Tillamook County Wellness
FD Heros
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Headlight Herald
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2021
TILLAMOOK, OREGON • WWW.TILLAMOOKHEADLIGHTHERALD.COM
VOL. 133, NO. 52 • $1.50
Tillamook County hit with winter weather T
Staff
illamook didn’t quite get a white Christmas, but Old Man Winter made a visit Sunday, one day late. Residents woke to 1.5” of fresh snow in the lower areas of Tillamook and according to reports from Tillamook County’s Meteorologist Gordon McCraw, much more snow in higher elevations of Tillamook County. “Travel is still tough in spots though the temperature is up to 36 there now (by midday Sunday) so the roads are much improved at sea level,” McCaw said in his midday weather report. “It is still 33 degrees at Lees Camp and 27 degrees at the summit along Hwy 6 so likely messy still across the top and Hwy 26 is still not user friendly either. It looks like Tillamook itself got around 1.5” of snow so far while the Coast Range is reporting over 20” roadside last report.” Those waiting until Monday to travel had to also prepare for icy roads and bad conditions. “The temperatures will likely fall shortly after sunset to 32 degrees which means it won’t be long before ice becomes an issue, in addition to new snow,” McCraw’s report read. “We do think the activity will ease up some later tonight, but it is still possible to see another inch of snow overnight. Overall, I think travel tonight will become quite challenging for everyone. With everything iced over, even walking could be difficult.” The coldest part of a day is right at sunrise and the forecast is for the low temperatures to fall to around 18-22 degrees which tells me any travel tomorrow will be hazardous with ice covered roads and walkways, for much of the day as tomorrow’s high is only forecasted to reach 34. The precipitation tomorrow will be more isolated which is a small bonus. “Monday night we have another system moving across that will bring more steady precipitation, not as heavy as we have seen though so overnight snow totals around another inch, and like I said, the high only near 34 degrees,” he said in his report. “ Maybe some good news, high pressure starts to build in tomorrow night, so the precipitation becomes more widely scattered and diminishing, the overnight lows still down around 20 degrees.” Extended forecast Wednesday we may see more sun than we have seen for a while, a mostly sunny day, the high still
By 8 a.m. Tillamook received about 1.5” of fresh snow and bad driving conditions. (Above) The Courthouse looking east on 2nd Street in Tillamook. (Below) Snow plows were out in full force clearing roads Sunday morning as Tillamook County got hit with a winter blast. Photos by Joe Warren only make it to 37 degrees, then another chance of snow moves in again in the early morning hours, the low around 24. After Wednesday the coldest air starts to shift eastward so daytime highs up into the mid 40s, the lows still down around freezing, and with additional systems moving through, we will see more rain, and depending on timing rain/snow, or all snow to the lower levels in the early morning hours. The Coast
n See WINTER, Page A10
Upcoming COVID-19 surge predicted due to omicron T
Hilary Dorsey Staff Writer
illamook County Health Department reported during a community update Tuesday, Dec. 21, 29 COVID-19 cases for the weekend case count from Dec. 17-19. The 7-day case count from Dec. 12-18 was 71. The 14-day case count from Dec. 5-18 was 147. “For the month to date through Dec. 19, we’ve had 160 cases,” Emergency Preparedness Coordinator Ed Colson said. Tillamook County has seen 48 COVID-related deaths, as of Dec. 21. Thirty-nine of those individuals were not vaccinated, eight were fully vaccinated and one had no vaccine record. “We have three confirmed outbreaks, 14 pending investigation,
for a total of 17 under monitoring,” Colson said. Four cases of the omicron variant have been detected in Oregon, three of them being from Multnomah and Washington counties and one from Lane County, Colson said. Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) reports Oregon has an estimated three weeks to prepare for a surge in cases due to omicron. “There’s still much unknown about the omicron variant but it appears to be more easily spread than previous variants, being more transmissible and in addition to affecting those not yet vaccinated, can infect fully vaccinated individuals, especially those that have not yet received their booster shot,” Colson said. Colson said we can prepare for the upcoming surge by increasing the number of people getting vaccinated,
getting a booster shot if already vaccinated and wearing a mask in indoor public spaces. “We must double down on following the measures,” Colson said. “That will help keep us as safe as possible.” COVID-19 testing remains available through the health center at the acute care clinic, located at 2111 8th St. in Tillamook. Hours are 1-5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Appointments are required. Call 503-8423900 to schedule an appointment. Testing is also available at Adventist Health, Rinehart Clinic and local pharmacies. The health center’s walk-in vaccine clinic at the Tillamook County Fairgrounds Convention Center will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 28, from 1-5 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 29, and from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 30.
“Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines for your first, second, third and booster doses, as well as flu and pneumonia vaccines will be available there,” Colson said. “We do not have Johnson & Johnson available anymore at the walk-in clinic.” Adventist Health, Rinehart Clinic and local pharmacies also have vaccines available. Regarding holiday gatherings, the health department states one of the most important things you can do is ask everyone at your gathering to be fully vaccinated and receive a booster shot. “In addition, Tillamook County Public Health recommends the following safety precautions: To limit exposure, keep your gatherings small, recommend to only gather with people in your household or try a virtual option to add in others. If you do
choose to gather with the news of the predicted upcoming surge, please be extra mindful of your choices. Consider avoiding contact with others outside your household, five to seven days prior to your gathering.” Colson said at-home COVID-19 tests may be a good idea to use before traveling or gathering with others. Try to avoid sharing utensils, plate and glasses, and continue to wear a mask. “Traveling by car with members of your own household is the safest method [of travel],” Colson said. “If you do go by air or public transit, please remember to always wear a proper-fitting mask and avoid eating or drinking, especially in crowded situations.” Send comments to: headlightreporter@countrymedia.net
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