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SATURDAY EDITION | MAY 15, 2021 | $1.00
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Siuslaw News
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NEWS &
VIEWS THAT
DEFINE OUR
COMMUNITY
VOL. 131, NO. 39
M AY 15, 2021
F LORENCE , O REGON
WEATHER
Sunshine all day
with a high of 60
and a low of 45.
Full forecast on A3
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Recognizing nursing excellence
Eight Peace Harbor caregivers honored with awards May 12
Story & Photos
By Mark Brennan
Siuslaw News
P
eaceHealth Peace Harbor Hos-
pital announced its 2021 Nurs-
ing Excellence Award honorees at a
recognition ceremony on Wednes-
day, May 12, in Florence.
There were eight individuals
honored during the ceremony and
all were nominated by co-workers
in seven different categories: Ed-
ucator, collaborator, leader, clini-
cian, advocate, innovator and sup-
port colleague.
“The hospital and clinics’ Nurs-
ing Excellence Awards recognize
nursing caregivers who embody
the role of the professional nurse,
as well as other members of the
patient care team who provide ex-
emplary support services. These
special caregivers were nominated
by their peers,” said PeaceHealth
Communications
Coordinator
Anne Williams.
There was also a special presen-
tation made, The Daisy Award, to
acknowledge the overall contri-
butions to patient care, which was
given to Brittany Countryman.
A nurse in the Emergency De-
partment at Peace Harbor Medical
Center, Countryman was nomi-
nated by a patient who appreciated
her calm, compassionate care in
response to an uncomfortable sit-
uation.
The patient went on to say, “She
was so great, sweet, calm and she
made me less embarrassed. Thank
you for not judging me and being a
great nurse!”
The Daisy Award is a special rec-
ognition that was created to honor
caregivers at PeaceHealth Peace
Harbor after a patient, Patrick
Barnes, was treated at a PeaceHealth
Oregon reacts
to changing
COVID-19
restrictions
CDC releases
guidance on masks,
social distancing for
vaccinated people
By Chantelle Meyer
Siuslaw News
Robin Allen (right), vice president of patient care, presents the
first “Daisy Award” to Brittany Countryman, Registered Nurse at
PeaceHealth Peace Harbor, for her excellent patient care. Seven other
awards were presented to caregivers in a special ceremony Wednesday.
facility. While Barnes’ struggle
with an auto-immune disease was
ultimately unsuccessful, his fam-
ily was so appreciative of the care
he received they established the
“Daisy Award” to recognize the
special work done by all Peace-
Health employees.
Tena Barnes, Patrick’s wife,
came up with the acronym
“DAISY,” which stands for Diseas-
es Attacking the Immune System,
and the family set up a scholarship
program in addition to the awards
presented to Peace Harbor em-
ployees.
“We are so blessed that we were
able to spend the eight weeks of
his hospitalization with him and
his family. During those weeks, we
experienced the best of nursing,”
said Patrick’s father, Mark Barnes.
“We were there to see the clinical
skill that dealt with his very com-
plex medical situation, the fast
See NURSES page 5A
Oregon Gov. Kate Brown re-
leased several updates this week
regarding the novel coronavirus
COVID-19 and the changing
guidelines for vaccinated popula-
tions. This comes after announce-
ments made by the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC) on May 13.
“Today, the CDC issued new
guidance for lifting mask and social
distancing requirements for ful-
ly-vaccinated individuals,” Brown
said. “It is yet another sign that, if
we all continue to do our part, the
pandemic is coming closer to an
end. Starting today, Oregon will be
following this guidance, which only
applies to fully-vaccinated individ-
uals. That means Oregonians who
are fully-vaccinated no longer need
to wear masks or social distance in
most public spaces.”
The CDC’s update states that
fully vaccinated people no longer
need to wear a mask or physical-
ly distance in any setting, except
where required by federal, state, lo-
cal, tribal, or territorial laws, rules
and regulations, including local
business and workplace guidance.
See COVID page 5A
FURA approves proposed
Siuslaw brings students back
budget for 2021-23 biennium
to school 4 days a week
School board meeting covers political
policy, budget, graduation
S IUSLAW N EWS
2 S ECTIONS | 16 P AGES
C OPYRIGHT 2021
Starting May 3, By Chantelle Meyer ementary Principal
Siuslaw School Dis-
Mike Harklerode.
Siuslaw News
trict was able to
“That allowed for a
expand its on-site
really big step for-
operations to invite students onto ward in this last change, and it
campus four days per week.
went pretty seamlessly.”
“We started going back to school
According to Siuslaw Super-
four days a week, two weeks ago,” intendent Andy Grzeskowiak, a
said Siuslaw School Board Student portion of students remain in dis-
Liaison Elijah Blankenship to the tance learning, with a majority of
school board on May 12. “That’s students now attending class from
been successful. I think all the district facilities. This amounts to
students are really liking it, and 130 students at Siuslaw Elementa-
it’s nice to have more social inter- ry, 80 students at Siuslaw Middle
action every day. It’s nice to be a and 187 students at Siuslaw High
little bit back to normal before School working from home.
this year’s out and the seniors are
Next, high school principal
gone.”
Garth Gerot gave a brief update
Siuslaw Middle School admin- on Siuslaw’s graduation, which
istrators reported that having stu- will be held Friday, June 11, at 7
dents in classrooms four days a p.m. Eighty-four seniors are ex-
week doubled the amount of time pected to graduate in an outdoor
they are at school.
ceremony, with members of their
“I think every step of the way families present.
we’ve taken with adding students
“If numbers stay the same in
back to campus has been slow and terms of positive case rates … we’ll
deliberate and thoughtful,” said El-
See SIUSLAW page 6A
By Mark Brennan
Siuslaw News
The Florence Urban Renew-
al Agency (FURA) met virtually
on May 14 with all directors and
members in attendance except for
Ron Caputo.
The first action of the evening,
and the last act taken by current
FURA Chairperson Bill Meyer,
was to nominate and appoint a
new chairperson, Mike Webb, and
a new vice chair, Rob Ward. Both
nominations were approved unan-
imously.
Webb took over the responsibil-
ities of the chair and resumed the
meeting.
FURA members and directors
then turned their attention to City
Manager Erin Reynolds for a pre-
sentation on the city budget and
on the agency’s proposed budget.
There was a public hearing includ-
ed in the meeting agenda which
saw no speakers request time to
address the agency.
Reynolds proceeded to review
the impact COVID has had on
the inner workings of the city and
on FURA and how her staff has
responded to the unprecedent-
ed challenges presented by the
COVID-19 pandemic.
“Although COVID-19 has sig-
nificantly impacted local business-
es, the overall impact to the agency
so far has not been catastrophic.
The administrative and manage-
ment staff have worked remotely
since the onset of the pandemic
in March of 2020, furthermore the
FURA board has been meeting on
a virtual platform since June 2020,”
she stated. “On March 31, the Ur-
ban Renewal board reviewed the
previous budget documents and
the progress of those items and at
that meeting staff also provided
recommendations for the upcom-
ing biennium workplan.”
Reynolds mentioned that some
of those items had been included
in the proposal and then turned
to Assistant City Manager Megan
Messmer, who provided a recap of
the history of the Florence Urban
Renewal District and the projects
which have been funded by the
agency.
See FURA page 5A
A SAMPLING OF OUR HOMES FOR SALE...WATER VIEW, OLD TOWN AND MORE.
NG
I
D
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P
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I N
D
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COAST REAL ESTATE
5064 MITCHELL LOOP RD
A very clean and popular floor plan with bookend bed-
rooms-Master/Private En Suite bathroom is on the opposite
side of the other bedrooms. Deep garden tub, walkin, 2 full
ovens and hardi plank siding. Beautiful wooded setting while
being very close to town. About a five minute drive to the
Siuslaw Bridge. Only one neighbor is visible from the shared
driveway. The other neighbors are tucked behind woods and
greenbelt. Come see country living close to town! Call/Text for
a showing appointment. $325,000 #12179 MLS#21659307
4615 JOSHUA LANE
NW Contemporary beach home. Easy walk to beach or dunes.
Unbuildable football sized field of green behind house provides
wonderful privacy. Pie-shaped ocean view from main level w/
3 BD, 2 BA, open concept kitchen, dining & living area that
center around propane fireplace. Downstairs guest quarters- full
bath, kitchenette, slider to the front patio and garden & door
out back to hot tub. Zoned radiant floor heating. Oversized
garage. RV/Boat garage. Owners selling adjacent cottage.
MLS#21472496. $710,000 #12177 MLS#21436870
4621 JOSHUA LANE
THIS BEACH COTTAGE IS PERFECT! Priced to sell! Short
walk to beach, wind protected and tucked off the street for
privacy, this cute “tiny home design” cottage has been fully
remodeled with explosions of beach colors, on demand hot
water, fully furnished, pellet stove, quartz countertops and wrap
around deck that is perfect for entertaining. The ocean, singing
birds and evening frogs truly make this cottage a magical little
sanctuary. $310,000 #12178 MLS#21472496
1304/1308 BAY STREET
1304/1308 BAY ST RIVERFRONT COMMERCIAL BUILDING.
This is a very rare offering. Leased riverfront retail commercial
downstairs and a wonderful upstairs managed vacation rental.
Built in 1920 and known as the “Lockers” this is a stunning
affordable and exciting income opportunity in the center of Bay
Street. Expansive river/bay and bridge view...this is the rarest of
rare. Enjoy the income or use the upstairs for your own enjoy-
ment...better than owning a condo!! Must have appointment as
access is limited. $569,000 #12165 MLS#21369818
541-997-7777
“We’re next to the Bridge”
100 Hwy. 101
See all Florence Listings at
cbcoast.com