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About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 13, 2021)
4A | WEDNESDAY EDITION | JANUARY 13, 2021 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 LETTERS Inclusiveness, compassion and positivity I’m sure that in Bruce Jarvis’ let- ter (“Honest Debate Needed For Better Decisions,” 1-9-21) he didn’t really mean that if anyone wants “inclusiveness and positivity” that they need to leave Oregon or Flor- ence. He mentions that “our town” was built by loggers and fisherman. That is certainly true but this coun- try was also built by robber bar- ons who had little compassion or concern for those very loggers and fishermen — only for their own pockets and bottom line. I don’t know exactly which letters to the editor Mr. Jarvis is referring to, but I hope it’s not those recent letters objecting to the annexation of Oceana Drive and certain par- cels into the City of Florence. If it is, then I don’t see any strong debate that he mentions allowed by COF Planning Commission. In fact, any comments and evi- dence allowed in (virtual hear- ings and meetings) on that subject have been cut off in mid sentence or not audible to the hundreds of residents that have no say or vote in the matter and are being totally ignored. So all, and especially the Flor- ence City Council, let’s have some inclusiveness, positivity and com- passion for the hundreds of older citizens that are going to be so neg- atively impacted by this possible annexation that not one resident of the Oceana and adjoining streets and subdivisions wants. Even though we do live north of Oregon’s southern border, don’t you think we’re entitled to that ? —Jeff Talbot Florence Likely only the beginning of the mayhem I had always thought of Flor- ence as a very liberal town, so I was shocked to see in the Siuslaw News general election results that Trump was so heavily supported by those in the community. It is interesting to consider that, statistically, a neighbor random- ly spouting off about Trump may very likely be complaining to a Trump supporter. The theory that the election was stolen may not get as much legal traction as the Rus- sian collusion theory, but it is very real in the minds of tens of millions of Americans. What we saw in the Capital last week may likely be only a begin- ning of the mayhem. Many of the 74 million Trump supporters are very angry and unlikely to yield. Biden cannot unite the country as Americans by bashing them and Trump. One must remember that Weather Underground bombed many federal buildings in an angry attempt to push the country left. Imagine what might be done to push it back? Those gloating about a win may want to consider the prize they have won, an attempt to govern a very divided people. —Bill Shepard Mapleton Show some respect I fi nd it telling that even the local PUD had the awareness to lower the fl ag out of respect for the offi - cer murdered while defending the capital building from domestic ter- rorism. But not our City Hall. So Mayor, do blue lives matter? Show some respect for those who have fallen defending our Democ- racy. —Edward Gunderson Florence Th e message of Rufus Valentine our hands. I’d dealt with worse things. The complaints started soon after we opened. Since our restaurant was As I’ve mentioned be- fore, I lived in the South for 10 years, with six of those years spent in the suburbs of Atlanta. In the early 1990s, I was a restau- rant chef operating in one of Georgia’s largest shop- ping malls — three stories of glass, sale banners and merchants spanning six football fields’ worth of mall space. As you can imagine, I’ve dealt with as many personalities as there are seats in a 280-capacity dining room. The fact that Rufus Valentine dug such a deep groove in my mem- ory should tell you a little something about the man’s character. The first time I saw Ru- fus Valentine was during the Atlanta Braves’ heyday in February of 1992, when all of Atlanta was antici- pating the spring — and a run at the World Series. Essentially, you could be completely naked; but as long as you had a Braves cap on you were consid- ered properly attired by most Atlantans. So, when Rufus ap- peared in his red tights, heart-shaped wings, and Braves cap at the west entrance of the Lenox Square mall, I and most others assumed he was there to express his love for Atlanta’s baseball team — at least until I saw the bow and arrows. But even then, I could see that he was harmless. The arrows in his quiver were tipped with foam rubber —red, of course — and in the shape of hearts. Considering the date, I made the connection and realized we had a Braves-loving Cupid on dried to the point of split- ting. He gave me an appre- ciative nod and sipped, then blurted “fettuccini Alfredo.” He laid the menu down and pointed to the Valentine, that’s exactly what happened. When my shift ended, it was near dusk. Along the sidewalks, automat- ed lamps had started humming to life. As I approached the parking tower, I noticed flashes of red and blue spilling Ned Hickson from the shadows of the underground level where I was parked. The closer situated closest to the mall item, as if I wouldn’t know I got, the more patrol cars I saw. entrance, we got the brunt it otherwise. “Coming right up,” I of unhappy mall dwellers. At the edge of the drive, said, and took the menu. yellow crime scene tape “Hey, there’s some guy had been strung. Taking shooting people with rub- As I turned to ring in his ber arrows out there,” one order, I saw him reach for a spot among a crowd of onlookers, I saw a white of them said, brandishing his quiver. “Hey,” I said, one hand sheet — and the callused the arrow in question and on his drawing arm. hand of Rufus Valentine rubbing his cheek. “Here’s the deal. No protruding from beneath With security nowhere matchmaking until after it. Next to him, his wings to be found, I decided to lunch.” lay in a crumpled pile. settle the matter myself He studied me for a I later learned that and strode out the door moment, then set his Rufus Valentine — born — and was immediately bow on the counter. “I’m Rufus Jones in 1936 — tagged. no matchmaker. I’m just had left the mall that day “Got you! Spread the love, brother,” Rufus said, tryin’ to spread the love — and taken his message to one brother, one sister, at as if he’d tossed me a box the parking garage. It was a time.” there that he encountered of chocolates instead of “That’s a nice sentiment; a street gang and attempt- nailing me with a rubber just don’t do it in here, arrow. ed to “spread the love.” OK?” I said and released He met the faces of prej- “Excuse me, but you’ll his arm. have to stop with the udice and hatred instead. arrows. My customers are I think everyone has With the approach of said things that they wish Martin Luther King Day, complaining,” I said. In that same instant, he they hadn’t. In the top he always comes to mind. plugged a passerby who 10 of my own regrettable And, also, no small measure of guilt. Had I left turned and gave me a dirty phrases, that one ranks look, spouting something right up there. First, him alone to do his work, because of my tactics or brought him lunch, about restaurant promo- to control him. Second, things might have turned tions getting out of hand. because he called me on A sudden ebb in the out differently. Even though he’s no shopping current allowed it. And third, because I wouldn’t get the chance to longer here to sling his me to grab his attention. take it back. “Hey, it’s almost noon. arrows, I hope we can take his message to heart With the smell of par- How about lunch on me?” — and spread the love: mesan and cream sauce “What’cha got?” “Come in and find out,” in the air, this obviously one brother, one sister at a time. I said, ushering him inside hungry man stood from the counter, grabbed his and up to the counter in hopes of containing him bow and quiver, and left Note: I originally wrote through the lunch rush. the counter. this editorial in 1998 Sitting there at one of the “People need love more stools, his wings protrud- than I needed fettuccini during my first year at Siuslaw News. It’s my ing from either side of the Alfredo,” he said, and ex- way of honoring Rufus chair back, he drew more ited the restaurant. When than a few stares. he kept going, I consid- Valentine and carrying on his message — a message Handing him a soda, I ered myself lucky. that seems particularly noticed that his dark black He could become some- hands were worn and cal- one else’s headache. important on many levels at this moment. lused. His fingernails had Unfortunately for Rufus From the Editor’s Desk Copyright 2021 © 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 Classifieds: 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. 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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
