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Siuslaw News Wednesday, April 15, 2026 Florence, Oregon

Number 15 • 136 years

Florence annexes property SIUSLAW NEWS STAFF

it was making its way back out of the bar to the open ocean, and I could only get a tiny, distant shot. However, it turns out I’ve photographed this orca before. According to cetacean researcher Julie Conrad,

The Florence City Council made the final decision to annex a property into the City Limits in an area where development is occurring and previous annexations have taken place. According to staff reports, the petitioner, Michell Bertao, requested the annexation of two contiguous lots totaling approximately .19 acres, located at 88179 3rd Avenue in Florence, within the City of Florence urban growth boundary. The annexation makes the property part of the city limits and designating it medium density residential zoning. Community Development Director Wendy Farley-Campbell outlined the criteria for annexation, saying the annexation will create the same or more opportunities for housing and not a deficit. Showing before and after images of the county line, Farley Campbell noted that approval would create a jog in the line along Rhododendron Drive that would surround the property. Western Lane Fire and EMS Authority personnel had no concerns with the proposed annexation and no public comment has been received. Farley-Campbell said the city can serve the property, and annexation would mean the residents have access to city police, jail and court services.

See ORCA, Page A4

See ANNEX, Page A4

Oregon Secretary of State Tobias Read responds to questions from SHS seniors. Tony Reed photos.

Oregon Secretary of State talks to Siuslaw Seniors here in Oregon, we have a unique system called plural executive, which means the governor isn’t the only powerful leader in the executive branch. Instead, Oregonians elect several statewide officials who have their own independent responsibilities in managing the executive branch. So,

By TONY REED The Siuslaw News

Siuslaw seniors were able to hear and question Oregon Secretary of State Tobias Read at Siuslaw High School on April 8 on a variety of topics, mostly related to elections. Social Studies Teacher Mr. Spencer Lake told students, “As you know,

See TALK, Page A6

Orca swims up the Siuslaw River TONY REED Editor

The Killer Whale T049C decided to swim up the Siuslaw River about a mile last week. Jaklyn Larsen photo.

While many people were able to get a clear photo of the Orca that swam up the Siuslaw River, April 9, I, unfortunately, was not one of them. In fact, when I arrived at the North Jetty,

Yachats whale found to have had multiple ailments By TONY REED The Siuslaw News

While the necropsy and lab reports have yet to come back on the 40-foot-long gray whale which washed ashore near Florence on March 25, researchers from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Northwest Fisheries Science Center released necropsy

results on the humpback whale that washed ashore alive in November 2025. Researchers said that based on their examination, the whale had several chronic diseases, which likely contributed to its stranding. The examination was conducted by Oregon Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory at the Gary R. Carlson, MD, College of Veterinary Medicine at

INSIDE

Obituaries — A2 Sports & Lifestyle — B1

Oregon State University. “Significant chronic disease processes in multiple organ systems likely contributed to the stranding independent of entanglement,” the report said. “The whale’s empty stomach and intestine also indicated that it likely had not eaten for weeks. That also left the whale with minimal See WHALE, Page A6

Opinion — A3 Classifieds — B6-7

Researchers say the whale that washed ashore in Yachats last November had several chronic ailments that likely lead to its stranding. Tony Reed photo

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