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About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 21, 2021)
4A | SATURDAY EDITION | AUGUST 21, 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) else’s day and having to pay for damages just so you can go fast? It would be nice if boaters showed some respect and consid- eration for those of us using or living on the river. Slow down in front of private docks and other boats and just enjoy the river like Boating on the we are trying to do. Siuslaw River A big thank you to those boaters Summer is upon us and salmon who do slow down. season is around the corner. — M.S. Using the Siuslaw River is a Mapleton privilege and should be enjoyed by ALL, whether you are boating, No Facts on Western hanging out on a dock or enjoying Lane Ambulance it from your home. It should not In response to Clara Kuhn’s ruined by a few boaters that think that just because there is no speed Guest Viewpoint (Aug. 14, “Know limit they can behave recklessly the Facts about Western Lane Ambulance”), she unfortunately and do whatever they want. Based on an incident by one shared no facts. Her meeting with boater, he thought he could do three WLAD employees served her whatever he felt like while operat- and their built-in bias, not the con- ing his boat and we had no right cerns of the taxpaying public and to ask him to slow down. We do business entrepreneurs. Though Clara was an elected of- have that right and the right to en- ficial in Florence in the 1990s, we joy ourselves just like you. I enjoy relaxing on my dock now, two decades later, face a very while watching the wildlife and different set of circumstances in all watching boats go by. It is not phases of government, not just the enjoyable when boats go by full WLAD. I wonder if she read in the two- throttle and rock the dock so vi- olently that I can’t even stand up. page privately paid advertisement Some fishing charters are a huge that, “This special ambulance dis- problem during salmon season. trict is $3.4 million in debt to the They are out there to make mon- State of Oregon. Western Lane ey, and I understand that, but by Ambulance District charges us two observation, most don’t care who extra property taxes on top of the or what is around them. I have normal charges for a single ambu- personally witnessed some of lance ride.” To these points, I have heard no these boats zig-zagging in and out of boats so they can get to where refutation and this was not men- they are going faster. I know of tioned in the piece praising the several dock owners that have district. Also, there is a part that says, had damage done to their docks, i.e.: piling snapped in two, bolts “The reason why the government sheared off, cleats ripped out of a officials want this merger so badly dock while attached to a boat, etc. is pretty clear: it’s the money. Am- I understand, especially during bulance and fire district adminis- salmon season, some of the boat- trators and government employee ers are out on the river making a unions who want this merger are living. I hope you catch a lot of banking on higher pay and bene- fits — and taxpayers will foot the fish. However, that doesn’t give you bill.” Welcome to reality for the busi- the right to disrupt others. It’s fun to sit on the dock or deck and ness community and Joe Sixpack. Did you know that a 93-year- watch boaters catching fish. While technically there is no old Florence great-grandmother speed limit on the river except named Marion Patton took a four- for in front of marinas and boat mile ambulance ride and had to ramps, these speeding boats can pay $250, even though taxpayers damage docks, erode the embank- are charged twice on their prop- ment and can also capsize other erty taxes for ambulance service? watercraft. I’ve seen all of these Not fair, but that’s the way today’s WLAD seems to be operating. happen. Maybe for the good of the Flor- Also, for general information, boaters can be held financially ence community and elsewhere, responsible for the damage they we all need to reevaluate whether cause. Keep that in mind when in many cases the private sector is you go speeding by private docks equipped to deliver service much more efficiently than government. and other boats. All we are asking is that you It seems to me that Clara took the please slow down! We would like line of the WLAD staff instead of to enjoy the same river as you. Is investigating the other side of the it really worth ruining someone issue. (Editor’s Note: Viewpoint sub- missions on these and other topics are always welcome as part of our goal to encourage community dis- cussion and exchange of perspec- tives.) USPS# 497-660 LETTERS It is my hope that the public and the business community will join hearts and hands to reverse course when it comes to the WLAD. — Joel Marks WLAD Budget Committee Member (Editor’s Note: This Letter to the Editor is a continuation of a Siuslaw News Opinion Page discussion dat- ing back to March. Marks was one of three original authors prompting Kuhn to respond with her Guest Viewpoint.) To ‘Heart’ Democracy I ask myself tonight, after spend- ing another hour on another Sat- urday afternoon standing at the corner of Highways 101 and 126 in Florence, Ore., a sign in my hand, this one saying “heart” vot- ing rights—my red heart takes up half the sign — What the hell am I doing? How did this girl, from Bur- bank, Calif., in advanced but still fully competent age by more than my own estimation, find herself spending Saturday upon Saturday at a busy intersection waving at drivers who either 1) do not see her or the dozen or so standing with her, 2) see her smile and re- turn it with a friendly wave or give thumps up, mouth a “thank you” or otherwise react positively, or 3) turn pent up and visceral rage her way? Over a heart sign that values everyone’s right to vote and be par- ticipants in this democracy? Well now, we appear to have split into factions. As I see it, some believe they are one with everyone and everything else in this survival game. Some think they are special and enti- tled to do as they please, including dominating everyone else. I fall into the first category. I want to invite everyone to at least consider joining me there. I regret all pain. I feel it and want to relieve it. It is no wonder we are distracted. I appear to be unable to love you enough this way! I am joyful and full of hope for us all. Hey people! My brothers and sisters in this life. Did you notice we have a climate problem? How about a coordinated attack on our democracy involving violence, dis- information and lies, by enemies of the people, against this nation? Russia. China. Others who do not wish to be seen and do not wish us well? Are you sure you want to be part of an all-out democracy collapse involving everything you might hold dear? Give it a good think. I grieve the loss of folks I love over this! — Darlene Norwood Florence Copyright 2021 © Siuslaw News Siuslaw News 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. 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. 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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 suggested 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. 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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
