THH112019

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INSIDE

INSIDE

Tree lighting and parade pictures

From an outgoing commissioner: Thank you, citizens

Pages A11

Pages A4

Headlight Herald

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2019

TILLAMOOK, OREGON • WWW.TILLAMOOKHEADLIGHTHERALD.COM

VOL. 132, NO. 52 • $1.00

Tillamook man charged with murder A

uthorities said a man was found dead after an assault was reported in Tillamook. At around 5:35 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 7, Tillamook Police Department officers responded to a residence in the 2600 block of Sixth Street in Tillamook on a report of an assault. Officers found a dead man inside the home and determined that a suspect had fled on foot. Multiple law enforcement agencies converged on the area, finding the suspect in the vicinity of Eighth Street and Stillwell Avenue. He was arrested without further incident and taken to the Tillamook County Jail, according to a report from the Tillamook County Sheriff’s Office. The dead man was identified as 43-year-old Jeffery A. Carr Jr. of Tillamook. The suspect was identified as Michael Joseph Blaser Jr., 35, of Tillamook. Blaser was held at the Tillamook County Jail on the charges of second-degree murder and first-degree assault. Jail records listed his bail at $50,000. Court documents said police responded to a stabbing report to find Carr dead in the residence. Witnesses told police they saw Blaser stab Carr in the chest with a large

The suspect was identified as Michael Joseph Blaser Jr., 35, of Tillamook. Photo: Tillamook County Sheriff’s Office

kitchen knife, estimated to have been 12- to 16-inches long, according to the court documents. The cause of death has not been confirmed by authorities at this time. An investigation is ongoing. There was a heavy law enforcement presence at the scene the morning of the death. Members of the Tillamook

There was a heavy law enforcement presence at the scene after a fatal assault was discovered. Cody Mann/Headlight Herald

County Major Crimes Team responded to the residence to assist. The Major Crimes Team is

Recall against State Rep. Mitchell fails A

Hilary Dorsey headlightreporter@ countrymedia.net

recall effort against an Astoria-based congresswoman has fallen flat. Timber Unity announced Wednesday, Dec. 4, that the effort to recall State Rep. Tiffiny Mitchell (D-Astoria) from her elected position representing District 32 in the Oregon House of Representatives failed to gather the required number of signatures to force a recall election. The effort to recall Mitchelll was

INDEX Classified Ads....................... B4-8 Crossword Puzzle.....................B3 Fenceposts...............................B3 Letters...................................... A4 Obituaries................................ A6 Opinions............................... A4-5 Sports..................................... A10

launched on Sept. 6, in response to Mitchell’s votes in support of House Bill 2020’s cap and trade taxes, among other issues. Supporters of the recall had up to 90 days to collect 4,883 signatures needed to force a recall election. The signatures were due by Dec. 4. “Up here on the North Coast, we were shocked to learn how Rep. Tiffiny Mitchell voted against her constituents,” the recall campaign’s chief petitioner, Darren Mead, said on Timber Unity’s social media account. “She hasn’t been elected more than a year yet proved she will put Portland’s agenda over our working-class families and small businesses,” Mead said. “We are not ‘well-connected’ people, and we responded in one of the only ways we knew how.” Mitchell responded by email to a Headlight Herald request for comment on the recall’s failure. In her

comprised of members from the Tillamook County Sheriff’s Office, Tillamook Police Department, Or-

egon State Police, Rockaway Beach Police Department and the Manzanita Department of Public Safety.

Salmon fishing banned on Wilson River due to die-off F

Courtesy Photo

email, she said she was relieved that recall effort had ended, adding that she is pleased to serve the people of her district in the work she was sent to Salem to do. “In preparation for the 2020 short session, I am working on several concepts designed to help working people and to increase access to primary care in rural areas like ours. I look forward to securing those wins for our district and the state,” Mitchell said in the email. Mitchell will be hosting a series of constituent listening sessions in January. The Tillamook listening session is set for 10 a.m. to noon Sunday, Jan. 5, at Tillamook Bay Community College in room 214.

ishing for Chinook is banned for the rest of December on the river from the Blind Slough to Jordan Creek. More than 200 salmon were found dead just this week. A press released from the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife (ODFW) said upstream water levels are low, causing the salmon to stay further downstream. That is helping spread a parasite believed to be responsible for the die-off. The river upstream of Jordan Creek is already closed to salmon angling by permanent rule. In response to reports from the public of dead, pre-spawned adult fall Chinook, ODFW surveyed the lower river earlier this week, finding at least 200 dead adult Chinook. ODFW said evidence of scavenging and deeper holes with limited visibility likely means the number of mortalities is higher than observed. Examination of Chinook carcasses by ODFW Fish Health staff confirmed the presence of

cryptobia. ODFW said the closure is necessary to protect remaining fall Chinook adults to allow them to reach spawning grounds, according to Robert Bradley, district fish biologist for ODFW’s North Coast Watershed District. “The fall Chinook run is below average to begin with this year, so this substantial loss of fish could affect recruitment of fish for future years,” Bradley said. In addition, current river conditions are expected to continue for at least a week, which is likely to contribute to further loss of potential Chinook spawners from the parasite. Although cryptobia is present in other basins, no substantial mortalities have been observed in other rivers on the north coast to date. Angling for steelhead is unaffected by this change and remains open under permanent regulations. For more information about North Coast fisheries, including regulation updates, visit ODFW’s online fishing reports at www. myodfw.com.

Police request assistance with poached elk case P

olice requested assistance to find who is responsible for the unlawful killing and wasting of a bull elk and a cow elk in Tillamook County. The Fish and Wildlife Division of Oregon State Police (OSP) issued a statement on Thursday, Dec. 5, asking for the public’s help regarding the unlawful killing and wasting of a 4x5 bull elk and a cow elk in Tillamook County. OSP said troopers were dispatched to a report of a dead bull elk the day prior to releasing the statement. The dead bull elk was located around three miles up Kansas Creek Road in an area known as Hembre Ridge between the Wilson and Trask Rivers. The bull elk was killed using a rifle and left to waste with no meat removed, according to police. Further investigation led to the discovery of a deceased cow elk nearby. Neither elk was reported to be salvageable, and it appeared both elk had been shot within the past few days. OSP is asking anyone who was in the area or anyone who may have information

on who is responsible to call the TIP line at 1-800-4527888, or *OSP (677) and refer information to Trooper Charles Reeder. Information can also be sent by email to TIP@state.or.us. Report Wildlife and Habitat Law Violators The TIP program offers preference point rewards for information leading to an arrest or issuance of a citation for the unlawful take/possession or waste of big game mammals. Preference Point Rewards: * 5 Points-Bighorn Sheep * 5 Points-Rocky Mountain Goat * 5 Points-Moose * 5 Points-Wolf * 4 Points-Elk * 4 Points-Deer * 4 Points-Antelope * 4 Points-Bear * 4 Points-Cougar Or the Oregon Hunters Association TIP reward fund also offers cash rewards for information leading to an arrest or issuance of a citation for the unlawful take/possession or waste of Bighorn Sheep, Rocky Mountain Goat, Moose, Elk, Deer, An-

n See ELK, Page A3


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