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Fall Home Improvement • 2015

2021

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Tillamook County Wellness Page 9

Headlight Herald

Headlight Herald

Citizen North Coast

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2021

TILLAMOOK, OREGON • WWW.TILLAMOOKHEADLIGHTHERALD.COM

VOL. 133, NO. 42 • $1.50

County at 32 COVID-related deaths Boosters for Moderna and Johnson & Johnson awaiting recommendations

T

Hilary Dorsey Staff Writer

illamook County Health Department reported Wednesday, Oct. 20, 16 COVID-19 cases for the weekend case count from Oct. 15-17, 36 cases for the 7-day case count, 61 cases for the 14-day case count from Oct. 3-16, and 69 cases month to date, from Oct. 1-17. The health department reports a total of 1,949 cases since March 2020. “For the 14-day case count, there was 61 from Oct. 3 to Oct. 16,” Shelby Porter, public health representative for the health center, stated during a Tillamook County Board of Commissioners meeting Oct. 20. The health department reported Thursday, Oct. 21, three additional deaths from September, that recently became available in the system. The county’s death toll is now at 32. Tillamook County’s 30th COVID-19 related death is a 51-yearold woman from Tillamook County who died on Sept. 01 at Providence

Portland Medical Center. She had underlying health conditions. Tillamook County’s 31st COVID-19 related death is a 80-year-old man from Tillamook County who died on Sept. 10 at his private residence. He had underlying health conditions. Tillamook County’s 32nd COVID-19 related death is a 38-year-old man from Tillamook County who died on Sept. 11 at Providence St. Vincent Medical Center. He had underlying health conditions. Porter said there are four confirmed outbreaks in Tillamook County, eight pending investigation and 12 under monitoring. Oregon Health Authority confirmed outbreaks as of Oct. 20, at Tillamook County Creamery Association with 21 cases and Adventist Health with a total of 24 cases. There is safe treatment available in Tillamook County, Porter added. This is monoclonal antibody therapy. “These treatments do require a provider referral after a positive

test,” Porter said. “The treatment is given through a one-time IV infusion, currently at Adventist Health Tillamook Hospital.” COVID-19 testing is available through the health center at their acute care clinic, located at 2111 8th St., from 1-5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Appointments are required. Call 503-842-3900 to make an appointment. “This is for individuals who are sick or have a close contact to someone who did test positive,” Porter said. The health department recommends individuals continue to follow the precautions: wear your mask properly over your mouth and nose, keep six feet of distance from those you do not live with or not in your immediate household, wash your hands frequently, and make a plan to get vaccinated against COVID-19 as soon as possible if you are 12 years old or older and not yet vaccinated. Regarding vaccines, for the 16

and older population, 77.14 percent have received at least one dose of the vaccine and 77.01 percent are considered fully vaccinated, Porter said. For the total population, 63.87 percent have received at least one dose and 59.62 percent are considered fully vaccinated. On Oct. 21, CDC’s advisory panel recommended booster doses of Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines for those who have already completed their vaccine series. The committee recommended the use of booster doses for both vaccines for those 18 and older for six months after a Moderna primary vaccination series and two months after a Johnson & Johnson vaccination series for those eligible. The Pfizer vaccine is now available for those who completed their dose series at least six months ago and are 65 years or older, ages 18 or older with underlying health conditions, or ages 18 or older and have a job that puts you in high risk of exposure to COVID-19.

The committee also considered a mix and match approach to booster doses. This would mean people eligible to receive any of the three booster doses could use any vaccine as their booster dose. The Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup, including Oregon, Washington, California and Nevada, will assess the recommendations next. The group met Oct. 21 and should make its recommendation in one to two days. OHA would then issue guidance regarding the administration of booster shots in Oregon. Vaccine clinics are available at the Tillamook County Fairgrounds from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays and from 1-4 p.m. Wednesdays. No appointments are required. Flu and pneumonia vaccines are also available. Flu and COVID-19 vaccines can be administered in the same day. Send comments to: headlightreporter@countrymedia.net

Rising seas could change coastal regions W

David Rupkalvis Country Media

ith climate change impacting the Earth, sea levels are beginning to rise again, and as they rise it will impact the shorelines many in Oregon and California call home. That’s the message Kim McCoy shared during a virtual meeting celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Oregon Shores Conservation Coalition. McCoy recently updated the book, Waves and Beaches, which was originally written by Willard Bascom. The book is considered the leading authority on beaches, shorelines and the impact waves and weather have on them. McCoy, a physical oceanographer, adventurer and expert on coastal wave dynamics, said the impact on the coast is directly linked to weather events far away. “Everything that happens upstream impacts what happens on the coast,” McCoy said. “What happens upstream could very easily push out millions of pounds of sediment.” For decades, Bascom was the expert when it came to coastal areas. McCoy worked under Bascom and was asked to write the third update of Waves and Beaches. McCoy said the book covers coasts worldwide, but the work began in Astoria when Bascom was hired for the Waves Project. Last year, McCoy brought the new edition of the book to Asto-

ria, going full circle. “Where Willard Bascom started studying waves was in Astoria, and here it was returning a book all these years later,” McCoy said. McCoy said as the Earth’s temperature has slowly risen, it has caused ice, both on shore and in the sea to melt. “When things melt above sea level, they raise the sea level,” McCoy said. “When it’s sea ice, it doesn’t, so it’s important what happens inland. As the Earth warms, ice not only melts and fractures, but it also melts from below because the water is warming.” As far as climate change, the ocean is the key to changing weather, McCoy said. “The ocean is the key component to climate change,” he said. “The ocean is turbulent. Turbulence is everywhere in the universe. The warming Earth is causing the rapid fluctuations in our weather patterns. You can’t separate what’s happening anywhere on Earth. It’s all connected.” One impact on the coast is the loss of ice. McCoy explained that permafrost and ice on the coast protect the coast from waves and change. As the ice disappears, waves have a greater impact on shorelines. And the changes could be devastating if something doesn’t change. “If there’s a two-degree centigrade increase in global temperature, this is what will happen,”

Rep. Suzanne Weber

McCoy said. “Miami will be underwater.” In Indonesia, rising water is putting 5 million people living in the capital city of Jakarta at risk. The risk is so severe, plans are being made to move the capital. The danger is rising waters lead to rising waves. And waves change everything they touch. “Every time a wave come into shore, it moves some sediment,” McCoy said. “Every single wave moves particles, millions of grains of sand. Every wave is unique. There’s no one wave that is repeated over time. Every single wave stirs up sediment, and that sediment goes someplace.”

The good news is, the changes are just starting. “The sea level hasn’t changed much in the last 4,000 years,” McCoy said. “It’s starting to change. In the last 20,000 years, the sea level has gone up 400 feet, but not much in the last 4,000 years. But it is rising again.” And if climate change continues to lead to a warming Earth, sea levels will begin to rise quickly. “We’re all connected, and I can’t stress enough, we need to have an understanding of what’s happening,” McCoy said. “We need to have average citizens have a sane approach to our coast.”

Christmas Basket Program spreads cheer for those in need F

Hilary Dorsey Staff Writer

or 12 years, the Tillamook Ecumenical Committee (TEC), a faith-based organization, has chaired the Christmas Basket Program. The ecumenical community of churches has combined their efforts to supply Christmas baskets and gifts for those in need. Dave Stuck, moderator of the TEC, said especially in the last couple of years, the committee knows it has been hard for families. The committee hopes to bring cheer during the holidays with the program. “It was around 250,” Stuck said of how many families were adopted during last year’s program. The applications to apply for a Christmas Basket is available now through CARE, located at 2310

1st St. in Tillamook. TEC encourages families and individuals that need a Christmas meal and gift for their family to apply. Return completed applications to CARE by Nov. 15. The Christmas Basket Program has limited funding, so applicants are helped on a first come, first served basis. “Nov. 18 will be the day people can come and select families,” Stuck said. “We’re going to hold that at Sacred Heart Parish Hall.” Contact Dave Stuck at St Alban’s Episcopal Church at 50384206192 for more information. Stuck said he will soon be sending out information to last year’s donors. People can fill out a form prior to coming to the church on Nov. 18 or fill out a form there. “The volunteer firemen I believe are planning to have a toy drive the first Saturday in December at Fred Meyer,” Stuck said. “That’s another way people can donate.” The program would not be possible without the gifts from donors, sponsors and providers. If you are interested in providing a Christmas basket to a family, con-

In this Headlight Herald file photo, volunteers ready Christmas Baskets during last year’s drive. tact Dave Stuck at 503-842-6192. The Christmas Basket Program is an established program of the TEC. The TEC is a faith-based, nonprofit organization dedicated to serving the needs of people in the community. It is composed of five area churches: St Albans Epis-

copal, St Johns United ChurchChrist, Tillamook United Methodist Church, St. Peter Lutheran Church and Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Send comments to: headlightreporter@countrymedia.net

Rep. Weber announces campaign for Oregon State Senate I

For the Herald

n a video statement on Oct. 14, State Rep. Suzanne Weber announced her candidacy for the Oregon State Senate. “I’m excited to take this next step in serving my community,” said Weber. “I hope I can count on your support like I did last year when I ran for State Representative to bring our common sense to Salem.” “There are no bigger shoes to fill in Oregon politics than those of Senator Betsy Johnson,” continued Weber. “But I will work every day to live up to her legacy as an independent, non-partisan leader here in Rural Northwest Oregon.” Johnson, who has served Senate District 16 for the last 16 years, announced the same day that she is running for governor as an independent candidate. Rep. Weber was elected to the Oregon House of Representatives in 2020 on a platform of bringing rural common sense to Salem. She served 10 years as a Tillamook city councilor, followed by 10 years as mayor of Tillamook, both non-partisan positions. In the House, she serves as vice-chair of the House Committee on Education, as well as a member of the House Committee on Housing, House Committee on Early Childhood, and House Committee on Health Care. Representative Weber’s video announcement can be found at https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=KQAMgFxVSLg


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