INSIDE
INSIDE
Paul Wyntergreen retiring
Closing the gaps: Grad rates up to all-time high in Oregon
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Pages A8-9
Headlight Herald
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2020
VOL. 133, NO. 7 • $1
TILLAMOOK, OREGON • WWW.TILLAMOOKHEADLIGHTHERALD.COM
Neah-Kah-Nie Middle School addresses threat Hilary Dorsey headlightreporter@countrymedia.net
A large landslide blocked Bayocean Road this past week. Tillamook County Public Works responded, but not before citizens acted to partly clear the lanes with shovels and a truck. Trask River Road was blocked by high water and required significant attention from road crews. A number of other streets in Tillamook and around the county were affected by high water.
Cody Mann/Headlight Herald
Neah-Kah-Nie Middle School Principal Lori Dilbeck announced in a parent letter Thursday, Feb. 6, that a middle school student allegedly made a serious threat to the school. A threat assessment team, including law enforcement, school counselor, psychologist and school administrator, met to determine next steps. The team is following a best-practice model for accessing the possible threat and following district policy. The parent letter said the school will continue to monitor the situation. Law enforcement and the Department of Human Services have been involved since the first report of the situation and will continue to be involved. Neah-Kah-Nie School District Superintendent Paul Erlebach said
he believes the threat was made in October, and the district recently found out about it. The threat made was that the student was going to ‘shoot up the school.’ The threat was not made to a specific student. Erlebach said the student is not currently attending school and it depends on the investigation whether the student will be able to return. The method the district is using in the investigation is called Threat Assessment Protocol. Erlebach said staff went through training offered by PACE, which works to keep Oregon students safe and reduce risks. According to PACE, the Threat Assessment Protocol consists of ongoing information shared between law enforcement and
n See THREAT, Page A3
A glance at school district performance in Tillamook County Cody Mann headlightnews@countrymedia.net Recently released numbers showed the statewide graduation rate for the class of 2018-2019 was 80 percent, the highest on record for Oregon. At 88 percent average, Tillamook County topped those who outperformed the state, along with Clatsop, Columbia and Washington counties.
Test scores released this past fall showed school performance on reading, writing and math in Oregon. The scores showed just 39 percent of students in grades three through eight are succeeding with math and 53 percent could read and write to expectations. The state scores are the worst seen since the Smarter Balanced exams were adopted five years ago, with declines in every grade level
and most demographic groups. Statewide scores were reportedly affected by large numbers of high school students who did not participate, leaving some question about the reliability of the test results. Middle school test scores in the state were notably low, with lowincome and white students declining the most. Third and fourth graders had the smallest yearly declines. The Smarter Balanced exams
measure college and career readiness. College professors, teachers, curriculum experts and employers were consulted in creating the tests with a focus on the skills needed to succeed in higher education and the workforce. The tests were designed to measure whether students have the skills they need to be on track for college and careers. The state uses them to judge school performance. They
were vetted by college professors, teachers, curriculum experts and employers, who said they focus on the skills that U.S. students need to be successful in higher education and the workplace. A review of test scores in Tillamook, Neah-Kah-Nie and Nestucca school districts shows similarities
n See SCHOOLS, Page A8
ALICE training: it could save lives Cody Mann headlightnews@countrymedia.net In dangerous situations where seconds count, training could be a lifesaver. Organizations across the nation and right here in Tillamook are using ALICE (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter and Evacuate) training to prepare for violent attacks. A training session for county employees was held at the Tillamook County Courthouse on Tuesday, Feb. 4. This past fall, Tillamook Police Department arranged to host a local ALICE training session for employees of Tillamook and Nestucca school districts, Tillamook Fire District, Tillamook County Sheriff’s Office, Near Space Corporation, and City of Tillamook as well as private
and public sector employees from outside the area. It had been some time since a training was held in the region. Tillamook Police Detective Nick
Troxel said ALICE training provides the necessary skills for anyone who might be caught in a violent encounter such as an active shooting. The training teaches people that there are options in how people respond to a violence, armed or otherwise, wherever an incident occurs. It could be as simple as knowing an escape route or as serious as standing up to fight. The courthouse training session was held for the county and state employees who work there. Troxel was joined by Sheriff’s Office Deputies Mike Reeves and Jacob Howitt, who attended the fall training session. Troxel said county staff wanted ALICE training in the courthouse, having had that opportunity two years prior. More than 40 county staff members participated between the morning and afternoon
Photos: Hilary Dorsey/Headlight Herald
groups and will carry the lessons back to their departments. The training involves classroomstyle learning as well as live scenarios. After studying the principles of ALICE, the scenarios pitted the
students against a mock shooter carrying a Nerf blaster that is fully automatic with fair range. The scenarios progressed from lockdowns
n See ALICE, Page A2
Your Art’s Desire: A celebration of art, wine and chocolate Hilary Dorsey headlightreporter@countrymedia.net Your Art’s Desire, a celebration of art, wine and chocolate, took place Feb. 8 at Kiawanda Community Center. This annual event benefits the Community Arts Project’s Art Literacy Program. Community Arts Project Board Chair Carol Kearns believes Your Art’s Desire has been going on for 10 years. It began as a festival at the fairgrounds and later became Your Art’s Desire.
INDEX Classified Ads....................... B4-6 Crossword Puzzle.....................B3 Fenceposts...............................B3 Letters................................... A4-5 Obituaries................................ A6 Opinions............................... A4-5 Sports................................ A12-13
This event showcases Oregon Coast artists with an evening gala, art show and sale. A portion of the event’s art sale goes towards supporting art literacy for over 500 students in Tillamook County. The lessons are taught once a month for each individual class throughout the school year. “It provides art lessons to Garibaldi Grade School and Nestucca Valley Elementary School,” Kearns said. The Community Arts Project’s Art Literacy program was originally funded by a three-year grant from a local foundation. The project initiated the Art Literacy program at Nestucca Valley Elementary School in 2002. Since the summer of 1995, the Community Art’s Project has presented a children’s art camp, Slug Soup, a week-long summer day camp taught by professional artists. The evening included an exhibit and sale of local professional art, a student art display, live music, local wine, beer and sparkling cider. Appetizers were from Pelican Brewing, The Oar House Bar & Grill and The Riverhouse Nestucca. Cookies and other desserts were made by volunteers, as well as from Roseanna’s
Artwork for sale.
Café. “It is just a really special evening,” Kearns said. Some of the silent auction items were: Headlands Coastal Lodge & Spa, Tidepools Spa & Wellness, Pelican Brewing, a four-night stay at an Oceanside home, Lucky Beach Boutique, Sokol Blosser Winery, Chehalem Tasting Room, Neskowin Chamber Music concert tickets, Tillamook Association of Performing Arts, Schooner Restaurant, Five Rivers Coffee Roasters, Lincoln City Glass Center, Grateful Bread, The Riverhouse Nestucca, A Simple Balance, Acupuncture, a tea basket, date night, painting, ceramics, and metal. Music this year was provided by Brenna Sage, a pianist. Participating artists: Marie
n See DESIRE, Page A3
People enjoying art and conversation.
Various artwork for sale.
Photos: Hilary Dorsey/Headlight Herald