Serving North Tillamook County since 1996
North Coast
northcoastcitizen.com
Trail parties slated through July for OCT
Citizen July 18, 2019
Ceramic Sale
T
he Oregon Coast Trail (OCT) starts at the mouth of the Columbia River and spans the Oregon coastline to California, covering 382 miles and crossing 28 coastal towns, including the City of Manzanita. The trail follows the beach for the most part and also crosses state parks and public lands. There are portions of the trail – gaps – that force hikers to walk along the narrow shoulder of US Highway 101. One such gap occurs between the south Neahkahnie Trailhead and Manzanita where hikers follow Highway 101 to Nehalem Road. With the new acquisition of the Headwaters property, the Lower Nehalem Trust will provide access for new sections of the Oregon Coast Trail, parts of an addition – the Neahkahnie-Manzanita Trail – that will take take hikers off Highway 101, making things safer and more enjoyable. Shane Sjogren and LNCT volunteers joined Trail Keeper of Oregon (TKO) recently to work on the addition. Work continues with TKO hosting Trail Parties through July. If you are interested in joining in the fun and work on the trail, sign up to volunteer for ant of the dates listed below. 7/19, 9am-3:30pm 7/20, 9am-3:30pm 7/26, 9am-3:30pm 7/27, 9am-3:30pm
$1 Volume 25, No. 14
NBFR Chief to retire, new leader chosen Hilary Dorsey
T
The Hoffman Clay Studio’s annual ceramic sale will be held on July 27 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Hoffman Center Wonder Garden in Manzanita. Volunteers in the community will have a wide variety of unique hand-crafted ceramics for sale – pots, vases, mugs, and more. There will be hundreds of tasty items at great prices. The ceramic sale is Hoffman’s annual fundraiser that helps pay for equipment, repairs, and to keep fees at the Hoffman Clay Studio low.
headlightreporter @countrymedia.net
he Nehalem Bay Fire & Rescue District (NBFRD) Board of Directors announced on Tuesday, July 9 that long-time NBFRD Fire Chief Perry Sherbaugh will retire. Division Chief Chris Beswick has been officially chosen as his replacement. Chief Sherbaugh has served as fire chief since the District’s first year of operation in 2009. He began his career as a volunteer firefighter with the City of Manzanita in 1987 and hired full time in 1994 as a police officer and fire chief for the city. In 1998, he was promoted to public safety chief for both fire and police. During his tenure as NBFRD Fire Chief, Sherbaugh was instrumental in modernizing the District’s fleet, building two new fire stations, and professionalizing service delivery through enhanced fire and medical training for both volunteers and for full-time employees. “We are going to miss the chief. He is a well-known and trusted
n See NBFR, Page 3
Rockaway’s new mayor Wilson talks future plans, events and goals M
ayor Sue Wilson was appointed mayor of Rockaway Beach at the May 8 city council meeting by a vote of the council. Mayor Wilson has plans for the small town, which include keeping the feel of a small town. Since she was appointed mayor, she has learned a lot and plans to do more as her time as
7
29467 70001 8
mayor. Wilson moved to Rockaway Beach in 2005. In 2007, she entered politics. She was elected to the council and ultimately ran for reelection four years later for the next term. She was subsequently voted president of the council, which is the person who steps up to lead the meeting when the mayor is absent. This helped Wilson step into the role of mayor. “There is a learning curve,” said Wilson. “I’m learning more and more every day.” New Rockaway Beach Mayor Sue Wilson rides in the annual Rockaway Beach Parade. She has big goals for the beach town she There are just took over as it’s top administrator. always two sides to everywill be up for reelection with signage in the near “We think we manone story, says in November 2020. The future. age our resources well. Wilson. She likes to look mayor before had finished There is a concern There is always room for for the reasoning behind about half of her term of children dashing out improvement no matter people’s opinions and before Wilson took over. into the street and parkwhere you live or what decisions. If a council Wilson mentions some ing in general. Parking you do,” said Wilson. member abstains from events coming up in the in Rockaway Beach is The council passed an voting, she always asks town. There will be the limited. The town has ordinance in 2016, indithem why. kite festival at Rockaone parking lot which cating that no one would Wilson says that she way Beach Wayside in can’t be accessed by be able to request usage acts as a referee at times. August. It is a chamber vehicles coming from of the Wayside three She can’t use her perof commerce sponsored the south. Wilson’s hope weekends of the year. sonal opinions to make event and the city will be for the parking lot is for These holidays are Labor decisions. She has to 100 percent behind it. people to be able to park Day, Memorial Day, and make decisions for the One of the city’s major for an hour or so, enjoy the Fourth of July. people. She has to remain “We want to give neutral. The only time the concerns is the Wayside’s the beach, and leave so parking. People park others can find a parkpeople a place to be,” mayor is allowed to vote RV’s and trailers and ing space. The city isn’t said Wilson. is if there is a tie. Wilson think it is an appropriable to manufacture any People go to Rockahasn’t had to do a swing ate place to park. Wilson more parking because the way Beach for the Fourth vote yet. says they are going to be space for it isn’t availof July from the north The mayor position dealing with this issue able. and south. The train from
Garibaldi this year was packed. Wilson thinks the train ride was a great idea because people didn’t have to worry about the parking situation and could even stay on the train to watch fireworks if they wished. At the end of her time as mayor, Wilson wants to believe that she made a difference. One of her major goals is the completion of the Nature Preserve Trail. The Walkway just had their grand opening on June 15. A grant from the Department of Land Conservancy and Development paid for a deck to be built around the giant Western Red Cedar, which helps protect the tree and its roots. Working with the department heads is Wilson’s favorite part about being the mayor. She likes being on the ground floor on making decisions. She meets with the City Manager the week before a meeting so that everything will be ready for the next meeting. The next election for mayor is in November 2020. Wilson isn’t sure if she will reelect or not. She owns a business in the town and is just beginning a new adventure with her daughter: a waffle food truck that will serve different variations of waffles. She will be serving these at the Tillamook County Fair this year.