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Siuslaw NewsWednesday, May 22, 2024 Florence, Oregon

Number 21 • 133 years

Rhody King and Queen chosen Twins Cate and Cort are this year’s royalty for Rhododendron Days

PHOTO BY TONY REED

Cate Waggoner, performing at the Coronation May 11 at Florence Events Center.

Future First Citizen Announced

The organizers of the Marteen Wick Future First Citizen scholarship have announced the winner for this year, which is Cate Waggoner, a senior at Siuslaw High School and one of two salutatorians in her class. The Siuslaw High School staff selected a group of nominees including Adelaide Lake, Billie Massey, Cate Waggoner, Brayden Linton, Cort Waggoner, and Jane Lacouture. Following this, a panel of Florence First Citizens, which included Kim Erickson, Dr. Brian Holmes, Steve Olienyk, Dee Osborne, and Rachel Pearson, reviewed the nomination packets and scored each student. The Future First Citizen designation is awarded to a student based on their academic success, leadership, civic involvement, and contributions to the community. The recipient will receive the Marteen Wick Future First Citizen Scholarship worth $2,500. Cate is an exemplary student, with a 4.0 GPA and an honors diploma, and she currently serves as the Senior Class President at Siuslaw High School. She is an active member of the school’s interact club, and has played volleyball for the school team. She is now involved in the school’s softball team, too. Since 2021, Cate has planned and coordinated the annual Veteran’s Day Assembly. She plans to study nursing in college. Moreover, Cate was named the 117th Queen Rhododendra, and rode on the Rhody Court Royalty float with a special designation sign.

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Obituaries — A2 Sports & Lifestyle — B1

Junior Princess Preslee Wilkins is congratulated as she accepts her prize for selling the most buttons.

Queen Rhododendra Cate Waggoner and King of the Coast Cort Waggoner.

push past the fact that wrestling with boys could get very stinky. Prince Landon Severy confidently sang his rendition of House of the A roar of applause filled Florence Rising Sun, but it was immediately Events Center May 11 at the final clear by his movements that he had announcement that Cate and Cort added another component. In honor Waggoner had won the titles of Live onstage of his deaf parents, he also perQueen Rhododendra and King of Hypnotic Native music filled the formed the words in American Sign the Coast. The annual event filled Center as Princess Rosa Velasco Language. Asked what separates his every seat and kept backstage personnel busy moving everything from Mendez performed a Native Healing generation from others, he said it Jingle Dance. Emcees noted that contains people who are confident a grand piano to a Harley Davidson she was wearing a dress completely and push themselves, rather than motorcycle. handmade by her family and adorned waiting for things to happen. Masters of Ceremony C.R.O.W with so many jingle cones that it Princess Jaime Taylor let her director Melanie Heard and KEZI weighed about 50 pounds. emotion come thorough in a clear News Anchor Matt Templeman Asked later to describe the most recitation of her own poetry entitled explained that Princes and Princesses “Overcoming,” which conveyed would be judged on poise and confi- valuable lesson of high school, she dence, as well as their performances said it’s that one must persevere and courage and perseverance in the face of life’s challenges. and impromptu answers to questions get through. Noting her time on the wrestling team, she said she had to Asked to speak about her own from the judges. leadership qualities, Taylor spoke During a Presentation of the Colors by US Coast Guard Seaman Miles Swigart and Fireman Steven Bragg, Ron Green performed the National Anthem on Trumpet to start the night.

By TONY REED Siuslaw News

of her top-rated choir. However, she defined the choir as a unit, saying it practices leadership as a group. Prince Brayden Linton brought light to the stage with a colorfully-illuminated go-cart. Dressed in colorful lighted outfits, Brayden and his mother performed an acrobatic swing dance, to “Gasolina.” Asked where he would travel if he could go anywhere, Linton essentially said he’d rather stay home. Calling travel “overhyped,” he added that there is much for him to do here and doesn’t feel a need to travel. When the lights came up, Princess Cate Waggoner was seated on stage in a pink evening gown to perform See RHODY, Page A7

Flooding covers roads, damages some homes By TONY REED Siuslaw News

While it’s been dry for a while now, floodwater remained over Heceta Beach Drive for more than a week after the most recent rain. Officials suspect beavers may have had something to do with it. Florence Public Works Director Mike Miller said the area is not technically City jurisdiction, but his department has been collaborating with Lane County to deal with the flooding. Miller noted that the area has dealt with flooding before. In in 2016 and 2017, the county had to replace a section of Heceta Beach Road. “But this year is different because all of the culverts are free,” he said, noting that several property owners in the area have made dikes to

Opinion — A3 Classifieds — B5-B6

keep the water out. “There are some beaver activity that’s been reported. This last weekend, something failed or something was breached, late at night and it caused some flooding.”

He said fast-rising water overwhelmed storm drains and caused flooding for several blocks around the area and out to the beach. Erosion damage there was repaired by Public Works personnel May 6.

Miller said he was at home when he received a call about 12:30 a.m. May 6, reporting that water was See FLOOD, Page A6

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