NOW HIRING
Get paid 2 party
Earn free gifts and 1/2 price
items by having a party can
even be on FB/virtual.
Great fundraiser 2
Call 2 get in2 drawing for
$109 worth of Tupperware
and for your free gift.
RS
2020
E
EA
CEL
SN
BR
SATURDAY EDITION | OCTOBER 3, 2020 | $1.00
S
SIU
THESIUSLAWNEWS.COM
W
1890
AW NE
L
S
Shirley
(305) 849-7948
vaughnsh.my.
tupperware.com
AT I N G 1 30 Y
August fire
victim named in
Siuslaw Valley
Fire and Rescue
investigation
By Mark Brennan
Siuslaw News
PHOTOS BY MARK BRENNAN/SIUSLAW NEWS
O
n Friday, Siuslaw Public Library hosted a drive-
by retirement party for long-time library staff
member Yvonne Pappagallo. She is retiring from
the library after working there for nearly 18 years.
Most recently, people were able to see Pappagallo
at the circulation desk. She will remain at the library,
however, as she works part-time in administration.
During the drive-by, people were able to stand at a
distance of six or more feet to offer congratulations
to Pappagallo on her retirement.
By Mark Brennan
Siuslaw News
The Siuslaw Watershed Council
(SWC) has been active in this area
since 1995 and continues to pro-
vide valuable leadership in the area
of waterway restoration and main-
tenance for the 773 square miles in
the watershed and the Siuslaw Riv-
er. The SWC is facing a difficult sit-
uation and is asking for help from
the community in what seems to
be a small task, but which in time
Watershed council seeks
native plant seeds
will hopefully grow to be very sig-
nificant.
SWC is asking interested in-
dividuals to help with collecting
seeds from native plants, which
will be planted and grown into ma-
ture plants which will then be dis-
tributed to local landowners who
reside in areas connected to local
waterways.
SWC Program Manager Kyle
Terry reached out to the Florence
Garden Club last month, shar-
ing a request from the Northwest
Oregon Restoration Partnership
(NORP) asking the club to assist in
the collection of seeds from trees
in this area, to add to the bank of
seeds being collected from around
the state.
In an effort to provide the plants
for local residents, the SWC works
with NORP and the Tillamook Es-
tuaries Project to gather, grow and
plant many of the donated plants,
which are then distributed to orga-
nizations like the SWC.
See SEEDS page 7A
A house fire which led to a fatality
a month ago on Aug. 8 was inves-
tigated by Siuslaw Valley Fire and
Rescue, which recently issued an
official report on the incident.
At approximately 3:45 p.m., a fire
was reported at 87547 Rhodowood
Drive. Weather conditions were mild
that day, with a temperature of 69,
sunny skies and only a slight wind
from the north.
The fire was called in by neighbors
and SVFR responded to a partial-
ly engaged structure fire with the
blaze emanating primarily from the
southwest corner of the home, which
turned out to be the living room area.
The victim of the blaze was later
identified as Nick Royal Story, 64,
owner and resident of the home.
According to the report, firefighter
Kyle Orozco was first on scene and
was also first to attack the interior
fire. The blaze was brought under
control by the fire attack crew within
15 minutes and an investigation of
the incident began soon after.
Orozco was also the first respond-
er who found a male victim lying on
his back on the floor in the living
room. The man was deceased, with
extreme heat significantly impacting
the body.
See FIRE page 7A
A committee selection
process gone askew – Pt. II
A continuation of Siuslaw News’ investigation into the impacts of partisanship on local government
By Siuslaw News
Editorial Staff
This installment in Siuslaw News’
investigative series on the impacts
of partisanship on local government
continues its look into the early 2019
committee selection process, the
challenges, applicants, who was cho-
NEWS &
VIEWS THAT
DEFINE OUR
COMMUNITY
VOL. 130, NO. 79
F LORENCE , O REGON
WEATHER
sen and who wasn’t — and the risk Greene from his longtime position.
of partisan influence.
Shortly after the meeting, Prociw
celebrated her victory along with
“Full service
family and personal friends. As the
political consulting”
first Latina elected to Florence City
“Okay, so we’re all sworn in and Council, and the youngest council-
legal,” Mayor Joe Henry said during or on the board, there was a lot to
the Jan. 7, 2019, Florence City Coun- celebrate.
cil meeting.
But it was also a celebration of the
Geraldine Prociw (née Lucio) work that had gone into her cam-
and Woody Woodbury had just paign. In attendance were Sherry
been sworn in, and the meeting was Harvey and Bill and Katie Prosser,
opened.
all of whom donated either cash do-
Following public comment from nations or time to running Prociw’s
both Sally Wantz and Jo Beaudreau campaign.
regarding moving forward from the
Also attending was Jake Pelroy
bruising partisanship of 2018, Hen- of Pelroy & Associates (PA), who
ry turned to nominations for coun- worked on Prociw’s campaign. Pel-
cil president. While Henry was may- roy’s company provided both cam-
or and therefore head of the council, paign materials, such as posters,
Councilor Joshua Greene was cur- as well as advice to candidates and
rent president and led the council in their campaigns.
Henry’s absence.
In 2013, PA began its career
“I’d like to nominate councilor with small races in towns like Cre-
Woodbury,” Prociw said as her first swell and statewide conservative
act as councilor, of which Henry and groups like the Community Ac-
Woodbury each approved. Preisler tion Network. That same year, PA
nominated Greene, but that nomi- began working with Lane County
nation was outvoted 3-2, relieving Commissioner Jay Bozievich, help-
Election2020
Inside today’s edition is the Voter’s Guide previewing local and
state candidates and ballot issues for the upcoming Election on
Tuesday, November 3.
ing him narrowly win a reelection
against challenger Dawn Lesly, who
was defeated by less than 100 votes.
Since then, Pelroy and Boziev-
ich have been frequent partners,
with Bozievich making cash ex-
penditures to PA of over $85,000
between 2013 and 2020.
In 2017, PA started to work in
local nonpartisan races, partnering
with the Coastal Committee for
Ethics and Integrity (CCEI) during
the Port of Siuslaw election. The
CCEI appeared to be focusing on
Position 5 of the race that included
David Swinney, Bill Fleenor and Bill
Meyer.
Fleenor was no stranger to politics,
having been Lane County Commis-
sioner himself. In 2006, he “staged
a sweeping upset victory” over an
incumbent for the position, which
pays $72,000 a year and comes with
full benefits. While there were some
committees formed for his reelec-
tion, by 2009 he had announced that
he would not be making a second
run, for personal reasons.
See COMMITTEE page 6A
Partly sunny with a
high of 69 and a low
tonight of 52.
Full forecast on A3
COMMUNITY
Backstreet begins
October show
INSIDE — A3
SPORTS
SWC seeking water
photos for contest
INSIDE — SPORTS
RECORDS
Obituaries &
response logs
Inside — A2
A LOOK BACK
Inside — A7
SIDE SHOW
Activities and
comics every
Saturday
Inside — B4
CLASSIFIEDS
Listings and 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 | 18 P AGES
C OPYRIGHT 2020
[Editor’s Note: In an effort to
provide transparency and account-
ability in our reporting, Siuslaw
News has begun publishing source
documents online with reference
links at the end of this story. We will
also periodically release evidence
gathered, including audio record-
ings, transcripts and emails, all of
which includes unreleased informa-
tion. We encourage the community
to examine the documents, links to
public meetings and past reporting
referenced in the series, not only to
form your own opinion based on
gathered information, but also to
learn resources that can be used to
look into the issue long after this se-
ries wraps up Oct. 14.]
Siuslaw News
Nick Royal Story, 64,
of Florence was sole
fatality of house fire
Turning to
the next page
Need for seeds
R EAD M ORE I NSIDE