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WEDNESDAY EDITION | MAY 12, 2021 | $1.00
THESIUSLAWNEWS.COM
Siuslaw News
Siuslaw News
NEWS &
VIEWS THAT
DEFINE OUR
COMMUNITY
VOL. 131, NO. 38
M AY 12, 2021
F LORENCE , O REGON
WEATHER
Partly sunny
with a high of 63
and a low of 47.
Full forecast on A3
Meyer to be next editor of Siuslaw News
Newsroom to undergo changes in June
E
arly next month, the
the importance of those
By Damien Sherwood
Siuslaw News will see a
things more than Chantelle.
For the Siuslaw News
familiar face withdraw from
It’s in her DNA.”
the public spotlight only to
Siuslaw News Publisher
see another ascend.
Jenna Bartlett also expressed support.
After 23 years with the paper, Siuslaw News
“I am excited to have Chantelle lead the
Editor Ned Hickson is capping his pen and Siuslaw News editorial team and oversee the
stepping away from the editor’s desk in June. daily operations of our newsroom. She is
In his place, Features Editor Chantelle Meyer ready,” Bartlett said. “She is passionate about
will be taking up the mantle.
bringing news that matters to our communi-
Hickson said Meyer was the natural choice ty and that shines through in her work. I am
as she’s not only deserving, but ready for the thrilled to have an editor with the integrity,
role.
reputation, expertise and vision of Chantelle,
“One of my main considerations after de- to lead the Siuslaw News forward as we con-
ciding to leave was how to do so in a way that tinue to grow and expand.”
maintained the integrity and direction we
At 31 years old, Meyer is accepting the edi-
have taken in recent years, while also holding tor position with a self-awareness of her own
onto and appreciating the rich history of our youth, yet an eagerness to continue to build
newspaper,” he said. “Few people understand
See EDITOR page 6A
COMMUNITY
NED HICKSON/SIUSLAW NEWS
Chantelle Meyer, current features editor, will be
editor of the Siuslaw News starting in June.
Protesting
Florentine’s
sign, flag law
Open season
Florence Farmers
Market again offers
in-person shopping
Residents concerned
over rule limiting
military service flags
Humane Society
remodels thrift shop
INSIDE — A3
By Mark Brennan
Siuslaw News
SPORTS
MARK BRENNAN/SIUSLAW NEWS
Siuslaw on track
to win titles
INSIDE — B
RECORDS
Obituaries &
response logs
Inside — A2
T
he Florence Farmers Market opened for the sea-
son on Tuesday, in the parking lot beside the Vet-
erans Memorial Park on Bay Street in Historic Old
Town. Natalie L’Etoile and Wes Palmer from L’Etoile
Farm are excited at the prospect of talking with cus-
tomers this season and look forward to a successful
summer. “We are really glad to be back, and we are
really looking forward to seeing everyone we missed
last year.” The market will be allowing customers to
shop onsite this year, after limiting purchases last
season to online ordering and contact-free pick up.
Shoppers will still be asked to wear masks while shop-
ping and to maintain social distance when possible.
There will be new vendors participating in the mar-
ket this year and the food products available range
from vegetables, berries and mushrooms to pas-
tries, pies, meat and fish. For more information, visit
florencefarmersmarket.org.
TV GUIDE
Florence has a large number of re-
tirees and many of them are veterans,
proud of their service and the branch
of the service in which they served.
This appreciation for the work done
by the members of America’s five
military branches — the Army, Ma-
rines, Air Force, Navy and Coast
Guard — often takes the form of fly-
ing the flag for that service at their
individual homes.
However, that option is no longer
available to veterans who live or own
property in Florentine Estates. This
is due to a recent clarification in the
homeowner’s association regulations,
which prohibits the flying of any flag
other than the American flag on any
lot or property in the development.
See FLAGS page 5A
Just kidding around
Inside — B3-B4
KIDS CORNER
Goats sustainable, eco-friendly way to manage land
Activities for kids
Inside — B5
CLASSIFIEDS
Listings & notices
Inside — B6
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COURTESY PHOTO
Goats eat greenery from shrubs and bushes, making
them well-suited for coastal land management.
People spending time near Dowells
Peninsula on Mercer Lake have expe-
By Chantelle Meyer rienced the
curious joy
Siuslaw News
of a bunch
of kids play-
ing around over the past two weeks. In
fact, the 17 goats from Justin Austen’s
herd have been eating their way through
overgrowth and spring greenery in an
eco-conscious effort to clear the land.
“Not only are the goats are doing a
good job, but they’re a bit of a communi-
ty builder as well,” Austen said.
The three owners of the property, Steve
and Meredith Swenson and Becky Goeh-
ring, contacted Austen for his help after
hearing about his goats through a mutual
friend. They recently purchased the land,
which was covered in berries, ivy and sa-
lal, as well as other woody greenery.
“The goats have really uncovered
what’s there,” Goehring said. “It’s a natu-
ral way to clear property.”
For the landowners, it was important
to clear the property without the use of
heavy machinery. Not only is the land
near the lake, but there are residences
nearby and even vacation rentals. Those
neighbors have come out to watch the
goats at work.
“It’s just joyful and fun every day to
walk out and hear them bleating or watch
them jumping,” Goehring said.
Austen has had goats for the past five
years, and the current herd for three
years at his own property in Glenada.
“People love goats. I certainly love
goats,” he said.
Right now, his herd has 17 goats, with
nine of those this year’s kids. The herd is
matriarchal, with two half-sisters leading
the other three adult does, two adult bucks,
one adult wether (a castrated male), five
male kids and four female kids.
See GOATS page 8A
C elebrating Over 30 Years
in Real Estate
LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED
JIM HOBERG
Broker/Owner
1870 Hwy. 126, Suite A • PO Box 3040, Florence, OR