4A |
WEDNESDAY EDITION
| APRIL 29, 2020
Siuslaw News
P.O. Box 10
Florence, OR 97439
NED HICKSON , EDITOR
| 541-902-3520 | NHICKSON @ THESIUSLAWNEWS . COM
Opinion
The First Amendment
C
ongress shall make no law respect-
ing an establishment of religion or
prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or
abridging the freedom of speech, or of the
press, or the right of the people peaceably
to assemble, and to petition the Govern-
ment for a redress of grievances.
“I never considered a difference of opinion in politics, in religion, in philosophy, as cause for withdrawing from a friend.” —Thomas Jefferson (1800)
Why Congress should support community news sources
(Editor’s Note: Viewpoint sub-
missions on this and other topics are
always welcome as part of our goal to
encourage community discussion and
exchange of perspectives.)
D
uring this coronavirus pan-
demic, access to accurate and
trustworthy information in our
communities is as critical to life un-
der quarantine and as sought after
as hand sanitizer and face masks.
Your local newspaper provides
the news and information unique to
your community. Where are testing
sites and who’s eligible? Which busi-
nesses are open? What is the local
online unemployment benefit appli-
cation process? What is the plan for
local education? And much more.
But your access to local news and
information is gravely threatened by
the economic carnage COVID-19
has wrought.
While local newspapers continue
to field reporters and bring news
and advice from public health au-
thorities in print and online — at
the same cost — their revenues have
all but disappeared as the business-
es that were their most important
advertisers have been reduced or
even shuttered. That’s why Ameri-
ca’s Newspapers and other organi-
zations representing local news pro-
viders are asking Congress to take
urgent action to ensure communi-
ties don’t lose their vital sources of
timely and trustworthy information.
First, we’re asking that Congress
expand and clarify the Payroll Pro-
tection Program to ensure it cov-
ers all local newspapers and news
broadcasters.
While some of these outlets may
be owned by larger organizations,
they must survive on their own. It’s
only fair that they should be includ-
ed in any expansion of the program.
These loans will keep the news-
Guest Viewpoint
By Dean Ridings
America’s Newspapers CEO
paper employees — your neighbors
— on their payrolls and help get the
news to you in print as well as on-
line. We appreciate the bipartisan
letter of April 19 from U.S. Senators
Maria Cantwell (D-WA), John Ken-
nedy (R-LA), Amy Klobuchar (D-
MN) and John Boozman (R-AR)
that requested waiving the Small
Business Administration’s (SBA)
affiliation rule to allow local media
outlets to access funding, pointing
to the critical role these outlets play
in keeping communities healthy and
informed.
Second, we are asking that the
Trump Administration direct cur-
rent federal government advertising
funds to local news and media out-
lets. These public service and infor-
mative ads could be similar to the
ones running right now about the
U.S. Census.
They could carry critical govern-
ment information about data from
the CDC, access to small business
loans, medical resources for fam-
ilies and other important topics.
We’re asking for a commitment that
would be spent in an equitable man-
ner across all local news providers.
We also believe that there should
be an immediate relief package that
is based on total newsroom employ-
ees. Some local news organizations
won’t survive without some type of
immediate grant or infusion that is
tied to the organization’s employ-
ees who directly work in the news-
room.
This is not a demand for an in-
dustry bailout by local news provid-
ers. Instead, these measures recog-
nize that local news publishers are
on the information frontline of the
coronavirus pandemic, providing a
public service vital to keeping our
communities safe, secure and sus-
tained during this unprecedented
public health crisis.
We encourage community mem-
bers who wish to support their local
news sources to contact the offices
of their senators and representatives
in the U.S. Congress (bottom right
of this page) and tell them you sup-
port expanding the Payroll Protec-
tion Program to include your local
news source and that the federal
government should use your local
newspapers or news broadcaster
to convey important information
through public service ads.
And finally, let them know that a
grant based on newsroom employ-
ees is critical at this time. Visit www.
usa.gov/elected-officials for their
contact information.
Consider taking this action to
ensure that your access to local in-
formation doesn’t become another
victim to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Thank you and may you and your
family remain safe and informed
during this difficult time.
Keep COVID in
perspective
Protecting each other
is the least we can do
So far, Florence has not experi-
enced a positive Coronavirus infec-
tion (that we know about) but all
of us must adhere to the required
safety measures to keep us safe.
Social distancing and wearing a
mask should be done by everyone
in town, which includes store em-
ployees and shoppers.
I recently had to go Peace Harbor
to confer with my primary doctor.
On arrival, my temperature was
taken before I sat down in the wait-
ing room where every other two
chairs were turned towards the wall
so no one could sit next to you.
Of course, I had a mask on, as
did the check-in person, with my
chair six feet away. And instead of
signing my name on a pad, I gave
an “OK.”
Needless to say, the nurse and
doctor also had masks on.
What made it a bit funny is that
communication through the mask
was a bit difficult, so the volume of
the spoken word was raised.
I think it should be mandatory
that everyone wears a mask when
in contact with others. The virus
is not going away in a month or
so, and will likely be with us for
months.
What we can do in the meantime
is protect each other and our com-
munity.
—Win Jolley
Florence
These times were
prophesied 2,630 years ago
With virus fears hanging on and
life moving slowly forward, I’m
compelled to write. Knowing I will
receive criticism as a fool beckons
actually reassures me.
The pandemic and its induce-
ment of states’ restrictive control
of Americans has been a trial run
of the Antichrist’s spirit being alive
on Earth. This spirit persuades
millions of people worldwide that
worries, suspicions, problems and
hatreds will dissolve with one lead-
er and his religion within his global
government.
Copyright 2020 © Siuslaw News
Siuslaw News
Published every Wednesday and Saturday at 148 Maple St. in Florence, Lane
County, Oregon. A member of the National Newspaper Association and Oregon
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Postmaster, send address changes to: Siuslaw News, P.O. Box 10, Florence, OR
97439; phone 541-997-3441; fax 541-997-7979. All press releases may be sent to
PressReleases@TheSiuslawNews.com.
Jenna Bartlett
Ned Hickson
Susan Gutierrez
Cathy Dietz
Ron Annis
Publisher, ext. 318
Editor, ext. 313
Multimedia Sales Director, ext. 326
Office Supervisor, ext. 312
Production Supervisor
DEADLINES:
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Letters to the Editor policy
The Siuslaw News welcomes letters to the edi-
tor as part of a community discussion of issues on
the local, state and national level.
Emailed letters are preferred. Handwritten or
typed letters must be signed. All letters need to
include full name, address and phone number;
only name and city will be printed. Letters should
be limited to about 300 words. Letters are sub-
ject to editing for length, grammar and clarity.
Publication of any letter is not guaranteed and
depends on space available and the volume of let-
ters received.
Letters that are anonymous, libelous, argumen-
tative, sarcastic or contain accusations that are
unsourced or documented will not be published.
Letters containing poetry or from outside the
Siuslaw News readership area will only be pub-
lished at the discretion of the editor.
Political/Election Letters:
LETTERS
We are all concerned about the
current COVID-19 Pandemic.
Current knowledge about this vi-
rus leaves us with many questions
about transmission and just how
lethal this threat is.
These unknowns have created
an atmosphere of panic, as there is
nothing more terrifying than the
unknown. Perhaps we should look
about us for some reality.
For many years, we have faced
an annual epidemic of Flu (H1N1).
Putting health issues in perspective,
the number of flu-related deaths in
the United States for 2017-18 was
about 80,000. Worldwide, the Flu
kills on average 646,000 people
each year.
The 2018-19 flu claimed “only”
61,200 American lives.
I clearly remember the 2017-18
epidemic; I was in ER with a heart
attack that February. The ER doctor
found the last hospital bed within
150 miles in Coos Bay — the rest
were filled with flu patients.
Do you remember that epidem-
ic?
Do you remember the name of
anyone who died then?
COVID-19 has become a per-
sonalized media event with daily
updates of tragic stories and pre-
dictions of further disasters.
I ask only that we settle down and
confront the problem rationally.
I will however, continue to follow
the mandatory guidelines.
—Keith R. Kraft
Florence
USPS# 497-660
It is said that seductive talk of
social justice, peace and prosper-
ity will captivate the majority of
Earth’s population, and that a sign
of goodwill and loyalty will be
needed; a mark.
For buying and selling, travel-
ing, locating someone, and proof of
vaccination, this mark will be vital.
Along those lines, Bill Gates has
recently been speaking of a micro-
chip with those capabilities.
Those of us refusing the mark
will be vilified, criminalized, ostra-
cized; when we have been taken up,
the world will celebrate.
Daniel, in his book, prophesied
these events some 2,630 years ago.
Jesus foretold of these times in
the books of Matthew and Revela-
tion.
—John Griffin
Florence
Thanks for support of
local vets, seniors
We want to thank Fred Meyer,
Safeway and Bi-Mart for all they
have done — and continue to do —
for Florence’s veterans and seniors.
We think their employees are
the real heroes. Showing up for
work every day, keeping the shelves
stocked with what is available,
cleaning, sanitizing — and always
with a smile.
We thank you all for your service
to our community.
Stay safe and may God bless you
all.
—Jim and Lillian Swant
Florence
Election-related letters must address pertinent
or timely issues of interest to our readers at-large.
Letters must 1) Not be a part of letter-writing
campaigns on behalf of (or by) candidates; 2) En-
sure any information about a candidate is accu-
rate, fair and not from second-hand knowledge
or hearsay; and 3) Explain the reasons to support
candidates based on personal experience and
perspective rather than partisanship and cam-
paign-style rhetoric.
Candidates themselves may not use the letters
to the editor column to outline their views and
platforms or to ask for votes; this constitutes paid
political advertising.
As with all letters and advertising content, the
newspaper, at the sole discretion of the publish-
er, general manager and editor, reserves the right
to reject any letter that doesn’t follow the above
criteria.
Email letters to:
nhickson@thesiuslawnews.com
WHERE TO WRITE
Pres. Donald Trump
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington, D.C. 20500
Comments: 202-456-1111
Switchboard: 202-456-1414
FAX: 202-456-2461
TTY/TDD Comments:
202-456-6213
www.whitehouse.gov
Oregon Gov.
Kate Brown
160 State Capitol
900 Court St.
Salem, Ore. 97301-4047
Governor’s Citizens’ Rep.
Message Line:
503-378-4582
www.oregon.gov/gov
U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden
221 Dirksen Senate Office
Bldg
Washington, DC 20510
202-224-5244
541-431-0229
www.wyden.senate.gov
U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley
313 Hart Senate Office Bldg
Washington, DC 20510
202-224-3753
FAX: 202-228-3997
541-465-6750
www.merkley.senate.gov
U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio
(4th Dist.)
2134 Rayburn HOB
Washington, DC 20515
202-225-6416
541-269-2609
541-465-6732
www.defazio.house.gov
State Sen. Arnie Roblan
(Dist. 5)
900 Court St. NE - S-417
Salem, OR 97301
503-986-1705
FAX: 503-986-1080
Email: Sen.ArnieRoblan@
oregonlegislature.gov
State Rep.
Caddy McKeown
(Dist. 9)
900 Court St. NE
Salem, OR 97301
503-986-1409
Email: rep.caddymckeown
@oregonlegislature.gov
West Lane County
Commissioner
Jay Bozievich
125 E. Eighth St.
Eugene, OR 97401
541-682-4203
FAX: 541-682-4616
Email: Jay.Bozievich@
co.lane.or.us