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Florence, Oregon Siuslaw News Wednesday, January 15, 2025

Number 3 • 134 years

Meet the 2025 Rhody Court Council allows backup plan for warming center By TONY REED Siuslaw News

Announcing our amazing 2025 Rhododendron Festival Junior and Senior Court! The mission of the Rhododendron Court program is to provide scholarships for higher education, to offer networking and mentoring opportunities to outstanding young women and men, and to promote community outreach and volunteerism in a program that perpetuates an appreciation for

Rhododendron Festival history and tradition. The Rhododendron Festival High School Junior Court members are 1st GraderAlyssa Lukashev, 2nd GraderMaren Ferguson, 3rd GraderHattie Decker, 4th GraderLilia Galvan Mendez and 5th Grader-Lily Hamar

The Rhododendron Festival High School Junior Court members are Claire Lindell, Kamorah Lake, Sophia Montoya, Ashlyn Hart, Macali Lade, Joel Sissel, Storm Kurth, Nyte DeLeon, Charles Nelson and Travis Clark. They will be our ambassadors for the 118th

Rhododendron Festival and will also receive one-onone mentorship and will showcase their talents in the Rhododendron Coronation on Saturday, May 9th, 2025 where they will compete for the title of Queen Rhododendra and King of the Coast!

At its Jan. 6 meeting the Florence City Council approved a request from the Florence Emergency Cold Weather Shelter Committee to make an alternate location available in town for overnight guests when freezing temperatures are predicted. City Manager Erin Reynolds said the committee had identified a location for a shelter at the Florence Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, outside city limits and jurisdiction, but wanted approval for a backup location in town if needed. That approval would be subject to approval within 24 hours by the city manager and police chief. She said the council may allow a warming shelter by any See WARMING, Page A7

Head of Charter School answers questions

Florence’s first Baby

The first baby of 2025 was delivered at Peace Harbor Medical Center on Monday, January 6, at 7:58 a.m. to parents Kendra Gilson and Arias Cipriano. Baby Camdyn weighed in at 7lbs 13 oz. and is 20 in. long. The new parents and baby Camdyn are doing well and are thankful for the care and attention they received at Peace Harbor Medical Center.

INSIDE

Obituaries — A2 Sports & Lifestyle — B1

Opinion — A3 Classifieds — B4-5

In response to community questions and feedback, newly-hired head of Schools Arturo Ruelas sat down with Siuslaw News Editor Tony Reed Jan. 2 to discuss aspects of the yetto-open Whitmore Classical Academy (WCA). Ruelas also introduced himself in person, to the Siuslaw School District Board of Directors at the Jan. 8 meeting. WCA will operate under the Siuslaw Valley Charter School (SVCS) board as a publicly-funded charter of Siuslaw School District. According to Ruelas’ Linkedin profile, he has been the Executive Principal at Suzhou Industrial Park Foreign Language School in Suzhou, The Director of K-12 schools at EtonHouse International School Nanjing, Founding Director of K12 Schools at Dongguan Tung Wah Wenzel International School and Head of Schools at Zhejiang Yuying Education Group, among others. He has

a Masters in Teaching from Chapman University and earned a Principal License in Education, Leadership and Policy From Portland State University. Asked to to speak about his career as it relates, Ruelas said his experience in educational leadership has lasted about 10 years so far. He started as a principal in Portland and moved to China with his wife. “My career in China is very special,” he said. “While my

Arturo Ruelas

educational background and training is being a principal, they don’t necessarily teach the background of starting up schools. It’s more about administration and leadership, but I had the good fortune of having some opportunities, in China, for developing schools.” He said those experiences made him the top candidate for SVCS, since startup experience is rare in educational leadership. He said that while the US is somewhat different, “rules are rules,” and he’s still educating himself as to Oregon laws for public charter schools. When asked, he said his current job description is setting up all aspects of the school and once it’s open, his job will be similar to that of a school principal. Asked what part of his experience in education most aligns with his new position at WCA, Ruelas said his career See SCHOOL, Page A6

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