THH112019

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INSIDE

INSIDE

The Schooner donates $25,000 to Oregon Food Bank

Civil Air Patrol dines out, promotes cadets

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Headlight Herald

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2020

TILLAMOOK, OREGON • WWW.TILLAMOOKHEADLIGHTHERALD.COM

VOL. 133, NO. 3 • $1.00

McCormick Loop Road crash kills woman A

The driver was killed after colliding with a trailer on a stopped tractor.

County approves Facebook cable in Tierra Del Mar Hilary Dorsey headlightreporter@countrymedia.net

T

he Tillamook County Board of Commissioners voted Thursday, Jan. 9, 2-1 to uphold the Tillamook County Planning Commission’s similar use determination and decision to approve the installation of the Jupiter Cable System. This was the second hearing the board held to discuss an appeal requested by numerous citizens of Tierra Del Mar. Chairman David Yamamoto and Commissioner Bill Baertlein voted yes, while Commissioner Mary Faith Bell voted no. Citizens of Tierra Del Mar are now exploring options for an appeal to Land Use Board of Appeals. They have been fighting this project for a year. “The 2-1 vote by the Tillamook Board of Commissioners was a clear signal that the board is will-

Cody Mann/Headlight Herald

Bill Baertlein.

Tillamook woman died after crashing into what authorities described as a feed trailer. The crash occurred at around 6:45 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 8 on McCormick Loop Road in the Tillamook area. According to a report from Tillamook County Sheriff’s Office (TCSO), 43-year-old Jorge Zuniga-Figeroa was driving a farm tractor towing a trailer southbound on McCormick Loop Road and was stopped waiting for northbound traffic to pass so that he could turn left into a farm. It was reported to be dark and lightly raining as a 2009 Ford Focus driven by Cristina Ellis, 36, of Tillamook was also southbound on McCormick Loop Road. As she approached the stopped tractor she rear-ended

David Yamamoto.

the trailer, according to TCSO. Ellis was pronounced dead at the scene. A year-old child was a rear passenger in the car. TCSO said the child was properly restrained in a child safety seat and was transported to Tillamook Regional Medical Center Emergency Room with suspected minor injuries. A dog was also in the vehicle and died from its injuries. Zuniga-Figeroa was reportedly uninjured. No determination of fault has been made by authorities. The investigation is ongoing. TCSO was assisted by Tillamook Police Department, Tillamook Fire Department, Adventist Health Ambulance, Oregon State Police Reconstruction Unit, Tillamook County Road Department and Pioneer Veterinary Hospital.

Mary Faith Bell.

ing to put the commercial interests of one property owner above the livability, safety and character of the Tierra Del Mar community,” Lynnae Ruttledge, an appellant and citizen of Tierra Del Mar, said in a statement she provided to the Headlight Herald. “Without dispute, the decision by the board is precedentsetting.” Lynnae said reflected in the written and oral testimony submitted throughout the process, the proposed project by Facebook/Edge Cable is ill-advised, inappropriate and unsuitable for a densely developed oceanfront residential lot. “The Tierra Del Mar community is disheartened but undaunted,” Lynnae said. “In consultation with community partners, we are considering out options for a possible appeal to the Land Use Board of Appeals.”

n See CABLE, Page A3

Tillamook County Courthouse.

Photos: Cody Mann/Headlight Herald

Family of girl killed, boy missing at Falcon Cove create GoFundMe page

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he family of the three who were swept out to sea at Falcon Cove on Saturday, Jan. 11, created a GoFundMe page, re-

INDEX Classified Ads....................... B4-6 Crossword Puzzle.....................B3 Fenceposts...............................B3 Letters................................... A4-5 Obituaries............................. A6-7 Opinions............................... A4-5

questing support to help the Stiles family with funeral expenses. The page said 47-year-old Jeremy Stiles, 7-year-old Lola Stiles and 4-year-old William Stiles were walking on a beach trail when a sneaker wave creeped up and pulled them out to sea. “Lola was pronounced dead at the hospital, William’s body has not yet been recovered and Jeremy is recovering from hypothermia at Seaside Hospital,” the GoFundMe page said. “The Stiles/Romaine families want to thank everyone for their thoughts and prayers and especially the support of the first responders and Coast Guard during this horrific tragedy for our family.” Emergency services responded to the Falcon Cove area, near the

county line of Clatsop County and Tillamook County, at 12:38 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 11, for three people that had been swept into the ocean. Preliminary investigation revealed an adult man was holding two children, a 7-year-old girl and a 4-year-old boy, on the shore and they were all swept into the ocean by a wave. According to authorities, a police officer arrived to find the adult man struggling to get out of the ocean and a girl further out in the ocean. The officer went into the ocean and was able to get the girl and bring her to shore. She was transported by Medix Ambulance to Providence Seaside Hospital (PSH). The adult man was also taken by ambulance to PSH. The 4-year-old boy has not yet been located. The United States Coast Guard sent helicopters to aid in the search, but the search had to be suspended at sunset. The young girl was pronounced deceased at PSH. Cannon Beach Fire Department, Cannon Beach Police Department and Manzanita Police Department all assisted on scene. The officer that entered the ocean is from the Manzanita Police Department. You can make donations at https://www.gofundme.com/f/ stiles-family-support.

The driver reportedly swerved and corrected, then went over the shoulder. Photo: Tillamook County Sheriff’s Office

Cloverdale man dies in Whiskey Creek Road crash A

Cloverdale man was killed when he drove off the road in the Netarts area. Tillamook County Sheriff’s Office reported that 41-year-old Jarrod W. Christensen of Cloverdale was driving a 1995 Jeep Wrangler at around 3:40 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 12, at around mile 3.4 on Whiskey Creek Road. Christensen was going 40-45 mph when he swerved into the northbound lane, corrected and went off the southbound shoulder into a ditch, according to the report. The Jeep traveled for approximately 150 feet before going over the embankment and down a ravine, where it struck a tree and rolled, coming to rest on its roof approximately 50 feet off the roadway. Christensen died at the scene. The Sheriff’s Office said his next of kin have been notified. A dog,

possibly a husky, was also in the vehicle and was last seen running from the area. There were unconfirmed reports on social media that the dog was later found. An investigation is ongoing. The Sheriff’s Office said alcohol, failure to wear a seatbelt, and weather may have been contributing factors to the crash. Tillamook County Sheriff’s Office was assisted on scene by Netarts-Oceanside Fire, Adventist Health Ambulance, Oregon State Police Reconstruction Unit, and Tillamook 911. Two other fatal crashes have occurred recently in Tillamook County. On Jan. 8 on McCormick Loop Road a Tillamook woman died when she crashed into what authorities described as a feed trailer. On Dec. 29, a Tillamook woman died after she drove off the road and hit a tree north of Beaver.


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