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Headlight Herald Home & Garden Show 2026 • 1
Sat., April 25
1-3 p.m. Safety Demos by
Tillamook County
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FREE ADMISSION FREE PARKING
Saturday, April 25 9 am to 4 pm
Sunday, April 26
at Tillamook County Fairgrounds
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Headlight Herald
Tuesday, April 21, 2026 | Vol. 138, Issue 16
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TBCC celebrates new administration and health sciences building Will Chappell Headlight Editor
W
ell over 100 faculty, students, staff, local elected officials and community members gathered at Tillamook Bay Community College on the afternoon of April 18, to celebrate the completion of the college’s new administration and health sciences building. The event also celebrated a remodeling of the college’s center for industrial technology and the dedication of the plaza between the administration and health sciences building and the college’s former main building, now dubbed the student learning and support building, as Carnahan Plaza, in celebration of former Tillamook Bay Community College (TBCC) President Jon Carnahan. Current TBCC President Paul Jarrell said that taken in total, the renovations and additions to the college’s facilities had served to create a true campus for the institution, which will also serve as a place for the TBCC Director of Facilities and Safety Jason Lawrence holds the ribbon while (left to right) former TBCC President Jon Carnahan, TBCC community to assemble. See TBCC, Page B1
Will Chappell
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Headlight Editor
illamook’s chapter of the American Association of University Women hosted a forum for candidates running in the May primary elections at Tillamook Bay Community College on April 16. Both candidates for Tillamook County commissioner position three participated, as did all three Republicans running in the primary for state house district 32 and one Democrat and one Republican vying for senate district 16.
County commissioner Jeff Spink, long-time manager of the Tillamook Motor Company, said that if elected, he would work to make himself accessible by attending coffee groups throughout the county and work through disagreements with negotiation. Spink defended a comment he made to the Headlight Herald in an interview earlier this month saying that he would take a less
emotional approach to the position than his opponent, saying that he had been referring to his military background and direct communication style. Spink proposed moving circuit courts from the county courthouse to the recently purchased ex-Bureau of Land Management (BLM) building on Third Street and said that he wanted to return the treasurer’s position to full time. Regarding immigration, Spink said that he believed people need to come to the country legally and that we need to tighten things up. Spink said that he was in favor of the SAVE Act, federal legislation that aims to add identification requirements for voters nationwide, saying that he had seen people vote multiple ballots and heard lots of stories about deceased people receiving ballots. On the economic front, Spink said that the county needed to take advantage of its coastline and tourist opportunities and try See aauw, Page B1
T
Headlight Editor
illamook County’s budget committee concluded its budget hearing process on April 15, after hearing presentations from each of the county’s department heads over three days of meetings. At the conclusion of those presentations, Finance Director Debra Jacob discussed several philosophical questions about the budgeting process with the committee. During that discussion, Jacob said that the county still faces a three-to-fivemillion-dollar-a-year gap in its budget, a problem commissioners need to address to avoid continuing draw downs on the county’s beginning fund balance. The budget hearing process began on April 7 and kicked off with Jacob giving an update on the county’s financial situation heading into the final quarter of the year, based on a March 31st summary. Jacob said that the county’s general fund was in a strong position, with $20.9 million in revenue already realized this year, while expenditures are running $1.8 million under the budgeted amount, due largely to a 10% vacancy rate at the county. It has also been a good year for timber, Jacob said, with $3.96
Will Chappell
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Headlight Editor
million in revenue already received through three quarters, more than the figure budgeted for the full year, and another payment of around a million dollars expected in quarter four. Jacob noted that the strong timber revenues are expected to continue for the next two fiscal years, before declining in fiscal year 2029. After the brief introduction, the directors of each of the county’s departments made presentations on their department’s operations and presented their budgets on the 7th and 8th, and again on the 15th. Notable requests included two new patrol deputies for the sheriff’s department, though there are currently five vacancies in that division now, a $250,000 request for transient-lodging-tax (TLT) funding to begin refurbishing the dome at the county fairgrounds and funding for two on-call medical death investigators in the district attorney’s office, to allow the current examiner to take weekends off. Director of Community Development Sarah Absher also discussed work to establish a code officer position, which will be funded by a portion of short-term rental operator fees, as well as fines levied, and See Budget, Page A8
See Home & Garden, Page B2
County budget committee wraps presentations Will Chappell
Home and Garden Show this weekend or the 37th year, the Tillamook Headlight Herald Home and Garden Show is set for this Saturday and Sunday at the Tillamook County Fairgrounds. Cosponsored by Tillamook County Solid Waste, the show will feature the Tillamook Beekeeper’s Association’s annual Bee Days celebration, a demonstration from local first responders, raffles, political candidates and a bevy of vendors helping you to get ready for the summer season. Admission is free both days, with doors open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, in the auditorium at the fairgrounds. Cosponsors Tillamook County Solid Waste will be educating attendees about changes to Oregon’s recycling laws, composting and ways to combat microplastic pollution. The beekeepers will have their demonstration hive and be hosting a raffle with a grand prize of a hand-painted beehive featuring patriotic decorations in celebration of America’s 250th birthday. Monkey Business 101 and Kilchis River Farms will be offering a wide assortment of plants to get your garden going, both ornamental and fruit-bearing. Monkey Business is planning tables with plants for $4 and $5 and will be focusing on colorful plants to help with landscaping, and berries. The nursery’s new supplier has more than 160 varieties of rhododendron, so be sure to check which are available up at the show, and check for the
Vice President of Learning and Academic Affairs Michael Weissenfluh, State Senator Suzanne Weber, Tillamook County, TBCC Foundation Executive Director Britta Lawrence, former TBCC President Ross Tomlin and TBCC President Paul Jarell watch Tillamook County Commissioner (center between Weber and Lawrence) cuts it to open the new building.
AAUW hosts candidates’ forum
Photo by Katherine Mace
The Tillamook Beekeepers’ Association will once again have their demonstration hive, pictured here in 2023, at this year’s Home and Garden Show.
IN THIS ISSUE Send us a news tip at tillamookheadlightherald.com | Your message could be the first thing our readers see! News A2-3, 8, B1-2 Opinion A4-6 Obituaries A7 Sports B1 Classifieds B3-8
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