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WESTERN LANE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION MARKS 50 YEARS

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Florence, Oregon Siuslaw News Wednesday, October 23, 2024

Number 43 • 133 years

TONY REED PHOTOS

Hundreds attend Circles in the Sand The amount of people attending the Annual Beach Labyrinth next to Driftwood Shores was evident in the fact that parking was scarce for up to a quarter-mile from the beach. However, a mix of foggy and warm weather made a great

atmosphere for the event, which found people walking through a seemingly endless maze of sand art, sculptures and other odd creations. The event happened both Saturday and Sunday, bringing hundreds of visitors out to the beach.

City Council candidates share views Florence teen

Three candidates are running for two open seats on the Florence City Council. The Mayor position is also open but no candidates have filed. Ward will still be on the ballot, with a write-in option available. Ward served as the Mayor of Dunes City for nine years, was on the Siuslaw Valley Fire and Rescue Board for 9 years, the Florence City Council from 1985 to 1988, and has been the Mayor of Florence since 2023.

He also served as Mayor of Florence from 1989 to 1990. He has a BS from Oregon State University in Forest Engineering. The Siuslaw News first received a letter from candidate Mark Brennan and to be equitable, asked for general letters from the two incumbent candidates, Sally Wantz and Bill Meyer. The letters from all three candidates have been included in this issue in no particular order.

CANDIDATE BILL MEYER Education: 1965 Bachelor of Science in Applied Physics and Mathematics from California State, University at Long Beach Work history: 1965-1972 Taught Science and Math 1967-1972 1972 -2013 Designed embedded computers for industrial control systems from 1972 to 2016. 1965 -2007 Managed engineering design office for Murcal Inc. of Palmdale, California,

specializing in “clean sheet design” of software and hardware for embedded computers used in industrial controllers. Personal background: Married to Peggy Meyer 1965 – present. Two children and 4 grandchildren. Resident of Florence Oregon 2013 to present. Prior Governmental experience; Served on Josephine County See CANDIDATES, Page A5

Every 15 Minutes, the day after By TONY REED Siuslaw News

In the center of the gym, a casket sat atop the Vikings center court logo. Across the gym, students read letters to family, that were worded as if they had been written after their death from a DUI crash.

INSIDE

Obituaries — A Sports & Lifestyle — B1

JIM HOBERG Broker/Owner

Opinion — A3 Classifieds — B4-5

After watching their friends taken from classrooms and listening to their obituaries, students at Siuslaw High School witnessed a simulation of the aftermath of a DUI crash off Oak Street on Oct. 9. The simulation involved personnel from PeaceHealth Peace Harbor Hospital, Western Lane Fire and EMS Authority, Florence Police Department and ended with a student being transported from the scene in a

Burns Riverside Chapel hearse. Principal Mike Harklerode explained that the demonstration was no small effort. “This has been about five months of work,” he told students. “It started way back last May. We’ve had a lot of moving parts to make this happen, including moving the entirety of our Homecoming week.” Harklrode explained that the program was founded on the promise that every 15 minutes, someone dies as a result of a See DAY AFTER, Page A7

dies in crash, another injured Oregon STATE POLICE

On Friday, October 11, 2024, at 10:47 a.m., Oregon State Police responded to a single vehicle crash on Hwy 20, near milepost 7, in Lincoln County. The preliminary investigation indicated an eastbound Nissan Titan, operated by Jacob Joseph Barlett (18) of Florence, attempted to turn onto NE Arcadia Drive at a high rate of speed. The Nissan left the roadway, rolled several times, and came to rest on its roof. The operator of the Nissan (Barlett) suffered critical injuries and was transported by life flight to a regional medical center. A passenger in the Nissan, Benito Kirk Esquivel Whitney (18) of Florence, was declared deceased at the scene. The highway was impacted for approximately one hour during the on-scene investigation. The cause of the crash is under investigation with speed being considered a primary factor. OSP was assisted by the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, Toledo Police Department, and Toledo Fire and Rescue.

1870 Hwy. 126, Suite A • PO Box 3040, Florence, OR