Issuu

North Coast

Citizen Serving North Tillamook County since 1996

NORTHCOASTCITIZEN.COM

JANUARY 11, 2024

$1.50 VOLUME 31 NO. 1

Tillamook Forester talks new modeling WILL CHAPPELL Citizen Editor

Part of the Tillamook State Forest above the Kilchis River near Idaville in central Tillamook County. PHOTO BY WILL CHAPPELL

illamook State Forester Kate Skinner recently sat down with the Headlight Herald to discuss newly released modeling results for harvests in the state forests and the Tillamook State Forest specifically. Skinner said that harvest forecasts had been calibrated as much as possible to account for the unique and limiting elements in the Tillamook State Forest. Skinner also said that what appeared to be an over assignment of conservation areas for Northern spotted owls was a function of geographic limitations and the length of harvest rotations. The percentage of state forests being assigned for habitat conservation purposes under new plans for managing state forests became a point of concern at a joint meeting of the board of forestry and Forest Trust Land Advisory Councils in December. Federal laws being used to craft the new habitat conservation plan (HCP) that will set parameters for conservation of endangered species require that 40% of the forest be set aside for the preservation of Northern spotted owls. SEE NEW MODELING PAGE A3

Sheriff discusses homelessness, Measure 110, reelection bid

Stock appointed Manzanita Mayor WILL CHAPPELL Citizen Editor

WILL CHAPPELL Citizen Editor

s he prepares for a reelection bid, Tillamook Sheriff Josh Brown recently sat down

29467 70001 8

with the Headlight Herald to discuss challenges facing law enforcement in the county and his bid for reelection. Brown talked at length about the need to increase both accountability of and services available to those experiencing homelessness and substance use disorders in the county and across Oregon. He said that Measure 110 had caused a massive spike in the number of overdoses he had observed and called on state and county leaders to give

law enforcement and social services providers the tools to address the crises. “I’m a cop and so my whole life has been about accountability and enforcing the law but I think modern policing is also about empathy and decency,” Brown said. “I don’t believe that the answer is just grab everybody up and throw them in jail. That’s not the answer. The answer is accountability but assistance.” Brown was elected sheriff

in 2020, after serving 15 years with the department, first as a corrections deputy, before moving into patrol after seven years. Prior to his election, Brown had never served in an administrative position and said that he looked to other Oregon sheriffs for help learning the ropes of his new position. From the beginning of his tenure, Brown’s focus has been on improving the department for his deputies so that they can better serve SEE SHERIFF PAGE A3

anzanita’s city council selected councilor Kathryn Stock to serve as the city’s mayor on January 3, following the November resignation of Mayor Deb Simmons. The council also heard an update on the city’s trails and the impacts of recent court rulings on their accessibility and work being undertaken by the public works to mitigate those impacts. Stock was the only applicant to fill the mayoralty following the resignation of Deb Simmons in November after she moved away from the city. Stock brings experience from a career working as a supply chain specialist with Nike, where she said she learned about the importance of communication. Stock was appointed to city council in August to fill a vacancy and said that she is interested in how things work and how people come together and that she is undeterred by complexity. Stock’s appointment leaves a vacancy on the council and applications are now being accepted, with the council planning to select a new member at their January meeting. Manzanita’s Public Works Director Dan Weitzel discussed the impacts of recent court rulings on Manzanita’s public trails. A district court ruling in a case involving a woman who fell on a path accessing a beach in the City of Newport found that the use of access trails was not inherently recreational. This meant that recreational immunity did not automatically shield governments from litigation in cases involving access trails and that juries would have to determine whether immunity existed on a case-by-case

basis. This led to a scramble by city and county governments across Oregon in recent months to mitigate their risk after Citycounty Insurance Services (CIS), which insures many government entities in the state, advised closing access paths while further review was undertaken. In Manzanita, this advice impacted 17 beach access trails and a handful of others around the city, according to Weitzel. The good news for the city is that the beach access trails on city property are very short, only running from the end of the pavement to the edge of sand dunes. Weitzel said that three of the trails at Horizon, Beeswax and Edmund Avenues had hazards that needed to be cleared, but that following that, they and the rest of the beach access trails could be reopened with the addition of signs warning users of their potential hazards. The elevated wooden pathway and stairs at Elk Meadows Park need mitigation work to reduce fall risk. Weitzel said that his staff and representatives from CIS were reviewing the situation and that he planned to work with the Lower Nehalem Trust on maintenance after the upgrades were completed during a closure. Several other ad hoc trails hewn by citizens over the years will be closed and marked as such and Weitzel plans to return to the council with updates on progressing work on signage at beach accesses in coming months. City Manager Leila Aman announced that she will be holding a state of the city speech on January 16. She also said that abatement work on the old elementary school building and Quonset hut at Underhill Plaza had come in on-budget.

January 11, 2024

NORTHCOASTCITIZEN.COM | NORTH COAST CITIZEN

Tillamook County Criminal Convictions STAFF REPORT

n August 14, 2023, Francisco Silva, 23, pled guilty to one count of harassment, a class A misdemeanor, committed on or about May 27. Silva was sentenced to two years on probation. On September 18, Gretchen Leanne Snyder, 28, pled no contest to one count of reckless driving, a class A violation, committed on or about April 14. Snyder was ordered to pay a traffic fine of $440. On October 2, Kandyce Arlene Cervantes, 32, pled no contest to one count of criminal driving with a suspended or revoked license,

a class A misdemeanor, committed on or about June 5. Cervantes was sentenced to time served in jail. On November 20, Cervantes pled no contest to another count of criminal driving with a suspended or revoked license, committed on or about August 3. Cervantes was sentenced to 30 days in jail and one year on probation on this conviction. On November 6, Cameron Martin Forbes, 32, pled guilty to one count of criminal driving with a suspended or revoked license, a class A misdemeanor, committed on or about August 6. Forbes was ordered to pay a $500 traffic fine and $368 in attorney fees.

On November 8, Austin Joseph Werner Bell, 26, pled no contest to one count of driving under the influence of intoxicants and one count of recklessly endangering another person, both class A misdemeanors, committed on or about December 6, 2022. Bell was sentenced to two years on probation, his driver’s license was suspended for one year and he was ordered to pay $500 in restitution. On November 13, Margo Dee Gibson, 60, pled no contest to one count of attempting to commit the class A misdemeanor of recklessly endangering another person, a class B misdemeanor, comitted on or about

November 30, 2021. Gibson was sentenced to 18 moths’ probation. On November 20, Jeffrey David Peacock, 47, pled guilty to one count of criminal driving with a suspended or revoked license, a class A misdemeanor, committed on or about September 15. Peacock was sentenced to two days in jail and ordered to pay a $100 fine. On November 22, Christina Lorene Kay Vanburen, 27, pled guilty to two counts of giving false information to a peace officer in connection with a citation or warrant, a class A misdemeanor, and one count of theft in the third degree, a class C misdemeanor, all committed on or about May 14, 2023, and one count of theft in the second degree, a class A misdemeanor, committed on or about April 5, 2022. Vanburen was sentenced to time served in jail. On November 22, Seth Anthony Jordan, 32, pled no contest to one count of driving under the influence of intoxicants, a class A misdemeanor, committed on or about May 21, 2022 and one count of failure to appear in the second degree, a class A misdemeanor, committed on or about October 20. Jordan was sentenced to two days in jail, two years’ probation and a one year driver’s license suspension. On November 27, Trevor Ryan Waldorf, 37, pled no contest to one count of criminal trespass in the second degree, a class C misdemeanor, committed on or about September 1. Waldorf was sentenced to one year on probation. On November 27, Reuben Roy Hostetler, 43, pled no contest to two counts of fraudulent use of a credit card, a class A misdemeanor, committed on or about May 8 and May 9, 2022. Hostetler was sentenced to one year on probation. On November 27, Christopher Lee Charboneau, 42, pled guilty to one count of driving under the influence

of intoxicants, a class A misdemeanor, committed on or about June 21. Charboneau was sentenced to two days in jail and three years on probation, his driver’s license was suspended for one year, and he was ordered to pay $2,225 in fines. On November 27, Gerardo Torralba, 22, pled no contest to one count of driving under the influence of intoxicants, a class A misdemeanor, committed on or about August 11. Torralba was sentenced to two days in jail, two years’ probation and his driver’s license was suspended for one year. On November 28, Leanne Marie Koehler, 50, pled no contest to one count of theft in the third degree, a class C misdemeanor, committed on or abut October 20. Koehler was sentenced to ten days in jail and ordered to pay $25 in restitution. On November 29, Darrel Gene Lewis Jr., 35, pled no contest to one count of driving under the influence of intoxicants and one count of recklessly endangering another person, both class A misdemeanors, committed on or about July 6, 2022, and one count of fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer, a class C felony, committed on or about June 27, 2022. Lewis Jr. was sentenced to two years on probation and his driver’s license was suspended for one year. On November 29, Patricia Marie Mendez, 33, pled no contest to one count of harassment, a class B misdemeanor, committed on or about July 10, and one count of failure to perform the duties of a driver relating to property damage, a class A violation, committed on or about September 2, 2022. Mendez was sentenced to 18 months’ probation and ordered to pay a $440 traffic fine to the court. On December 1, Raine Siegel, 44, pled no contest to one count of initiating a false report, a class A violation, committed on or about Feb-

Upcoming Holiday Event? Valentine’s Day • St. Patrick’s Day Spring Break

We’re here to help get the word out with affordable print and online marketing packages. Call 503-842-7535 or email Katherine Mace at headlightads@countrymedia.net 1906 Second St., Tillamook, OR 97141

Headlight Herald

From your head to your toes, we care for all of you! Wellness exams* for ages 3 and up • NO COST to you (insurance will be billed) • $25 Gift card for ages 7 and up (mailed after visit) • $15 Gift card for ages 3 to 6 (mailed after visit) Offer good from Aug. 1, 2023 to Dec. 31, 2023

You are eligible if you have not had a wellness exam in the last 12 months

The wellness exam may include: • Physical exam • Immunizations • In clinic lab testing (as needed) • Dental, hearing, nutritional and vision screening *A wellness exam meets all of the requirements for a sports physical

To schedule your appointment

503-842-3938 • 800-528-2938 • TTY 711 Se habla español

801 Paciﬁc Avenue • Tillamook

www.tillamookchc.org

Citizen North Coast

Picture your ad distributed throughout Tillamook County!

Tillamook County Almanac will feature activities, businesses and organizations for locals & visitors alike.

Reserve by: Feb. 16, 5 p.m.

Almanac Business and Community Resource Guide

Online Flipbook linked to your website

10,000 copies

Tillamook County 2024

Brought to you by

Headlight Herald

Citizen North Coast

Call 503-842-7535 or email headlightads@countrymedia.net

Free to read in print and online at www.tillamookheadlightherald.com

ruary 28. Siegel was ordered to pay a $440 fine. On December 7, Zackeria Lee Smith, 39, pled guilty to one count of failure to report as a sex offender, a class A misdemeanor, committed on or about October 21. Smith was sentenced to ten days in jail. On December 7, Miranda Monique Cabrales, 26, pled no contest to one count of failure to perform the duties of a driver relating to property damage, a class A misdemeanor, committed on or about August 22, 2020. Cabrales was sentenced to 10 days in jail and her driver’s license was suspended for 90 days. On December 7, Bresa Marie Avila, 23, pled no contest to one count of unlawful possession of a firearm, a class A misdemeanor, committed on or about October 7, 2022. Avila was sentenced to two years on probation. On December 8, Jared Daniel Mannis, 55, pled no contest to one count of interference with making a report, a class A misdemeanor, committed on or about May 3. Mannis was sentenced to one year on probation. On December 8, Noah James Lewis, 22, was convicted on one count of attempting to commit the class B felony of sexual abuse in the first degree, a class C felony, committed on or between August 1, and August 31, 2022. Lewis was sentenced to 30 days in jail and three years on probation. On December 11, Tyrell Edward Camper, 36, pled no contest to one count of assault in the fourth degree, a class A misdemeanor, committed on or about August 7. Camper was sentenced to five days in jail and 18 months’ probation. On December 11, Dustin Edward Hillstrom, 41, pled no contest on one count of harassment constituting domestic violence, a class A misdemeanor, committed on or about September 26. Hillstrom was sentenced to two days in jail and 18 months’ probation. On December 11, Mehmet Sahin, 58, pled guilty to one count of driving under the influence of intoxicants, a class A misdemeanor, committed on or about July 1. Sahin was sentenced to two days in jail and two years on probation, his driver’s license was suspended for one year, and he was ordered to pay $1,255 in fees and fines. On December 18, Wendy Suzanne Dennis, 44, pled guilty to one count of attempting to commit the class A misdemeanor of reckless driving, a class B misdemeanor, committed on or about September 13, 2022. Dennis was sentenced to one year on probation and ordered to pay a $100 fine and $368 in attorney fees. On December 18, Misty Jo Bearden, 44, pled guilty to three counts of criminal driving with a suspended or revoked license, a class A misdemeanor, committed on or about September 17, September 28 and November 9. Bearden was sentenced to two days in jail, with a 90day suspended sentence, and one year on probation. On December 18, Jon Alyn Lewis, 39, pled guilty to one count of driving under the influence of intoxicants and one count of criminal driving with a suspended or revoked license, both class A misdemeanors, committed on or about June 20. Lewis was sentenced to 30 days in jail and four years’ probation, and his driver’s license was revoked for life. On December 21, Toby Dee Campbell, 73, pled guilty to one count of offensive littering, a class A violation, committed on or about December 5, 2022. Campbell was ordered to pay a $225 fine to the court and $165 in restitution to the Bureau of Land Management. On December 26, Tyler Lane Hurlbert, 34, pled no SEE CONVICTIONS PAGE A3

January 11, 2024

NORTH COAST CITIZEN | NORTHCOASTCITIZEN.COM

Commissioners accept $260,000 justice reinvestment grant WILL CHAPPELL Citizen Editor

illamook’s Board of County Commissioners accepted a grant of more than $260,000 from the Oregon Criminal Justice Commission to help reduce recidivism and prison usage in Tillamook County on January 3. The board also approved the closure of Tillamook County Library branches on January 20, to accommodate

an internet system upgrade in the county and shared an update on work set to begin on Sand Lake Road south of Tierra Del Mar. The grant from the Criminal Justice Commission will be used in several ways to help reduce rates of incarceration and recidivism by offering supportive services to those exiting jail or prison over the next two years. Funding will go towards paying for supervision, a food handler licensure program

in partnership with TBCC, the jail’s Brighter Future program and transitional housing. Part of the funding will also go to Tides of Change to pay for victims’ services and Lieutenant Ahnie Seaholm from the sheriff’s department said that holding offenders accountable was also a focus of the grant. All branches of the Tillamook County Library will be closed on January 20, as work is undertaken to up-

grade the internet infrastructure used by the county. Library Director Don Allgeier said that most of the services used by patrons were digital and would be unavailable without internet connectivity and that the concurrent phone line outage could raise safety concerns. Commissioner Doug Olson, who was sworn in on January 2, gave an update on the situation on Sand Lake Road south of Tierra Del Mar where December’s flooding

caused a washout based on information shared with him by Director of Public Works Chris Laity. Olson said that the public works department was planning to start work on reinforcing the single lane of traffic that remained after the slide during the week of January 8. Olson said that Laity expected the work to last through the middle of March and cost between $600,000 and $700,000. That repair will allow traffic to

pass on the remaining lane, with temporary signals controlling the flow, while work is undertaken on a permanent solution. The permanent solution will likely entail building a new retaining wall parallel to the road and is expected to cost multiple millions of dollars and take several years to complete.

centered on what some have taken to calling the “Tillamook problem” in reference to adverse conditions caused by the Tillamook burn, the forest’s topography and tree diseases. Tillamook’s steep slopes, in addition to limiting harvest possibilities, also provide shallower soil, which in turn inhibits tree growth. Further, the forest was replanted with Douglas Fir that were nonnative to the area following the Tillamook Burn from the 1930s to 1950s, leaving trees that are not ideally suited for conditions in the forest. Finally, the forest’s Douglas Firs have been struggling

with a rash of Swiss Needle Cast, a disease which sees fungus grow over the end of needles, inhibiting their functionality and, subsequently, the trees growth. Ill-advised aerial spraying in the 1970s has also caused a proliferation of so-called “zombie Alder” that have dead tops from the spraying. In total, these factors lead to per-acre harvest levels in Tillamook State Forest being significantly lower than other forests, in the range of 25,000-30,000 board feet per acre versus 70,000 board feet per acre in other Douglas Fir forests. However, that knowledge

was incorporated into the most recent modeling, with the team working on the model visiting Tillamook foresters to calibrate for the geographic limitations and applying a 20% reduction in modeled harvests. “It’s accounted for as much as we can,” said Skinner. Skinner said that her level of certainty around the projected harvest levels was high but that there was more variability in revenue projections. Skinner said that this was due to uncertainties around the cost of labor, harvest supplies and the cost of timber, which will all impact revenues.

Skinner also said that even if the HCP was not approved, ongoing surveying for endangered species and subsequent take avoidance strategies would still limit harvest levels in state forests to around the same 185 million board feet annually being projected under the HCP. “We’re still surveying for murrelets; we’re still finding murrelets. We’re still surveying for owls; we’re still finding owls,” Skinner said. “So, each of those are little incremental pieces and so, we’re either going to get to 185 though our survey program or we’re going to get to 185 through an HCP.”

be the county doing their part, it’s gotta be us doing our part. There’s got to be accountability but there’s got to be empathy.” Brown said that he is working with county commissioners to draft a camping ordinance for the county that will regulate the time, place and manner people are allowed to camp and give deputies a framework to bring accountability to those camping irresponsibly. Brown said that the department would need more resources to fully address the issue, noting that there were too many camps for his deputies to adequately inspect them all. Brown also discussed the levels of other crime in 2023, a year in which the department responded to 18,467 calls for service. The number of calls for thefts, burglaries and unauthorized use of vehicles fell to around 400 from a high of nearly 600 in 2022. The number of calls for child abuse rose to nearly 500 last year while

traffic stops were at their highest level in three years. Brown cautioned against reading too much into the numbers from a single year, noting that statistical noise or other factors could mislead. He said that it was important to look at multiyear averages and that when he looked at data dating back a decade, it showed that there had been a steady increase in call and case volume, but that increases in one type of crime were generally offset by decreases in another and balanced out over time. “I try to share stats with people but I try to put perspective to it because if you go year-to-year and you look at just one little window, it’s not really going to give you the whole picture because, like I said, if this one goes down, this one goes up,” Brown said. The department is in an ongoing process of working to fully meet staffing needs, with eight positions open across its three divisions. Brown said that several candidates are in the hiring

process and that he was hopeful another successful year of recruitment would allow the department to meet its staffing needs. Even when it can meet those needs, Brown said that it is important for residents to be aware that he and his deputies are responsible for an expansive area, with relatively few employees. Brown noted that often during the evening, there are only two deputies on duty and Tillamook deputies are accustomed to responding to calls alone. Brown is running for reelection in 2024 and is currently unopposed, with candidate filings due by March 12. Brown said that he is running on the same platform as he did four years ago, with his top two priorities being the department’s staff and the community. “My platform was I have two priorities and number one priority is this office and the staff that are in it and the health and well-being of the staff that are in it,”

Brown said. “And the second priority is the community and if number one priority is working well, number two priority is right there with it, they coincide. That platform has not changed.” Brown mentioned that he wanted to continue to uphold the values of transparency and honesty in the office and to encourage and solicit public feedback. He also said that even though he was a registered Republican he took the nonpartisan status of the office seriously and strove to represent all residents equally. Brown said that the Deschutes County Sheriff had said at a conference that he had 230,000-plus bosses and that the remark had really stuck with him and guided his thinking and decisions as sheriff. “I’ve got 27,000 bosses, that’s who I work for, I don’t for anybody but the people who voted me in,” Brown said, “and I take that pretty darn serious.”

Ann Swetland, 30, pled no contest to one count of criminal trespass in the second degree, a class C misdemean-

or, committed on or about December 6, and one count of theft in the third degree, a class C misdemeanor, com-

mitted on or about December 18. Swetland was sentenced to time served in jail.

NEW MODELING CONTINUED FROM PAGE A1 But the most recent modeling numbers showed that depending on the scenario selected, between 55% and 70% of forests would qualify as habitat conservation areas. Skinner clarified that this upward departure was due to several factors, chief among them geographic restrictions and harvest length. Under current forest management practices, around 50% of the Tillamook State Forest is not harvested due to steep slopes or riparian area restrictions. Those same geographic limitations will persist under the new HCP and outstrip the 40% conservation area requirement on

their own. The other factor is that as tree stands destined for harvest age, they will serve as habitat for years or decades after they become mature trees but before they are cut. “If we’re harvesting outside of the HCAs (habitat conservation areas) a 60- or 70-year-old stand, that’s habitat, and that’s part of having a permit is that we can take that habitat,” Skinner said. Another source of concern for members of the board of forestry and leaders in the trust land counties is the level of uncertainty that exists in the modeling. In Tillamook County, this concern is most

SHERIFF CONTINUED FROM PAGE A1 the community. That started with a remodeling of the physical office he would be occupying, which now contains a welcoming set up of comfortable couches and chairs around a coffee table to encourage his deputies to stop in. “If one of my deputies walk in, I drop everything and I visit with them because they’re the most important asset to this office, in my opinion,” Brown said. In the same year Brown was elected sheriff, Oregon voters passed Measure 110, decriminalizing the possession of drugs in the state. Since the measure’s passage, controversy has swirled around its impacts on the state, with opponents calling for the measure’s repeal. Brown said that in the past year and a half he believes he has seen more overdoses than he had in his career up to that point. He said that the removal of consequences for drug use had led people from other

states to migrate to Oregon, exacerbating existing issues with substance use disorders and homelessness. “Any problems that we did have is just being magnified because you have all these people that have come in to take advantage of that,” Brown said. Simultaneously, the state lags severely in the services offered to help those experiencing substance use or mental health disorders, or homelessness, ranking at or near the bottom in the number of spots available for treatment. Brown said that this lack of access to treatment was another major factor in the increasing number of people struggling and said that law enforcement agencies needed partnerships with other community organizations to successfully address the issues. “It’s gotta be a holistic approach, it really does,” Brown said. “It’s gotta be CARE (Community Action Resource Enterprises) doing their part, it’s gotta

CONVICTIONS CONTINUED FROM PAGE A2 contest to one count of being a felon in possession of a restricted weapon, a class A misdemeanor, committed on

or about December 15, 2023. Hurlbert was sentenced to 15 days in jail. On December 26, Stormy

Three Capes Marathon Relay returns to the Tillamook Coast February 24 A look back at local mother, son team duo

hen former Cheesemaker harrier Carter Kunert signed up for the 2022 Three Capes Relay, he knew who the perfect teammate would be for the race: his mom. “It was Carter’s idea,” Angie Kunert said. “He’d done the race since he was an eighth grader, but never the half [marathon]. The Three Capes Marathon Relay is a 26.2 mile course traveling the Three Capes Scenic Loop, starting at Cape Meares Lake, passing Cape Lookout, and finishing at Cape

Kiwanda in Pacific City. Participants in the event can opt to run the race as a team or solo. Angie said that through the years she had always been the “taxi” for Carter’s relay team, having never actually run the race herself. “He and I are both really motivated and competitive anyway,” Angie said. “I knew that having him as a partner, he would be training for it as faithfully as I was.” The pair ended up winning the Two Person Family Mixed Division in a time of 3:09:50, each running a half marathon. “It’s so beautiful and a nice place to run,” Angie said of the course. “It’s so open; there’s a lot of space for run-

ners to spread out.” Last year, the 2023 event was canceled due to an ice storm in the area. But, the event is back this year and slated for Feb. 24, 2024. The rugged course, with plenty of hills, passes through or runs adjacent to six state parks, two National Wildlife Refuges, multiple Tillamook County Parks, and boasts stunning vantage points of the Tillamook Bay, Netarts Bay, and the Pacific Ocean. “I like the way it’s organized,” Angie said. “Pat Zweifel does a really good job staffing people. Anytime you have a question he or someone else was always available to help and take questions.”

Participants can choose between running a the race as a solo marathon, a twoperson team, or a five-person team. The course is separated into five legs which vary in distances from 4.37 miles to just under seven miles. Team categories include: family, business, school, or Clydesdale. Starting and ending at sea level, there is nearly 2,400 feet of climb within the course, offering a challenging racing venue. “It would be a great race to do,” Angie said. “From beginning to end, [especially for local people] it’s people you know at the aide stations, and you don’t have to worry about getting lost. It’s really well organized on the course. You’re really well taken care

of.” The cost for registration is $289 for a five-person team, $145 for a two-person team, and the solo marathoner is $85. Every participant will receive a custom Three Capes Relay Medal when crossing the finish line. Register prior to February 15 to receive a race t-shirt. High school and middle school teams can receive a discount by using the code: “High School Runner” when registering to receive 30 percent off the team fee. Register online at threecapesrelay.com. The Three Capes Marathon Relay is an event hosted by Ultimook nonprofit that supports local youth run-

ning programs in Tillamook County including: The Tillamook Distance Project (high school cross country and track program), Ultimook Running Camp (youth running camp), and the Ultimook Track Club (regionwide youth running club).

Subscribe and claim your

FREE online access.

www.northcoastcitizen.com/ subscribe for more info

January 11, 2024

NORTHCOASTCITIZEN.COM | NORTH COAST CITIZEN

GUEST COLUMN: FAREWELL LETTER FROM COMMISSIONER DAVID YAMAMOTO

ear Friends, I hope you all had a Very Merry Christmas and are poised to have a Happy New Year! By now, you are probably tired of hearing of my upcoming retirement and I want to promise you this will be the last chapter of this story. I want you to know that it has been the greatest honor of my life to represent Tillamook County as Commissioner. While I know it is

impossible to please everyone with all the decisions that confronted me during my tenure, please understand that every decision was made with the best interest of Tillamook County in mind. I remember my first campaign slogan was “Citizen, Not Politician”, however after being sworn in, I found that every decision that you make as Commissioner is political, with some liking the decision, others hating it and most unaware or unconcerned. Most of you will look upon my tenure as one focused on natural resource industries of timber, dairy and fisheries and the essential commodities shipped across the country and around the world while, at the same time, providing family-wage, fully benefited jobs for our communities. You may have also heard me assert “when it comes to clean water, habitat restoration and fish recov-

Citizen North Coast

ery, no Oregon County does this better than Tillamook County”. While to some, these convictions might seem contradictory, in fact, when compared across the state and even around the nation, Tillamook County is a leader in natural resource extraction while continuing to protect the environment. Tillamook County should be proud of these accomplishments and continue to lead the way forward. Additionally, I hope you all remember some of the other issues that I championed or at least was involved with I some form. These included FEMA BiOp, Tillamook Working Lands and Waters Cooperative, Salmon SuperHwy, Tillamook Lightwave, Oregon Broadband Advisory Council, Ocean Policy Advisory Council, Association of Oregon Counties, National Association of Counties, Bureau of

Ocean Energy Management, Council of Forest Trust Lands Counties, Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children, South Tillamook County Emergency Volunteer Corp, Cape Kiwanda Master Plan…I could go on but you get the picture. I started this list not to grandstand but to explain to you how much I loved what I did as your commissioner. When you love your community and your job, there are never enough hours in the day to tackle the tough issues to try and make this community better…and I could never have done any of this alone. It took the support of you, all of you, on the local, state and federal level; citizens, staff, Commissioners, Legislators, you know who you are. Thank you for your friendship, encouragement and support…you are what I will miss the most in retirement. There is one issue that

has been troubling me over these past few months and I wish to clear my conscience. My doctors and I have been watching my PSA’s (prostate specific antigens) for the past 23 years when they started at 4. Over the years, my PSA grew slowly until earlier this year, it hit 8. I went to a urologist and a biopsy showed prostate cancer, albeit still a relatively low grade and, thankfully, a MRI showed no cancer outside of the prostate. My urologist recommended surgical removal, but I wanted a second opinion and went to a radiation oncologist that specialized in prostate cancer. There have been great advancements in high dose, very targeted radiation treatments (SBRT) and I was told 5 treatments would suffice over the course of just 12 days with very limited side effects. This course of action seemed prudent for me and I decided to move forward.

There were many, many specialists visits in preparation of my treatments, which started on December 1st and culminated on December 11. At this time, I am fairly free of side effects, I feel great and I am told the treatments were a success. I will be watching future PSA levels to make sure there is no remaining cancer. Gentlemen, I implore you to get your PSA levels checked on a regular basis…the key to beating prostate cancer is to catch it early. What bothered me the most over the past several months was the possibility that I have been out of pocket more than usual and may have missed some meetings and phone calls, and for that I apologize. Please know that I will always keep Tillamook County and Oregon close to my heart. I know I leave you all in good hands and for that, I am grateful. David Yamamoto

PUZZLES

Serving North Tillamook County since 1996

Deadline Noon Mondays for Advertising, News, Classifieds, Legals/Public Notices, Obituaries Publisher Frank Perea Executive Editor Joe Warren Director of Sales Frank Perea Editor Will Chappell, email headlighteditor@countrymedia.net Advertising Katherine Mace, email headlightads@countrymedia.net Classifieds & Legals/Public Notices Due by Noon on Mondays the week of publication. Send notice to classifieds@orcoastnews.com or call 503-842-7535 for more information. Ad Production Steph Baumgart PHONE 503-842-7535 • FAX 503-842-8842 EMAIL editor@northcoastcitizen.com WEBSITE northcoastcitizen.com The North Coast Citizen (15503909) is published biweekly by Country Media, Inc. 1906 Second Street, P.O. Box 444, Tillamook, OR 97141 SUBSCRIPTION RATES $60.00 annually in-county; $72.00 annually out-of-county. $50.00 for online only. Periodicals Postage paid at Tillamook, OR. POSTMASTER Send address changes to P.O. Box 444, Tillamook, OR 97141 Member Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association (ONPA) © 2024 by the North Coast Citizen. All rights reserved. LETTER POLICY The Citizen welcomes letters that express readers’ opinions on current topics. Letters may be submitted by email only, no longer than 300 words, and must be signed and include the writer’s full name, address (including city) and telephone number for verification of the writer’s identity. We will print the writer’s name and town of residence only. Letters without the requisite identifying information will not be published. Letters are published in the order received and may be edited for length, grammar, spelling, punctuation or clarity. We do not publish group emails, open letters, form letters, third-party letters, letters attacking private individuals or businesses, or letters containing advertising. Deadline for letters is noon Thursdays. The date of publication will depend on space. Obituaries The North Coast Citizen has several options for submitting obituaries. • Basic Obituary: Includes the person’s name, age, town of residency, and information about any funeral services. No cost. • Custom Obituary: You choose the length and wording of the announcement. The cost is $75 for the first 200 words, $50 for each additional 200 words. Includes a small photo at no additional cost. • Premium Obituary: Often used by families who wish to include multiple photos with a longer announcement, or who wish to run a thank-you. Cost varies based on the length of the announcement. All obituary announcements are placed on the North Coast Citizen website at no cost.

Are you DOWNSIZING, organizing an ESTATE SALE, GARAGE SALE or FUNDRAISER? Use our classifieds to get the word out!

Cannon Beach Gazette North Coast Citizen Tillamook Headlight Herald Lincoln City News Guard Clatskanie Chief St. Helens Chronicle

503-842-7535

headlightads@countrymedia.net classifieds@orcoastnews.com

t o s n e l e i s M

CLASSIFIEDS

Cannon Beach to Nehalem

Nehalem Bay United Methodist Church 36050 10th Street, Nehalem, OR (503) 368-5612 Pastor Celeste Deveney + Sunday service 11 a.m. Food Pantry Open Friday, Saturday & Monday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday

March - October 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. November - February noon to 4 p.m. Nehalem Senior Lunches Tuesday & Thursday served at noon email: nbumcnsl2020@gmail.com

To feature your spiritual organization on this panel:

Contact Katherine at (503) 842-7535, headlightads@countrymedia.net.

COMICS

For a fresh, uncluttered start to 2024, we can help! CONFIDENTIAL DOCUMENT SHREDDING We rent paper recycling bins.

(503) 457-3089 SIGHT UNSEEN SHREDDING, LLC

Locally owned and operated Member - Tillamook Chamber of Commerce License #20-480

H22937

Nehalem

Church Services by the Sea

January 11, 2024

NORTH COAST CITIZEN | NORTHCOASTCITIZEN.COM

Celebrating the longevity of local businesses and services in Tillamook County

Now in Production... 2024 Milestones Celebrate your years in Tillamook County, share your history, and market your business or service to the community in Milestones! To congratulate you on your years in operation, display ads are discounted based on when your organization was established!

For example, if you’ve been in business for 20 years, you get 20% off! Deadline: Ad Reservations/Editorial: Jan. 19, 5pm Publication Date: Jan. 30 For more information, contact: Katherine at 503-842-7535, headlightads@countrymedia.net 1906 Second St., Tillamook, OR 97141

Citizen

Headlight Herald

North Coast

www.northcoastcitizen.com

www.tillamookheadlightherald.com

Headlight Herald

& BEE DAY 2024 Tillamook Beekeeper Assoc.

April 20-21, 2024 Brought to you by

Tillamook County Solid Waste,

Major Sponsor Sat. 9 am to 4 pm • Sun. 11 am to 4 pm Saturday, April 30 at 9the Tillamook CountyFREE Fairgrounds ADMISSION am to 4 pm at Tillamook County Fairgrounds

Sunday, May 1 11 am to 4 pm

Call 503-842-7535 or email Katherine at headlightads@countrymedia.net www.tillamookheadlightherald.com 1906 Second St., Tillamook, OR 97141

dors n e V ed! titizen n C a W 2024 North Coast

l Apri

Tillamook Beekeepers Association is Presenting

Bee Day 2022

•

FREE ADMISSION • FREE PARKING at Tillamook County Fairgrounds

Business& Service Directory Landscaping

To advertise contact Katherine Mace at 503-842-7535 or Email headlightads@countrymedia.net

Highlight of the Week

Floor Covering Astro & Odie

FREE ESTIMATES

MARMOLEUM •• LAMINATE LAMINATE FLOORS FLOORS CORK CORKFLOORING FLOORING•• BAMBOO BAMBOO RECYCLED (Polyethylene) RECYCLED (Polyethylene) CARPETS CARPETS WOOL CARPETS CARPETS •• CERAMIC/PORCELAIN WOOL CERAMIC/PORCELAINTILE TILE NATURAL STONE TILE LUXURY VINYL FLOORING Open Tuesday - Friday 10-5 • Saturday 10-4

503-368-5572

H64713 N20571

653 Manzanita Avenue • Manzanita CCB# 128946 36180 HWY 101, Manzanita • CCB#128946

Engineering

Sand & Gravel Nehalem Bay Ready Mix Mohler Sand & Gravel, LLC

503-368-5157

Call in advance for Saturday delivery • CCB #160326

H40843

20890 Foss Road, Nehalem

20 Years Experience in Tillamook County H40844

• Hot Water • Prompt Delivery • Crushed Rock • Fill Material • Rip Rap • Decorative Bounders

503-801-6016

January 11, 2024

NORTHCOASTCITIZEN.COM | NORTH COAST CITIZEN

Lady Pirates outlast Riverdale

Kennedy Fletcher completing a layup in the first half against Riverdale. WILL CHAPPELL Citizen Editor

he Neah-Kah-Nie Pirates girls’ basketball team got a league win against Riverdale High School at home on January 5, outlast-

ing the Mavericks 47-39. Kennedy Fletcher had a standout performance for the Pirates, finishing with 25 points on the night, while Payton White chipped in 8, as Neah-Kah-Nie prevailed in the back-and-forth

matchup thanks to strong free-throw shooting down the stretch. The Pirates started the game struggling with Riverdale’s full-court pressure but thanks to strong defense of their own only trailed 6-5

midway through the period and took a 7-6 lead on a Fletcher layup shortly after. The teams continued to battle back and forth for the remainder of the quarter until a four-point play by Riverdale with five seconds left gave

the Mavericks a 14-9 edge after one. Both teams’ offenses went ice cold to start the second quarter, with no points scored for the first three minutes before Fletcher hit two free throws to cut the lead to

three. Fletcher continued to carry the Pirates’ offense in the waning moments of the half with four key points from Kailyn Stinett helping to limit Neah-Kah-Nie’s deficit to 22-19 at the half. The Pirates scored five points to start the second half and took a two-point lead after two minutes. Fletcher’s strong night continued and White chipped in four points off the bench as Riverdale’s offensive struggles persisted, letting the Pirates extend their lead to 28-22 with four minutes gone in the second half. Neah-kah-Nie’s defense continued to flummox the Mavericks as White chipped in another four points in the frame, but a late Riverdale three trimmed the lead to 3227 entering the final quarter. Both teams struggled through the early minutes of the fourth offensively but Neah-Kah-Nie clung to a 35-31 lead with four minutes left to play. The Pirates extended their lead to as many as seven points in the following minutes but by the final minute of play the score stood at 42-39. Fletcher extended the lead back to two possessions with two free throws with 45 seconds left and a Maverick three on the ensuing possession rimmed out, leaving the game to end with a final score of 47-39 following four more Fletcher free throws. Neah-Kah-Nie improved to 1-1 in the Coastal Range League following the win and 7-5 overall. The lady Pirates were scheduled to return to play with a road matchup against Banks on January 9 (result unavailable at time of press) and a home game against Taft on January 12.

Pirates run away from Mavericks

Anthony Allen taking a short-range jumper after penetrating against the Riverdale defense. WILL CHAPPELL Citizen Editor

he Neah-Kah-Nie Pirates boys’ basketball team improved their

league record to 1-1 with a convincing home win against the Riverdale Mavericks on January 5. Ethan Hanson led the way for the Pirates with 20

points, while Anthony Allen chipped in 16 and Ivan Dante contributed 13 as Neah-KahNie pulled away from the Mavericks early and sailed to the 57-38 win.

Both teams attacked the rim and matched each other basket for basket in the early going until Neah-Kah-Nie started to pull away by ratcheting up defensive intensity,

building an 8-4 lead midway through the quarter. Allen led the charge in the first quarter with six of the team’s first ten points and nine total in the frame.

The Mavericks’ coach called a timeout with 2:40 left, frustrated with his team’s stalled offensive attack, but it did little to help Riverdale and the score stood at 13-7 after one. The Pirates continued their steady offensive output in the second quarter, with Hanson stepping up for six points in the early going to stretch the lead to 22-10 with four to go in the half. Riverdale’s offense continued to struggle with Dante’s imposing height inside, and though the Pirate attack slowed in the final moments of the half, they held a 29-15 advantage at the break. After the half, both offenses were anemic, as the Pirates struggled with turnovers and Riverdale shot poorly. Halfway through the third, Neah-Kah-Nie led 35-21 and Dante’s continued interior domination allowed them to maintain the lead, heading into the fourth ahead 41-27. Riverdale rattled off the first five points of the fourth until a three and free throw by Allen steadied the Pirates. The Mavericks found their offensive rhythm but Allen and Hansen responded with an offensive outburst, extending the lead to 52-35 with four minutes remaining. Neah-Kah-Nie kept its foot on the gas, with Dante chipping in four straight late in the game en route to the 57-38 final. With the win, the Pirates improved to 1-1 in the Coastal Range League and 7-4 overall, after a four-point road loss to Yamhill-Carlton on January 3. Neah-KahNie returned to action with a league matchup against Banks on January 9 (result unavailable at time of press) before a non-league game against Taft on January 12.