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Citizen North Coast

Serving North Tillamook County since 1996

September 15, 2016

northcoastcitizen.com

Lions Pride... Sammy’s Place sponsors animalassisted learning; Buddy Walk

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Ariel Breazile accepts the Leo of the Year Award at a Rockaway Beach Lions Club meeting. From left: Lion Club President Ron Hemberry, Leo of the Year Honoree Ariel Breazile and Leo Chairman Don Markle.

Local teen wins Leo of the Year Award By Ann Powers

editor@northcoastcitizen.com

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t was a total surprise both a welcomed and well-deserved one. Ariel Breazile, a four-year member of the Neah-Kah-Nie High School Leos Club and president during the 2015-16 school year, was awarded Leo of the Year at a Rockaway Beach Lions Club meeting, Sept. 6. She didn’t know she would be receiving the award. Rocka-

way Lions Club member and Leos advisor Don Markle nominated Breazile and set up the meeting as a surprise – where she was given an engraved Leo of the Year medal. “I believe I was chosen because of my dedication to giving back and improving my community which I could have never done was it not for the people in my life who supported me, including the Leo’s advisor, Don Markle,” Breazile said. Markle emphasized

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Tayla Lynn Tayla Lynn is a southern girl who grew up in the heart of Tennessee, and her country bloodlines are undeniable. Her grandmother is country-music legend, Loretta Lynn, and her father, Ernie, sang and played guitar in Loretta Lynn’s band. Lynn was 4 or 5 years old the first time she remembers her ‘memaw’ taking her on stage. “I started singing as soon as I opened my mouth,” Lynn said. “As a result of nature and nurture, performing is in my blood and singing is one of the most natural and happy activities in my life.”

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New environmental rules could kill floodplain development and local livelihoods editor@northcoastcitizen.com

northcoastcitizen.com

Breazile was an obvious choice. “Under Ariel’s leadership the club grew to 40 members out of a school population of 200,” Markle said. “The Leos are a service oriented club and served the community in many ways.” Breazile conducted blood drives, recycled cans and bottles, collected glasses for Oregon Lions Sight & Hear-

onday Musical has scheduled a real treat for its kickoff event Sunday Sept. 25 in the Don Whitney Auditorium at Tillamook High School. Tayla Lynn is joining Grammy Award-winning recording artist and Producer Eric Tingstad in a show that should set the stage for a great season as Monday Musical enters it’s 22nd season of delivering quality musical acts to Tillamook. Tayla Lynn shows her country roots and chops with her Nashville style reminiscent of her grandmother, Loretta Lynn. Eric Tingstad, of the Grammy-awardwinning duo Tingstad and Rumbel brings his guitar artistry and versatility to her vocals, and together, they guarantee to bring an evening of pure pleasure to all.

Like a fish out of water

By Ann Powers

Including E-Edition

Monday Musical kicks off 22nd season By Joe Warren

othing excites us more than getting outside and enjoying our animals. With a vision to create a nature-centered living, working and respite community on the north coast of Oregon for those with special needs, organizers of Sammy’s Place, an Oregon non-profit organization, have found a perfect partner in Nehalem Bay Horse Excursions & Pony Rides in Nehalem. Riding lessons and learning have begun for several locals, and their horse trainers Jake and Richelle Newkirk. Through Sammy’s Place’s fundraising, the Oregon nonprofit has been able to offer free lessons for those with special needs and will work to expand opportunities including sponsoring a horse camp for the 2017 season. The idea is that we all learn from animals and in this case it is through horse riding lessons. Each lesson is specifically designed for the individual and their comfort level. Some are working in the stables while others are out trail riding, each, learning at their own pace to gain confidence. No matter the ability, everyone enjoys the opportunity to interact with the horses in order to

NORTH COUNTY NEWS ONLINE

Volume 21, No. 18

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he beginning of the end is how many Tillamook County officials see the impact new environmental standards will have on area farmers, businesses, residents and public entities. “I am so not a doomsday person,” Bryan Pohl, Tillamook County Community Development director, said of the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Biological Opinion (BiOp). “But, this is really the first time in my… 13-year career that I actually feel it could be doomsday.” As it’s currently written, the BiOp directs the FEMA National Floodplain Insurance Program (NFIP) to impose severe restrictions and bans on future development and redevelopment (or repair) in floodplains statewide to protect fish habitat (salmon and steelhead). In Tillamook County, communities like Nehalem, Tillamook, Pacific City and more exist within these highly restricted areas and would be severely impacted.

The Birth of BiOp “This didn’t happen through Congress getting together and saying we want to protect endangered species, so we’re going to put this stuff in NFIP” Pohl explained. “This happened from a lawsuit and a judge handing down a ruling - basically.” Pohl said litigation in both Washington (state) and Oregon dating back more than 10 years paved the way for the current BiOp released April 14, 2016. The most recent litigation occurred when the Audubon Society of Portland, and other groups on behalf of NMFS, sued FEMA NFIP in Oregon for not providing adequate protection for fish habitat. A settlement was negotiated directing NMFS to develop the biological opinion and consult with FEMA – that tasked NFIP with its implementation. A Flood of Frustrations

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Officials say if the county doesn’t adhere to the BiOp, it will be terminated from the National Flood Plain Insurance Program - which means it would be difficult for property owners to get flood insurance and the county would not receive assistance dollars to help recover from disasters, like the severe storm hitting the area last year. (File photo)

First phase of new court facility construction approved By Ann Powers

editor@northcoastcitizen.com

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ounty officials practically made history last week by launching the first phase of a long overdue $9.2 million new circuit court facilities project, according to Rachel Hagerty, general services administrator for the Tillamook County Board of Commissioners. “This has been a great, great milestone,” she said. “This has been over a decade in the making.” At a Sept. 9 special meeting, the board unanimously approved a $178,646 contract with Portland-based DLR Group Architecture & Planning for the assessment and design of a 9,750-square-foot stand-alone building that will contain all the circuit court facilities. It will be located on the southwest lawn of the existing county courthouse at 201 Laurel Ave. in Tillamook. The courthouse’s human resources, district attorney and justice court offices will be relocated into the vacated circuit court space. Hagerty said project costs are anticipated to be reimbursed by secured state grants and the sale of identified surplus county timberlands. In addition, as a part of the biennial Capital Con-

struction budget, the Oregon Legislature dedicated a 50 percent match on construction costs through the use of state bond monies. Commissioner Mark Labhart said the county is required to provide sufficient court facilities, but it hasn’t happened because of budget constraints. “The State of Oregon is willing to contribute half of the construction costs of this effort,” County Commissioner Mark Labhart said. “We can’t lose sight of that. If we don’t move forward with this project I can almost guarantee you Citizen photo/Ann Powers we will never have an opportunity County officials approve the first phase of a $9.2 million new court facilito recover that again.” ties project during a special meeting Sept. 9. A 2008 study by the Oregon Judicial Department found that pating in civil cases and… access to justice,” the Tillamook County Courthouse ranked 45th said Tillamook County Circuit Court Judge out of 48; the fourth worst court facility in the Jonathan Hill. “So I’m very excited to see it state. The current space for courtroom 108 does move forward for the whole community.” not meet state law for size and safety and counHagerty said bidding for the project’s ties are required by law to provide adequate construction phase is expected to go out this and safe court facilities. spring; the actual construction is slated to “This is something we desperately need for start June, 2017 and continue for 15 months, the safety of the public, the criminal defendants Hagerty said. that come through, the people who are partici-


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