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About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (July 31, 2021)
4A | SATURDAY EDITION | JULY 31, 2021 Siuslaw News P.O. Box 10 Florence, OR 97439 CHANTELLE MEYER , EDITOR | 541-902-3520 | CMEYER @ THESIUSLAWNEWS . COM Opinion The First Amendment Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibit- ing the free exercise thereof; or abridg- ing the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people peace- ably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. “I never considered a difference of opinion in politics, in religion, in philosophy, as cause for withdrawing from a friend.” — Thomas Jefferson (1800) USPS# 497-660 LETTERS Siuslaw News (Editor’s Note: Viewpoint submis- sions on these and other topics are al- ways welcome as part of our goal to encourage community discussion and exchange of perspectives.) Published every Wednesday and Saturday at 148 Maple St. in Florence, Lane County, Oregon. A member of the National Newspaper Association and Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association. Periodicals postage paid at Florence, Ore. Postmaster, send address changes to: Siuslaw News, P.O. Box 10, Florence, OR 97439; phone 541-997-3441; fax 541-997-7979. All press releases may be sent to PressReleases@TheSiuslawNews.com. Displaced Market On Sunday, my wife and I went to a pop-up produce market at 10th and Maple streets that we learned about from a post on Nextdoor, a social networking service. It surprised us to learn it was run by the same friendly folks who, until this year, had a mar- ket in a large tent on the Boardwalk every summer providing high-qual- ity, fresh fruits and veggies. We were puzzled and disappointed when the tent failed to appear in May and pleased to find that the market had reappeared, albeit sans tent and only on Sunday afternoons for a few hours. Comments on Nextdoor suggest the Port of Siuslaw, for reasons un- known, declined to permit the mar- ket’s continued use of the Boardwalk property it controls. If true, it is a most unfortunate de- cision. We first discovered the market while visiting Florence eight years ago. Shortly after that we relocated here. The market was one of many things that appealed to us about the community and influenced us to do so. It likely impressed other visitors in the same way. As frequent customers, we know that many tourists enjoyed shopping at the market. Its current location, however, is far removed from Old Town and few tourists will find it. The abbreviated hours (three a week) make it difficult even for locals to avail themselves of its wares. Whatever the cause of its reloca- tion, we hope that it will be possible for the market to return to its previ- ous location and longer hours. Mean- while, we will visit this cornucopia on Sunday and be grateful for it. — Dennis W. Dickinson Florence (Editor’s Note: Port Manager Da- vid Huntington, in an effort to clarify the situation, said. “Our current plan is to encourage anyone that is interest- ed in setting up some sort of market in that location to contact us. We were hoping that once COVID was over that they would come back and set up their booth, but that didn’t happen.” He said he has reached out to other vendors and markets about the poten- tial of the space. “Again, we have not stopped anyone from returning here, it is actually ex- actly the opposite, we are looking for someone to use this great space,” Hun- tington said. Dear Democrat Are you okay with your kids or grandkids being taught in school that everyone with skin color other than black is racist? Are you okay with illegals coming across our borders and taxpayers paying for their food, lodging, health care, education and the Biden administration encourag- es this? Are you okay that over 63 million babies were murdered in the United States since Roe vs. Wade? Are you okay with corrupt elections? Are you okay with Antifa and Black Lives Matter groups vandalizing cit- ies without accountability? Are you okay with the increase in crime, ef- forts to defund police and letting criminals out of jail prematurely? Are you okay with the government closing churches while keeping big box stores open during the pandem- ic? Are you okay with the progres- sives taking over the Democratic Party? Are you okay with Pelosi and Schumer as your party leaders? Are you okay with Biden’s energy policies and how it has affected fuel prices? Are you okay with Democrats en- Copyright 2021 © Siuslaw News Jenna Bartlett Chantelle Meyer Front Office For Advertising: ext. 318 Publisher, ext. 318 Editor, ext. 314 541-997-3441 For Classifieds: ext. 310 DEADLINES: Wednesday Issue—General news releases, Monday noon; Classified line ads, Monday 10 a.m.; Legal Notices and Display Ads, Friday noon. Saturday Issue—General news releases, Thursday noon; Classified line ads, Thursday 10 a.m.; Legal Notices and Display Ads, Wednesday 5 p.m. dorsing the elimination of gas and oil in exchange for wind turbines and solar panels? Are you okay with policies that will force jobs to foreign countries? Are you okay with Big Tech censoring free speech? Are you okay with cities protecting criminal illegals? Are you okay that our closest ally in the Middle East (Israel) is not supported and respected by the cur- rent administration? Are you okay with the San Francisco Gay Choir saying they are coming for your kids and grandkids? Are you okay with our 2nd Amendment rights being jeopardized? Are you okay with drag queens reading to school children? Are you okay with the Squad? If you voted the Democrat ticket on Nov. 3, 2020, then you have either endorsed or turned a blind eye to the issues above. I’m guessing you either vote Democrat because your parents do or did, or you attended an educa- tion system, whose educators goals were to undermine our freedoms and you bought into it. Or, maybe per- haps you’ve been getting your infor- mation from unreliable sources such as CNN, MSNBC, ABC, CBS, NBC, PBS and even FOX in many cases or other left-leaning media sources you either watch or subscribe to. If you’re not watching programs such as OAN, Newsmax, Flash Point, Real America’s Voice, The War Room with Stephen K. Bannon, Victory News or reading publications like The Epoch Times, Just The News or Revolver News, then you’re not get- ting the TRUTH and your head is buried in the sand. The majority of American Citi- zens whose beliefs are rooted in faith, family and the flag are beginning to stand up against these radical issues and we are already starting to wit- ness a righteous rebellion against a demonic agenda to steal a nation that was founded on Biblical Christian values. God is beginning to pull back the covers to expose this evil and that we are not WOKE but AWAKENED. There is a passage in Psalms 7: 14- 16 that reads, “The wicked conceive evil; they are pregnant with trouble and give birth to lies. They dig a deep pit to trap others, then fall into it themselves. The trouble they make for others backfires on them. The violence they plan falls on their own heads.” If you are a registered Democrat, it’s not too late to change course and identify as true American Patriot. I urge you to go online to your county website and find the elections section where you are able to change to a party whose policies are more in line with your beliefs. It’s a shame that the current Democrat Party is not what it was in years past, but sorry to say they have passed the point of no re- turn. — Marshall Denton Florence An irresponsible choice In the July 17 publication of our newspaper, there was an article about the Spruce Point Assisted Living and Memory Care facility having six staff members and 19 residents being af- fected by COVID-19. It is totally ir- responsible and not acceptable for any individual providing healthcare on any level not to have been vacci- nated as a provider. I understand that Spruce Point is one of nine facilities in Oregon and Washington that Nightingale Healthcare operates. They should have required that every employee in their facilities be fully vaccinated. If an employee refuses to do so, they should be terminated. Now, on the other hand, Night- ingale may have another mindset because on their website they quote Florence Nightingale. “Nature alone cures. ... What nursing has to do ... is to put the patient in the best condi- tion for nature to act upon him.” From that, I ascertain that with any ailment a nurse should just take us out into the woods, have us sit on a mossy log and be healed. — Win Jolley Florence Where to and for what purpose? Florence City Leaders, what are you thinking? Exactly where are you leading us residents of the Florence area to, and for what purpose? Don’t you have enough traffic to clog up our streets? Seems you forward thinking City of Florence “powers that be” are wanting to an- nex (from Lane County), and/or de- velop, every square inch of land that doesn’t have asphalt or concrete on it. This is such as 35th and Rhody, Oceana Drive (the Benedick Annex- ation clearly stated for development purposes), the housing development just north of Freddies that I under- stand Florence Planning Dept. de- creased the lot sizes so more houses can be jammed in on that sand dune parcel, and now, another right-of- way annexation proposal for a por- tion of Heceta Beach Road. There was a public hearing on July 27 for the purpose of another development and a possible zone change for a part to be commercial to boot! Pretty soon there will be street- lights required at every intersection just to get from all side roads in the Florence area onto Highway 101, which is a dangerous chore right now! I think Mike Miller and Florence Public Works need to get with a pro- gram to design and implement some “clover leafs, roundabouts & express lanes” to make Florence more of a city for what appears to be our “big city” minded leaders. What in the world is going on here? Maybe the Florence City Council & city staff that have an ever-expand- ing growth mindset can explain it to us simple-minded folks that moved here to get away from that poop? Are high rises in the future? I invite city leadership to explain their rationale and thinking clearly in the Siuslaw News so us residents have a good idea of what “they” en- vision for “our” future — and the fu- ture of the City of Florence. There’s only so much resource to go around; should everything be despoiled for the sake of the almighty dollar? — Cher Thatcher Florence NEWSPAPER SUBSCRIPTION RATES: In Lane County — 1-year, $84; 6-month, $61; 3-month subscription, $37.50; Out of Lane County — 1-year, $107; 6-month, $74; -month subscrip- tion, $50; E-Edition Online Only (Anywhere) — 1-year, $65; 6-month, $35; 3-month, $15. Ask about our senior discounts. Mail subscription includes E-Edition. Website and E-Edition: TheSiuslawNews.com Siuslaw News Office: 148 Maple St./PO Box 10 Florence, OR 87439 Office Hours: Monday to Thursday: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday: 8 a.m. to noon Letters to the Editor Policy The Siuslaw News welcomes Letters to the Editor and Guest Viewpoints as part of a community discussion of issues on the local, state and national level. Letters are subject to editing for length, grammar and clarity. Publication of any letter is not guaranteed and depends on space available and the volume of letters received. Email letters to cmeyer@thesiuslawnews.com To be considered for publication: Letters must address pertinent or timely issues of interest to our readers at-large. In addition: • Letters reflect the opinion of the writer. The Siuslaw News cannot verify the accuracy of all statements made in letters. Authors should ensure any information is ac- curate, fair and not from second-hand knowledge or hearsay, and include sources where possible. • Letters have a 300-word limit and may be edited for grammar and clarity. • Authors must sign their full name and include their street address (only city will be printed), as well as a daytime phone number and/or email address for verifi- cation. The person who signs the letter must be the ac- tual author. Siuslaw News does not accept anonymous Letters to the Editor. • Siuslaw News will not print form letters, libelous letters, business promotions or personal disputes, poet- ry, open letters, letters espousing religious views with- out reference to a current issue, or letters considered in poor taste. Letters also may not be part of letter-writing campaigns. • Writers are limited to one published letter every two weeks. To submit to the Siuslaw News: Emailed submissions are preferred. All letters need to include full name, address and phone number; only name and city will be printed. Handwritten or typed letters must be signed. The newspaper, at the sole discretion of the publish- er and editor, reserves the right to reject any letter that doesn’t follow the above criteria. WHERE TO WRITE President Joseph Biden The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW Washington, D.C. 20500 Comments: 202-456-1111 Switchboard: 202-456-1414 TTY/TDD: 202-456-6213 www.whitehouse.gov 900 Court St. NE - S-417 Salem, OR 97301 503-986-1705 Email: Sen.DickAnderson@ oregonlegislature.gov Oregon Gov. Kate Brown State Rep. Boomer Wright (Dist. 9) State Sen. Dick Anderson (Dist. 5) 160 State Capitol 900 Court St. 900 Court St. NE Salem, Ore. 97301-4047 Salem, OR 97301 Message Line: 503-986-1409 503-378-4582 Email: Rep.BoomerWright@ www.oregon.gov/gov oregonlegislature.gov U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden 221 Dirksen Senate Office Bldg Washington, DC 20510 202-224-5244 | 541-431-0229 www.wyden.senate.gov U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley Lane County Dist. 1 Commissioner Jay Bozievich 125 E. Eighth St. Eugene, OR 97401 541-682-4203 Email: Jay.Bozievich@ co.lane.or.us 313 Hart Senate Office Bldg Washington, DC 20510 202-224-3753 | 541-465-6750 Florence City Council www.merkley.senate.gov & Mayor Joe Henry Florence City Hall, 250 U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio Highway 101, Florence, 97439 (4th Dist.) 541-997-3437 2134 Rayburn HOB ci.florence.or.us Washington, DC 20515 Email comments to Florence 202-225-6416 City Recorder Kelli Weese at 541-269-2609 | 541-465-6732 kelli.weese@ci.florence.or.us www.defazio.house.gov