TSN1211 by C.M.I.

Florence, Oregon Siuslaw NewsWednesday, December 11, 2024

Number 50 • 133 years

Follies took a lot of work By TONY REED Siuslaw News

By the time you read this, the 2024 production of the Holly Jolly Follies will have wrapped and packed up at the Florence Events Center. While the yearly performance by Children’s Repertory Workshops of Oregon (CROW) took place over three shows, it took many hours of work and practice by over 100 people to bring together. Prior to a final dress rehearsal held Dec. 5, CROW Director Melanie Heard said kids and adults took part, ranging in age from six to senior. Heard wrote the script for the show over the summer, basing it loosely on the Nutcracker Ballet, but integrated some of the Follies’ recurring characters into the show. “Rehearsals started right after the Haunted Maze (Halloween),” she said, noting

Quake triggers tsunami warning, later canceled Siuslaw News staff

Oregon’s coastal State Parks were closed immediately after a 7.3 magnitude quake off the coast of Ferndale, California triggered a tsunami warning from the south San Francisco Bay area to just south of Florence Thursday morning Dec. 5. According to area news sources, the quake shook residents in the Humboldt and Del Norte county regions and was followed by small aftershocks. According to the NOAA/US Tsunami Warning System, the 10:44 a.m. quake was centered about 45 miles southwest of Eureka at a depth of 8 miles. The warning was canceled by NOAA and the National Weather Service at noon Thursday. The Oregon Coast has been affected by several tsunamis, dating back to 1854. According to oregon.gov, the most recent traveled around the world from the 2011 Tohoku Quake, causing 11 deaths on the Oregon coast. In 1964, the Great Alaskan Earthquake triggered a tsunami that caused flooding and destruction down the west coast.

See FOLLIES, Page A8

People’s Utility District to flush hydrants

Public officials get ethics refresher By TONY REED Siuslaw News

In cities relative in size to Florence, it’s not uncommon for public officials to have friends or family working in official capacities or to have private occupations that sometimes cross over into their duties as local legislators. Government and elected officials must understand that their official decisions cannot benefit to them in a manner not available to the general public. Officials also need to

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Obituaries — A2 Sports & Lifestyle — B1

JIM HOBERG Broker/Owner

understand that accepting gifts from people or organizations that could benefit from their vote could create an ethical pitfall, since it could be perceived as a bribe or a reward for voting a particular way. According to ethics laws, conflicts may also exist when an action creates a potential for a financial benefit at some point in the future, such as through a private contract, land sale or reward. Members of the Florence City Council, Planning Commission, city staff and

Opinion — A3 Classifieds — B8-9

others attended a government ethics training Dec. 2, offered by Oregon Government Ethics Commission (OGEC). The commission is responsible for enforcing ethic and public meetings law in Oregon. OGEC trainer Lex Tingey began by explaining that a reason for the training is to guard the public trust. She said OGEC was started in 1974 after Watergate to create level of trust and a definitive guide for avoiding conflicts of interest. Through a series of lessons

and scenario quizzes, the training covered conflicts of interest, prohibited uses of public office, private employment, nepotism, gifts, and filing statements of economic interest. THE LAW Oregon government ethics laws prohibit public officials from using office for financial gain, and require public disclosure of economic conflicts of interest. OGEC also enforces state laws that require lobbyists See ETHICS, Page A9

Since Dec. 2, crews from the Heceta Water People’s Utility District and Western Lane Fire and EMS Authority have been flushing hydrants throughout the district. Plans are to flush hydrants on every Monday and Tuesday for the next six to eight weeks, depending on the weather. Residents near the hydrants being flushed may see a temporary discoloration of their water. This discoloration is completely safe although residents may not want to wash clothes until the water clears. Areas being flushed will be posted on the Heceta Water District’s web page (www. hwpud.com) as well as on the WLFEA web page (www.wlfea. org) and Facebook page. Carl Neville, Heceta Water General Manager asks residents that “if you do notice discolored water at your home, please call our office at 541-997-2446.” Annual flushing of hydrants is vital to ensure that the hydrants are in working order and available for use by the fire See HYDRANTS, Page A8

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