joined to form a loose coalition spread across college campuses with the intention of saving the plan- et from further toxic degra- dation and potentially total destruction. Wisconsin Sen. Gaylord Nelson (D) was worried that the planet was being irrep- arably damaged by human activities. He decided to or- ganize a nationwide “teach- in” to present information clearly showing the negative impacts the planet was un- dergoing. Nelson said he hoped that showing the public the scientific evidence that was MARK BRENNAN/SIUSLAW NEWS “Science really created the first Earth Day, because it came at a time when scientists started to understand the impacts of industrial devel- opment on our planet. Now, with growing environmental concerns, science provides evidence-based policy decisions and upholds the com- mon good.” — Kathleen Rogers, President, Earth Day Network being accumulated at uni- versities and think tanks — proving widespread en- vironmental degradation — would make a difference. His efforts were rewarded with support from tens of thousands of likeminded individuals from across the spectrum of American so- ciety. More than 2,000 colleges and universities and 10,000 public schools participated that day, primarily because of an alarming compilation of troubling trends that had come to light, includ- ing what many saw as the commoditizing of the natu- ral world; there was a fiscal value assigned to trees, land and water, which could be exploited for substantial economic gain. See EARTH page 6A Siuslaw News NEWS & VIEWS THAT DEFINE OUR COMMUNITY VOL. 130, NO. 31 F LORENCE , O REGON WEATHER Cloudy with a high of 52 and a low tonight of 44. Full forecast on A3 COMMUNITY Pinwheels for Prevention ‘Silently struggling’ West Lane 90by30 highlights Child Abuse Prevention Month By Chantelle Meyer Siuslaw News Mobile Crisis Response discusses fears, future and help for anxious times MARK BRENNAN/SIUSLAW NEWS 90by30 West Lane Regional Leadership Team has installed pin- wheel gardens all over the Siuslaw Region to remind people to keep childhood “safe, happy and carefree.” With all the changes, however, do is manage themselves by rec- comes an increase in unhealthy ognizing when it is time to take a coping mechanisms. break, go for a walk with or with- “It’s a different time for kids, and out family, shift to a different ac- so the most important thing is to tivity or reach out for support,” maintain your relationship with wrote 90by30 at the start of Child your children,” Mann-Heintz said. Abuse Prevention Month. “You have to keep it as unscary as Similarly, Oregon Department possible. I mean, they’re scared of Human Services (ODHS) en- anyway, right? With all these courages Oregonians to check in changes, and all this TV coverage, with families and continue to en- and all the precautionary things gage with child welfare when ap- and everybody acting so differ- propriate. ently, their routines are all upset. “During this very fluid situa- … And so kids need tons of assur- tion, where there are more ques- ance. We’ve got to try to normalize tions than answers, we are keep- things as much as possible for them ing child safety paramount in our in a very abnormal situation.” work and want to reiterate our Child Abuse Prevention Month dedication to children and fami- serves as a reminder to commu- lies,” said Rebecca Jones Gaston, nity members that it is important DHS Child Welfare Director. to protect children and youth. The DHS Child Welfare Pro- Research has shown that econom- gram will continue to operate the ic difficulties, substance use and 24/7 statewide Child Abuse ho- abuse, domestic violence, illness tline at 1-855-503-SAFE (7233), and isolation increase the risk of respond to reports of abuse and abuse and neglect. Children and neglect, and work with communi- youth can become the targets for ty partners to maintain support to relief of adult frustrations. families. “The very best thing adults can See CHILDREN page 5A “With the pandemic out there, we want to make sure that people are taking pre- By Jared Anderson cautions for Siuslaw News themselves, making sure that their mental health, along with their physical health, is still being taken care of,” said Mobile Crisis Response (MCR) member Camille Reyes. “Yes, we’re advising people not to go out, but there’s still things that can be done to make sure you’re taking care of yourself men- tally, not getting into a panic.” MCR, a newly formed branch of the Western Lane Fire and EMS Authority (WLFEA), exists to help all residents of the Siuslaw region with issues regarding mental health. From diagnosed mental health issues, to dealing with general fear, anxiety and loneliness, MCR has been available to help residents get through this time of pandemic with clinical help, or just being a friendly presence to talk through a difficult time. But MCR has run into a problem: as the fears of global pandemic spread, calls to the MCR counterin- tuitively decreased. “We’re still getting calls, but at a very minimum,” Reyes said. “I think people are afraid to call. I don’t think they realize that we have help here in Florence. They’re just not sure if they’re going to get the help.” Any individual served by WL- FEA, including members of the upriver community, can contact MCR for help. See RESPONSE page 6A Sea Lions continue to make a Splash INSIDE — A3 SPORTS It’s time to get planting INSIDE — RECREATION RECORDS Obituaries & emergency response logs Inside — A2 SIDE SHOW Activities and comics every Saturday Inside — B4 CLASSIFIEDS Listings and public notices Inside — B5 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 During the uncertain times of the COVID-19 pandemic, 90by30 continues its goals to reduce child abuse in Lane County by 90 per- cent by 2030. While students are attending school through distance learning, West Lane 90by30 and other organizations seek to remind families that they are here for their support. “It’s very stressful right now on a whole bunch of different fronts, and the easiest people to take it out on are your kids,” said 90by30 member Suzanne Mann-Heintz. With April being Child Abuse Prevention Month, 90by30 is put- ting up visual reminders all over the Siuslaw region. These blue and silver pinwheel gardens have sprouted at businesses, banks, local governments and even along High- way 126 near Three Rivers Casino Resort. “The pinwheel is the symbol of a safe, happy, carefree childhood, and that’s why it was selected for the symbol associated with Child Abuse Prevention Month,” Mann- Heintz said. “That’s what our kids deserve — a safe, happy and care- free childhood. I hope seeing the pinwheels around town will keep it in the forefront of people’s minds.” 90by30 plants more than 7,000 pinwheels each year across Lane County — though that number is smaller this year. In the Siuslaw region, students often help with the installation of the garden, vol- unteering through Boys and Girls Clubs of Western Lane County, the Siuslaw Elementary Kindness Club and Siuslaw High School Key Club. “We had student help to put up pinwheel gardens, but we couldn’t do that this year,” Mann-Heintz said. It is just one way that the region is adapting to social distancing re- quirements. through the fear of a pandemic Celebrating 30 Years in Real Estate SIUSLAW NEWS READERS CHOICE WINNER Voted Best Realtor for 5 Years! JIM HOBERG Broker/Owner 1870 Hwy. 126, Suite A • PO Box 3040, Florence, OR
