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Tillamook earns playin game into playoffs
Coastal Eats Special Section
Sports A10-12
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Headlight Herald
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2019
There goes the wapiti ...
Statewide plastic bag ban effective January E
Hilary Dorsey headlightreporter@ countrymedia.net
ffective January 1, 2020, single-use plastic bags will no longer be an option for retailers and restaurants in the state of Oregon. During the last legislative session, the Oregon Legislature passed the “Sustainable Shopping Initiative” banning single use plastic bags by retail outlets and restaurants. This new law was supported by Oregon senators, representatives, Tillamook County Commissioners, Safeway, and Fred Meyer, as well as other local small businesses and restaurants in Tillamook County. “This is a very important step and I’m glad the state is taking this action,” said David McCall, from the Master Recyclers in Tillamook. In April, Tillamook County Commissioners passed a resolution noting, “Plastic waste degrades into smaller and smaller micro-particles that carry chemical toxins, much of which finds its way into the ocean. Eight million tons of plastic enter marine waters every year.” According to McCall, plastic bags have a six to 12-minute life span and create lots of problems. Banning bags is an important active step. Included in the ban are single use check out bags at grocery and other retail stores, including farmers markets, and single use carry out bags at restaurants. Not included in the ban are: bags provided for produce, nuts, grain, greeting cards, and small hardware items; bags for unwrapped prepared food or bakery goods; bags containing frozen meat or fish, flowers, or other items to address dampness or
n See PLASTIC, Page A4
INDEX Classified Ads....................... B4-6 Crossword Puzzle.....................B3 Fenceposts...............................B3 Letters...................................... A5 Obituaries................................ A6 Opinions.................................. A5 Sports................................ A10-12
VOL. 132, NO. 46 • $1.00
TILLAMOOK, OREGON • WWW.TILLAMOOKHEADLIGHTHERALD.COM
Rapid rise in youth vaping W
Elk are abundant in Tillamook County and bulls are active this time of year. Photos courtesy of Paul Hughes shared by the Manzanita Visitors Center.
Area elk abundant M
anzanita Visitors Center shared on social media these photos by Paul Hughes of an elk herd on a fall morning. The elk is the largest cervid in Oregon. These heavy-bodied, deer-like mammals have narrow faces tapering to a naked nose pad; relatively small, pointed ears; a heavily maned neck; a back slightly humped at the shoulders, a contrasting rump patch; and a small tail. Adult females, their current offspring, and their female offspring of the previous year, form herds that tend to remain within relatively small
and distinct areas. Leadership of these herds usually is provided by an older female with an offspring, but other females with offspring assume leadership duties at times. Male elk, especially the larger ones, tend to be solitary most of the year; however, during May and June when antler growth is rapid, males, including larger ones, sometimes form herds. The antlers become polished in July, at which time activity increases as males com-
n See ELK, Page A4
Staff report
hile overall use of marijuana among Oregon youth has remained flat, the primary way they are using the substance – vaping – has dramatically increased, an Oregon Health Authority (OHA) analysis has found. This finding adds to evidence that vaping is subjecting many more youths to addiction. New data show one in four Oregon 11th graders reporting vaping a nicotine product, with youth use of e-cigarettes like Juul increasing nearly 80 percent between 2017 and 2019. Marijuana use changed dramatically as well, according to the data, with youth shifting from smoking marijuana to vaping. Youth vaping of marijuana increased 295 percent — from 11 percent to 44 percent among 11th-graders using marijuana — between 2017 and 2019, even as 11th-grade overall marijuana use stayed constant at 20 percent. The data come from Oregon Healthy Teens (OHT), a survey of middle- and highschool students that OHA administers every two years. “This is alarming,” said a press release from Dr. Dean Sidelinger, health officer and state epidemiologist at the OHA Public Health Division. “It confirms what we’ve long known: vaping is putting a new generation at risk for addiction. These products can get young people started on using nicotine and marijuana, and it is easy to get hooked.” OHT and the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, a survey the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention annually administers in partnership with states, both found that nicotine vaping products are most popular among children and young adults. Twenty percent of 11th-grade students and 13 percent of young adults, ages 18 to 24, use nicotine ecigarettes versus just 3 percent of adults age 25 and older. About half of Oregon high school students who currently use e-cigarettes report they never smoked conventional cigarettes – not even one time. In Oregon, youth vaping overlaps with use of conventional tobacco and flavored tobacco products, the OHT analysis showed. More than half of Oregon eighth- and 11th-graders who use tobacco use flavored tobacco. Roughly half of all youth who currently use conventional tobacco products started with vape products. Nearly two in five Oregon 11th-grade vape
n See VAPING, Page A6
Sheriff discusses recent vehicle thefts Cody Mann headlightnews@countrymedia.net
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pair of Tillamook men who were accused of stealing two trucks are among a number of recently reported vehicle thefts in the county. One suspect was arrested by authorities and the other turned himself in. A press release from Tillamook County Sheriff’s Office said deputies were dispatched to a residence in the 36000 block of Big Trout Road on Thursday, Oct. 17, after Washington County Sheriff’s Office requested assistance regarding a stolen vehicle investigation that originated in Forest Grove. Two stolen vehicles were reported – a 2019 Chevy Silverado and a 2004 Chevy Service Truck. One had a GPS tracking device that provided the vehicle’s current location. Authorities followed the GPS coordinates to the Big Trout Road residence and located the Silverado parked in the driveway. The keys to the vehicle were allegedly found in the possession of Tanner L. Turner, 20, of Tillamook. Turner was arrested and taken to the Tillamook County Jail, charged with post-prison supervision violation and fraudulent use of a credit card (counterfeit/forgery) and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. During the investigation another suspect was identified as Jesse D. Merrill, 25, of Tillamook.
On Friday, Oct. 18, Merrill turned himself in at the Tillamook County Sheriff’s Office and was charged with a post-prison supervision violation, second-degree criminal trespass (unauthorized entry of a motor vehicle), first-degree theft, and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. The investigation is ongoing and there may be additional suspects as well as additional victims. Tillamook County Sheriff Jim Horton was pleased with the arrests, saying the case strongly impacted some local businesses. He said deputies and detectives have had been working for some time on the labor-intensive investigations of these cases. Horton said he understands the hardship that businesses and individuals experience when thefts of this nature occur, and the Sheriff’s Office staff is committed to con-
ducting a complete and thorough investigation so offenders who perpetrate these crimes are held accountable for their actions. “With regard to this recent event, the matter continues to be under investigation, so we are limited as to how much information can be released as this time,” Horton said. “We plan to release additional information to the public on this case as soon as we are able.” Noting that in many cases criminal investigations take weeks, months or sometimes years to complete, Horton acknowledged the frustration felt by victims who are seeking a prompt resolution. He said criminal investigations are not always so straightforward and have significant complexities. “It is not uncommon for the public to have critical information related to an investigation which
‘It is not uncommon
for the public to have critical information related to an inves-
tigation which could expedite the process
and could identify key
evidence or witnesses,’ ~ Tillamook County
Sheriff Jim Horton
could expedite the process and could identify key evidence or witnesses,” Horton said. “There is inherently some reluctance on the part of the public to forward information for fear of retaliation or retribution from those suspected to be involved in a criminal event.” Horton said without all of the necessary information available, investigators must track down the missing elements, corroborate information, find witnesses and locate critical pieces of evidence. The time-consuming process can slow important investigations. The sheriff encouraged the public to contact deputies and detectives when they have information regarding criminal activity. He said on many occasions, his staff will take information on an anonymous basis and communication could be on a confidential basis. However, every circumstance is a bit different. “Based on my experience as a deputy, detective and detective sergeant, the public typically has information that investigators may not, which could lead to an immediate resolution to a criminal investigation,” Horton said. “Members of the public may not know how critical these pieces of information may be to a criminal case,” he said. “Our ultimate goal is the reduction of crime, resolution to criminal cases and to enhance the safety in all of our communities.”