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February 9, 2023
Volume 30, No. 3
Hope Chest Thrift stores surpass $2 million in donations Will Chappell
N
Reporter
orth County’s Hope Chest Thrift Shops have now donated more than $2 million to a variety of local charitable organizations since their founding over 20 years ago. Currently operating at two locations in Rockaway Beach and Nehalem, the charity has focused its donations on helping Tillamook county’s senior and homeless populations. “There are literally hundreds of lives that have been made brighter,” said Melody Ayers, Adventist Health Tillamook’s Special Projects leader. Adventist Health Tillamook has been a long-time recipient of funds from Tillamook County Charities, the formal name of the nonprofit that runs the shops. The first Hope Chest Thrift Shop opened in late 1998 at a location in Wheeler. Four families came together to open the store after retiring to the area. “They all retired around the same time with double everything,” Terry Walhood, current chair of Tillamook County Charities’ board said. By early 1999, the group was ready to make its first donation, and selected Adventist Health Tillamook’s hospice program as their recipient. That donation began a relationship that continues today. Ayers said that the group’s continued support helps to pay for a variety of different needs across the hospice program, generally supple-
menting the budget. She specifically noted that the hospice has been able to provide bed sheets for hospital beds to patients thanks to support from Hope Chest. Their funding has also provided vital support for Adventist’s Wellspring senior day care service. Wellspring offers caretakers an opportunity to have a break by providing a safe environment for seniors with fun activities. The weekly offering was paused during the pandemic but has resumed and has a registered nurse on hand at all times. Hope Chest’s donations have allowed that program to offer a reduced cost of just $30. Terry Walhood in the Hope Chest Too Thrift Shop in Rockaway Beach. “When I stop and think of the amazing Tillamook, other frequent recipThe shops are staffed entirely and faithful generosity over the ients are Faith in Action, Meals by a group of around 40 volunteers years, I’m moved,” Ayers said, for Seniors in Rockaway Beach, and are open Wednesday through “I’m so deeply appreciative that a the North County Food Bank, St. Saturday in Nehalem, and Thursgroup like this could do so much in Alban’s Episcopal Church, the First day through Saturday in Rockaway a rural community.” Christian Church in Tillamook Beach. Walhood said that from that and North County Methodist in The group was recognized as the initial $1,000 donation, Hope Chest Nehalem. Outstanding Volunteer Group in the has now grown to donate between Faith in Action helps to provide State of Oregon in 2006. $7,000 and $11,000 monthly. in-home care for seniors with Walhood became involved in the Their board decides each advanced medical needs, while the shops after retiring to Rockaway month on how to disburse those other organizations all help to adBeach in 2001 and became chair of funds. In addition to Adventist dress hunger in Tillamook County. the board in 2009.
County approves AUD development in unincorporated communities Will Chappell
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Reporter
illamook County Commissioners approved the development of accessory dwelling units in unincorporated communities in the county on January 30, 2023. Commissioners said that they hoped the move would help to increase the available housing stock in the county and alleviate the severe shortage. Community Development Director Sarah Absher gave a lengthy presentation on the proposed ordinance amendment to the commissioners and public before commissioners unanimously approved the amendment. With the move, properties in unincorporated communities in the county can now add one accessory dwelling unit (ADU) that meets certain criteria. The ADU may be either 75% of the size of the primary residence on the property by square footage, or 800 square feet, whichever is smaller. The ADU may not be used as a short-term rental or other form of transient lodging. However, an owner can build an ADU for their habitation to facilitate turning their primary residence into transient lodging. An ADU may be built as a freestanding structure or as an addition to the primary residence, but must contain all the facilities necessary for habitation, including bedroom,
bathroom and kitchen. ADUs will be required to be on a permanent foundation with any wheels removed and must be connected to either public water and sewer, or a septic system. The ordinance requires that there be one off-street parking spot available for the ADU and that it meet the setback criteria for the area. Neah-Kah-Nie, Mohler, Barview/Twin Rocks/Watseco, Oceanside, Netarts, Siskeyville, Beaver, Hebo, Cloverdale, Pacific City and Woods, and Neskowin are all now eligible for ADUs. But neither Tierra Del Mar nor Cape Meares is because they have not been designated as “urbanizable.” Absher said that state law only allowed for ADU permitting in unincorporated communities that had been designated “urbanizable,” but that that might change in the future. All three of the commissioners noted that they would be supportive of approving ADUs in all areas of the county if state law were to allow it. Please send any comments to headlightreporter@countrymedia.net.
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She said that although there has been a proliferation of thrift shops in the area, Hope Chest has endured because of its charitable mission. “That’s where I think we’ve been more successful long term is because we aren’t for profit,” Walhood said, “everything is turned right back to the community.” Please send any comments to headlightreporter@countrymedia. net.
County assigns $125K for Homeless Response System Will Chappell
T
Reporter
he Tillamook County Board of Commissioners approved a $125,000 contract to begin work on a coordinated homeless services response system as part of a state pilot program. The contract with X4 Health is the first step in a five-year project to create a system that will better connect homeless citizens with services across the county. Funding to start the program was allocated by state legislators in House Bill 4123 last year. The bill selected eight counties from across the state to receive $1 million in funding over two years to set up offices to coordinate homeless services in their counties. Tillamook’s office will be housed in the Community Action Resource Enterprises (CARE) building in Tillamook and all seven cities in the county will be participating. Commissioner Erin Skaar said that Tillamook had worked with X4 Health in 2021 on soliciting public feedback on the homelessness crisis in the county. That
outreach identified a coordinated response system as the county’s top need. Skaar said that that partnership and work had been a factor in Tillamook being named one of the recipients of funding in House Bill 4123. A public commenter had expressed concern about the contract being awarded to a company outside the county when she felt entities inside the county could best handle the task. Skaar explained that the county was required by law to develop a five-year strategic plan for creating the new office. She said that the county does not have the staff to do this and had gone through a public bidding process, to which X4 was the only applicant. In addition to the work with X4, this year will also see two advisory committees begin meeting to work on plans for the new office. One will comprise representatives from each of the seven cities in the county, while the other will have representatives from community organizations like CARE and Tides of Change.
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Skaar also reassured the commenter that there would be stakeholder groups to gather feedback from law enforcement, schools, public health officials and others. The commissioners also updated an agreement governing the emergency warning system for Barney Reservoir. Located in Washington County, the Barney Reservoir is contained by the E.S. Mills dam, which holds its waters back from flowing into the Trask River and Tillamook County. To warn of dam failures or overflows, a warning system was installed by the reservoir’s ownership commission in 1998. The update to the agreement approved by the commissioners removed language regarding the installation of that system, since it was completed twenty years ago. Emergency Management Director Randy Thorpe told the commissioners that the warning system is tested every Monday and that the dam containing the reservoir is regularly checked. Commissioners then autho-
“Switching to 1st Security Bank was one of the best financial decisions we’ve made.” Supriya Jayadev, Executive Director, Clallam Mosaic
rized County Attorney Joel Stevens to sign participation forms for new settlement in cases against opioid companies. Stevens said that the county participated in the suits against the drug companies as litigants and that this authorization would enable him to confirm participation in the latest settlement against four companies. The state government receives the funds and oversees their distribution, with 55% going directly to counties and localities that were litigants in the suit, while the remainder stays with the state. The county already receives $56,000 annually from the settlements. Stevens was unsure how much that figure would increase as it will depend on the participation of other litigants. Skaar said that the funds are used in partnership with Opioid Use Response (OUR) Tillamook to help those struggling with opioid use disorder in the community. Please send any comments to headlightreporter@countrymedia.net.