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About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (May 27, 2020)
E AT I N G 1 3 RS 2020 M ORE EA CEL SN BR WEDNESDAY EDITION | MAY 27, 2020 | $1.00 S SIU THESIUSLAWNEWS.COM W 1890 AW NE L S 0 Y INFO I NSIDE — A5 Memorial Day 2020 “Since the first shots fired in the Revolutionary War, Americans have answered the call to duty and given their lives in service to our Nation and its sacred founding ideals. As we pay tribute to the lives and legacies of these patriots on Memorial Day, we also remem- ber that they sacrificed to create a better, more peaceful future for our nation and the world. We recommit to realizing that vision, honoring the service of so many who have placed love of country above all else.” — U.S. President Donald Trump, “Proclamation on Prayer for Peace, Memorial Day, 2020” O Siuslaw News NEWS & VIEWS THAT DEFINE OUR COMMUNITY VOL. 130, NO. 42 F LORENCE , O REGON WEATHER Partly sunny with a high of 68 and a low tonight of 51. Full forecast on A3 COMMUNITY PHOTOS BY MARK BRENNAN/SIUSLAW NEWS n Monday, Memorial Day was cele- brated in and around Florence in a more subdued manner than usual as COVID-19 related restrictions limited gatherings. However, that didn’t stop the community, including Siuslaw Valley Fire and Rescue, Western Lane Ambulance Dis- trict, Kiwanis Club of Florence and local veteran groups, from honoring America’s fallen heroes. Nationally, U.S. President Donald Trump proclaimed it as “a day of prayer for permanent peace.” Oregon Gov. Kate Brown began the holiday weekend by directing that flags be flown at half-staff. See MEMORIAL page 8A United Way again gives to area nonprofits INSIDE — A3 LIFESTYLE Siuslaw seeks ‘mosaic’ of solutions to student internet access The Siuslaw School District held a special work session last week to dis- By Jared Anderson cuss the Siuslaw News schools’ role in providing internet access to stu- dents as the district prepares for possible restrictions from the COVID-19 pandemic. While the school board did not take a vote during the meeting, the board made it clear that a “mosaic” of solutions needed to be looked at, both short and long term, in an is- sue that goes beyond the effects of COVID-19. Discussions surrounding student internet access began weeks ago after the district approached local fiber optic internet provider Hyak to help find internet solutions for students at home during the shut- down. What was initially proposed was a $1.4 million, five-year deal that would task Hyak with finding solu- tions to providing free or reduced access to students across the dis- trict. One aspect of the proposed deal would have been the installa- tion of fiber in specific areas where student need had been identified. But since the discussion began, the economic outlook has changed drastically. Just hours before the district meeting, state economists warned that Oregon’s corporate ac- tivities tax, which is meant to pay for education, would be down $414 million in the current budget cycle, and $600 million less from 2021 to 2023. See ACCESS page 6A A second edition of Viking tradition INSIDE — B RECORDS Obituaries & response logs Inside — A2 TV GUIDE Inside — B3-B4 Thinking beyond the present ‘A strong history of patriotism’ ‘Christmas in June’ community grant program will assist local residents By Mark Brennan Siuslaw News x x Listings and notices Inside — B6 FOLLOW US FOR THE LATEST NEWS : “There are a lot of families who have veterans and who are relatives of veterans. We want to support that long heritage of supporting their country,” said Megan Gerber, special projects coordinator for the Deadwood Pioneer Cemetery. “This area COURTESY PHOTO has a strong history of patrio- Deadwood Pioneer Cemetery’s new 11-foot rock monument was tism.” >ĞĂƌŶŚŽǁƚŽĮŶĚƚŚĞďĞƐƚDĞĚŝĐĂƌĞƉůĂŶĨŽƌLJŽƵ͘ x CLASSIFIEDS By Jared Anderson Siuslaw News The cemetery is celebrating that patriotism with the installation of the new Veterans Memorial Rock, See ROCK page 6A 'ĂŝŶ ĂŶƵŶĚĞƌƐƚĂŶĚŝŶŐŽĨŚŽǁDĞĚŝĐĂƌĞǁŽƌŬƐ͘ Learn ƚŚĞĚŝīĞƌĞŶĐĞďĞƚǁĞĞŶDĞĚŝĐĂƌĞĚǀĂŶƚĂŐĞĂŶĚDĞĚŝĐĂƌĞ^ƵƉƉůĞŵĞŶƚƉůĂŶƐ͘ ŝƐĐŽǀĞƌŚŽǁDĞĚŝĐĂƌĞWƌĞƐĐƌŝƉƟŽŶƌƵŐWůĂŶƐǁŽƌŬ͘ Activities for kids Inside — B5 donated by Don Wilbur, set up by Gerry Burnett and Duane Wills, and is being carved by Mic Johnson of Mapleton (above). /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 Unusual times often call for an unusual approach to solutions. That is the thinking behind a new effort created to alleviate some of the financial challenges local resi- dents may be experiencing due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The program, called “Christmas in June,” is being initiated with funds from retired military pilot Sam Spayd, who has deep ties to the community. He hopes others will also contribute to the project. “I saw a need in our community to help our friends and neighbors who have been financially impact- ed by the COVID-19 pandemic,” Spayd said. Spayd is an active supporter of many community initiatives, in- cluding financial and equipment support for summer school train- ing for local students who are in- terested in flying. As a pilot, vol- unteer and supporter, he has also taken the lead in promoting and coordinating the design and con- struction of the recently approved new gateway to the Florence Mu- nicipal Airport and an adjoining park. Spayd, who regularly donates hanger space for public events, mil- itary presentations and meetings, See PROGRAM page 7A Deadwood Pioneer Cemetery installs veteran memorial KIDS CORNER ,ĞůƉŝŶŐKƌĞŐŽŶŝĂŶƐ^ŝŶĐĞϭϵϵϲ ϭϵϯϮWŝŶĞ^ƚ^ƵŝƚĞ-ϲ &ůŽƌĞŶĐĞ͕KZ͘ϵϳϰϯϵ ĂŶĂĂŶĞ/ŶƐƵƌĂŶĐĞŝƐŶŽƚĐŽŶŶĞĐƚĞĚǁŝƚŚŽƌĞŶĚŽƌƐĞĚďLJƚŚĞhŶŝƚĞĚ^ƚĂƚĞƐŐŽǀĞƌŶŵĞŶƚŽƌƚŚĞĨĞĚĞƌĂůDĞĚŝĐĂƌĞƉƌŽŐƌĂŵ͘