THS Volleyball Headed to State Championships
Mooks host State Playoff Game
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Headlight Herald
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2022
TILLAMOOK, OREGON • WWW.TILLAMOOKHEADLIGHTHERALD.COM
VOL. 134, NO. 44 • $1.50
Zweifel takes swing at Alderbrook purchase P
Will Chappell Headlight Reporter
atrick Zweifel, owner of Oregon Coast Flowers, has reached terms on a deal with Dan and Coco Laviolette to purchase the Alderbrook Golf Course, contingent on Zweifel finding $1.5 million in funding to add to his own investment. Zweifel has a strong vision for the course and believes he will secure a large portion of the needed money by offering memberships and that he will be able to find a partner or partners to invest the rest. Zweifel is working with the Tillamook YMCA on offering tax-deductible memberships to the course, including lifetime memberships, as part of the fundraising effort. Alderbrook Golf Course was built in 1924 and has been closed for just over a year, after shuttering indefinitely on Halloween 2021. The property was listed for sale with an asking price of $4.9 million, marketing the opportunity for residential development in the listing. A group of concerned, local, golf enthusiasts coalesced around the desire to keep the property a
course over the next few months, with Zweifel emerging as a leader. His ownership of Oregon Coast Flowers has given Zweifel experience in the horticultural demands of a large piece of property, hosting events and growing a business. Oregon Coast Flowers operates the Hydrangea Ranch on Kilchis River Road, hosting events and shipping flowers to customers around the world. Zweifel envisions the reopened golf course as a hub for events in Tillamook. He would like to build an amphitheater into the hill on the property with a pavilion sitting at the top. This would allow the renovated facility to host weddings, graduation parties, music festivals and other events. In addition to the new event space, Zweifel has had discussions with Donna Phillips of the Rendezvous Bar & Grill and hopes for her to run the restaurant on the property. Rejuvenation of the course will be Zweifel’s top priority if he is able to bring the deal to fruition. He also mentioned lengthening the course and adding a botanical garden as potential projects to enhance the property in the future. Currently, Zweifel is working
Gary Anderson, founder of the popular Gary Anderson Open, a tournament that benefits Oregon’s deft children, hopes the Alderbrook remains a golf course, so his and other charity tournaments can move forward. Headlight file photo. to get funding lined up so that the deal can proceed in time to start work to have the course ready for an opening date in the spring. He is asking any Tillamook residents who are interested in the project to go to the Hydrangea Ranch website to take a survey and sign up for updates. He is also seeking volunteers to serve on a committee to help organize the fundraising efforts. Zweifel is passionate about the project and is willing to invest
his time and money to see it to fruition. He says that the residents of Tillamook matching that passion will be crucial to the golf course’s success, asking locals to eat at the restaurant, play golf and hold their weddings and other events at the property once it is reopened. “I want most of all to be remembered for my family, my character, and my values, but I want my signature on Alderbrook Golf Course,” Zweifel said.
Rockaway Beach City Manager resigns L
Will Chappell Headlight Reporter
uke Shepard has resigned as Rockaway Beach’s City Manager to pursue another professional opportunity, effective on November 8. Shepard had been city manager since October of 2019 and had served as director of public works prior to that. “Thank you again for the privilege of serving Rockaway Beach in many capacities over the past 15 years,” Shepard said in his resignation letter. In the letter, Shepard pointed to hiring a full-time fire chief and bringing the city’s finances onto firm ground as accomplishments in which he took particular pride. “It’s been my pleasure to work with Luke Shepard, both in his capacity as Director of Public Works and as City Manager,” Mayor Sue Wilson said. “He has proven himself time and time again with the projects he has supported for the benefit of our citizens.” “Luke Shepard has done a terrific job for the city of Rockaway Beach,” City Councilor Penny Cheek said. “I wish to thank him
Rockaway Beach City Hall. Headlight file photo for his dedication and commitment to the city.” Shepard said that he was sad that he would not be in Rockaway Beach to see the completion of community works projects that started during his tenure. He pointed to Lake Lytle Park, the Salmonberry Trail and improvements to the wayside as exciting projects for the community. Shepard wished Rockaway Beach well and said, “I continue to
be inspired and encouraged by the strong spirit of volunteerism from so many in our community.” City councilor Tom Martine had high praise for Shepard, calling him “very smart and organized.” “He has made my job as a councilor much easier,” Martine said. Shepard assured residents of Rockaway Beach that the city staff was prepared to handle the transition as he resigns. “I will ensure that our team is on
good footing for the future and that the next city manager is set up for success,” Shepard said. Wilson, Cheek and Martine all wished Shepard well going forward. “You will be missed, but the standards you have set will live on,” Wilson said. Please send any comments to headlightreporter@countrymedia. net.
Commissioners approve purchase of land for parking lot I
Will Chappell Headlight Reporter
mpromptu updates on upcoming elections and recently sent tax statements lengthened an otherwise brief meeting of the Tillamook Board of County Commissioners last Wednesday. Counselors quickly addressed their legislative agenda, approving the hire of a new data analyst for County Health and Human Services and signing off for an offer to be made to purchase a piece of land. The land parcel is owned by Mark and Debra McClaskey and is near the county courthouse. Commissioner Mary Faith Bell said that the property would be used for a new parking lot when the county is able to make future additions to their facilities at the courthouse. An annex will be added either to the south of the
courthouse or the east of the Pioneer Museum sometime around 2025. The board also appointed Marni Johnson to the Tillamook County Tourism Advisory Committee. After addressing the legislative agenda, Commissioner Erin Skaar asked Tillamook County Clerk Tassi O’Neil for an update on the election. O’Neil said that so far 5.76% of ballots have been returned in Tillamook County. She said that anybody who had not received his or her ballot by Friday should call the election office. She reminded voters that their ballots need to be dropped in an official drop box by 8 p.m. on Election Day, or postmarked by that day. Skaar then shared some information on the property tax bills that the county sent out this week. She said that the county is assessing $69 million in property taxes on 29,000 properties, from 22,000 separate mailing ad-
dresses, 51% of which are outside Tillamook County. Skaar shared that around half of those funds will go to schools, with only around 12% finding its way to the county for general services. She encouraged residents to look at their tax bill to see a complete breakdown of where their dollars go. Bell then shared a brief history of property taxes in Oregon, remarking that ballot measure 5,
passed in 1990, limited property tax increases to 3% annually. She explained that this limitation was what led county governments in the state to frequently impose levies and issue bonds. Commissioners then noted that the board meetings would be relocated to their new home next week in room 106 of the courthouse, before adjourning the meeting.
Winter weather outlook: Bundle up and take your umbrella Experts predict a wetter than normal Fall for Coast
T
Jeremy C. Ruark Country Media, Inc.
he National Weather Service’s (NWS) latest winter outlook shows a 75% chance of La Niña December through February for the Oregon Coast and the rest of the state. El Niño and the Southern Oscillation, commonly referred to as ENSO, is a periodic fluctuation in sea surface temperature (SST) and the overlying atmosphere across the equatorial Pacific Ocean. It is a defining model for weather forecasters. This would be the third consecutive year for our weather to be influenced by El Niño. Weather experts said that influence is directly related to climate change. The NWS outlook suggests that the La Niña impact will likely continue through mid-winter. NWS Climate Prediction Center (CPC) outlooks • Wetter than Normal Fall 2022 • Equal chances of wetter, drier or near normal precipitation December, January and February • Greater chance for slightly cooler temperatures than normal December, January and February The NWS outline shows equatorial sea surface temperatures (SSTs) are below average across most of the Pacific Ocean, which would favor wetter and cooler than normal conditions for the Pacific Northwest this winter. The NWS November outlook favors a greater chance of above normal precipitation with equal chances for above, near or below normal temperatures. The outlook for December through February shows a greater chance for above normal precipitation and a greater chance of below normal temperatures. The Oregon Drought Monitor shows moderate drought along the Oregon Coastline with abnormally dry to moderate drought inland and extreme drought in eastern and south east Oregon. The NWS long-range drought forecast shows conditions improving or even ending across much of Oregon and Washington through December. Forecasters said it’s too early to tell if Oregon Coast cities, such Tillamook will see snowfall this winter, but they said it’s always best to be prepared. Three weather elements, cold offshore flows, an air mass in place and moisture from the pacific, rarely come together often, according to the NWS, but when that does happen it increases the chance of snow at lower elevations in Tillamook and Lincoln counties and across the state. The NWS said under the La Niña, winter temperatures in the lower elevations of the Pacific Northwest can range from the mid 40s to low 50s-day side and from the 20s to 30s overnight. Jeremy C. Ruark may be reached at jruark@countrymedia.net