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Merry Christmas
Headlight Herald
Tuesday, December 24, 2024 | Vol. 136, Issue 52
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www.TillamookHeadlightHerald.com
Tillamook council selects interim city manager WILL CHAPPELL Headlight Editor
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illamook City Council selected Kevin Perkins to serve as the city’s interim manager beginning in the new year and continuing until an applicant is selected to fill the role on a permanent basis. The council also passed the first
reading of an ordinance that would establish a procedure to levy fees on utility bills to support the city’s police department, although councilors were not generally supportive of the idea, and it looked unlikely to progress. Several citizens as well as Councilor Sylvia Schriber also complained about issues being caused by homeless residents of the city and the council scheduled a
kickoff meeting for the permanent city manager recruitment process for December 30. Perkins was tapped for the conditional offer at the end of a long meeting, which included an executive session for interviews with Perkins, David Clyne and David Benson. Perkins most recently served as the assistant city manager in
Monmouth, OR, before which he was the assistant city administrator in Lafayette, OR and Benton County’s board of commissioners’ administrative supervisor. Councilors unanimously voted to make a conditional offer of employment to Perkins at a wage of $56.48 per hour, with the role expected to last the first four months of 2025. The proposal to establish a
Shop with a Cop
State parks to offer guided First Days Hikes
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See HIKES, Page A3
See COUNCIL, Page A3
‘Kaylan from the Y’ announces resignation
Jeremy C. Ruark Country Media, Inc.
hether you prefer a sunset hike along the coast or a paved wooded trail inside city limits, First Day Hikes has a hike for you on New Year’s Day, Wednesday Jan. 1. Rangers and volunteers will lead 37 guided First Day Hikes at 30 parks around the state with distances ranging from a quarter-mile stroll to a 5-mile trek, according to the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD). Hikes are free, and the $5 day-use parking fee is waived on that day at the state parks that charge for parking. America’s State Parks sponsors the First Day Hikes program nationwide to encourage everyone to start the year outside and connect with nature. The OPRD has participated since 2012. “First Day Hikes has become a fun tradition for both visitors and staff on New Year’s Day. Rangers and volunteers get a chance to share park history, geology, wildlife and plants, and visitors get to experience an adventure with friends and family to start the new year,” ORPD Directpr Lisa Sumption said. OPRD Public Information Officer Stefanie Knowlton said the day hikes both mentally and physically are beneficial for those who participated. Research shows that getting outside in nature offers a wide range of physical and mental health benefits ranging from reducing stress and boosting immunity to improving your mood,” Knowlton said. “Any way you look at it, getting outdoors is a good way to start the new year.” She added that the OSPRD has included accessibility information
methodology to assess a fee to citizens’ utility bills to help support the city’s police department was brought before council by outgoing City Manager Nathan George. In a memo to council detailing the proposal, George said that he was bringing the idea before council
Photo by Joe Warren
Law enforcement officers from across the county and 50 local children descended on the Tillamook Fred Meyer on the morning of December 21, for the county’s 20th annual Shop with a Cop Event. After a breakfast provided by Fred Meyer, the youngsters paired with an officer and selected up to $200 worth of presents from the store, with funds coming from donations and a community fundraiser earlier in the month. Officers from the Tillamook County Sheriff’s Office, Tillamook Police Department, Manzanita Police Department, Oregon State Police, the United States Forest Service and United States Coast Guard participated in the event. Staff from TLC Fibre Federal Credit Union and the Tillamook County Child Welfare helped greet families and wrap gifts. Shop with a Cop events originally started in 1978 in Las Vegas, Nevada, as a partnership between the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police and Kmart, before quickly expanding nationwide and has helped more than 1,200 kids in Tillamook County in the past two decades. The program’s purpose is to help children who might have had stressful or traumatic experiences involving law enforcement see officers in a different light and foster trust between the kids and law enforcement. More Shop with a Cop photos on page B2.
Recovery house to open in Tillamook I
ron Tribe Network and Tillamook Family Counseling Center staff hosted an open house at a soon-to-open recovery house on 2nd Street in downtown Tillamook on December 18. Purchased with funds made available by the state government, the house will provide five bedrooms to people in recovery as they work to build a stable foundation for a new future. “This isn’t a program; this is just a safe place to live where they have the opportunity to do what they need to do to get on track and be successful and get back to selfsustainability and break the cycle,” said Iron Tribe Network Director of Operations Meli Rose. The house is expected to welPhoto by Will Chappell come its first residents on January The exterior of the soon-to-open recovery house operated by Iron Tribe 1, with rent for single bedrooms Network and owned by Tillamook Family Counseling Center on 2nd between $500 and $650 monthly Street. and an agreement to stay clean and sober, verified by weekly drug the same model. the rent. Tenants cannot be registests. Both Bower and Rose are in tered sex offenders or convicted Residents of the house will be recovery and lived in recovery arsonists. required to assign chores and host housing during their early days Shawn Bower from Iron Tribe weekly house meetings to discuss of sobriety and said the supportsaid that the group required resiany issues that might arise amongst dents to be engaged in a recovery ive and safe environment was them. Residents will interview program but allowed them flexibili- an invaluable resource as they perspective tenants and vote on ty on what form that took. “There’s worked to rebuild their lives. “It’s whom to welcome when rooms a lot of forms of recovery,” Bower not always alcohol and drugs and become available, and one will be said. “Some people do it in health crime,” Bower said, “we’re trying designated the house manager and and fitness, lots of people do it faith to recover our humanness, and this receive discounted rent. being a platform that people can do based.” The house will be open to indiIron Tribe Network was founded viduals, couples and families with in 2009 and operates 34 houses See HOUSE, Page A3 children, with utilities included in across eight Oregon counties using
he Tillamook YMCA announced that Kaylan Sisco, its CEO and Executive Director since 2015, will be stepping down from his role, effective January 31, 2025. Sisco has led the organization since 2015, leaving behind a legacy of transformative growth, financial stability and community impact. During his tenure, Sisco spearheaded numerous initiatives that strengthened the YMCA’s presence and mission in Tillamook County. Among his notable achievements: • Acquisition of the Pastega Activity Center: Under Sisco’s leadership, the YMCA preserved the cherished Tillamook Lanes, transforming it into a hub for youth programs and community gatherings. This project was made possible through long-term pledged support from the Pastega Family Foundation and the Robert Riggert Family Foundation. • Innovative Community Partnerships: Collaborations with local organizations, such as the Tillamook County Community Health Centers, enabled the YMCA to meet critical community needs, including launching donation hubs and resource hotlines during the COVID-19 pandemic. • Youth Program Expansion: Sisco secured significant investments like the $200,000 Hampton Lumber endowment, which helped reduce barriers for families to access youth sports and wellness programs as well as teaming up with Eric Sappington to provide youth art services through the Court 4 program at the YMCA. “I am incredibly proud of what we have accomplished together at the Tillamook YMCA,” Sisco said. “This organization is a vital cornerstone of our community, and it has been an honor to serve as its leader. While moving on was a difficult decision for me and my family, I look forward to the next chapter in my career, I will always cherish my time with the YMCA and the incredible team that made these successes possible. I would also like to thank the entire community for the love and support you have shown my family; Emilie, KJ, Finn and Nolan have loved being part of Tillamook.” The Board of Directors expressed its gratitude for Sisco’s dedicated service. “The Tillamook YMCA family is sad to hear we’ll See YMCA, Page A3
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