A Christmas celebration as Old-Time as anything on the Oregon Coast happens again this year tat the Heceta Head Lightkeeper’s House, just below the lighthouse north of Florence off Highway 101.
This year’s Victorian Christmas will feature all the staples, from caroling to hot chocolate and cookies and one of the best views on the coast.
See HOLIDAYS, Page A6
This gigantic work of art appeared in the sand dunes across the Siuslaw River from the west end of Bay Street just after Thanksgiving. It’s uncertain if it’s a chicken, a Thanksgiving turkey or a three-toed woodpecker, but our hat is off to the artist, because it obviously took some time and effort to create. It’s also unsure if CAM is the artist or the person it was dedicated to. Tony Reed photo
By TONY REED
The Siuslaw News
In November, the Florence City Council approved an emergency overnight cold weather shelter in north Florence, amid a mix of concerns from residents, both positive and negative.
Confusion occurred, as some residents thought the warming center was to be sited in the unused building (which has no number markings) about 200 feet north of the actual location. That building, formerly a Best Med Clinic and later, a Worker’s Compensation office, was purchased by Lane County Health and Human Services, with plans to use it as a medication assisted treatment facility for opioid addiction recovery.
In June, 2025, the Lane County Board of Commissioners voted to allow the County Administrator to approve the sale of the building, which recently went through.
Jason Davis, Communications Director at Lane County Health and Human Services, said in June that that opening will not be immediate and several steps have to be taken first.
“This first step precedes a long process of community engagement,” he said at the time. “First and foremost, we look at the immediate facility and any adjacencies and start communication with them,” he said. “Then we look at stakeholders, anyone who will be interfacing with the clinic in any way, shape or form, and start to reach out to them. Then, we do general community sessions and in the midst of all that we try to do as much
community education as possible.”
Davis said Dec. 2 that public outreach will start immediately and meetings are being planned for this month and next.
“Right now, we are in our due diligence, which means community engagement, probably through the end of January, that is going to really be aimed at giving folks a chance to learn about the project, but then also weigh in before we seek the waiver,” he said, explaining that the location is just across Highway 101 from a Montessori school. Once approved by the board of commissioners, architects and other specialists would be brought in to determine retrofitting options for the building, to take place as early as February or March.
He said that process could take about 90 days,
See CENTER, Page A7
A group that identifies itself as watchdogs of stranded marine mammals is circulating an online petition, asking for a reform of the Marine Mammal Stranding Network, after the unsuccessful rescue attempt of a juvenile whale near Yachats last month.
The group’s website, strandednomore.org said the death of the juvenile humpback whale wasn’t just a conservation
tragedy, but a stark symptom of an inefficient and fiscally irresponsible federal program.
“The official response to this live stranding was plagued by delays, poor organization, false communication, and patronizing, even hostile attitudes towards the public and the locals. Yet, during this event, it was the locals who emerged as real heroes,” the website says. “Not only did they stay with Pickles/Hope during the first night
(November 15/16), cut the rope, poured water, and used towels to keep the whale wet, but they also made valiant efforts to refloat the whale twice, Saturday evening/ night and Sunday morning at the high tide. The local community donated heavy equipment, time, fuel, and personnel, but they were taken for granted and were barely acknowledged.”
The website also says
See WHALE, Page A7
Do you know a Siuslaw High School senior who goes above and beyond — someone who shows true leadership, community spirit, and a passion for making Florence a better place? Or are you that student?
It’s time to recognize the next generation of community leaders!
The Future First Citizen Award honors an outstanding Siuslaw High School senior who demonstrates exceptional civic involvement and contributes meaningfully to the welfare and improvement of Florence and surrounding communities.
Students may be nominated by others — or nominate themselves — for this prestigious recognition. Nominees are evaluated on four key areas:
• Academic Achievement (GPA) School Activities • Community Service
O UTSIDE WORK E XPERIENCE
The Future First Citizen Committee will review up to ten nominations. A subcommittee will then evaluate the applications with all names redacted, narrowing the field to five finalists for final consideration. The past five First Citizens will
then review and score the nominations.
Nomination Deadline: Friday, January 30, 2026
How to Apply or Nominate: Complete the Future First Citizen Nomination Form available at Siuslaw High School and return it to: Robert Orr, Siuslaw High School borr@siuslaw.k12.or.us Award Presentation: March 31, 2026 — Special Recognition Luncheon Help us celebrate the promise and potential of our youth — nominate a deserving student, or yourself, today!
4/11/1939 - 11/22/2025
Pauline Lucretia Wilson, age 86 passed away on 11.22.2025 in Eugene Oregon. She was born on April 11,1939 in Elkton, Oregon to Harry and Lena Bowman. Pauline loved to cook, she worked in many restaurants and owned two of her own, Including Pauline’s Place in downtown Florence.
Pauline enjoyed spending time with family and loved ones. She enjoyed camping,playing games, exploring the outdoors and going out to eat.
She is survived by her brother Herbert Bowman and wife Luella. Children Rebecca Funke, Ann Marie Kelly, Vernon Skaalrud,
Laurie Duval and husband Randy and Sharon Jones. Grandchildren Timothy Funke, Casey Duval, Lisa Giumelli, Lindsey Korkeakoski, Sarah Giumelli, Chad Stanley, Kyle and Dylan Jones. Great Grandchildren Wyatt,Annalee, and Jacob Duval. Liam, Kenzie and Kaiden Anderson. Easton and Emersyn Korkeakoski, Brynn Giumelli-Rogers, Cohen Stanley and Calvin Funke and many nieces and nephews.
She will be laid to rest with her mother in Elkton, Oregon on December 13,2025. In a private service with family and close friends.
July 8, 1926 - June 26, 2025
Her friends and family agree: Mary was warm and engaging and stimulating at the same time. She rarely made small talk. Mary conversed. She was curious to know what new thing you had learned. She sought a deeper understanding. Her own unbounded fascination with the infinite variety of life inspired her to want to share with others. It was a recipe for a life of connecting across a wide swath of humanity.
Mary grew up in The Dalles, Oregon, the daughter of Swiss immigrant parents who were, humble, scholarly, and principled. Her childhood was filled with the spiritual ideas of Theosophy, Annie Besant and Krishnamurti—ideas that later drew her to their center in Ojai, California to immerse herself more deeply in the thinking of a father who died during her childhood.
Mary was the youngest of four accomplished siblings. Elizabeth was a groundbreaking social services administrator, known for championing the disadvantaged and disenfranchised, especially children. Her brother Robert was an electrical engineer whose company in The Dalles electrified much of rural Oregon and Washington. Fred Welty worked for the U.S. Department of State in Europe, Africa and India and was an art and antique collector.
At Oregon State University, Mary met Stuart Johnston, an engineering student from Florence, Oregon. They married in 1948 and landed in Florence, where Stu took over his family’s Johnston Motor Company – which established them in Florence, Oregon for good. She reared four sons in Florence and learned to thrive in a small town on the coast of Oregon.
When Stu was elected mayor in 1962, Mary found her second act in civic life. She spearheaded an effort to build a new library for the community from the ground up. She brought in experts to create a more wellrounded nonfiction and fiction collection as a substantial resource for students and the entire community. She championed quality and design in the new building emphasizing natural light and furnishings that would encourage and elevate its essential function as a civic gathering place. Mary also worked with county commissioners to create a regional library service and later was appointed to serve on the Oregon State Library Board for four years.
A lifelong Democrat, she once hosted a campaign party in her home for Governor Bob Straub, seeking his support for library initiatives. Her interest in history led her
Florence Police Department responded to the following calls from November 26 to December 2.
WEDNESDAY, N OVEMBER 26
At 12:42 a.m. a caller reported a box truck driving erratically and crossing center lines near mile marker 2 on Highway 126. Caller said the vehicle turned and went south on Highway 101 before officers arrived. Reedsport Police Department was notified.
At 10:13 a.m., officers assisted a broken down vehicle in the 4900 block of Highway 101 until it could be towed.
At 3:39 p.m., officers responded to the 100 block of Highway 101 for a report that a debit card had been charged three times the amount purchased. Officers found that the triple charge was a mistake and the business owner corrected the problem.
At 5:57 p.m., officers responded to the 700 block of Highway 101 for a report that a female subject had stolen food from a business. Officers were unable to locate the subject.
At 6:01 p.m., officers responded to the 1500 block of 9th Street for a report of a dispute inside of business. Officers spoke to all involved parties and resolved the issue. No further action was taken.
THURSDAY, N OVEMBER 2 7
At 4:24 p.m., officers responded to the 700 block of Highway 101 for a report that a woman had left her phone in
to help preserve local historic buildings, and her preservation work is featured in the book, And When They’re Gone...Landmarks of Lane County. She served on numerous civic committees including Lane County Arts Advisory and, as a faithful opera devotee and advocate, served for many years on the Eugene Opera Board.
After her sons were grown, Mary returned to college at the University of Oregon, earning degrees in psychology and anthropology.
She graduated with Phi Beta Kappa honors. She went on to work and interpret for six archaeological digs on the Oregon coast, assisted by Stu setting up a trailer for her to live on site for weeks at a time.
Mary inherited a collection of ceremonial African art from her brother Fred. The collection focused on the Yoruba people of Nigeria and quickly became a central passion in her life. She immersed herself in the scholarship of African art, forging friendships with noted experts like Dr. Olu Adekanmbi, a Yoruba chief and political scientist at the University of Oregon, who added to her collection in appreciation for Mary’s deep respect for Yoruba culture.
Portions of her collection were exhibited at institutions including the University of Oregon Museum of Natural and Cultural History, Washington State University, Hallie Ford Museum of Art, Lane Community College, and the Maryhill Museum of Art.
Mary never stopped learning, questioning, and growing. In her later years, as illness slowed her, she found peace in the solitude and beauty of her beloved home on the river—watching egrets, ospreys, and herons from her windows. Her sons—Stuart, John, Brian, and Adam—remained central to her life, as did her grandchildren and greatgrandchildren. She delighted in each one and celebrated their triumphs.
In her final years, she was surrounded by abundant love and care. Brian checked in regularly as he had long done and Stu visited often. Adam and John came back home, alternating as her devoted daily caregiving companions. Of her last days, John said, “Even as our hearts broke, she inspired awe, as we witnessed daily, even through illness, the extraordinarily powerful presence of her simple grace.”
She is survived by her sons Stuart (Mary) Johnston, John Johnston, Brian (Denise) Johnston, and Adam Johnston, 7 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to the Siuslaw Library Foundation at: siuslawlibrary.info/foundation
the shopping cart and it had been stolen. Police used the internal tracking device on the phone to track it to a residence in Florence. The person in possession of the phone returned it saying they were planning on turning it in.
At 10:02 p.m., officers responded to the area of Pine and 19th streets for a report of four males in a physical fight. Officers contacted four juvenile males in the area who denied that they had been fighting. No further action was taken.
At 10:32 p.m., officers were investigating damage to a vehicle and possible burglary when they located a missing juvenile from Eugene. Juvenile’s parents were notified and the missing person report was cleared.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2 8
At 8:14 a.m., a caller reported a dog at large in the area of 35th St. and Rhododendron Drive.
At 7:40 p.m., a caller reported an erratic driver in the 2400 block of Highway 101. Officers made contact with the driver and determined he was not under the influence. Driver told officers he had swerved to avoid another vehicle.
KATHRYN (KATE) MCFALL
Beloved sister, mom, grandma, aunt, passed 11/23/25. Peace be with her.
At 9:47 p.m., officers responded to the 700 block of Highway 101 for a report of a female subject screaming and throwing things inside a store. Officers arrived to find the woman still throwing items and took her into custody. As officers were attempting to put the female in the patrol car, she kicked one in the face, causing a concussion. She was arrested for Criminal Mischief 2, Criminal Trespassing 2, Disorderly Conduct, Resisting
Arrest and Assaulting an Officer.
SATURDAY, N OVEMBER 2 9,
At 12:54 a.m., officers responded to the area of Shelter Cove for a report of a large paint can in the roadway.
At 11:02 a.m., officers responded to the 1800 block of Oak Street for a report of a transient subject dragging a dog. Officers were unable to locate the subject or the dog. At 11:58 p.m., officers responded to the area of Old Town and also near the Siuslaw River Bridge for a possible road rage incident. Officers learned that a male subject had got out of one of the vehicles and was running near the bank of the river and the female drove away. Case was referred to LCSO.
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 30
At 11:24 a.m., a caller in the Florence area reported being harassed on social media by a subject from Longview, Washington. Caller was advised to block the other subject.
At 5:58 p.m., a caller reported a sedan driving recklessly in the area of 1st and Juniper streets. Officers were unable to locate the described vehicle.
At 9:32 p.m., officers responded to the 2500 block of Highway 101 for a report of a disorderly subject possibly brandishing a gun in the parking lot of a business. Officers arrived to find the subject had left the area but determined the gun in question was actually a glove.
At 10:45 p.m., officers responded to the 700 block of Highway 101 for a report that a male subject had taken cereal, bagels and donuts from a store. Officers searched the area but were unable
See POLICE, Page A7
March 15, 1963 - November 20, 2025
Mary was born in Albany, Oregon to Orrin and Beverly Hill on March 15, 1963. She was preceded in death by her parents Orrin & Beverly and her brother Perry.
The family moved to Florence from Albany in 1977, and Mary lived here for the rest of her life. She’s a selfless person who did many things for people that see didn’t know. She enjoyed cleaning cemeteries and headstones. She placed a flower on every grave in the pioneer cemetery, all people she didn’t know, but felt they deserved to be remembered. On May
Charles went to be with our Lord on November 14th 2025.
He is survived by his wife Kristy of 16 years. Around town a lot of you referred to him as Chuck the poet. He wrote almost every day. He self published his book ramblings of an old plumber. He was also known for being the owner of Chucks Plumbing for over 40 years. He loved to hunt and fish and go crabbing. He was a very active sportsman. In his later years he developed a forgotten love for rocks as well as precious stones and sunstones. This hobby kept him quite busy. He also loved to bake for family and friends. His favorites were potato rolls, Apple cake, and cranberry orange scones. Those will be dearly missed.
Charles raised five boys, Charles W. Myrick, Arnold, Brian, and Stewart Myrick. He also raised Douglas Daniken. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Brayson, Bailey, Steven Kristeena and Matthew Myrick. Also, Tanner and Danylle Daniken. He had three great grandchildren as well.
1 she would always make Mayday baskets and placed them on doorsteps. Once again, to let someone know they were thought of.
Mary left behind son Damon, brothers Willie and Delazon, and sister Millie. She left behind many aunts and uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews and grandchildren, and she was especially fond of those grandchildren.
Please join us for a celebration of life on Saturday, December 13th from 11am - 2pm, at the senior center on Kingwood Street.
CITIZENS IN SUPPORT OF DEMOCRACY
I am reminded of the famous painting called “Freedom of Speech” by Norman Rockwell which hung in the lobby of my high school in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, a town a few miles from Rockwell’s home in Stockbridge. It is in that spirit that the third meeting of Citizens in Support of Democracy will take place in the Bromley room at the Siuslaw Library in Florence on Saturday, December 13, at 2:00 PM. The agenda will include discussions of those things which define us as a nation, as well as
how we can we go about securing the democratic principles under which we have lived for 250 years, and the drawing up of a manifesto. All citizens of every –or no – political leaning –liberals, moderates, conservatives, independents, or those who are a-political and simply want to live in a free nation – all are encouraged, indeed urged, to attend and to take part in the restoration of our democratic way of life which is in danger of being plundered and destroyed. The call has gone out. This is the new “American crisis.” You
are needed.
George Durant, moderator
EDITOR,
Here is a subject I feel is increasingly important in the internet age, especially in regard to social media and podcasting. That is the facility for critical thinking. It seems that, for a disturbing number of people, this skill has substantially atrophied in recent years, evidenced by the malarky being quoted, and based on the ability of anyone to post, for widespread consumption, whatever deceptive or distorted
information they want to concoct for whatever nefarious purpose they might have. The great weakness we seem to have as a society is that we tend to believe what we want to hear, and that tendency is increasingly exploited by charlatans. There are two, at least somewhat effective, defenses against this. Do not be so certain of what we know, it could be we are wrong, and in when in discussion or argument, listen closely to others; we might just come to realize they are right! Accept nothing from just one source.
Jimmie Zinn Florence
FROM SIUSLAW PIONEER MUSEUM
We can’t be sure how our holiday traditions began – circumstances perhaps. Yet even over time as those traditions have evolved, their stories continue to bring warmth to our hearts and joy each year. During the early pioneer days, even if money was sparse that season, Santa was sure to find a plate of special treats left for him at the table. Sometimes it was only a piece of bread with butter, and some “dried up ears of corn for the
reindeer”.
As more folks settled into our area, the Grange Hall became a gathering place for the community, especially for traditional holiday celebrations. One Christmas night in 1915 after a dance at the North Fork Grange, folks were returning to Florence aboard the Ariel. It was a dark, and particularly cold night on the river when the Ariel hit a snag, creating a hole in the hull. Quickly filling with water, Captain Johnson managed to steer the Ariel to the nearest shore. All on board were
able to safely disembark without incident and grateful to be rescued by a passing boat. The next day, folks spoke of the incident. They agreed that in the darkness and with everyone weary from the evening’s celebration, luck had certainly been with them. None could say for sure, but wasn’t that rescue boat navigated by a white bearded fellow, who wore a red jacket and stocking cap?
Special Note: The Museum is closed for the Holidays, reopening Feb. 1.
LAST WEEK, WE ASKED: WHERE DO YOU SHOP DURING THE HOLIDAYS? RESULTS WERE
I shop local, for the most part.
Eugene, Coos Bay, Newport.
Almost exclusively online.
I same money by not shopping.
THIS WEEK WE’RE ASKING: WHY DO YOU READ THE POLICE LOG IN THIS PAPER?
I like to see if anything is happening in my neighborhood
I like to know what our local police deal with I enjoy the odd and funny calls
All of the above
Go to our main page at thesiuslawnews.com to vote and see poll results
Motorists driving on 35th St. this last week have had to navigate through a lot of orange plastic, but City officials say progress is happening and the street should be back to normal by January.
The project is a Safe Routes to School project that started on November 17 by adding sidewalks and other ADA and pedestrian improvements from Siano Loop to Oak Street.
According to the City of Florence newsletter, work has started at the Siano Loop intersection and is moving east.
“While SLE Inc. is expertly managing traffic, we recommend using alternative routes like Rhododendron Drive or Heceta Beach Road to avoid the construction zone,” it said. On Dec. 3, crews had poured new concrete
and were
The Mapleton High School Student Council is excited to present the Holiday Art Show and Market, a two-day celebration of local creativity, student talent, and community connection.
This year’s event features a diverse lineup of local artists, students, and makers offering handcrafted goods of all kinds, including:
Textiles & Crochet: stuffed animals, keychains, clothing, and home décor
Jewelry: handcrafted hemp pieces, bracelets, and unique wearable art
Ceramics: student-made sculptures, dishes, vases, bowls, ornaments
Fine Art: paintings, digital prints, mixed media, stickers
Woven Crafts: locally harvested, hand-woven baskets and wreaths
Culinary Goods: homemade baked items and seasonal treats
Photography & Holiday Booths: prints, festive photo sets, and more
Youth Artist Showcase: creative works from Siuslaw High School student artists
All goods are handmade, with artists keeping 100% of their sales. A small entry fee at the door will benefit the Mapleton High School Student Council and its student-led programs.
SPECIAL EVENT HIGHLIGHTS
On Sunday, Dec. 14,The Mapleton Booster Club will host Pictures with Santa, offering festive photos, baked goods, and holiday treats for families and visitors of all ages.
On Monday, December
15 at 5 p.m., The art show will feature an Open Mic Night, free for all attendees. Community members are warmly encouraged to participate, whether to sing, read poetry, share music, or perform.
The Holiday Art Show & Market takes place December 14–15 from 4 to 7 p.m. at Mapleton Middle School in the Community Resource Center.
“We’re proud to host an event that highlights the creativity of our students and the talent within our broader community,” said a Student Council statement. “These added events make the weekend even more festive and welcoming.”
Proceeds support Mapleton High School Student Council
More information: http:// www.mapleton.k12.or.us
Did you know that rechargeable batteries can be recycled (lithium ion, nickel cadmium, nickel metal hybrid, plus button and coin cell batteries)?
Please take them to the front entrance desk at the local BiMart location or to the Florence Transfer Station (2920 Rhododendron Drive).
Thanks in part to grant funding from Lane County, Bi-Mart stores will provide a convenient way to safely dispose of these hard-to-recycle batteries. Improper battery disposal can create health and safety concerns, such as fires that damage critical waste management
infrastructure and trucks and put workers at risk.
Participating stores can be found online on the Lane County Waste Management website.
Alkaline batteries are not part of this program, so please throw those batteries in the trash.
County Transfer and Recycling (CTR) will also be working with Lane County to provide battery recycling for their customers in the new year. Stay tuned for more details.
Since 2008, St Vinnie’s has provided Lane County residents and businesses with a safe and environmentally friendly way to recycle Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) Block Styrofoam. This product is
the major packaging material for large electronics, appliances and other bulky and fragile items that need protection. It is no surprise that there is a lot more of this material accumulated after the holidays! St. Vinnie’s has special equipment, in their Eugene Warehouse, that shreds and compresses the lightweight blocks into easily transportable logs that get shipped to companies that repurpose the material into new products like building materials and art supplies. So please don’t throw these styrofoam blocks in the garbage, take them to St Vinnie’s so they can be recycled properly. Thank you St. Vinnie’s for your commitment to being a leader in responsible resource stewardship.
Note: St. Vinnie’s does NOT accept styrofoam peanuts or food packaging materials. More information is available here: https://www.svdp.us/ styrofoam-recycling-eugene-oregon/
before the City Club at the Siuslaw Public Library. Parosa’s background is extensive. After a childhood in Salem, he attended Oregon State University where he graduated magna cum laude with a BS in political science. From there, in 2003, he earned his JD from the University of Oregon School of Law. It was in April of 2006 that Parosa joined the Lane County District Attorney’s Office where his cases ranged from misdemeanors, to drug offenses, domestic violence, elder abuse, child abuse, sexual assault, and homicides including aggravated murder.
In November 2021, after serving as felony Trial Team Leader, Parosa was appointed Chief Deputy District Attorney and, in 2024, was elected as District Attorney in 2024 Parosa will address City Club of Florence on December 11, 2025 starting at 1:30 p.m., in the Bromley Room of the Siuslaw Public Library.
BY SHAANTH NANGUNERI Oregon Capital Chronicle
The U.S Coast Guard has promised to indefinitely return a life-saving rescue helicopter to its facility at Newport’s Municipal Airport, Oregon’s two U.S. senators said Thursday, capping weeks of angst in the town ahead of a dangerous crab fishing season.
The U.S. Coast Guard removed the helicopter in late October with no public explanation from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for why it was relocated to a North Bend Coast Guard facility nearly 70 miles away. U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, Rep. Val Hoyle and local officials have all previously said they were trying to find out why the helicopter was removed amid speculation that the Trump administration could be repurposing the site for Oregon’s first long-term immigration detention facility.
Wyden told reporters on Nov. 23 that a Coast Guard representative had given him unsatisfactory answers attributing the change in facility operations to a lack of adequate staffing. On Thursday, he shared on X that the Coast Guard had reversed course.
“This is a big win to keep fishermen as well as Oregonians and tourists visiting the Newport area safe when they are enjoying the Pacific Ocean,” Wyden said in a statement Thursday. “I’ll keep watchdogging this Coast Guard commitment and battling against any move by the Trump administration to site an ICE detention facility in Newport
Parents of littles should remember that the North Pole Express mail drop off box will continue to send letters directly to the North Pole until December 17. Make sure to include a return mailing address so Santa’s elves can respond. You’ll find the mailbox on the south side of Bay Street, next to the Siuslaw River Bridge Interpretive Center.
or anywhere else on the Oregon Coast.”
The homeland security department and U.S. Coast Guard did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday.
The helicopter’s removal quickly sparked opposition from residents. The coastal city of Newport is home to Oregon’s largest commercial fishing industry, with cold and rough waters occupying the Yaquina Bay. Both the state of Oregon and the local nonprofit Newport Fishermen’s Wives alongside Lincoln County sued for the return of the federal helicopter, arguing that the federal government failed to comply with federal law requiring transparency on such decisions.
U.S. District Judge Ann Aiken handed the nonprofit and Lincoln County a victory on Nov. 24 with a temporary 14-day restraining order that mandated the helicopter’s return. The next day, John Fuller, a city spokesperson, confirmed that a rescue helicopter had landed for refueling, but he was unable to say whether it was remaining at the Newport airport on a more long-term basis. Fuller did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Thursday.
U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley also confirmed the helicopter’s return, adding that he had arranged a meeting with a representative of the U.S. Coast Guard and Wyden. He said a member of the homeland security department in attendance gave “full backup” to the Coast Guard’s statement.
“The acting commandant assured me that they had returned the helicopter because of the court action, but they had
intended to return it by the start of crab season anyway, and it was back in Newport to stay,” he said in a video statement posted on X.
The announcement from Wyden and Merkley comes as lawyers for the state of Oregon, Lincoln County and Newport Fishermen’s Wives have filed for a preliminary injunction seeking for a rescue helicopter to stay at Newport’s facility with full operational and staffing support necessary. The two cases have been consolidated, with discovery yielding a June 2025 memorandum and October 2025 extension authorizing removal of the helicopter from Newport by U.S. Coast Guard Rear Admiral Charles E. Fosse.
“There is no question that the Coast Guard’s removal of the Newport helicopter, undertaken in secrecy without any public or congressional vetting whatsoever, is exactly what Congress intended to prevent,” wrote attorneys for the Newport Fishermen’s Wives and Lincoln County in a Thursday court filing.
It’s not the first time
Do you part and volunteer today to help support these organizations in our community.
Peace Harbor Volunteers
Newport residents kicked into action when their helicopter faced removal. When the Obama administration proposed closing the city’s Coast Guard facility in 2014, the Fishermen’s Wives nonprofit sued in federal court. Congress ended up passing a law that requires notice and explanation from the homeland security department should a reduction in Coast Guard facility activity take place.
“The ocean can turn on a person in half a minute,” Newport Mayor Jan Kaplan said in a court declaration. “It is not a matter of if the helicopter will be needed, but when, and whether or not it will arrive in time to save a life.”
Oregon Capital Chronicle is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Oregon Capital Chronicle maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Lynne Terry for questions: info@oregoncapitalchronicle.com
DOING GOOD . GIVING BACK VOLUNTEER AT PEACEHEALTH PEACE HARBOR MEDICAL CENTER
Do you have a desire to serve your community? Peace Harbor Medical Center may be the place for you. At Peace Harbor, we strive to provide compassionate, high quality, accessible health care and to promote a healthy community. We value having community volunteers in various aspects throughout the healthcare system. For more information and to obtain an application visit the Gift Shop or Front Lobby Desk at Peace Harbor Medical Center at 400 9th Street, Florence, Oregon. Us Too Florence
Saving men one PSA test at a time. “Someone to talk to...who understands!” 541-997-6626 • maribob@oregonfast.net www.ustooflorence.org To
‘People
SHAANTH NANGUNERI
Oregon Capital Chronicle
The chilly breeze and sandy shores in this Oregon fishing city have shielded this town from scorching heat for decades. But despite the mist in the air, rumors here spread like wildfire.
The latest of those hunches came straight from city officials and has since commanded national attention. Newport City Manager Nina Vetter and Mayor Jan Kaplan signed onto a Nov. 10 statement suggesting the Trump administration could be planning Oregon’s first Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facility. The site they suspected? The municipal airport of the city, home to more than 10,000 people.
All they had were a few clues. A life-saving rescue helicopter had just been relocated from the Coast Guard’s Newport Municipal Air facility to a station in North Bend nearly 70 miles away. A defense contractor wanted to lease land in December next to that facility in support of “federal operations.” Job listings showed private companies were recruiting detention officers with ICE experience in Newport.
Fast-forward more than three weeks, and hundreds of Oregonians from Newport and nearby have turned out to two public meetings to voice unanimous opposition to the facility. The state of Oregon has filed a federal lawsuit seeking the return of the helicopter, and a local group supporting fishermen has done the same, winning a 14-day order just before Thanksgiving to return it to Newport. In the meantime, U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, Gov. Tina Kotek, and U.S. Rep. Val Hoyle have all sought answers from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to no avail.
“Until we can get confirmation, we can’t talk
From Page A1
It’s also no secret that it’s one of Santa’s places to visit, so bring the kids. Take either of the first two turns (left or right) north of the Cape Creek Bridge/tunnel down to the parking lot. Parking is $10 but admission to the lightkeeper’s house is free.
about zoning and permits and and we can’t talk about how it might affect our economy and whether we want these things here,” said state Rep. David Gomberg, D-Otis. “Should a community be able to have some say on whether a major facility like this moves into the neighborhood? I think the answer is yes, but the federal government is not owning up.”
Across Oregon, local governments have debated the extent to which they should resist or comply with increasingly aggressive federal immigration policy, declaring states of emergencies, seeking assistance from local law enforcement and turning off license plate reading cameras for fear of sensitive data being leaked. The city of Hillsboro, for instance, recently backtracked on a directive warning city employees against filming ICE officers, a policy it justified by citing the homeland security department’s claim that such activity could constitute harassment.
Newport’s response, however, opened with a more unapologetically adversarial stance toward the federal government. The approach risked drawing the ire of the homeland security department, which has not shied away from slamming journalists and politicians who it claims are stoking fear and spreading misinformation. Local officials and advocates statewide, meanwhile, have bet on going public ahead of what they anticipate will be a lengthy legal and political battle.
“People know that we can win on this,” said Sidra Pierson, a senior organizer for the Cottage Grove-based Rural Organizing Project.
“There’s a precedent in Oregon from being the first state to pass a sanctuary law.”
The nonprofit claimed a major victory when it
It’s a brisk walk up to the house, but shuttle service to the Keeper’s House will be available for free.
The State Park will open the historical lighthouse as well, so bring your flashlight and jacket to explore it after dark.
The house will be open December 13 and December 21. Holiday lights will be on display from Dec. 1 through Jan. 2.
won a suit against the city of Cottage Grove and its police department following reports of immigration authorities accessing local jails and police officers racially profiling local residents. It marked the only instance so far of the public successfully suing a local law enforcement agency in Oregon for violating its sanctuary laws, which prohibit local and state law enforcement resources being used for federal immigration enforcement without a court order. The group also helped secure the end of immigration detentions at Sheridan’s federal prison in 2018 and an ICE contract with The Dalles’ regional Oregon jail in 2020
Even though a federal defense contractor has since withdrawn its inquiry about leasing land at the airport and some other contractors’ job postings have been taken down, there are still signs the federal government is interested in Newport.
Wyden, who hosts town halls in every county every year, had about 600 people attend his Nov. 23 meeting in Newport. Some attendees waved small flags decorated with a crossed-out ice cube and others held American ones.
Sitting in the front row were members of the local nonprofit Newport Fishermen’s Wives and a 14-year-old girl who recounted the moment she found out about her father’s September ICE detainment. Wyden invited her to share her story, nodding toward her during his answers to constituent questions.
“Donald Trump is not doing what he said he would do in 2024. He said on immigration he was going to go after terrorists, drug cartels, murderers, people committing violent crime,” he said. “Nobody said that he was going to go after that little girl’s dad.”
Listening intently was Newport City Councilor Angel Aparicio-Reyes and his 8-year-old daughter. The 32-year-old was born in Newport and returned to the town after meeting his wife in Washington and attending school in California. Though Spanish was the primary language of his household as a child, he has memories of local doctors and teachers from elementary school helping him communicate in English without judgement.
Now he’s had to sit his daughter down, warning
her that him being a citi-
zen may not be enough to stop ICE from detaining him because of his appearance. The city is 16.7% Latino, according to U.S. Census Bureau data, and Aparicio-Reyes said many families are beginning to have that conversation with their kids.
“There are still people out there that do not like us,” he said. “It’s a very real thought that I could be taken away.”
Such a possibility across the Oregon Coast has tugged at heartstrings, but it has also led some to turn to the court of public opinion.
Newport City Councilor CM Hall at an emergency city meeting Nov. 12 said she was “willing to call out and name the people who take these jobs that are posted.” Hotels have informed Newport officials about a federal contractor attempting to book hundreds of rooms for up to a year starting in December on the Oregon Coast.
The Lincoln City chapter of the progressive group Indivisible told the Capital Chronicle it’s discussing a “public accountability campaign” to provide residents information about which companies are supporting ICE’s efforts on the Oregon Coast.
It would not be the first time the helicopter’s removal spurred the town into action ahead of the dangerous Dungeness crab fishing season. In late 2014, the nonprofit Fishermen’s Wives took the Obama administration to federal court over the closure of Newport’s Coast Guard facility. Congress ended up passing a law that requires notice and explanation from the homeland security department should a reduction in Coast Guard facility activity take place.
But the Trump administration has not provided details on its plans in Newport. In a prior statement, the U.S. Coast Guard asserted that the Newport air facility is a staging site for specific events where there has never been a permanent assigned aircraft. ICE did not respond to the Capital Chronicle’s requests for comment.
Taunette Dixon, a member of the Newport Fishermen’s Wives who is set to begin fishing with her husband on a family boat in the coming weeks, described that claim as “wordsmithing a bit.” She noted that there has always been a Newport helicopter in rotation from the Coast Guard’s North Bend station. The Newport Coast Guard facility
was established in 1987 after the fishing vessel Lasseigne capsized about 20 miles off the coast two years prior, killing three crewmen.
“They have minutes before they have a lack of use of their limbs. Within an hour, even if they have a flotation device, they don’t have a high survival rate,” Dixon said. “So we are looking at them recovering our loved ones, not rescuing our loved ones.”
Concern about a Newport ICE facility comes amid the Trump administration’s aggressive crackdown on immigration nationwide. U.S. Customs and Border Patrol reported more than 560 arrests in October throughout the Portland area, and at least 300 detentions in November were reported statewide, according to the Portland Immigrant Rights Coalition’s hotline. The GOP’s summer tax and spending law infused a record $165 billion in funding for the homeland security department.
An ICE contractor on Nov. 20 also asked the Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development about a “proposed action” in Newport using the 1972 Coastal Zone Management Act. The law allows for a federal agency to supersede a state’s objections to its project should it be “consistent to the maximum extent practicable.” Oregon could sue if it contested the federal government’s assessment.
But in some ways, the issue is not squarely partisan. State Sen. Dick Anderson, R-Lincoln City, told the local radio outlet KYAQ that he doesn’t “see where a detention facility in Newport would be helpful.” On the East Coast, an attempt to scout a New York Coast Guard site for detention purposes drew swift opposition from a local Republican U.S. representative, The New York Times reported Nov. 14
There was also interest in Oregon for ICE under the Biden administration.
An August 2024 ICE request for information sought facilities in West Coast states, including Oregon, that “may be publicly or privately owned and publicly or privately operated.” Biden’s Department of Justice worked in federal court to strike down California law banning private immigration detention centers in 2022, casting doubt on the enforceability of a similar 2021 Oregon law.
If legal battles were not able to stop a Newport ICE facility, Lincoln County would likely see
a significant increase in the detention and arrest of immigrants, as research on similar areas nationwide has shown. That could significantly impact life for the local Guatemalan and Mexican community, who play a key role in the area’s fish-processing, floristry, landscaping, nursing and tourist economy.
Eva Gonzalez Muñoz, board president of local community group Centro de Ayuda, remembers moving to Newport as a 6-year-old in 1991, recalling only one other family from Mexico in the city at the time. Her landlords had relocated her family from a previous hotel they owned in Lake Tahoe, California.
This year, Muñoz said her group has paused several community celebrations and events, because no one wants to make themselves a target. A widely-condemned December 2024 letter circulating in Lincoln County encouraged people to track and report “brown folks” without permanent legal status to authorities. And a local conservative group reportedly crashed a recent legal briefing on immigrant rights arranged by another local Latino community group.
“We are witnessing people not going to work, not going to the stores,” Muñoz said. “We’re trying to scramble to find funding to be able to help these people pay their rent, pay their food, and we are actually delivering food to households that do not want to go outside.”
The city of Newport, in the meantime, has tapped outside legal counsel with the explicit goal of responding to the federal government’s plans for a potential ICE facility. Kate Sinkins, a Lincoln Citybased immigration attorney, suspects the municipal airstrip attracted the federal government as a potential vehicle for enacting quick deportations. But as she put it: “They have a fight on their hands.”
“I think they thought, ‘We’ll bring jobs, we’ll bring money. People will be happy.’ But nobody is happy, and nobody will take those jobs,” she said. “People will boycott any company that works with the ICE facility. Mark my words.”
Oregon Capital Chronicle is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Oregon Capital Chronicle maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Lynne Terry for questions: info@oregoncapitalchronicle.com.
STAFF REPORT
Country Media Inc.
People across Oregon are being urged to avoid contact with sick or dead birds as highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) continues to impact wild and domestic bird populations across the state, according to a release from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW).
There is currently no effective treatment for wild and domestic birds, and the virus can spread rapidly among bird populations and potentially to other wildlife.
ODFW is currently receiving reports of HPAI-related bird deaths across Oregon, with most cases occurring in the Willamette Valley among migrating cackling geese and some raptors.
Additional detections have been reported in eastern Oregon, where early-season duck and raptor mortalities and snow goose deaths have occurred. Sporadic reports along the Oregon Coast also include cases in gulls and other waterbirds.
Since 2022 , Oregon has experienced widespread outbreaks of HPAI in wild birds and domestic poultry. This virus has been detected in nearly every Oregon
Center
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after which opening could happen in 6 to 8 months.
ODD TIMING
Davis said he’d heard murmurs about the City Council’s approval of a warming shelter just 200 feet from the site. He said a wave of calls came to the county criticizing the use of the building slated for a treatment center.
“So we called everyone back and said, ‘that’s not our building.’” he said.
The Siuslaw News also received a couple calls asking about the location of the warming center. It could be assumed that the confusion comes from the fact that the county-owned building has no numbers on the outside and the warming center location shares the Muffler Works building.
“I thinks that’s a testament to how much the actual population of Florence occupies that area of town,” Davis said. “It’s a pass-through area of town- that’s one of the reasons we chose it. We had other properties available to us that were closer to downtown. The feedback we heard from your city manager, the chief of police and other folks was that it would potentially be better and more warmly received if it were on the outskirts [of town].”Davis previously said the main consideration of the building is based on the fact that it used to be a medical clinic. He said physical health services are a part of the program, which creates a need for having medical infrastructure already installed.
THE PL AN Davis previously said the treatment program is designed for individuals who are committed to treatment.
“This isn’t people who are actively using. This
county. It has caused the deaths of more than 15 000 wild birds and the euthanasia of more than 183 million domestic poultry in North America. Other non-avian wildlife confirmed with HPAI in Oregon include raccoons, skunks, foxes, marten and bobcats. However, nearly any mammalian species that feed on affected animals or is in a heavily contaminated environment may be susceptible to disease.
Nationwide, affected wildlife also includes coyotes, wild cats, and bears that have likely fed on infected birds. Marine mammals have also been impacted in North and South America. Domestic animals affected by HPAI include poultry, waterfowl, cattle, pigs, goats, alpacas, and cats.
WHAT TO DO
Report groups of sick or dead wild birds to the Wildlife Health lab at 866 - 968 - 2600 or wildlife.health@odfw.oregon. gov. ODFW staff are monitoring and tracking continued mortalities. Samples may be collected in cases involving large numbers of dead birds or multiple species. Single dead bird reports are useful for tracking
isn’t individuals who are on the fence about whether they want to make a life change. These folks have already made a life change and because of the nature and chemistry behind opiates, it’s almost impossible for these folks to quit ‘cold turkey.’ This medication assisted process helps them do that.”
He said Florence is being considered because a number of daily patients are driving from the coast to Eugene for treatment.
“That’s an incredible barrier to make that drive every day, get your treatment and drive back, because it is a daily thing,” he said. “That, coupled with our talks with law enforcement and first responders looking at overdoses and other indicators of opiate use in the Florence area, there’s a clear need there, so this was an opportunity for the County to step in and start the conversation with the community about what that would look like.”
Davis stressed that the proposed use is not a foregone conclusion and that the problem will exist in the community regardless of whether the facility exists.
“This facility will be meant to try to remedy the problem, not add to it,” he said in June, noting that the center would not operate in such a way as to attract camping, drug use and hazardous garbage. “The problem is already there. People are already addicted to this drug and what we’re doing is setting up a facility to make it really easily accessible for folks to start the process of weaning off of it.”
When asked, he said the original plan is still in place.
“Everything is exactly the same, which is interesting because this is the first time we’ve had a County-owned property in Florence,” he said, noting that county staff will be working on the site. “It’s part of our overall
suspicious cases; however, due to limited staff, and resources ODFW will not be able to respond to all such reports.
Do not handle wildlife that is sick or found dead. If it is necessary to dispose of a carcass, use a shovel or wear impermeable gloves, wash hands with soap and water, and change clothing before having contact with domestic poultry or pet birds.
Keep dogs away from sick or dead birds. There are no known cases of domestic dogs becoming sickened by contact with sick birds. But hunters should not feed dogs any raw meat, organs, or other tissues from harvested waterfowl, and they should not allow retrieving dogs to interact with sick or dead birds.
Typical symptoms in wild waterfowl include lethargy, inability to fly, erratic behavior, loss of coordination, cloudy eyes, swimming in circles, and head shaking. However, some dabbling ducks may carry the virus without symptoms, spreading it through their feces to other birds and wetlands. Infected wild mammals may appear sick or neurologically abnormal, or be found dead after consuming
strategic plan to invest in rural spaces as much as possible. I think it’s a benefit to the community.” He said that while some may be concerned that the process will take a building off the City Tax roll, the building was formerly state-owned and sat on the market for a while.
“While it’s not going to be taxed, it will support the economic vitality of Florence, that’s really what we’re trying to hit on, in addition to the need that exists in Florence. We are going to open the doors for 30 to 50 people who live there in Florence, who are depending on opiates,… but when folks have to travel to Eugene to get their dosage, there is a greater chance of ‘falling off the wagon.’”
He said having the treatment center in Florence will not encourage drug use, but will be treating the drug use that already exists here.
“You’re also increasing the likelihood that these folks will continue their independence from illicit drugs and that’s good news for everybody,” he
infected birds, and should also be reported. Birds typically die within 72 hours of showing clinical signs. Currently, rehabilitators in Oregon are advised not to accept waterfowl with bird flu symptoms due to the risk of the disease spreading to other birds in their facilities.
RISK TO HUM ANS
The risk to people from this strain of avian influenza is low. Since 2024 , there have been 71 human cases of avian influenza in the United States, including two deaths. Most of these cases were exposed to infected dairy herds or domestic poultry farms. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides updated information on human cases of HPAI.
REPORT ILLNESS IN D OMESTIC A NIMALS
Death or illness among domestic birds (chickens, turkeys, Guinea fowl) should be reported immediately to ODA. Please report by calling 503 - 986 - 4711 (alt. phone 1- 800 - 347 - 7028 ). Find more information on avian influenza in domestic birds and tips on protecting backyard flocks from ODA.
said. “we just need to have more conversations to help people understand that your problem is here, right now. It’s not going away unless you do something about it. The evidence says that, arguably, this is the best strategy to eliminate that problem.”
A small meeting took place with local real estate personnel Dec. 3 and more are being planned in Florence.
“We are really trying to introduce the Florence community to County Services and make sure that rural footprint is going to be the norm going forward,” he said.
“We’re really trying to jump into those rural spaces as much as possible, so we’re not relegated to the Eugene/Springfield metro area.”
Davis said more small meeting are coming up but a larger public discussion is planned for January and will be noticed as soon as it’s confirmed. Watch this paper and the website thesiuslawnews.com for details and times.
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to locate the subject.
MONDAY, DECEMBER 1
At 1:39 a.m., officers on patrol in the area of Quince Street located a bicycle and trailer believed to be owned by the subject of the previous call.
At 9:16 a.m., the subject from the 9:32 p.m. call returned to the business and was asked to leave. Officers were able to identify the subject using camera footage and are continuing to look for him.
At 1:00 p.m.. Officers responded to the 1400 block of 9th Street for a report of a dispute between a mother and son in the library.
At 4:40 p.m., a caller reported finding two dogs in the 2800 block of Rhododendron Drive. Officers arrived and helped the subject
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that the whale was given a “cocktail of medications,” including sedatives and anti-anxiety medications but the necropsy showed it had an empty stomach and only minor lesions from fishing gear and a crab net tangled around it.
The petition asks for an immediate and complete overhaul of the US Marine mammal health and stranding response program. It says the current system operates on a deeply flawed philosophical premise that large whales cannot survive stranding, resulting in protocols characterized by delay, rejection of community aid, sedation of conscious animals, and premature euthanasia.
“All in all, this stranding event once again demonstrated the complete failure of the US stranding network in its response to live strandings,” the website states. “The time has come for significant change, and we hope that the despicable way in which Pickles/Hope was treated has opened the public’s eyes and will be
transport the dogs to the Humane Society. At 7:51 p.m., officers responded to the 400 block of Highway 101 for a report of a found bank card. Officers were able to identify and locate the owner, who agreed to come take possession of the card.
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 2
At 2:56 a.m., the subjects from a previous road rage call returned, generating calls to the police department. Officers responded to the area of Highway 101 and Highway 126 to find the subjects had left the area. At 12:28 p.m., officers responded to the 1600 block of 23rd St. for a report that subjects had broken a fence and a gate. Officers found minimal damage to both, a report was taken.
At 5:50 p.m., officers responded to the event center for a report of a woman yelling and causing a disturbance. Subject had left by the time officers arrived.
the much-needed catalyst for this change.” The website lists six examples from 2000 to present where beach whales were successfully rescued in other countries. It’s at https://strandednomore.org/petition/ NOAA RESPONSE
When asked about the petition, Public Affairs Officer Michael Milstein at the West Coast Region NOAA Fisheries office said there has been a lot of misinformation and incorrect assumptions surrounding that stranding. In regard to suggestions that the whale should have been lifted or towed to the water, Milstein said NOAA has published its own web page dedicated to addressing such notions. It addresses topics mentioned on the petition site, including reasons for euthanasia, rescue methods and limitations. It’s at https://www. fisheries.noaa.gov/westcoast/marine-life-distress/ frequent-questions-livelarge-whale-strandingswest-coast
Milstein said NOAA staff have also been answering related questions on its social media pages.
Girls basketball season started with a loss on Dec. 3, as the Vikings hosted the Taft Tigers and ended up on the wrong side of a 70-29 scoreline.
The Vikings have a young squad this season. Captain Mia Snider is the group’s sole senior this season, and five of the 13 players listed on the team’s OSAA page are freshmen. Going up against a team that was ranked #10 in OSAA’s 3A preseason Girls Basketball Coaches Poll, it was always going to be a test.
Taft has just one freshman this season, and with a combined eight juniors and seniors, the Tigers are loaded with veterans. While there was a gulf on the scoreboard, the 29 points scored by the Vikings were a solid mark, one that would have been the fifth most in a game for Siuslaw last year. In their 24 games last season, the Vikings eclipsed 30 points four times, but struggled to score more than 20 points consistently, finishing with fewer than 20 in 11 games. Last season, Siuslaw also faced Taft in the season opener and ended up losing 67-12
Last season was all about growth for the Vikings, and it was evident in the number of games they won. Siuslaw won more league games last season than they had since 2014-2015. If they can replicate the scoring they produced against Taft, they may have a
chance to add to that tally this season in the Far West League. The 29 scored against one of the potential top teams in the state is a good sign for a growing Siuslaw program with a new Head Coach in Amanda Richards. Junior captain Aidell Cadet
paced the team in scoring, chipping in 16 points in the game, accounting for more than half of the Vikings’ total. Siuslaw took their game on the road on Dec. 5 and Dec. 6 to play in the Coquille Winter
See GIRLS, Page B3
See BOYS, Page B2
The starlight cabaret presents the Christmas music of Robbie D, Saturday, December 20 at Florence Unitarian Universalist Fellowship. Doors will open at 5:30 and Showtime is at 6 p.m., FUUF is located at 87738 Highway 101 at Heceta Beach Road.
For 29 years, Peace Harbor Hospice has remembered loved ones with gifts of light on a beautiful Christmas tree. Community members are invited for the 30th edition of this ceremony on Saturday, Dec.
13, from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Florence Events Center, 715 Quince St., Florence. It includes reflective readings, the recitation of names and lighting the dedicated tree at the events center.
This event is open to anyone in the community who is grieving the death of a loved one.
This is a special time to remember loved ones during the holiday season through readings, music, and the lighting of the dedicated Light Up a Life Tree.
Travel Lane County has launched a community survey as part of its Destination Master Plan process, inviting residents across Lane County to share their
ANCHOR OF HOPE CHURCH
like Jesus, share His Love. 1318 Rhododendron Drive www.anchorofhopeflo.com Sunday Service 11am
Livestream on Facebook @anchorofhopeflo
BAHA’I FAITH OF FLORENCE
“What is Baha’i, and Why?” 2nd Monday 7:00 pm Interfaith Devotions 4th Monday 7:00 pm Info and meeting location: 541-590-0779
Zoom link on Facebook: Florence Baha’i Community All ARE WELCOME!
COMMUNITY BAPTIST CHURCH
4590 Hwy. 101 N, across from Fred Meyer541 997-7418
SUNDAY SERVICES - Adult Bible Study 9:30 AM; Worship 10:45 AM; High School Youth 7- 9 PM
MID-WEEK- Women’s Bible Study-Tuesday 10:00-Noon and Thursday
7:00-8:00PM; Men’s Bible Study Thursday 8:00-9:30 AM; Middle School Youth Wed. 7-9 PM. Sunday Worship streams live at Community Baptist Church Facebook Page
CROSS ROAD ASSEMBLY OF GOD
Corner of 10th & Maple- 541-997-3533
Sunday Services 9am 1st Service in person Sunday Services 11am
2nd Service in person & livestreamed Wednesday kids/youth night is at 6:30 NOT livestreamed. https://www.florencecrossroadag.org/church-online
Other platforms update after the service. florencecrossroadag.org office@florencecrossroadag.org
FLORENCE CHRISTIAN CHURCH
2nd & Ivy - 541-997-2961 - Non-Denominational
Service is on Sunday at 10:00 am Sunday Service also streaming live at 10am at florencechurch.com
perspectives on tourism’s role in our region.
The Destination Master Plan, now entering its research phase, is a 10-year roadmap to guide how our visitor economy grows and supports the Eugene, Cascades & Coast region. The plan will help ensure that tourism continues to bring benefits to the people who live here — including support for local businesses, outdoor recreation, arts and culture, jobs, and thriving communities throughout Lane County.
Residents are encouraged to take the short survey to share what matters most to them. Feedback gathered will help shape strategies that reflect local priorities, community needs, and the unique character of our region.
“This plan is about our community’s future,” said Travel Lane County CEO Samara Phelps. “We know that tourism succeeds
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Tigers ultimately pulling away in the fourth quarter.
Head Coach Dylan Perry went on 106 9 Coast Radio Viking Sports Talk on Thursday to break down some of the elements from the game. Perry and the Vikings entered the game against Taft eager for a challenge.
Taft was one of the top teams in the state last season, and Siuslaw also opened its 2024/2025 campaign against the Tigers. The previous matchup between the two programs resulted in a 38-66 loss for the Vikings, and with that in mind, Siuslaw was excited to see how they
FLORENCE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
2nd & Kingwood • (541) 997-6025
Sunday worship is at 10:30 a.m. Sunday School for adults is at 9:00 a.m. Online services at www.florenceunitedmethodist.org or find us on Facebook.
FOURSQUARE CHURCH 1624 Highway 101 (next to A&W) –- 997-6337
Pastor George Pagel – Something for the entire family. Sunday Service 10:00 am Wednesday Bible Study returns this Fall. Website: florence4square.com
NEW LIFE LUTHERAN E.L.C.A.
NEW LIFE LUTHERAN CHURCH, E.L.C.A. “Serving Christ by serving others.” 21st & Spruce Streets—(541) 997-8113 Sunday worship is at 10:30 a.m. Online services available on our FaceBook, YouTube, and website: www.florencenewlifelutheran.org
PRESBYTERIAN COMMUNITY CHURCH 3996 N Hwy 101 541-997-7136
Internet and in person Sunday Services at 10:30am, Adult Sunday School is at 9:30am. Call the church for details. Reverend Greg Wood All Welcome. Come as you are. RELIGIOUS SOCIETY OF FRIENDS (QUAKERS) A Faith Community committed to peace since 1652. Silent Worship Sundays 11am, fellowship at Noon. Call for locations 541-515-8191.
FLORENCE UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST FELLOWSHIP
87738 Hwy 101 at Heceta Beach Road
RUAUU? Come explore the answer with us. Sunday Worship Services ~ 10:00am www.florenceuuf.com
when residents feel supported, included, and heard. This survey gives everyone a chance to help guide how we welcome people, support local businesses, and build the kind of place we’re proud to call home.”
The survey takes approximately 10 minutes to complete. All responses are confidential and will be analyzed in aggregate only.
Take the survey: https:// www.research.net/r/ TravelLaneCo
Visit Serene Abundance
Studio Space at 148 Maple Street in Old Town Florence on Saturday, December 13th for a day of creative inspiration.
stacked up against Taft.
“We opened with them last year, too. They kind of spanked us last year, but we got our stuff figured out and had one of our best seasons in program history last season, too,” Perry told Wayne Sharpe in the interview.
“The boys were super excited for the test. It’s always good to go out there and go against some of the best teams in the state right off the bat, see what deficiencies you have that we need to improve on.”
Though it was a familiar foe for the Vikings, the game did provide something unprecedented for Perry. Five Siuslaw players fouled out for the first time under Perry’s coaching, forcing the Vikings to rely on their depth. There are ordinarily about eight players in Siuslaw’s rotation, but with five players racking up too many fouls to play, Perry brought in some JV
Featuring a Layered Hearts Expressive Art Workshop from 11am-2pm, followed by a Holiday Pop Up Art Market from 3 to 5pm, with seasonal refreshments. To learn more and register, visit sassflo.com/events, or call 541-590-3877
Seventh Day Adventist Church presentation
Florence Seventh Day Adventist Church presents: “For His Glory: From the Cradle to the Cross.” Saturday, December 20, 2025 at 10:45 am. Christmas musical program with lunch to follow. Please RSVP text Christine at 702-353-0867. Also, there will be a giving tree to assist the local nonprofit Safe Shelter for Siuslaw Students.
players to fill the gaps. Siuslaw battled to get the game within eight points in the third quarter, but then “kind of fell apart” in the fourth quarter. Nevertheless, Perry said it was a “good battle,” and they played some good basketball against a well-coached, versatile Tigers team. Siuslaw wants to focus on “attitude and effort,” and Perry said his team played well in pursuit of those goals. Despite the loss, there’s no reason Siuslaw won’t be able to build off it like they did last year.
The Vikings’ next test came at the Coquille Winter Lake Classic on Dec. 5 and Dec. 6. The results of games against Toledo and Junction City are unknown at the time of press. The Vikings will next be in action against Elmira on Dec. 12 at Mac Court on the University of Oregon campus in Eugene.
Oregon’s commercial Dungeness crab season is delayed coastwide until at least Dec. 16, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife announced today.
Oregon Dungeness crab met both meat and safe biotoxin level requirements; however, the season is delayed as Long Beach, WA crabs have not yet met the meat fill requirement. Most Dungeness crab advisory committee members support the delay as it is least disruptive to
traditional fishing patterns and may improve market conditions.
Washington will test crab again and if meat fill in Long Beach crab meets the required 23 percent, the season will open Dec. 16. If meat fill is less than 23 percent, ODFW will consider a partial opening south of Cape Falcon with fleet input and the TriState decision process.
When the Oregon season does open, it will be under a fleet advisory that fishing vessels should
be vigilant and move or avoid setting gear in areas where whales are foraging or transiting to minimize risk of entanglement.
Targeted to open Dec. 1, Oregon’s ocean commercial Dungeness crab season can be delayed so consumers get a high-quality product, and crabs are not wasted. It can also be delayed to have an orderly opening in conjunction with California and Washington. Weekly
season opening updates are posted online until the decision to open the season is made.
The commercial bay crab fishery closes at 12:01 a.m. Dec. 1 in conjunction with the delayed ocean commercial season. It will reopen through December if the ocean commercial season does so.
As deer, elk, and other species begin their fall migration, the Oregon Wildlife Foundation (OWF) is reminding drivers to stay alert and help prevent wildlife-vehicle collisions.
Each year, an estimated 5 000 large animals are struck and killed on Oregon roads, with peak collisions occurring in October and November when animals migrate to lower elevations. Collisions not only threaten wildlife but also endanger motorists.
“Slowing down to admire the beauty of our changing seasons also lessens the likelihood of a collision with wildlife on the move this time of year,” Oregon Wildlife Foundation Executive Director Tim Greseth said. “Deer, elk and other wildlife are moving from their higher elevation summer range to where they’ll spend the winter, which puts more of them on our highways and roads.”
Drivers can reduce their risk by slowing down at dawn and dusk, observing wildlife crossing caution signs, and avoiding sudden swerves. When one animal crosses, others may follow.
The Watch for Wildlife specialty license plate, in part, helps fund projects that make roads safer for both people and wildlife, undercrossings, overcrossings, and fencing. Proceeds from the sale and renewal of this plate support efforts to improve and restore habitat connectivity statewide.
“Not only is the Watch for Wildlife plate
When one animal crosses, others may follow. (Courtesy photo)
nice-looking, but the money it raises helps reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions throughout the year,” OWF External Communications Manager Mo Montgomery said. “Plate holders should feel good knowing their license plate saves lives.”
Oregonians can order the Watch for Wildlife plate through the DMV or visitmyowf.org/ watchforwildlife to learn more about how plate sales fund critical habitat connectivity projects throughout the state. For more information on wildlife movement in Oregon, visitmyowf.org/ wildlifemoves.
Oregon Wildlife Foundation
Oregon Wildlife Foundation is an apolitical operating charitable foundation dedicated to increasing private and public funding support for wildlife conservation projects in Oregon. Since
1981, the Foundation has directed tens of millions of dollars in private and public support to a broad
range of projects throughout Oregon. For more information, visit www.myowf.org.
BEWARE THE SNEAKER WAVE
They´re called sneaker waves because they appear without warning, often surging high up on the beach with deadly force, and are impossible to predict. Sneaker waves also carry a large amount of sand that can saturate your clothes, weighing you down and making escape difficult if not impossible. How to play it safe: Never turn your back on the ocean.
WATCH THOSE LOGS
The ocean is strong enough to pick up even the biggest log and plop it down on top of you. Some logs may look small, but even the tiny ones can be waterlogged and weigh tons.
How to play it safe: If you see a log in the surf or on wet sand, stay off it.
RIP CURRENTS
Rip currents are strong currents of water that rush out to sea. They are stronger than even the best swimmer. These currents can swiftly sweep unwary beachcombers and waders off their feet and out to sea. Rip currents may appear as dark, choppy water. Any time you see debris and foam floating out to sea, chances are you have found a rip current. Avoid the area. How to play it safe: Parents keep your kids close when playing in the ocean. If caught in a rip current, don’t panic Swim parallel to the beach until you are out of the current, then head for the beach.
KNOW THE TIDES
Incoming tides isolate rocks from headlands and the shore. Avoid the temptation of strolling out to an interesting rock without knowing when the tide rolls back in. Free tide tables are readily available at state park offices, information centers and many shops and motels. How to play it safe: Stay off rocks and small, enclosed beaches.
Know when the tide is coming in by visiting the tidetable website at the Hatfield Marine Science Center http://weather.hmsc.oregonstate.edu/weather/ tides/tides.html
HIGH WAVES CAN REACH YOU
Tides and waves can sweep over rocks, jetties and headlands, knocking you off and carrying you out to sea.
How to play it safe: Assume nothing is “high enough” and avoid exposed rocks, jetties and headlands during strong wave action (like during and after storms).
BEWARE OF HIGH, STEEP CLIFFS
Assume that all cliff edges are unstable. Wet trails or soft sand and earth can make for unstable footing. Rocks can be slippery even when it isn’t raining. How to play it safe: Make sure you wear proper footwear, and stick to the trails. Stay behind guard fences and railings, and don´t get too close to the edge.
HEADS UP
Standing at the base of an Oceanside cliff can be dangerous, especially if it has an overhang. In some places, winter storms and high waves have eroded the shoreline, increasing the chance of collapse and slides.
How to play it safe: Beware of falling rocks, and don´t climb on bluffs and eroding hillsides. Don´t walk along the base of cliffs unless absolutely necessary.
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