6A | SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2021 | SIUSLAW NEWS
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We buy, sell and consign quality
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Gold, silver, platinum jewelry with
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Call 541-997-8104,
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Festival of Trees now open
Oregon Coast Military Museum is present-
ing its 2021 Festival of Trees beginning this
week. The event features a variety of themat-
ically designed Christmas trees decorated by
local artists and organizations.
As part of the festival, the trees will be
available for viewing at the museum, 2145
Kingwood St., from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. through
Thursday, Dec. 2.
Viewing of the trees is free of charge,
though donations are welcomed and appre-
ciated.
From Nov. 24 to Dec. 3, the donated and
specially decorated trees will be available for
online auction. The community can partici-
pate by visiting www.fot.afrogs.org starting
Nov. 24.
ACTS from page 1A
Auto, Home, Life, Business
Flood, Antique Auto, RV’s
Medicare Advantage Plans
Medicare Supplements
Health Insurance
Phone (541) 997-9497
1234 Rhododendron Dr / Florence
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4325 Highway 101
Florence, OR 97439
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100 Hwy. 101,
Florence, OR
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Us TOO Florence
Prostate Cancer Education
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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
In his assessment of the
provisions currently includ-
ed in the BBB Act, Merkley
has been particularly sup-
portive of the funds allocat-
ed to Oregon in the RAISE
Grant program.
“Roads and other trans-
portation projects benefit
every Oregonian trying to
get from point A to point B,
while expanding job growth
in communities that are in
desperate need of updated
transportation routes,” said
Merkley. “These RAISE
grants distributed to Lane
and Washington counties
MAPLETON from page 1A
Holman, Mary Ellen Man-
sfield and Andrea Milbrett.
Starting with the school
report, the board discussed
the water shortage that the
community of Mapleton
was facing at the time of the
meeting. Moyer explained
school was going to be
closed the next day and had
been the previous two days
but that the water shortage
wouldn’t be an issue for a
while because school would
be out through the Thanks-
giving holiday.
Moyer then explained
that because of the fact
that school ended up being
closed for three whole days,
that three Fridays would be
added to the year’s learning
calendar. Those additional
days are Dec. 3, Dec. 10 and
Jan. 7.
Moyer than gave the
board some good news. Su-
perintendent Jodi O’Mara
will be back from leave, at
least part time, after the
Thanksgiving holiday.
Following this, the princi-
pal talked about how teach-
er Molly Dooley, because
of staff shortages, has been
working outside of her en-
dorsement to teach mid-
dle and high school health
along with language arts.
She mentioned that Dooley
has been ambitious about
receiving mentoring to get
her up to speed on subjects
that had previously not fall-
en into her areas of exper-
tise.
Moyer next said the mid-
dle school basketball team
was “up and running” and
had already started their
season. She complimented
Lou Burruss who coaches
the team.
“He’s a very dedicated em-
ployee to our kids and our
programs, and he’s really
motivated for athletics,” said
Moyer.
Also on the topic of
sports, Moyer informed
the board that there is dis-
cussions with some of the
schools in Mapleton’s dis-
trict about possibly starting
school-sponsored athletics
for kindergarten through
fifth grade.
This was an interesting
prospect for because of
the unique situation small
schools like Mapleton face.
Neighboring communities
like Florence and Veneta
Visit us on
Any individual wishing to register or bid
in person may visit the bidding desk at the
museum during event hours and a member
of the museum staff will gladly assist them.
The auction will close on the evening
of Dec. 3 during the Festival of Trees Gala,
which will be broadcast via livestream begin-
ning at 6 p.m.
Funds raised through the event will go to
support the museum’s continued operations
and mission to honor those who have served.
For more information or to volunteer, con-
tact OCMM Operations Manager Geoffrey
Cannon at 541-902-5160 or by email at oc-
mmflorence@gmail.com.
People can also visit www.oregoncoastmili-
tarymuseum.com.
will improve the quality and
safety of our roadways, rails,
trails and buses that con-
nect us, and I look forward
to seeing the results of this
much needed investment.”
DeFazio is the chair-
person of the U.S. House
Transportation and Infra-
structure Committee. He
has insured some of the
elements included in the
BBB bill are geared towards
addressing issues like the
shortage of childcare work-
ers and health care profes-
sionals across the state.
On Nov. 22, DeFazio held
a press conference to add
context and details to the
elements of the BBB Act
which will impact Orego-
nians.
He talked about the $30
million obtained for the
dredging of the Ports of
Coos Bay and Siuslaw, au-
thorized in the RAISE,
which will increase access
and overall use of the ports,
hopefully requiring adding
employees at both locations.
While much of the IIJA
act is geared towards tradi-
tional interpretations of in-
frastructure, the BBB seeks
to broaden the meaning of
the term, expanding fund-
ing for social services and
senior support.
“Certainly, seniors on
the coast will benefit from
the bill’s home care provi-
sions and from the reduced
prescription drug prices
expected upon the passage
of the bill. The BBB Act
will drive the creation of
good-paying jobs and grow
the economy sustainably
and equitably so that every-
one gets ahead for decades
to come,” DeFazio stated.
“Together, these bills will
add on average 1.5 million
jobs per year for the next
10 years. Critically, the BBB
economic agenda does not
increase inflation. In fact,
Moody’s Investors Service
shows that it takes the edge
off inflation by support-
ing long-term economic
growth.”
While DeFazio was re-
luctant to guarantee the el-
ements of the BBB act will
remain unchanged, he ex-
pects the work done prior
to the passage in the House
will be enough to satisfy the
small number of represen-
tatives encouraging a scaled
back version of the bill.
The Senate will likely be-
gin deliberation on BBB af-
ter the Thanksgiving recess.
For more information,
visit www.whitehouse.gov/
build-back-better.
have Boys & Girls Club or
other activities. While Ma-
pleton has sent kids to play
in leagues in other towns,
parent transportation is
required and that is not al-
ways possible. If these sports
were school sponsored, the
school could provide trans-
port.
“There’s going to be a
higher percentage of kids
that are able to participate,”
said Moyer. “This is not an
action item. Just informa-
tion, letting you know that
we’re hoping to make that
work.”
Holman questioned if
that meant school-spon-
sored sports for K-5 would
start next year, but Moyer
said she hoped it would start
in January 2022.
Staying on the subject of
sports, Moyer next reviewed
a meeting she had with the
Oregon School Athletic As-
sociation (OSAA) regard-
ing mask mandates and
the enforcement of them.
The issue is that schools
that compete are in dif-
ferent counties, sometime
which have different mask
enforcement rules. A plan
was established where each
home team will establish a
contact for the road team for
them to come to if they have
issues with mask enforce-
ment. Worst case scenario, if
the spectators in attendance
could not be made to wear
masks, the gym will be emp-
tied, except for players and
coaches, and the game will
continue with no spectators
in attendance.
Next, the board discussed,
as they had at last month’s
meeting, ending a policy
that required a C grade to
receive school credit. The
board decided they would
vote on the matter at the
December meeting.
Moyer then asked for per-
mission from the board for
a single freshman athlete to
compete with Elmira High
School’s athletic teams be-
cause of a lack of opportu-
nities for specific sports at
Mapleton. This was unan-
imously approved by the
board.
Most of the rest of the
meeting revolved around
an unidentified member
of the public who was tex-
ting Moyer asking ques-
tions during the meeting.
The board was reluctant
to respond because, as was
mentioned, there is a place
in these meetings for public
input and texting the school
principal isn’t it.
The “texter” mentioned
they would be at the Decem-
ber school board meeting
once the board explained
the proper procedure for
submitting comment. All
the board members men-
tioned that they looked for-
ward to the discussion.
The Nov. 17 meeting can
be seen in full here: https://
youtu.be/sWURUdl2UJg.
The Mapleton School Board
meets on the third Wednes-
day of each month. The next
meeting will be Dec. 15 at 6
p.m.
For more information,
visit mapleton.k12.or.us.
Is Open for Dine-In or Take Out
from 5pm - 9 pm
Tuesday - Saturday
Call
541-902-6447
Drift wood Shores Resort
88416 1st Avenue, Florence
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Broker
541 991-7826
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Since 1939
the web
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