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Siuslaw NewsFriday, September 29, 2023 Florence, Oregon

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Number 39 • 133 years

Sunday, October 8th 10:00 am Holy Eucharist & Blessing of Animals (Inside) 1:00 pm Celebration & Healing Prayers

for the Earth in the Labyrinth. 2:00 pm Blessing of Animals in the Labyrinth.

Veterans Parade of Siuslaw schools struggle in state assessments RUPKALVIS ing assessment for third Fifth-graders in the dis- graders passing the test. Florence announces B TDAVID graders to eighth graders trict scored the best, In the science test, only S N as well as high school ju- with 50.7% of students fifth, eighth and 11th The 2022-23 state- niors, only 34% of Siu- passing the test. graders are tested. At Grand Marshal In math, 26.6% of all all levels, 25.1% of stuwide assessment test re- slaw students passed the

Florence, OR - The Veterans Parade of Florence, Inc. is proud to announce Russ Connelley as the Grand Marshal for the 2023 Veterans Day Parade taking place on November 11. Born on the ‘Day of Infamy’ in 1927, fourteen years before that event took place, Russ himself would enlist in the United States Navy at the age of 17 in 1944 from his hometown of Oakland, California. He started boot camp in San Diego, but it was interrupted due to an outbreak of yellow fever. During quarantine, an allergic reaction to penicillin would complicate his recovery, but he eventually completed boot camp and began his short career as a Navy Aviation Ordinanceman. Seeing duty in Guam, his duties included loading ordinance on Navy planes – primarily fighters. It also included installing JATO units (jet assisted take off) on some aircraft. Although the two atomic bombs dropped on Japan which brought the end of the war were dropped by the United States Army Air Corps and not the Navy, Russ still found it concerning that it took two of the massively destructive devices to bring Japan to accept the inevitable and surrender. Following the war, while visiting islands in the South Pacific, he was amazed to view the enormous buildup of U.S. supplies and weapons in anticipation and preparation of Japan’s invasion if the bombs had not accomplished their mission. In January of 1946 as the US military was adjusting to post-war manpower needs, he was offered a $200 bonus for a two-year extension, so he stayed in rather than take discharge at that time. He took the bonus dol-

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sults released last week show students in Siuslaw School District continue to struggle to make up ground lost during the COVID-19 pandemic. The results from the last school year show that overall, students dipped in reading while making minor progress in math. In science, there was almost no change. In the state’s read-

lars and his sweetheart to Reno and got married. Russ was in fact discharged in early 1947 as a Petty Officer, but he didn’t maintain any of the friendships developed during his time in the service. “I was very fortunate in that I didn’t receive a scratch during my time in the Navy” he described. “When I got out, I sold my uniform and never looked back.” Instead, he and his wife Peg started their family which would eventually count nine children in all. Son John would follow in his Dad’s footsteps with a career in the military, retiring as a Major from the United States Marine Corps. Eventually, Russ would find and acquire his own vintage military vehicle – a 1944 Willys MB. Although his restored jeep sports OD green paint rather than Navy grey, it was important to Russ that it be a 1944 jeep, to match the year he enlisted. Cal Applebee said “I have always been able to count on Russ and his jeep to support club and museum events, over the years, including performing convoy duty ferrying spectators at past Wings & Wheels events at the airport. Even in his 90’s – he’s still serving! I thank Russ for his service to our country, and for his service to our community.” The Veterans Parade of Florence, Inc. is proud to be able to honor Russ Connelley as this year’s Grand Marshal, deservedly welcoming him into a long line of respected Parade leaders before him. For all you need to know about this event, including how to register as a parade participant visit https://www.oregoncoastmilitarymuseum. com/vetparade

reading test. In the 202122 school year, 38.1% of students passed the test. Most of the dip came in the upper grades as only 10.8% of eighth graders passed the reading test while 33% of high school juniors passed the test. Siuslaw did show improvement in fourth grade, fifth grade, sixth grade and seventh grade.

dents passed the test after 25.2% passed in the 2021-22 school year. Fifth graders and 11th graders both showed improvement, with 36.6% of fifth graders and 29.2% of 11th graders passing the test. Eighth graders continued to struggle, with only 10.1% of students passing the science test.

Set to be larger and more terrifying than ever, enter C.R.O.W Theatre’s 2023 “Twisted” Haunted Maze at your own risk

Photos contributed by Melanie Heard By SARAH KELLY For Country Media, Inc. The start of fall is marked by the dropping of leaves and pumpkins appearing on every menu and door step. The weather cools and people snuggle up with their cozy blankets and sweaters, the smell of cinnamon wafting through the air. How-

ever, this year the winds in Florence will also be carrying something a little less warming. This year you just might catch the scent of fear as your skin scrawls and goosebumps raise at the very mention of C.R.O.W. Theatre’s scream inducing Haunted Maze. The annual frightful event is back after a

three-year hiatus, due to COVID, and is promising to be even more terrifying than ever before. This will be their 6th year putting on the event. 2023’s ScareC.R.O.W. Haunted Maze will be called “Twisted” and is taking place, for the first time, at the Florence Events Center. The center, located at 715 Quince Street, is twice the

size as their previous location. This extra space has allowed for C.R.O.W. to delve even deeper into this year’s theme, guaranteeing visitors who are daring enough to step into the maze a night filled with fright. The Haunted Maze will be held for four nights only, Oct. 27, 28 and See HAUNTED page 4A

Vintage Trailer Rally returns to Florence By BREE LAUGHLIN Country Media Vintage and retro trailer owners are heading to Florence. They will be showing their stuff at the sixth annual “Goin’ with the Flo” Vintage Trailer Community Open House. More than 35 kitschycampy vintage travel trailers will be decked out for free public viewing at Heceta Beach RV Park on Saturday, September 30, from noon to 3 p.m. Event organizer Terry Hankin said she and her husband Dan had so much fun attending a

Guest Columns — B3-4 Classifieds — B6-7

of people from all over come and tour the trailers on that Saturday and they really loved it,” Terry Hankin said. Now in it’s sixth year, Hankin said the rally has become a family-type event and many of the vintage and retro trailer owners have become good friends. “We pretty much take over the RV park. We have people from WyMore than 35 kitschy-campy vintage travel oming, Montana, Calitrailers will be decked out for free public viewing fornia, Washington State at Heceta Beach RV Park during the “Goin’ with and all over Oregon that the Flo” Vintage Trailer Community Open House. come out,” she said. Contributed photo Some of the trailers are vintage trailer rally that right from the start, they restored to perfection and some are still in the they decided to bring one said. to Florence. It was a hit “We had hundreds See TRAILER page 7A

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students passed the yearly assesment test, and improvement of 24.4% the previous year. The biggest jump came in the lower grades as 34.7% of third graders, 39.8% of fourth graders and 36.2% of fifth graders passed the test. The upper grades continued to struggle with only 7.4% of eighth graders and 14% of 11th

Are you brave enough?

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