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About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (June 16, 2021)
SN WEDNESDAY EDITION | JUNE 16, 2021 | $1.00 THESIUSLAWNEWS.COM Siuslaw News Celebrating the Class of 2021 Siuslaw News NEWS & VIEWS THAT DEFINE OUR COMMUNITY F or the senior classes of Mapleton and Siuslaw high schools, last weekend marked a milestone as the community came together to honor student accomplish- ments and celebrate the commencement of the Class of 2021. VOL. 131, NO. 48 J UNE 16, 2021 F LORENCE , O REGON WEATHER Photos by Mark Brennan, Zeahna Young & Chantelle Meyer Siuslaw News Sunshine with a high of 68 and a low of 50. Full forecast on A3 See more graduation pictures on page 9A Mapleton’s Siuslaw High School honors Seniors graduate with community support 94 in graduating class COMMUNITY By Chantelle Meyer Siuslaw News On Friday, June 11, more than 70 Siuslaw seniors filed into the high school gym for their last proces- sional as high school students. The ceremony was a little different this year, with a masked audience, chairs placed six feet apart and a reduced number of guests. However, more than 800 people were able to view the event through a livestream host- ed by KCST/KCFM Coast Radio and available to view on YouTube. Commentary throughout the cer- emony was provided by Bob Sned- don, a member of Siuslaw School Board and radio host, and Steven Moser, high school counselor. Local groups award scholarships INSIDE — A3 SPORTS Siuslaw teams defeats Falcons INSIDE — B “This is just a very great group of students,” Moser said. “I know I say it every year, but this particular group is very special and I will miss them.” Sneddon announced the grad- uates as they walked into the gym and under the balloon arch with the school colors. The students wore the traditional graduation regalia, along with facemasks required for indoor gatherings under safety re- quirements of the COVID-19 pan- demic. “I feel they’re all happy to be here, but occasionally you’ll see one of them walking down the aisle and you can tell when they have a huge smile on their face,” Sneddon said. See SIUSLAW page 6A By Chantelle Meyer Siuslaw News On Saturday, June 12, the Maple- ton High School Class of 2021 held an in-person graduation ceremony outdoors on the football field. Nine seniors gathered, with family and friends seated in the bleachers, be- fore taking their final walks as stu- dents on campus. “If I had to pick one thing that came out of the pandemic that was a positive, it’s that graduation was outdoors,” said Mapleton Superin- tendent Jodi O’Mara. “It was beauti- ful and the seniors graduated! It just had such a positive, community vibe.” People were able to sit in the stands or at marked overflow areas to listen to the event, which was also livestreamed on YouTube. “They were just there to celebrate the seniors,” O’Mara said. At the start of the ceremony, the students entered the field in small groups. Senior Emily Stevens gave the welcome and led the attendees in the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag. Then, Senior Jordan Simington gave her salutatorian address. “First off, I would like to thank all of you for joining us today to cel- ebrate this major achievement,” she said. “You all have held an impact- ful position in our lives since we were children. Every one of you has taught us new things and helped us reach important milestones.” See MAPLETON page 9A Flag Day ‘honors the American spirit’ Warmer, dryer Florence community trends point resumes Flag Day to fire risks ceremonies June 15 was final day for outdoor burning in Lane County Story & Photo By Mark Brennan Siuslaw News @S IUSLAW N EWS T HE S IUSLAW N EWS . COM The community, including veterans from the American Legion and Disabled American Veterans, as well as members of Florence Elks Lodge #1858, participated in a number of events Monday recognizing June 14 as Flag Day. S IUSLAW N EWS 2 S ECTIONS | 24 P AGES C OPYRIGHT 2021 the U.S. on all federal govern- ment buildings during that time. The day is in observance of when the first version of the American flag was adopted, less than a year after the 13 colonies declared their independence from England, on June 14, 1777. The American flag has been modified over the years as more states were established. Since its adoption, the flag has become a symbol of freedom, justice and hope for Americans and millions of others around the world. There have been 27 versions of the Flag and the current version was created by 17-year-old Robert G. Heft, as a class project for which he received a B-. His design was chosen by a special commission See FLAGS page 6A Y L O P O - E C N E On Sale FLOR $ 9 Modeled after the world famous board game, Florence-Opoly is customized to our great city. Fun for the whole family! Siuslaw News • 148 Maple Street • Old Town Florence or call 541-997-3441 24. each 9 ay 101 m Highw 1749 trhunter.co www. /S IUSLAW N EWS ... LATEST NEWS : s, FOLLOW US FOR THE Fire season has arrived and with drought conditions in several areas of the state, fire authorities are wor- ried this summer may see more in- tense burns. The season came as early as May 15 this year for some areas of Southern and Central Oregon, such as Klamath, Jackson, Josephine and Lake coun- ties. It was also declared in Prineville and as far north as The Dalles, mak- ing it the earliest start in 40 years. The Oregon Department of For- estry declared the start of the fire seasons due to fuel conditions, lack of spring rains, extreme drought and continuous fire activity. On June 15, the Lane Regional Air Protection Agency (LRAPA) issued a burn ban in Lane County. See BURN page 5A at Listings & notices Inside — B6 By Damien Sherwood For the Siuslaw News us CLASSIFIEDS On June 11, U.S. President Jo- seph Biden proclaimed June 14 as Flag Day, within a National Flag Week. “I encourage the people of the United States to observe with pride and all due ceremony those days from Flag Day through In- dependence Day, set aside by the Congress (89 Stat. 211), as a time to honor the American spir- it, to celebrate our history and the foundational values we strive to uphold, and to publicly re- cite the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America,” he stated in his procla- mation. The U.S. Congress first desig- nated June 14 as Flag Day in 1949. At the time of passage, Congress further requested that the presi- dent issue an annual proclama- tion calling for public observance and for the display of the flag of Vis it Activities for kids Inside — B5 disc ho over me vi inte ntag rio e clo rs, an thin d co g, ok an�q ies! ue KIDS CORNER ...to Inside — A5-6 ibrary.or iuslawL www.S 97-31 32 541-9 TV GUIDE OUT CHECK S.) (WE EVEN GAME BOARD g Obituaries & response logs Inside — A2 rd aboa g Climb readin ad! the real railro RECORDS Framing es Fram ence Quality Custom of Flor • Mirrors s • Needlework • Watercolors Shadowboxe Photography Oils • 43 97-20 G 541-9 101, Suite Hwy. 2285 OR 97439 Florence,
