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THESIUSLAWNEWS.COM | SATURDAY EDITION | OCTOBER 16, 2021 | $1.00
Community
Shred Day!
Protect your personal information and
destroy your confidential documents!
Saturday, October 23 | 10am to 1pm
Florence Financial Center 1365 HWY 101
Business owners are asked to please wait to bring materials
for shredding until the last hour of the event. Once the
shred truck is full, Oregon Pacific Bank will be unable to
accept any more documents.
We will also be accepting donations for Florence Food Share!
Siuslaw News
Siuslaw News
NEWS &
VIEWS THAT
DEFINE OUR
COMMUNITY
VOL. 131, NO. 83
O CT . 16, 2021
F LORENCE , O REGON
WEATHER
Florence issues
proclamations,
makes
purchases
Red Ribbon Week
Florence Police and Siuslaw schools team up
to draw attention to drinking, drugs
Soroptimists
celebrate 100th
anniversary during
National Arts &
Humanities Month
By Jennifer McKenzie
Siuslaw School District
Teacher Librarian
Special to the
Siuslaw News
By Mark Brennan
Siuslaw News
Partly sunny
with a high of 64
and a low of 51.
Full forecast on A3
COMMUNITY
Viewfinders explore
landscapes
INSIDE — A3
SPORTS
Florence City Council
met virtually for three meet-
ings on Oct. 11 — a work
session in the morning, an
executive session in the af-
ternoon and the regularly
scheduled council meeting
in the evening.
The morning work ses-
sion was primarily a human
resource related presen-
tation given by HR Com-
pensation Consultants re-
garding the establishment
of criteria for salaries and
raises for city staff and em-
ployees. The afternoon ex-
ecutive session was closed
to the public.
The evening council reg-
ular meeting began with the
presentation of two proc-
lamations from Florence
Mayor Joe Henry.
See COUNCIL page 7A
By Chantelle Meyer
Siuslaw News
T
his week, Florence Police Depart-
ment School Resource Officer
Hailey Coons setup an educational dis-
play that includes a previously crashed
vehicle at the entrance of the Siuslaw
High School. The purpose of the vehi-
cle is to educate students on the dan-
gers of driving under the influence and
distracted driving.
“The location of the crashed vehicle
is of high visibility in the hopes that
it will deter and educate students and
community members on the potential
ramifications of distracted driving,”
said Florence Police Commander John
Pitcher.
The vehicle was involved in a crash
in which distracted driving was a con-
tributing factor. The vehicle did not
belong to anyone local and was donat-
ed by Mast Bros. Towing and Recovery.
The crashed SUV will be on display
for three weeks, along with an educa-
tional banner.
The Florence Police Department
and the Siuslaw School District Ad-
ministration approved the placing of
the vehicle.
In addition, Siuslaw School District
is using the crashed vehicle to honor
the drug-use prevention campaign Red
Ribbon Week from Oct. 23 to 31.
According to a proclamation read by
Siuslaw School Board Chair Bob Sned-
don, “The National Red Ribbon Cam-
paign offers citizens the opportunity
to demonstrate their commitment to
drug-free lifestyles.”
People can learn more at www.
redribbon.org.
November levy draws attention, criticism to WLAD
Only item in Nov. 2 Special Election is to renew an ambulance levy
Mapleton Volleyball
earns two wins
INSIDE — B
RECORDS
Obituaries &
emergency
response logs
Inside — A2
SIDE SHOW
Activities and
comics every
Saturday
Inside — B5
CLASSIFIEDS
Listings and public
notices
Inside — B6
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LATEST NEWS :
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T HE S IUSLAW N EWS . COM
work, previous boards de-
cided to enact a process
which could culminate in
the complete merger of
the two entities. Although
the merger is not on the
November ballot, the pos-
sibility of a future merger
has become part of the dis-
cussion regarding the levy
request.
in October 2019, which be-
gan the process of what had
been envisioned by many
as an eventual complete
merger. The IGA created
the Western Lane Fire and
EMS Authority (WLFEA).
Current Fire/EMS Chief
Michael Schick has offered
support for the merger
process, citing potential
S IUSLAW N EWS
2 S ECTIONS | 20 P AGES
C OPYRIGHT 2021
Schick has stated that the
boards of directors have
the responsibility to final-
The need for competent,
ize and implement any fu-
dedicated first responders
ture changes in the official
such as firefighters, emer-
arrangement between the
gency medical technicians
two districts. It will also re-
and police officers has been
quire a public vote.
reinforced and never been
In addition, Schick said
more necessary than since
he has no personal position
the onset of the COVID-19
on the merger other than
pandemic last
as a potential tool
year.
for improving ser-
In Florence, lo-
vice for clientele.
“The WLAD levy question on the November ballot is
cally funded first
The upcoming
responders cur- only for a renewal of the current levy, which has been in November
vote
rently belong to place since 2012. We feel the levy is necessary for us to requesting a con-
three separate en- maintain the level of service we currently provide to our tinuation of the
tities, the Florence citizens and renewing this levy.”
current rate of tax-
Police
Depart-
ation for WLAD
— Western Lane Fire/EMS Authority Chief Michael Schick has
ment, Siuslaw Val-
generated
ley Fire and Res-
heated discussions
cue (SVFR) and
at recent WLFEA
Western Lane Ambulance
One of the stated objec- improvements in service Board meetings, in the
District (WLAD).
tives for the merger was and financial savings. He is press and on social media
The police department a potential improvement also very clear that the levy platforms.
is financed through the in personnel skillsets for request is a separate issue
Measure #20-322 will ask
city budgetary process and firefighters and Emergen- than any future merger.
voters to “Renew Five-Year
both SVFR and WLAD are cy Medical Technicians
“The WLAD levy ques- Option Levy for Emergen-
funded through revenue (EMTs). This issue has also tion on the November bal- c y Medical/Ambulance
streams, primarily derived been a subject of discussion lot is only for a renewal of Services.” It is the only item
from taxes paid by resi- by former WLAD board the current levy, which has included in the Tuesday,
dents in the form of a levy member Larry Farnsworth been in place since 2012. Nov. 2, Special Election in
connected to the value of and others who are op- We feel the levy is neces- Lane County.
property owned.
posed to the levy.
sary for us to maintain the
Ballots have officially
In an effort to consoli-
WLAD and SVFR en- level of service we current- been mailed as of Thurs-
date the efforts of the two tered into an Intergovern- ly provide to our citizens day, and will be due Nov. 2
departments, and to save mental Agreement (IGA) and renewing this levy,” he by 8 p.m.
money spent duplicating for administrative services said.
See LEVY page 8A
By Mark Brennan
Siuslaw News
RIVERFRONT CUSTOM
Some ‘what
to do’s’ for
all during
Digital
Citizenship
Week
R IVERFRONT H OME
7 A CRES S OUTH
OF
T OWN
National Digital Citizen-
ship Week takes place in
schools every year in the
month of October, and it’s a
chance for students, staff and
families to reflect on their
digital lives as well as the
power they have at their fin-
gertips to be a good “Digital
Citizen” and make the world
a better place.
Per ISTE (the Internation-
al Society for Technology in
Education), digital citizen-
ship “shouldn’t be a long list
of don’ts. It should be about
the do’s that help create
thoughtful, empathetic dig-
ital citizens who can wrestle
with the important ethical
questions at the intersection
of technology and humanity.”
Those do’s include:
• Using technology to
make your community
better.
• Engaging respectfully
online with people who have
different beliefs than you.
• Using technology to
make your voice heard by
public leaders and shape
public policy.
• Determining the validity
of online sources of infor-
mation.
Our Oregon K-12 Library
Media Science Standards
include Reading Advocacy,
Information & Media Liter-
acy, Digital Citizenship and
Technology Integration.
Last year, Siuslaw School
District began aligning K-12
Digital Citizenship standards
and lessons using a nationally
recognized resource, Com-
mon Sense Media (www.
commonsensemedia.org).
All grade-band lessons are
broken down into the subcat-
egories: Media Balance and
Well-Being, Privacy and Se-
curity, Digital Footprint and
Identity, Relationships and
Communication, Cyberbul-
lying and Hate Speech, and
News and Media Literacy.
Students are receiving fre-
quent mini-lessons through-
out the year, and our goal is
to not just teach our Siuslaw
learning community to be
good digital citizens, but we
want to empower all to be
digital leaders!
In addition to K-12 aligned
curricular content, Com-
mon Sense Media also offers
a plethora of super useful
research based resources for
families.
See DIGITAL page 8A
R IVER V IEW C ONDO
COAST REAL ESTATE
16 SEA WATCH CT
AMAZING VIEWS! New roof 2021, Heat pump 2021, Exterior
painted in 2020, New water heater 2020. Siuslaw riverfront
(Permitted & Engineered Bank) with breathtaking sunset &
ocean views. Engineered riverbank. Deck for outside living.
Large paver patio with a gas fire pit. Main floor has great room,
dining, master, guest room & office. Kitchen & guest bath with
granite tile, solid wood cabinets & stainless appliances. Spacious
rooms, workout area & toy room on upper level. Trailer parking
behind gate. $839,000 #12266 MLS#21629741
11381 E MAPLETON RD
This retro inspired manufactured home is perfectly situated
on 1.5 acres of quiet, riverfront property. Structurally sound,
cleaned and move-in ready. Plenty of space to add a shop,
garden or just enjoy the serene country surroundings. Small
shed, a covered patio and 15’x15’ shop off the carport round
out this must see property. $389,000 #12254 MLS#21239691
85180 SOUTH SLOUGH RD
Great opportunity to have almost 7 acres up the South Slough.
Serenity abounds with panoramic valley views and frontage
on a small creek. This 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom home and
detached guest house/single-wide each on its own septic. Large
detached garage and oversized carport. Large covered front
porch and rear deck with canning kitchen. The home has had
some updating but is a blank canvas for your imagination. Great
setting just 10-12 minutes to Old Town. Great Opportunity!
$399,900 #12204 MLS#21334260
75 HARBOR ST #204
Upscale river view condo w/ panoramic views of the bay
and marina. High end finishes include wood floors & granite
counters. Main living area has a gas fireplace, south/east facing
balcony with propane hookup. Kitchen features SS appliances,
pantry & breakfast bar. Excellent primary suite w/ jetted tub,
large closet w/organizer. Secure parking & storage available.
Check out the virtual tours. These units don’t come up for
sale often. Don’t let this pass you by. $579,900 #12226/
MLS#21620413
541-997-7777
“We’re next to the Bridge”
100 Hwy. 101
See all Florence Listings at
cbcoast.com