SN
Siuslaw News
Siuslaw News
NEWS &
VIEWS THAT
DEFINE OUR
COMMUNITY
VOL. 131, NO. 42
M AY 26, 2021
F LORENCE , O REGON
THESIUSLAWNEWS.COM
WEDNESDAY EDITION | MAY 26, 2021 | $1.00
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Bottle, can redemptions to increase Oregon lifts some
on the Central Oregon Coast
restrictions on
masks, distancing
for vaccinated
By Chantelle Meyer
Siuslaw News
WEATHER
Partly sunny
with a high of 59
and a low of 48.
Full forecast on A3
COMMUNITY
COURTESY PHOTO
(From left) Fred Meyer Store Manager Angela Nelson and State Rep. Boomer Wright cut a ribbon
to open Florence’s first bulk bottle and can redemption center. Also in attendance were represen-
tatives from Florence VFW Post 3232, Camp Baker Boy Scouts and Oregon Coast Humane Society.
BottleDrop, Fred Meyer open Green Bag location in Florence
O
Council to discuss
coastal fires
INSIDE — A3
SPORTS
regon BottleDrop and Fred
Meyer announce the grand
opening of the first bulk bottle
and can redemption location in
Florence, which opened Friday.
This BottleDrop network drop
location at the Florence Fred
Meyer, 4701 Highway 101, will
allow area residents to partici-
pate in the Green Bag program
and will open up new fundrais-
ing opportunities for local non-
RECORDS
Obituaries &
response logs
Inside — A2
profits through the Blue Bag
program.
The BottleDrop network drop
location will make it fast and easy
for Central Coast residents to re-
turn, redeem and recycle redeem-
able beverage containers in spe-
cial 20-gallon BottleDrop Green
Bags, which can be purchased at
the Florence Fred Meyer store.
“At Fred Meyer, we are excited
to be able to offer new options for
our customers and also help con-
tribute to the reduction of waste
in our community, which aligns
with our Zero Hunger/Zero
Waste social impact plan. This
new facility will make redeem-
ing beverage containers faster
and easier for our Florence area
customers,” said Jeffery Temple,
Director of Corporate Affairs for
Fred Meyer.
See BOTTLES page 5A
Mapleton considers budget at school board meeting
By Chantelle Meyer
Siuslaw News
Sailors place at state
track meet
INSIDE — B
Siuslaw News will join
other businesses in
honoring Memorial
Day on Monday, May
31, by closing its offices
at 148 Maple St. The
classified deadline for
the Wednesday, June 2,
edition is Friday, May
28, by 5 p.m.
Mapleton School District met
for a combined Budget Commit-
tee and Board of Directors meet-
ing on May 19. The board also met
in executive session at the close of
the regular meeting.
In Mapleton, the Budget Com-
mittee is composed of the elect-
ed school board and an equal
number of appointed citizens.
After approving the agenda for
the night, the Budget Commit-
tee elected Connie Walton as the
committee chair. She then led the
next portion of the meeting. This
included the presentation of the
proposed 2021-22 FY budget for
the Mapleton School District.
In Mapleton Superintendent
Jodi O’Mara’s Budget Message,
she gave information on the
COVID-19 pandemic, the federal
Elementary and Secondary School
Emergency Relief Fund, State
School Fund, Student Success Act,
enrollment and plans for the fu-
ture.
TV GUIDE
“Our budget recommendation
represents a deficit budget for the
first year of this biennium with the
understanding we could face cuts
during the following school year
if enrollment does not recover,”
O’Mara stated.
COVID-19 and the shutdown of
in-person instruction at Mapleton
School District “has had a nega-
tive impact on our enrollment,”
O’Mara continued. “It is our hope
that in the fall of 2021, schools will
reopen to full onsite instruction
See MAPLETON page 7A
On May 18, Oregon Health
Authority (OHA) released updated
guidance about mask and phys-
ical distancing requirements for
individuals fully vaccinated against
COVID-19. This update comes
after the U.S. Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC)
announcement that individuals
who are fully vaccinated against
COVID-19 could stop wearing
masks and physical distancing in
most public spaces.
According to OHA, people in
Oregon who are fully vaccinated
will no longer be required to wear
a mask indoors in most public
settings where vaccination status is
checked. In public settings where
vaccination status is not checked,
masks will still be required. Busi-
nesses and venue operators remain
free to establish their own, more
restrictive policies regarding mask
usage.
“Recent news about the change in
mask requirements for those who
are vaccinated has left consumers,
employees and businesses equally
confused,” announced the Florence
Area Chamber of Commerce in a
newsletter sent last week. “OHA
business guidelines are now avail-
able, however, it adds additional
responsibilities on businesses to
check vaccine cards if they want to
allow customers to go mask-free.
We are looking at sending out the
PSA that we used last year, which
encourages patience, thoughtful-
ness and showing respect.”
The new guidance applies to peo-
ple who are fully vaccinated.
OHA’s COVID-19 Dashboard
shows that vaccinations are con-
tinuing to increase across the state.
See UPDATE page 5A
Chipping in for a great cause
Inside — B3-B4
KIDS CORNER
Activities for kids
Inside — B5
CLASSIFIEDS
Listings & notices
Inside — B6
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COURTESY PHOTOS
Siuslaw Open supports Siuslaw Outreach Services
(Above) The winning team “The I Don’t Cares,” consisting of Justin Mans, AJ
Davidson, Jake Wells and Jeff Noonan, took home the trophy (left) for Siu-
slaw Outreach Services’ 11th annual Siuslaw Open, held at Florence Golf
Links on May 22. See SIUSLAW OPEN page 6A
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