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Headlight Herald
Citizen North Coast
Friday, July 5, 2024 | Vol. 48, Issue 7
www.cannonbeachgazette.com
Cannon Beach Celebrates 60th Annual Sandcastle Contest DEB ATIYEH for the Gazette
On Saturday, June 15, the 60th Annual Cannon Beach Sandcastle Contest was celebrated in a magical place where the sand meets the sea. Spectators in the large crowd were enchanted by the artistic creations as they strolled past with their children, dogs, families and friends. The weather was mild and cloudy, interrupted by a short burst of rain, while the open sky and fresh ocean air inspired imagination, creativity and curiosity.
The Cannon Beach Chamber of Commerce once again hosted the annual event. Chamber Marketing Manager Sierra Spinler said, “we had the highest contestant attendance of the last few years for the Sandcastle Contest and Fun Run. We had four Master’s Teams, which is more than last year. Our Open-Individuals Division, a pilot division for the contest this year, also went great, and the winner came all the way from Wyoming! We also introduced the ‘People’s Choice Awards.’ Spectators were excited to cast their votes with locally
made wooden tokens made by Exit Sunset in Cannon beach, with the Master’s Team Ozymandias winning the People’s Choice Award.” Spinler added, “we really aimed to elevate the event this year, and the local and visitor feedback has been so positive that we are thrilled the new touches we incorporated went over so well. We are proud to have worked with Donny Masterson on many aspects of the Sandcastle Contest, such as the posters, 60th anniversary mementos and parade float. The new parade float participated in
the Portland Rose Festival Starlight Parade representing Cannon Beach and the Sandcastle Contest, and it was a grand success.” Stop by the Cannon Beach Visitors Center to see the new “lenticular” version of the Sandcastle Contest poster created by Donny Masterson. It is a beautiful and magical tribute to Cannon Beach artist and icon Bill Steidel. We can all look forward to the 61st Annual Cannon Beach Sandcastle Contest to be held June 21, 2025; when newly imagined creations will magically arise from the sand.
The Man Behind the Badge CFTLC briefed on HCP
revenue replacement schemes
JASMINE SCHERMERHORN
My dad reminds me of the color orange. Orange represents his fun and charismatic side, like the lively energy he brings. It also reminds me of his determination and courage. Orange is a bold, strong color that has always reminded me of my dad Jason. Growing up in a law enforcement household I’ve learned two things; I have a curfew for a reason, and “no, I don’t know that person but they know me, so let’s send them a grad card.” I wouldn’t change being the chief’s daughter for the world. I’ve always felt a sense of protection and family from our small community. My dad never came home and released his stress on our family, he never made me think he had a bad day. He always believes in my journalist dreams, and crazy bursts of ideas, and never doubts a good time. Jason grew up in a family of seven. It was always a busy household full of kids, early Sunday mornings, and mischief. My dad was the youngest sibling, so you can already imagine the influence his older brothers and older sister had on him. I’ve heard many stories of broken windows, angry neighbors, and late-night bike rides. What else do you expect from a family growing up in the 80’s and not much to do. My dad has expressed to me he always knew he wanted to be a police officer. He said, “it always made it look fun and exciting and I wanted to get bad guys.” My dad was the first in his family to be involved in law enforcement. He says his parents always pushed him away from that profession; in dreams he would become a “lawyer” or
WILL CHAPPELL Gazette Editor
“doctor”. He said it wasn’t until he landed his chief position in Cannon Beach that his dad told him he was proud. I am so beyond proud of my dad for following his dreams and doing his own thing even if he didn’t have all the support in the world. He has taught me to always follow my dreams and do what makes me happy. I’ve noticed there is one strong thing that has really affected my dad through his career. It’s the difference he has made in our community. He says sometimes he forgets people do appreciate the things he does and that he does actually offer a helping hand. Small compliments or just words of encouragement are the reason he does what he does because all he ever wants is to help the people around him, I believe my dad truly has the brightest soul. I think hear-
ing that has made me realize that everyone in the community should really take the time to appreciate the small things and let someone know if they have made a difference in your life, because that could really be all they need to have a good day, week, or even month. Jason’s future plans are to really enjoy his days in Idaho; to start making time for family and to do the things he can only do on his days off. He is currently interviewing for a public information officer position. He is really most looking forward to having a fresh start and “letting his hair down.” Law enforcement really made my dad who he was, he told me “I really couldn’t have imagined myself doing anything different” This just See BADGE, Page A4
Following ten months of negotiations with the governor’s office, members of the Council of Forest Trust Land Counties were briefed on three proposed solutions for revenue reductions projected to be caused by the habitat conservation plan for western Oregon state forests on June 28. A group of five county representatives worked with three representatives from the governor’s office to hammer out the options, landing on reducing contributions to either the counties and special districts or Oregon Department of Forestry, or moving school districts in the counties from timber funding to the state’s special equalization fund. The process began last August, when Governor Tina Kotek’s office reached out to staff from the Council of Forest Trust Land Counties (CFTLC) to initiate discussions about the economic impact of the proposed habitat conservation plan (HCP) on member counties. The CFTLC selected one commissioner from each of its five regions, David Yamamoto from Tillamook County, Courtney Bangs from Clatsop County, Jerry Willey from Washington County, William Tucker of Linn County, and John Sweet of Coos County, to participate in small table meetings. Tillamook County
Commissioner Erin Skaar replaced Yamamoto when he retired at the end of last year. To begin the process, CFTLC commissioners discussed what they wanted to accomplish, agreeing that they hoped to see statutes changed to ensure that county governments’ revenues remained steady. CFTLC staff then worked to develop forecasts of the revenue impacts to the counties using historical harvest and stumpage price data, showing a projected drop of a little over $22 million in revenue county and special district revenues across the 14 impacted counties. The small group then solicited ideas from the CFTLC’s full membership, fielding 15 proposals for revenue replacement. Those ideas were then pared down in conjunction with the representatives from Kotek’s office to the three that were presented to the full membership at the June meeting. The first two options involved reapportioning state forest revenues from the current split that sees 63.75% of revenues go to counties, and special and school districts, and the remaining 36.25% directed to the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF). The first option would see the share dedicated to counties and districts grow to 82% or $62.4 million, allowing their revenues to remain steady at the cost of reducing ODF’s per-
centage to 18% or $13.7 million, less than half of their current budget. The second option would see ODF’s share bumped to 47% of state forest revenues, allowing the department to fully support its $36.5 million budget, but would cut county and district forest revenues to just $41.2 million. The final option was to allow counties, special districts and the department to maintain current revenues by removing school districts from state forest funding. Currently, school districts in each of the counties receive around half of state forest revenues allocated to their county, with the remainder of their funding coming from property taxes and the state school equalization fund. Under the third proposal, school districts in the counties would move to complete reliance on property taxes and the state school equalization fund. This would allow ODF to receive $35.6 million in state forest revenues annually, while counties and special districs would receive $40.5 million. Commissioners discussed the proposals, with all saying that of the options presented they would prefer the third. Sweet said that while commissioners might prefer other options they had previously suggested, the three put forward were the ones for See CFTLC, Page A2