6A | SATURDAY, MAY 29, 2021 | SIUSLAW NEWS
COLOR from page 1A
People of all ages and abil-
ity are encouraged to join the
race or watch from the side-
lines.
“This event means so much
because everyone is just ready.
We’re ready to experience an
event outside — a safe, fun,
colorful event at the end of
the school year,” Osburn said.
“I’m more than excited. It’s
going to be so fun.”
Florence’s first Color-A-
Thon was planned by the
Florence Community PTA in
2016. Since then, hundreds
of people have been able to
participate. Some classrooms
at the Siuslaw School District
even get into the fun, creating
chances for students to earn
Shoppe
LOCAL
#MyFlorence
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SAVE. SHOP
prizes like sunglasses and
wacky wigs to wear during
the event.
People often dress up for
the race, too, with tutus, glit-
ter and a lot of white cloth-
ing that can best show the
showers of color.
The 2021 event is spon-
sored by Central Coast Tim-
er LLC, Coast Road Con-
struction, Coastal Fitness &
Aquatics, Coldwell Bank-
er-Aric Sneddon, Dan Lewis
Construction LLC, DJ Al
Rojas, Evergreen Concrete
and Precision Cutting, Flor-
ence Eye Clinic, Florence in
Bloom, Haberly Painting, J.
Johnson Tree Service, Jaw-
some Kids Resale, John’s
Construction and Painting,
Kaimana Bodyworx, Les
Schwab Tires, Little Brown
Hen Café, Recreation Station/
Reedsport, River Cities Taxi,
Socks To A T, The Shippin’
Shack, Torex ATV Rentals
and Wildflower Montessori.
“Join us in giving a big
shout out to all of our local
business sponsors that are
supporting a blast out of this
school year. Each one of these
local businesses are support-
ing healthy activity to all the
kids at the school district and
we can’t thank them enough,”
Osburn said.
Donations to the event are
AWARD from page 1A
SUPPORT
Hickson’s last day at the
Siuslaw News will be Mon-
day, May 31.
According to Publisher
Jenna Bartlett, “Ned’s work
is part of our mission, ‘news
and views that define the
community.’ His win is a
win for all of us at the Siu-
slaw News, and especially
the newsroom at the time.
What a great legacy to leave
23 years at the newspaper
with a recognition for the
enduring power of quality
journalism.”
Hickson submitted three
editorials in his category:
“Learning from The Mis-
takes That Got Us Here,”
Aug. 8, 2020; “The Danger
of Division Through An-
onymity,” Aug. 29, 2020;
and “Let’s Move Forward
Expecting Better from Our-
selves,” Nov. 7, 2020.
“This series is specifical-
ly about our investigation,
which was the hardest and
best work we’ve ever done.
It made it particularly poi-
gnant for me,” Hickson said.
In the first, he wrote, “For
the past year, the Siuslaw
News has been examining
the growing influence of
politics and partisanship
within our community —
through social media, local
activism, political groups,
special interests and others
— in order to understand
how we have arrived where
we are today as a communi-
ty struggling with a political
divide.”
This was the community’s
introduction to a long-run-
ning investigative series
penned by the Siuslaw News
staff at the time, which con-
sisted of Hickson, Jared An-
derson, Mark Brennan and
Chantelle Meyer. The series
examined several aspects of
life in Florence and tried to
get to the heart of the divi-
sion that seemed to be tak-
We are open and
ready to assist you!
SIUSLAW NEWS FILE PHOTOS FROM 2019
tax deductible and will go to-
wards providing funding for
items and experiences that
help keep kids engaged and
excited about school at the
elementary, middle and high
schools in Florence.
“We look forward to seeing
you all there to help blast off
the colorful summer were all
going to have!” Osburn add-
ed.
For more information on
the Color-A-Thon, contact
Siuslaw Elementary School at
541-997-2514.
ing root in the community.
“Nothing has approached
what we are experiencing
at this moment as nation-
ally driven agendas on both
sides of the divide — aided
in no small part by wielding
the power of social media
— have trickled down into
local conversation through
grassroots efforts aimed at
influencing, dividing and
claiming territory within
local government, agencies
and committees,” Hickson
wrote.
The series seemed to
strike a chord in the com-
munity, especially as an
anonymous mailer soon
reached the mailboxes of
many people. In bold print
on one side, the flyer read:
“Walk Away From the Siu-
slaw News.” On the flipside
of the flyer was the accusa-
tion that “The Siuslaw News
Has Gone Too Far,” followed
by a list of denunciations
calling the paper “divisive,”
“fake news,” “unethical” and
“seditious.”
In “Division Through
Anonymity,” Hickson stat-
ed, “Regardless of whether
someone agrees or dis-
agrees with our reporting,
feels we are biased or unbi-
ased, thinks we lean right or
left, liberal or conservative
(we’ve been accused of all of
these), we stand behind ev-
ery edition that rolls off the
press and is delivered into
your mailbox.”
He encouraged people to
contact news staff and com-
municate.
“We can openly agree or
disagree; we can each de-
fend our position or per-
spective; and we can create
an opportunity to at least
understand one another
even when we don’t agree,”
Hickson wrote. “This is the
very principle foundation
of democracy — with lo-
cal newspapers providing
the conduit through which
these important conversa-
tions take place.”
By November, the editori-
al staff had wrapped up the
investigative series. People
in the community respond-
ed by Letters to the Editor
and Guest Viewpoints, by
social media posts and even
public comments at coun-
cil, board and commission
meetings. Then, on Nov.
3, the U.S. held its Gener-
al Election, which saw the
selection of President Joe
Biden and Vice President
Kamala D. Harris. It also
saw the election of local
candidates to local seats.
“With the final tally of
elections essentially over,
and taking into account the
O FF
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Thur. to Sun.
Early bird 3pm to 4pm
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historic participation made
by fellow Americans, I hope
we can finally begin talking
about the things that unite
us and the common good
that defines us as family,
community and ultimate-
ly as Americans,” Hickson
wrote in the third submis-
sion to SPJ’s contest.
It was a request to move
forward, to do better — and
also to take action to reunite
as a community.
“I still believe that, de-
spite how our divisions have
been amplified, we ulti-
mately share more common
ground than our surface
tribalism would have us be-
lieve,” Hickson concluded.
“We can expect better as
Florence
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we move forward. And we
should.”
In his last week at the Siu-
slaw News, he wants to reas-
sure people about his con-
tinued presence in town.
“Although I’m leaving the
paper, I’m not leaving the
community,” Hickson said.
“I still plan to be a part of it.
I’m going to take some time
to just go to a job and come
home and be with my fami-
ly for a while, but I definite-
ly have plans to get more
involved in the future.”
He also plans to bring
back his syndicated humor
column, which he ran for 16
years.
We buy, sell and consign quality
estate/heirloom jewelry & furniture.
Gold, silver, platinum jewelry with
precious & semi precious stones.
Call 541-997-8104,
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Insect & Pest Removal
Trapping • Mole/Gopher
Dead Animal Removal • Honey Bee Removal
Crawl Space Cleaning • Exclusion Work
Fumigation of Antiques and Commodities.
(541) 997-4027
MODEL TRAIN
ENTHUSIASTS
Auto, Home, Life, Business
Flood, Antique Auto, RV’s
Medicare Advantage Plans
Medicare Supplements
Health Insurance
Phone (541) 997-9497
1234 Rhododendron Dr / Florence
Over
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www.ustooflorence.org
BOTH MEETINGS ARE CURRENTLY ON HOLD.
WATCH SIUSLAW NEWS FOR RESUMPTION
• Tuesday Evening Group (2nd Tuesday)
5-7 p.m. - Ichiban Chinese/Japanese Restaurant
• Urologist Dr. Bryan Mehlhaff attends.
• Tuesday Lunch Group (3rd Tuesday)
12 noon – 1:00 p.m. – Ichiban Chinese/Japanese
Restaurant
• Urologist Dr. Roger McKimmy attends.
Contact Bob for more information:
(H) 541-997-6626 • (C) 541-999-4239
maribob@oregonfast.net