Guilty Except by Sanity
In June of 2023, Lane County Sheriff’s deputies responded to Mapleton after 66-year-old Marsha Quesnell called 911 and stated she had murdered her mother. Upon arrival, deputies found Quesnell’s 85-year-old mother deceased with multiple stab wounds. Quesnell was taken into custody and lodged at the Lane County Jail for charges including Murder. Quesnell has a history of mental health issues and had been previously placed under the jurisdiction of the Psychiatric Security Review Board (PSRB) for five years in 2007 after attacking a family member with a knife. She was discharged from that jurisdiction in 2012. On Thursday, May 23rd, Quesnell was found guilty except for insanity for Murder in the Second Degree and Unlawful Use of a Weapon. The Lane County Circuit Court ordered that Quesnell be placed under the jurisdiction of the PSRB for the rest of her life for those charges. Sheriff Harrold said of the case that it was very taxing emotionally and mentally for all involved.
Community Coalition
A pair of startup meetings for a community coalition that wants to provide local services for adults who experience intellectual or developmental disabilities is coming June 12th and June 15th. Lisa Utz, the Special Programs Manager for Siuslaw School District is spearheading the drive as a way to ensure students in her programs continue to have support from a – quote—“homegrown and locally sustainable” group that will provide social events and other activities. Utz will talk about successful programs in other communities and gather input, ideas and support as she works to build a team that will lead a local project. The first meeting is Wednesday June 12th, from one to two pm at Siuslaw Valley Fire and Rescue. The second is set for Siuslaw Public Library Saturday, June 15th, from 10:30 to 11:30.
Coastal Conservation Push
What’s called a “unique initiative aimed at promoting coastal conservation in the Cape Perpetua area” is under way. The Cape Perpetua Coalition, a group of nearly three dozen businesses, public agencies and conservation groups, are providing guided tidepool tours north of Florence in June, July and August. Program manager Katy Bear Nalven says the tours will be at various low tides at Heceta Head, Yachats State Park and Bob Creek. Participants will become “tidepool ambassadors” and hopefully gain a deeper appreciation of the “intricate balance of coastal ecosystems”. The first tour will be June 6th between seven and ten AM at Bob Creek Wayside. For a complete list of locations, dates, and times; and to register for the tour, go to CapePerpetuaCollaborative-dot-org and scroll down to the calendar of upcoming events.
