4A |
WEDNESDAY EDITION
| OCTOBER 21, 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)
USPS# 497-660
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
Newspaper Publishers Association. Periodicals postage paid at Florence, Ore.
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
Cathy Dietz
Ron Annis
For advertising: ext. 318
Publisher, ext. 318
Editor, ext. 313
Office Supervisor, ext. 312
Production Supervisor
For classified: ext. 320
DEADLINES:
Wednesday Issue—General news, Monday noon; Budgets, four days prior to
publication; Regular classified ads, Monday 1 p.m.; Display ads, Monday noon; Dis-
play classified ads, Friday noon.
Saturday Issue—General news, Thursday noon; Budgets, two days prior to pub-
lication; Regular classified ads, Thursday 1 p.m.; Display ads, Thursday noon; Display
classified ads, Wednesday 5 p.m. Soundings, Tuesday 5 p.m.
NEWSPAPER SUBSCRIPTION RATES:
In Lane County — 1-year subscription, $79; 6-month in-county, $56; 10-week
subscription, $25; Out of Lane County — 1-year subscription, $102; 6-month out-
of-county, $69; 10-week subscription, $35; Out of State — 1-year subscription,
$134; E-Edition Online Only (Anywhere) — 1-year subscription, $65.
Mail subscription includes E-Edition.
Website and E-Edition: TheSiuslawNews.com
LETTERS
Perkins will preserve our
freedoms, republic
I recently had the opportunity to
listen to Jo Rae Perkins give her vi-
sion for the State of Oregon and was
very impressed with her knowledge
and drive to make things better in
this state (She is running against
incumbant Jeff Merkley).
I have been very disturbed of late
listening to Mr. Merkley regarding
his thoughts on defunding police
and supporting the siege that has
been going on in Portland for more
than three months.
It is surely time for a change.
Some of the key issues that Jo
Rae talked about were:
1) Law and Order: They are es-
sential for living a safe and prom-
ising future; anarchy should never
be tolerated.
2) Medical-health freedom: She
supports the right to decide what
type of healthcare is best for you
and your family.
3) Land: Better management of
rangelands, forests and parks.
4) Natural resources: Those clos-
est to the land know how to proper-
ly care for these resources. Proper
utilization will create opportunities
for employment.
5) Term limits: Limiting mem-
bers of Congress to a combined to-
tal of 12 years.
6) She supports the Second
Amendment.
7) Foreign policy: Stand by our
allies, including Israel.
8) Immigration: We must protect
our borders, enforce immigration
laws, end sanctuary states and cit-
ies, and finish the wall that will stop
human, drug and sex trafficking.
8) National defense: A strong de-
fense is the best offense.
9) Veterans: Our veterans de-
serve the best medical care from
the provider of their choosing, with
service-related care covered.
Our country is the country of
freedom, life, liberty and the pur-
suit of happiness. I will be voting
for her to preserve our Republic.
—Linda Payton
Florence
Kindness of a stranger
Many thanks to the honest and
wonderful individual who took
the money I left in the ATM to the
police department along with my
receipt.
If everyone was as caring and
thoughtful, we would have a much
better world.
—Lori Straley
Florence
Against Oceana Drive
annexation
Citizens of Florence should be
aware of another attempt to annex
a county road for what appears to
be the benefit of a wealthy devel-
oper. A similar situation occured
a few years ago when the city an-
nexed Rhododendron Drive.
This time, the city is being asked
to annex Oceana Drive from Rho-
dodendron Drive to the property of
a developer. If this is accomplished,
the developer will add a significant
number of homes to an already
overtaxed sewage system and re-
quire maintenance to a road now
maintained by the county.
Should the annexation occur,
people living on Oceana Drve will
be affected in a number of adverse
ways.
I feel this policy of using annex-
ation of a road to connect with
“islands” of land farther out in the
county should be of concern to city
residents as much as those living
outside city limits.
Annexing a road to get to a re-
mote island of land is an extreme
way for any city to expand. It defies
common sense and, in my mind,
raises questions as to how develop-
ers and special interests manage to
get city approval for such projects.
—Joe Decker
Oceana Drive
Renewing subscription
but not completely happy
We are renewing our subscrip-
tion to the Siuslaw News but I am
not happy with its Investigative Se-
ries.
Many of us in Florence and sur-
rounding community subscribe to
the paper for local news and “go-
ings on” not editorial ramblings. I
am not at all happy with its nega-
tive articles about the mayor, city
council and others.
What happened to the police
reports and other items that used
to be included? And while I am
expressing my unhappiness with
the paper presently, I might add I
don’t care for the thinness (quality)
of the paper material being used as
of late.
I do appreciate, however, the
coverage given to military veterans
and local organizations.
—Barbara Cavarno
Florence
Fresh voices needed on
city council
I would like to thank all of those
at the Siuslaw News who were in-
volved in writing the recent inves-
tigative series about what has been
going on in our local politics.
Since the articles angered those
on the left and those on the right,
I’d say it must be a pretty fair ac-
count.
That being said, at this point I re-
ally don’t care about who said what
or who started it. What I do care
about is that, over the years, I have
seen an increase in divisiveness,
political maneuvering and in-fight-
ing in our local government similar
to what is seen at the federal level.
Councilors Joshua Greene and
Ron Preisler will not be on the bal-
lot this time but Joe Henry will be.
I think six years of Mayor Hen-
ry is enough, especially since — by
his own admission — he intends to
govern in the same way that he has
in the past.
No thank you sir. I do not care to
see more discord and stonewalling.
It’s time for a change.
I want some new, fresh voices in
our local government, and I feel
Maggie Bagon, Sally Wantz and Jo
Beaudreau are all excellent choices.
—Kim Shields
Florence
A vote for Boomer is vote
for law enforcement
I am the dad of a police officer
daughter and I strongly stand by
our law enforcement officers.
I am supporting Boomer Wright
for State Representative for many
reasons — but especially because of
his support of law enforcement.
I grew up here, knowing and
loving Boomer in his work in ad-
ministration in our schools. He is
a very special leader and positive
problem solver. Now, more than
ever, we need someone with his life
experience, communication skills
and integrity working for us in the
legislature.
And we especially need someone
who supports and understands the
importance of law and order.
He would never vote to defund
the police —and that makes me feel
safer for my daughter, all police of-
ficers and my community.
Boomer’s website shows that he
has the endorsement of Oregon
Coalition of Police and Sheriffs
(ORCOPS) and also the Oregon
Association of Chiefs of Police and
the Oregon Sheriff ’s Association.
That says a lot.
They must think he is the best
for keeping us safe as well. Please
remember to vote this election in
support of people who support
law enforcement and especially for
Boomer Wright.
—Rich DeSantis
Florence
Cal and Boomer
Cal Mukamuto understands
forestry as an insider with over 30
years of experience in the timber
industry. He wants to keep the for-
est products businesses of Oregon
running using stewardship and ho-
listic approaches that encompass
fish, wildlife, tourism and the sci-
ence of ecosystems.
He has proven experience help-
ing businesses overcome challeng-
es, including tribal enterprises. He
notes in the Siuslaw News Voters
Guide 2020 that improving the
economy, tackling public health
issues and developing strategies for
supporting young people in voca-
tional success will take leadership
and the ability to work with others
who hold diverse positions and be-
liefs.
Boomer’s remarks in the Voters
Guide are lacking specific examples
of how he would help businesses
reopen or school resume. He says
he wants what’s best for students,
but also does not want taxes, which
can pay for educational programs
and teacher salaries. Especially
concerning is that Boomer is sup-
ported by Timber Unity, a spe-
cial interest group that advocates
leaving the legislature instead of
hammering out tough legislation
through negotiation and dialogue.
Boomer was a coach, teacher,
and principal, and Cal did none of
those — yet Cal is endorsed by the
Oregon Education Association and
Boomer is not.
—Ivy Medow
Florence
Siuslaw News
Office:
148 Maple St./PO Box 10 Florence, OR
87439
Office Hours:
Monday to Thursday: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Friday: 8 a.m. to noon
Letters to the Editor policy
The Siuslaw News welcomes letters to the editor
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 in-
clude full name, address and phone number; only
name and city will be printed. Letters should be
limited to about 300 words. Letters are subject to
editing for length, grammar and clarity. Publica-
tion of any letter is not guaranteed and depends on
space available and the volume of letters received.
Letters that are anonymous, libelous, argumen-
tative, sarcastic or contain accusations that are un-
sourced or documented will not be published.
Letters containing poetry or from outside the Siu-
slaw News readership area will only be published at
the discretion of the editor.
Political/Election Letters:
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 accurate,
fair and not from second-hand knowledge or hear-
say; and 3) Explain the reasons to support candi-
dates based on personal experience and perspective
rather than partisanship and campaign-style rhet-
oric.
Candidates themselves may not use the letters to
the editor column to outline their views and plat-
forms or to ask for votes; this constitutes paid politi-
cal advertising.
As with all letters and advertising content, the
newspaper, at the sole discretion of the publisher,
general manager and editor, reserves the right to re-
ject 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