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