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Less than a month until the Tillamook County Fair

WILL CHAPPELL Citizen Editor

In just under a month, the Tillamook County Fairgrounds will transform into a hive of activity from August 6-9 for the Tillamook County Fair.

Attendees from across the county and region will be treated to a plethora of dis -

plays, pari-mutuel horse racing, a standout concert lineup and, of course, Pig n’ Ford races as the fair celebrates 100 years of Pig n’ Ford as its theme. The fair will kick off at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, August 6, and have hours of 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. each day through Saturday, August 9. During the day, fairgoers

can wander the fair’s exhibit halls, where a host of local businesses and organizations, including the Headlight Herald, will have decorated booths. There will also be displays featuring local agricultural products from area granges, 4H and FFA animal competitions, and live entertainment on the fair’s central courtyard stage.

For those looking for a thrill, Rainier Amusements will be offering carnival style rides (tickets must be purchased in addition to fair entry) and every day will see pari-mutuel horse racing in the grandstand arena throughout the afternoon.

Independence Day the Tillamook way

kicked off at 1 p.m. The parade featured entries from a wide assortment of local businesses from Flamingo Jim’s to Pronto Pup and was preceded by a flyover from the United States Airforce. Manzanita’s parade rolled down Laneda Avenue at one and saw a wide array of lo-

cal groups, including the Manzanita Police Department, neighborhood associations and Tillamook Peoples’ Utility District participate. The day was capped off at dusk with Rockaway Beach’s annual fireworks show.

TLT reform push ends in senate committee

WILL CHAPPELL Citizen Editor

A week after passing through the Oregon House of Representatives, a bill seeking to change the state’s transient lodging tax allocation formula reached the end of the line when it was not voted on in the Senate Finance and Revenue Committee on June 24.

The bill was cosponsored by Representative Cyrus Javadi and Senator Suzanne Weber, along with Representative Jules Walters, and Javadi said that he plans to bring a similar piece of legislation in the 2026 short session.

Javadi’s attempts to reform the spending restrictions of House Bill 2267 that passed in 2003 and established the current regime for TLT spending were a focus throughout the long session. Javadi and leaders in counties that receive high levels of tourism argued that the current restrictions requiring 70% of funds from the TLT go towards tourism promotion or facilities leave jurisdictions without sufficient revenues to meet the cost of serving visitors, especially as it relates to emergency services. Initially, Javadi introduced two bills, one proposing a change in the percentage of funds restricted for tourism use from 70% to 50% and the other proposing a change to the definitions of tourism-related spending to add law enforcement and tourism facility maintenance in the allowed expenditures for the restricted funds.

Both of those proposals fizzled

County commissioners approve budget

WILL CHAPPELL Citizen Editor

Tillamook County’s Board of Commissioners approved a budget for fiscal year 2026 at their meeting on June 25.

In the wake of the failure to gain voter approval for an increase to the county’s transient lodging tax (TLT) and the death of a bill pushing TLT reform in Salem, the general fund budget will be balanced with two $1-million transfers, one from the Parks Department and one from the county’s revenue stabilization fund.

Before approving the budget, all three county commissioners stressed that work to find new revenue streams and minimize expenses is ongoing, as the current situation is not sustainable.

Conversations around the county’s tenuous budget situation kicked in to high gear last summer after the spring approval of a habitat conservation plan for western Oregon state forests cut the county’s timber revenues substantially. Along with statutorily limited increases to property taxes, that revenue cut created a projected deficit of to $2 million to $3.6 million in each of the next five fiscal years starting in 2025.

In special meetings of the budget committee last summer and fall, suggestions for cutting expenses and generating new revenues were brainstormed, including raising the county’s TLT, instituting utility fees on electric bills and shortening employee work weeks. Eventually, the committee plugged

Julie and Jason Maxfield envisioned a store where shoppers

have a farmers’ market experience year-round. Their dream also aligned with a community need. Rockaway Beach is defined as a “food desert.” Food deserts, according to the US Department of Agriculture, are geographic areas where residents’ access to affordable, healthy food options (especially fresh fruits and vegetables) is restricted or nonexistent due to the absence of grocery stores within convenient traveling distance.

“We’ve lived in Rockaway Beach for four years, and have noticed a lack of fresh, local options,” Julie said. “We saw the lines at the farmers’ market and so it seemed like a need.”

As their brainstorming progressed, the opportunity to enter the 2024 Tillamook Economic Development Council’s “LevelUp” mini pitch competition arose. The competition, in its second season, was an opportunity for Tillamook County small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs to pitch their business plans. Those pitches were evaluated by a panel of judges, who awarded cash prizes to

support the businesses.

The Maxfields’ proposal for Green Coast Market was a finalist in the first round of the competition, winning an award of $250 and proceeding to the finals, where it placed third and received a $2,500 grant.

“The timing was perfect as we were still imagining the business idea. It forced us to get our business plan and presentation together,” Julie said. “It was fun, and we met of lot of other entrepreneurs that have stayed connected to our business since then.”

Green Coast Market, located at 117 S. Miller Street in Rockaway Beach, opened on Valentine’s Day. Their store’s selection is a reflection of the farmers’ market vibe they seek to embody with a tagline of fresh and local, specialty foods.

Local products from Brickyard Farms, Angora Peak Granola, Brittney Bakes (previous LevelUp competitor), Josi’s Farms, Fawcett Creek Farms, Bennett milk, Zweifel eggs, delicious cheeses from three different small creameries, Heritage Family Farms, Captain’s Corner, Oregon Seaweed, Sweet Begonias (previous LevelUp com-

petitor) can be found at the market as well as local craft cider, wine and beer.

“This is our local food,” Maxfield, said. “We have a great, small-town vibe and want to connect people with

our food scene. We have produce, meat, dairy and other fresh items. If there’s stuff that people are looking for, we try and find out if we can carry that product.”

Since opening, Green

Coast Market has hosted evenings filled with product sampling, knife sharpening and artist showcases.

Green Coast Market is open Thursday – Monday, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. (extended

hours during summer months). For upcoming events, new products announcements and features, and hour changes, follow Green Coast Market on social media.

New benches installed at Rockaway Nature Preserve

A younger guest expressed it perfectly by saying, “It’s like we’re in Jurassic Park.”

The second most frequented destination in Rockaway Beach is the Nature Preserve, known locally as The Big Cedar.

To reach this stunning Western Red Cedar, visitors can walk along a boardwalk that stretches more than half

a mile in either direction.

As people venture deep into the ancient forest, the atmosphere grows serene, prompting hushed conversations.

However, for older guests, there wasn’t a resting spot until they reached the halfway mark or found themselves at the Big Cedar.

All of this changed with the installation of two spe-

cially crafted benches by the Rockaway Public Works.

Along the boardwalk, there are multiple turnouts designed to facilitate wheelchair navigation.

Nevertheless, placing a bench in those areas would hinder wheelchair users from passing through.

Collaborating with the bench maker Pilot Rock, a distinctive design was developed that allowed the bench to extend beyond the edge. This initiative aimed to provide a place for people to relax and appreciate the wetland surroundings while maintaining sufficient space for passage.

Rockaway Public Works successfully set up the benches, enhancing the walkway with an additional accessibility feature.

COLPAC hosts Mass Timber 101

WILL CHAPPELL

CITIZEN EDITOR

As part of an ongoing effort to increase awareness and use of mass timber products, the Columbia-Pacific Development District hosted a webinar for northwest Oregon leaders on June 18.

In the meeting, Jonathan Heppner, a principal at Lever Architecture, which has been a pioneer in the use of mass timber products over the past decade, described the history, production process and uses for mass timber.

The meeting began with Lydia Ivanovic, ColumbiaPacific Development District (COLPAC) programs manager, welcoming attendees and discussing the purpose of the meeting. Ivanovic explained

that COLPAC had received grants from Oregon’s Department of Land Conservation and Development to help expand the use of manufactured wood products throughout their coverage area in northwest Oregon. This process began with a group of COLPAC employees learning about the products last winter and will continue with work on amending codes and permitting processes, while the purpose of the June event was to educate local partners. Heppner then began his presentation, saying that there was a busy mass timber business in Oregon that had been growing over the past decade, with his firm working on more than 15 projects using mass timber in that time frame.

Mass timber can refer to any number of products that are produced by using an adhesive to join small pieces of wood together to create large, structural pieces that can be used in construction, according to Heppner. Heppner said that wood was a good product to build with because it had a strength to weight ratio comparable to steel, can flex significantly and, in the case of mass timber products, is as fire resistant as concrete.

Heppner said that cross laminated timber, the first mass timber product, was originally developed in the 1920s, but with a large supply of old growth timber available, did not have an economic use case until much later.

Beyond its advantageous physical characteristics,

mass timber is also easier to construct with, according to Heppner, as it is prefabricated in production facilities allowing easy assembly on construction sites. Mass timber products can also be fabricated from smaller diameter trees or byproducts from the milling process that would otherwise go to waste, making it attractive to forest product companies.

Most mass timber products in Oregon are made from Douglas fir, Heppner said, but pine and spruce are also being incorporated at scale and any wood product can be used.

However, the relatively recent shift towards the products means that there is currently a shortage of production facilities, making

the products comparatively expensive, Heppner said. Owing to this, mass timber products are cost effective in larger buildings—those over three stories—while traditional wood framing makes more economic sense for smaller projects. Heppner said that as the industry continues to grow, he envisions products that can be used to build smaller buildings like IKEA furniture in very little time and at a lower cost. Heppner said that mass timber could be used for buildings up to 18 stories tall, though was mostly used in projects 12 stories or shorter, and could also be used for specific applications, such as flooring or façade decoration, in projects

constructed primarily from other materials.

The field is also quickly evolving, with an acoustic research lab set to come online soon at the University of Oregon to test new products, as well as a fire testing lab and new facility from Timberlab, a company that works to develop new manufactured wood products, under development elsewhere in Oregon. Heppner said that he also expected modular building products to come online soon and that local governments could encourage its use by allowing more exposed material in their codes, but that it was already relatively easy to use mass timber products in projects.

Tillamook Bay Watershed Council ramping up

WILL CHAPPELL

CITIZEN EDITOR

Following a reformation in 2023, the Tillamook Bay Watershed Council has a new coordinator and logo and is in the final stages of developing a new website and strategic action plan.

Mike Wendel, the council’s new coordinator, hosted an open house on the plan at Bay City city hall on June 24, where he said he was first working to build relationships with local stakeholders and the community before moving into projects.

“This is just a time where, I just got hired and we’re back,” Wendel said. “We’re trying to get feedback on us, get this project going, get this organization back in the fold.” The Tillamook Bay Watershed Council (TBWC) was initially formed in 1998 to protect and enhance the waterways in the watershed of Tillamook Bay. Watershed councils are overseen and funded by the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB), which withdrew its recognition and support of the Tillamook council in 2020 because of concerns over its management. OWEB’s withdrawal led Tillamook County to withdraw its recognition from the group, followed shortly after by the group’s

dissolution.

In 2021, a new group came together to revive the moribund council, forming a new board and receiving a two-year, interim recognition from the county to resume its work. The new board, led by Chair Haakon Smith, was able to take the necessary steps to receive recognition and funding from OWEB, which awarded a $166,000 council capacity grant to the Tillamook Watershed Council in July 2023. Tillamook’s board of county commissioners also recognized the group in August of that year.

After regaining recognition, the board contracted with Bierly & Associates

and HydroLogic strategies to develop a ten-year strategic action plan for the organization. The draft plan describes the rivers under the council’s jurisdiction, past accomplishments, restoration partners and potential future projects.

Wendel arrived at the beginning of June, having just completed a master’s degree in public policy from Oregon State University. Wendel, who previously worked for a watershed council in Washington County, said that he has long recreated in Tillamook County and was excited by the opportunity to work to preserve it.

“Being able to work in

the watershed where I like to recreate and then communicate with all these folks, that’s been a wonderful experience so far,” Wendel said. In his early days on the job, Wendel said that he is focusing on outreach to learn what locals want from their watershed council and building relationships with partners and landowners.

Once the strategic action plan is finalized, Wendel, whose position is funded by an OWEB grant, will start to identify specific projects to enhance fish passage before seeking grant funding to support them. Those projects will include replacing aging

and inadequate culverts with newer, larger examples or bridges, planting vegetation in riparian areas and creating habitat conducive to spawning by strategically placing large woody debris in area rivers to make pools.

The council already has a new logo and Wendel said he is working to finalize a new website, which will soon be online at tillamookbaywc.org. Wendel is also working to organize the Wild and Scenic Film Festival at the Coliseum Theater in Tillamook, set for August 23 and 24, which will feature documentary nature films, including at least one local entry, and serve as a fundraiser for the council.

the hole in the 2025 budget by accounting for unfilled positions at the county, backfilling projects with American Rescue Plan Act dollars and allowing a drop in the general fund’s beginning balance. To address future

budgets, commissioners decided to seek an increase to the county’s TLT, putting a measure on the May ballot to increase the tax from 10% to 14%. This would have yielded an additional $1 million annually, but the measure failed by 12 votes. Even if the increase had passed, commissioners were still looking at further action to fully bridge the budget gap, with a financial analyst telling commissioners in April that they

and died in the general government committee early in the session, but Javadi continued his quest and in early May, Democratic Representative Jules Walters revived the discussion, dedicating one of her five priority bills to redefining the allowable

would need to choose two of three options between instituting a utility fee, strategically slowing hiring and redesigning the general fund to shift permissible costs to other funds.

Commissioners did not act on any of those proposals prior to the budget adoption, instead opting for the transfers from the parks department and the county’s revenue stabilization fund to give them more time to weigh their

uses of restricted TLT funds. Walters’s bill proposed switching the allocation formula to allow counties unrestricted use of 60% of TLT funds and passed a vote on the house floor with 31 yes votes and 23 nays on June 19. However, when the bill arrived in the senate last week, it stalled out at a June 24 Finance and Revenue Committee hearing when Committee Chair Mark Meek declined to hold a vote on the bill. Despite the result, Javadi

options.

Commissioner Paul Fournier said that the commissioners plan to backfill the money transferred from the parks fund with restricted TLT dollars, as all that department’s projects qualify as tourist-related under state statute. The revenue stabilization fund had a balance of $2.035 million, and Commissioner Erin Skaar said that the remainder would be used to bridge gaps in next year’s

sounded a positive note, highlighting that this was the most extensive conversation that had occurred around the tax since its institution and saying he would try to reform the system again in next year’s session. “We made it further than it has been in twenty years,” Javadi said. “I’m not done; I’ll be back in the short session.” Javadi said that he plans to start next year’s bill in the senate and that he is bullish on his prospects of success.

budget, as needed. Skaar also said that she expected to hold frequent budget committee meetings and that there was still a lot of work to be done to address the budget situation, as county leaders evaluated revenue-generating and cost-cutting proposals.

Skaar said that she expects the board to adopt at least one supplemental budget during the upcoming fiscal year once they have decided on a path forward.

After the horse races end, the Model T Pig n’ Ford Association will take over the arena with their centennial competition. Get there early to find a good seat

At the meeting, commissioners also accepted a Travel Oregon grant for $150,000 to help with design and engineering for a redesign of the entrance at Barview Jetty County Campground. The funds will be used to complete a site assessment and create schematic and design plans for the project, including permitting, by November 2026. The estimated total cost of the project is $300,000.

so you don’t miss a second of the action.

Following the Pig n’ Ford races, the arena will play host to the fair’s annual concert series, with Chase Matthew performing on Wednesday, Fleetwood Mac cover band Taken by the Sky playing on Wednesday and Waylon Wyatt taking the stage on Friday.

Closing out the week of fair fun will be Saturday night’s annual demolition derby. Check the Headlight Herald in the coming weeks for more stories about the fair and be sure to visit tillamookfair. com for more information and to purchase tickets.

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Commission expands rules where you can ride your e-bike

JEREMY C. RUARK Country Media, inc.

Electric-assist bicycles (e-bikes) are now allowed on trails where other bicycles are allowed unless specifically prohibited at Oregon State Parks. E-bikes are also allowed on the ocean shore on wet sand except where specifically restricted. Previously, e-bikes were only allowed on trails that were at least 8 feet wide. Signs will be posted on trails and areas where ebikes are not allowed, and the trails and areas will be listed on the Oregon State Parks website.

Where e-bikes are not allowed:

• On the dry sand along the ocean shore, including soft sand, dunes and everything above the natural high-tide line

• On the wet sand below the natural high-tide line in snowy plover habitat on the ocean shore during nesting season (March 15 to Sept. 15).

• Elijah Bristow State Park (all trails)

• Willamette Mission State Park (all equestrian trails and the Vision Trail)

• Clyde Holliday State Recreation Site (Riverside Trail)

• Emigrant Springs State Natural Area (Lewis and Clark Trail)

When considering e-bike use on the ocean shore, the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) Commission reviewed input from the agency’s rule advisory committee, public comments, and OPRD staff.

“Based on that input, the Commission determined that allowing e-bikes on the wet sand presents minimal environmental impact while supporting broader access to recreation,”

OPRD Policy Coordinator Robert Ellison said. “At the same time, the Commission maintained important protections. Riding e-bikes on dry sand remains prohibited to safeguard sensitive species and habitats, such as nesting snowy plovers and fragile dune vegetation. The Commission also adopted rules that prohibit

marine protected areas, ensuring continued protection of Oregon’s coastal resources.”

Prior to the Commission’s decision, OPRD conducted a public involvement process about the e-bikes, which generated 165 comments. with 123 expressing concerns primarily about speed differences and safety hazards on narrow trails.

“Many advocated for segregated access based on recreation type, while 38 comments supported the proposed language, emphasizing increased accessibility and minimal trail impact compared to traditional bicycles, according to Ellison.

“Overall, public feedback highlights key concerns around safety, maintaining quiet natural recreation spaces, and preventing potential environmental harm, while support centers on improved accessibility, consistent regulations, and the belief that e-assisted bikes, when operated responsibly, function similarly to traditional bicycles,” he said.

Ellison added that the OPRD will monitor the use of the e-bikes along the beaches and in the state parks to make sure they are safe and fit environmentally.

“We are concentrating enforcement efforts on rider behavior, particularly when that behavior poses a public safety concern, threatens Oregon’s natural or cultural resources, or negatively affects wildlife within our parks and along the ocean shore,” he said. “To support responsible use, OPRD will also focus on public education. This includes outreach through social media, informational flyers at select trailheads, and appropriate signage in areas where ebike access is prohibited as well as contact with visitors when necessary. Our goal is to promote safe, respectful recreation while protecting the natural integrity of Oregon’s parks and beaches.”

The updated rules also include stronger and clearer language on safety, particularly operation around

dren and equestrians, according to Ellison.

“We ask that all riders ride responsibly, stay on designated trails and yield to others at Oregon State Parks and the ocean shore,” Stub Stewart State Park Ranger Aaroin Raines said. “Please keep operating speeds low as people might not be aware that riders are approaching. These are multi-use pathways where they will share the trail with many other users.”

The rules apply to Class 1, 2 and 3 e-bikes as defined by the Oregon State Legislature. Anything not included in those e-bike classifications is considered a motor vehicle and is not allowed on trails.

E-bike classification:

Class 1: Provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling and ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches the speed of 20 mph.

Class 2: May be propelled by its motor without a rider pedaling and ceases to provide assistance once the bicycle reaches a speed of 20 mph.

Class 3: Provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling, ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches the speed of 28 mph, and is equipped with a speedometer.

While education remains the primary focus for rule enforcement at Oregon State Parks, enforcement rangers do have the authority to issue citations, which carry fines starting at $100 for significant or repeated violations of park rules.

Safety tips for sharing the path:

• Yield to pedestrians, horses and slower users

• Announce yourself when passing (“On your left”)

• Ride at a safe, controlled speed, especially on corners or in high-use areas

• Slow down near pets, children and equestrians

• Stay on designated trails: do not ride off-trail

• Be prepared to stop: ebikes are heavier and often faster than regular bikes so increase your following distance to allow for more time to stop and slow

It is easy to forget about the health of our skin, but it is important that we don’t. Even living on the cloudy coast, we must protect our skin each time we go outside by wearing sunscreen.

In addition to wearing sunscreen, it is best to check your skin at least one time per month for any new marks or changes. If you have any questions or concerns about your skin, Dr. Dale Westrom and Dove Rainbow, PA, provide dermatological services on Wednesdays from 9AM-5PM.

To remain prepared for an emergency such as a wildfire, Tillamook PUD follows a Wildfire Mitigation Plan. This plan is a guide to how Tillamook PUD mitigates, prepares and responds to wildfire situations within the Tillamook PUD service territory. For more information and to review the Wildfire Mitigation Plan, visit www.tpud.org/safety/wildfire-safety/.

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Summer arrives with Dairy Parade and Rodeo