TSN925 by C.M.I.

INSIDE

CHECKOUT OUR GET READY GUIDE INSIDE

Dodson Celebrates 100 years | PAGE A6

R&D Propane Residential and Commercial delivery service Family Owned and Operated Since 1983

We Pride ourselves on providing the best customer service possible.

Now Serving Florence 541-746-4621 • www.rdpropane.com

Siuslaw News News & views that define our community

$2.00

thesiuslawnews.com

Siuslaw News Florence, Oregon Wednesday, September 25, 2024 Number 39 • 133 years

Students discuss having climate education Siuslaw NEWS STAFF

Mayor Rob Ward, center, snips the ribbon to open the community fair at the Port of Siuslaw Boardwalk. From left, are BlazerDancer Kyra, Mascot Blaze, Senior Vice President of Sales at Moda Health Scott Loftin, TV Studio Analyst and Radio Analyst Michael Holton, Mayor Ward, TV Analyst Lamar Hurd, Radio play-by-play Analyst Travis Demers, play-byplay Announcer Kevin Calabro, BlazerDancer Savannah and mascot Douglas Fur.

Rain didn’t spoil MODA/Trailblazers event By TONY REED Siuslaw News

Moda Health professionals and Portland Trailblazers personalities spent the day in Florence Sept. 17, talking to kids about physical health and nutrition, engage them in fun activities and health education. At Siuslaw Elementary School that morning, Todd Bosma, Director of Game Operations and

Events, got kids charged up while talking to the about ways to be successful in school. Mascots Blaze the Trail Cat and Douglas Fur, and the BlazerDancers greeted students and kept them energized during the morning assembly. Four kids, Alexander, Mikey, Lily and Olive, got to engage in some friendly, one-on-one competition in a race across the gym that involved doing jumping jacks,

jumping rope and riding a fat-tired tricycle. Bosma acknowledged all the kids in the school for continuing to cheer for the second place finishers, even after the first had crossed the line. When kids were done, teachers Allie Bottger and Angela Desarro had a go at it. Kids screamed wildly as the two jumped rope, did jumping jacks and found

themselves neck and neck in a tricycle drag race to the finish line where Bottger prevailed. As the winner of the teachers’ race, Bottger took on the kids’ champion Lily, but lost the race in the home stretch. The school was presented a large bag of playground balls from MODA Health and an autogrphed See MODA, Page A4

Two Siuslaw High School students recently joined a panel of high school and college students to talk about how to better integrate climate education into schools and classrooms other than just science. Mike Allen, founder and co-leader of Florence Climate Emergency Campaign invited Storm Kurth and Kamorah Lake to join the panel with Rachel, a college student at Columbia University studying Environmental Biology; Lily, a South Eugene High School student, regional leader with Our Future and City of Eugene Sustainability Commissioner; and Amara, a student at Ashland High School and another member of Our Future (last names not provided). Allen said he and others would like to know what the district will do when it comes to increasing climate education in local schools.

Activated students

When students were asked how they got involved in climate research and action Kurth said his mom works at city planning where he met Allen, and was inspired to take part in climate activism. He helped with protests and started See CLIMATE, Page A4

Local saves visitor’s life Siuslaw NEWS STAFF

A local man is being hailed as a hero for his action last month in saving a visitor to the coastwho was pulled out by a Riptide near Driftwood Shores. According to Western Lane fire and EMS Authority report the 23-year-old man was visiting from out of state, and was swimming in the ocean when he found himself pulled about a hundred yards out to sea. Inside Driftwood Shores, Ryan McCarty, A chef and resident there, looked out his window to see the man struggling. As he is a surfer, McCarty grabbed his board and donned his wetsuit before running 300 yards across the flat beach and paddling another 100 yards out into the water. According to WLFEA reports, The man went under just before McCarty reached him, most likely too tired to remain See LOCAL, Page A5

INSIDE

News — A2 Sports & Lifestyle — B1

POW/MIA Day recognized Mayor Rob Ward proclaimed Sept. 20 as POW/MIA Recognition Day in Florence, to recognize the sacrifices made by Prisoners of War/Missing in Action military personnel and to support efforts to locate them and provide closure for their families. Councilor Robert Carp, a US Veteran, joined members of the VFW Post 3232 at the podium to accept the proclamation. Staff raised the POW MIA flag at City Hall on Sept. 19 at 8:30 a.m. Tony Reed photo

Opinion — A3 Classifieds — B4-B5

Celebrating Over 30 Years in Real Estate

LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED JIM HOBERG Broker/Owner

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