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Siuslaw News Wednesday, March 4, 2026 Florence, Oregon

Number 9 • 136 years

Siuslaw streak leads to state playoffs WILL LOHRE Country Media Inc.

One of the mantras for Siuslaw’s boys basketball team this season was that “the toughest team wins.” A few early league losses only seemed to strengthen Siuslaw, and in the final games of the season, the Vikings showed just how tough they could be. After beating Douglas in the final league play game, Siuslaw also bested South Umpqua in the league playoffs to reserve their spot in the state championship bracket. Speaking after the win against South Umpqua on Feb. 21, Head Coach Dylan Perry lauded the team’s commitment to the program’s tenets. “The tenacity and grit of our guys have really stood out to me the most during this late-season run,” Perry said. “This group of young men continued to buy into the things we had been preaching about all season long that would make us successful. We always talk about the ‘toughest team wins’, and these boys embodied that spirit.” After starting league play 2-3, Siuslaw faced an uphill battle to climb the Far West standings. In the face of a postseason free campaign, the Vikings rose to the occasion, winning five straight league games to earn home court advantage for their game to go to state in the league playoff against South Umpqua. See PLAYOFFS, Page B1

Angelina McKinsey. Photo provided

Whitmore Classical Academy hires Principal FROM SIUSLAW VALLEY CHARTER SCHOOL BOARD

Asher Borgnino sends a reverse layup to the backboard during the Feb. 19 game against Douglas. Tony Reed photo

Whitmore Classical Academy is pleased to officially announce the hiring of their new Instructional Principal, Angelina McKinsey. “This is a huge moment for Whitmore Classical Academy. The work to start a charter school began in 2022, the charter was signed in 2024 and we are now opening our doors in 2026 with a high energy, professional, and experienced instructional principal ready to hit the ground running,” Board President, Kay King said. Angelina McKinsey has a bachelor’s degree in Liberal Studies, from Sonoma State University, a master’s in Educational Leadership from California State University, See PRINCIPAL, Page A7

District discusses 4-day school week By TONY REED The Siuslaw News

Siuslaw School District board members and staff discussed the idea of going to a four-day school week at the regular board meeting on Feb. 11. During his regular presentation on the adoption of the school calendar for the 2026-27 school year, Grzeskowiak first noted that a late Labor Day

in 2026 may make for a long school year. He explained that school typically starts after Labor Day, but doing so this year would push the school into late June, when most families want to start their vacations. However, Grzeskowiak said a staff member recently suggested revisiting the possibility of a four-day school week. “Realistically, we haven’t talked about it since Mapleton

went to a four-day week,” he said. Grzeskowiak said for discussion, he created a four-day week calendar for the 2026-27 school year. He said if the board were interested, a survey would be circulated to gauge community and parent interest. He explained that the week would go from Monday to Thursday, and students would still have Monday off during three-day weekend holidays.

He said teachers would have a work and grading day every other Friday. “It takes the student day and makes it longer,” he said, explaining that the 4.5 to 5 hours of Fridays would be absorbed into the Monday to Thursday week. By splitting the time each day, adding about a half hour to the start and the end of the day, making the bell

INSIDE

Obituaries — A2 Sports & Lifestyle — B1

“We should have our biggest selection of plants and yard art ever at the show,” said Show Director Jon Thompson. “We have our Centerpiece with Laurel Bay Gardens and new this year is Erwin’s Specialty Plants from Eugene. We’ve also added several new vendors with new products and services like All American Lawn &

HOME IMPROVEMENT & OUTDOOR LIVING The Florence Home & Garden Show brings together a wide variety of contractors, See HOME & GARDEN, Page A7

See SHELTER, Page A7

“Love Where You Live.” Show hours are Friday from noon to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission is just $2 for adults and $1 for kids, with children under 12 admitted free. Visitors can also take advantage of free admission on Saturday from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., making it easy for everyone to attend.

Opinion — A3 Classifieds — B6-7

By TONY REED The Siuslaw News

Even though the rain clouds cleared and the weather warmed up after the cold spell mid-February, the Florence Emergency Cold-Weather Shelter will still have a place to bring people indoors, should the weather turn cold again. FECWS president Taylor Kohn said the shelter housed 13 people on Feb. 19, after being open for four days. Kohn previously said the number of guests may have been a record for the first few nights from Feb. 16 to Feb. 18. “The last two nights we have had 15 people each night. We can fit 20,” she said Feb 19. “For having that many people, it has run very smoothly,”

See SCHOOL, Page A7

Home & Garden Show Returns with more plants The 28th Annual Florence Home & Garden Show returns to the Florence Events Center on Friday and Saturday, March 6th and 7th, bringing two full days of home improvement ideas, garden inspiration, specialty products, and family-friendly fun. Presented by Coast Radio KCST & KCFM, this year’s theme is

Shelter ready for more cold

Garden tools, a new excavation company, and a flag & pole company just to name a few.”

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