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Siuslaw NewsWednesday, April 24, 2024 Florence, Oregon

Number 17 • 133 years

Council to ask for public input on homeless sheltering codes

Pictured from left, Paramedic of the Year Mackenzie Jeffcott, VFW Jr. Vice Commander David Younce, Firefighter of the Year Justin Mack and Chief Communications Officer of the Year Josh Thomas.

VFW, City, recognize first responders, volunteers Paramedic of the Year was awarded to Western Lane Fire and EMS Authority’s Mackenzie Jeffcott. The Florence City Hall council According to the presentation read chambers filled with police and first by VFW trustee Richard Ernest, responders April 15 for a series of Jeffcott started an internship through awards and proclamations. Veterans of Foreign Wars Florence Lane Community College and while Post 3232 presented awards to three timid at first, has become confident local first responders April 15 at the in her work. “Today, Makenzie has excelled in Start of the City Council meeting. providing the highest level of service VFW Jr. Vice Commander David and has obtained her Critical Care Younce, a retired police officer and firefighter, said he understands what and Flight Paramedic certification. She’s earned herself a position in it’s like to be a first responder. the training division and works to “Sometimes you don’t feel as appreciated as other times,” he said, improve the personnel of WLFEA. addressing the crowd of police offi- She was recently awarded a unit citation for her performance in the cers and first responders assembled field and was identified as a natural for the meeting. mentor by her peers.” By TONY REED Siuslaw News

Justin Mack was awarded Firefighter of the Year by VFW and has been serving the community in that capacity since 2020. Also nominated as the Volunteer Association president for four consecutive terms, he is a driver-operator. “Justin is never without his warm, friendly attitude, despite working a full-time job locally, his work ethic and motivation to be a better firefighter are admirable,” according to the VFW presentation. “He recently obtained his EMT license to expand his medical scope and to be a better service provider to the community.” Florence PD dispatcher Josh Thomas was named Chief Communications Officer of the Year. Both police and fire/medical calls are handled from the same

location. Thomas has worked for Florence PD since 2012 and has worked as a dispatcher and a police officer. He was assigned to be Chief Communications officer in 2023. According to the presentation, Thomas has shown himself to be a capable supervisor who works hard to improve the department for all dispatchers.

Proclamations

Mayor Rob Ward read a proclamation regarding National Safety Telecommunications week, April 14 through 20, as several FPD officers stood in front of the Dias. The resolution noted the importance of dispatchers as the single vital link See VFW, Page A6

Lakeshore Myrtlewood store closing soon By TONY REED The Siuslaw News

After over 14 years of building and selling unique handcrafted gifts, the owners of Lakeshore Myrtlewood have decided to close the store for good- and they hope to liquidate in just over 90 days. Ruth and Rod Engelman say they are getting up there in age and while they’ve loved creating things and running the store, they want to retire and move into Florence. Ruth added that they decided to retire and run the business 14.5 years ago. “This was his hobby in California,” Ruth said, adding that their original intent was to retire and make/sell wood items. She explained that while driving back from visiting their son in Seattle, decided to visit coastal wood shops for inspiration. She said they stopped at the shop and after speaking to the owner for some time, were told he may want to sell

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Obituaries — A2 Sports & Lifestyle — B1

TONY REED PHOTO

Ruth and Rod are selling off everything at Lakeshore Myrtlewood and will close the store on July 31. it soon. Upon retiring from 42 years at E&J Gallo Winery, Rod called the shop owner who said he was ready to sell it. “He said ‘yes’ and Rod said ‘We’ll take it,’” Ruth said. “I said, ‘Wait a minute…’” However, after seeing

Opinion — A3 Classifieds — B7-B8

the house and shop next to the lake, she agreed, and they’ve been there since. She said she’d hoped her kids would want to take it over, but they’ve shown no interest. “So, now it’s time to retire and our neighbor made us an offer we

can’t refuse,’ she said, “so he gave us until July 31 to sell all of our stuff and get out of here.”

See LAKESHORE, Page A7

On Monday, April 29, at 5:30 p.m. the Florence City Council will hold a special meeting in person at the Florence Events Center to gather public input regarding the draft proposed City Code establishing time, place, and manner policies for event-based emergency shelters and temporary sheltering. General areas of interest for the proposed City Code include the following: 1. Warming and disaster response shelters, 2. Private property sheltering-zoning districts and places allowed 3. Private property sheltering-sanitation, screening, and siting requirements, 4. Private property sheltering registration and revocation, 5. Public property sheltering buffers from daycares, churches, schools, and homeless services, 6. Public property sheltering-exclusion from identified public facilities, parks, and rights-of-way and protected wetland and creek buffers, 7. Definitions related to the proposed policies. The meeting agenda and materials will be published on the City’s website at www.ci.florence.or.us/council/ city-council-special-meeting-public-input by the Thursday afternoon the week preceding the meeting. Contact the city recorder’s office for more details 541 997-3437.

... Correction In the April 10 photos of donations from the Florence Elks Lodge, Cal Applebee was misidentified. He is a founding member of the Oregon Coast Military Museum and currently a supporter. He is also a volunteer with the Band of Brothers. The Oregon Coast Military Museum was also misidentified. Willamette Valley Honor Flight (not Honor Flight, which is the national hub) serves all veterans who served between Dec. 7, 1941 and May 7, 1975 including those who served in WWII, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. While Jerry Hernandez is a valued supporter, he is not a member of the board.

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