See Page B1
Headlight Herald
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2021
TILLAMOOK, OREGON • WWW.TILLAMOOKHEADLIGHTHERALD.COM
Evil lurks
TCTD board approves measures to recruit and retain employees T
COVID-19 update:
Vaccine clinic continues at fairgrounds, Pfizer for ages 5-11 coming soon T
Joe Warren jwarren@countrymedia.net
he Tillmaook County Transportation District board unanimously approved the use of a $415,000 grant to help retain and recruit employees to the district in these competitive employment times. “…effective from Sept. 1, 2020 to June 30, 2023, the parties recognize the additional effort and risk of serving the public during the COVID-19 pandemic, and encourage employee vaccination, by offering five new temporary employee compensation programs through June 30, 2023,” the agreement reads. The agreement states that, if all rules are met within the agreement, new employees will be paid a hiring bonus, existing employees will get a retention bonus, there is also a bonus for current employees who offer referrals for employment. Employees will also get a pay differential of 10 percent increase during the same time period, but not good for vacation or sick leave, only good for hours worked for the district according to the agreement. Hiring Bonus The hiring bonus is a total of $2,000 per employee with payouts of $500 paid on the new employee’s first paycheck, $500 paid on the new employee’s first paycheck following successful completion of training and $1,000 to be paid to the new employee following successful completion of their probationary period. Retention Bonus Employees who are working at the district Nov. 1, 2021 will receive a $500 bonus to be paid on the employee’s paycheck after Nov. 1. Another $500 bonus will be paid on the first paycheck following Jan. 1, 2022 and $1,000 will be paid to all eligible employee’s first paycheck following Feb. 1, 2022. Also according to the agreement, all employees will be paid a $500 referral bonus for new employees they help recruit to the district. Vaccine Incentive The agreement states that all employees who receive the COVID-19 vaccine and provide proof of vaccination to the TCTD’s Finance Supervisor are eligible for a vaccine incentive of up to two week of paid time off that may be used between July 1, 2021 and June 30, 2023. Qualifying reasons to use the vaccine incentive • To recover from receiving the first, second, and/or subsequent booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine • The employee is directed by
VOL. 133, NO. 43 • $1.50
Tiki Christin and Doug Ford dressed as Day of the Dead took second place at Kitty’s Fine Food and Spirits costume contest. Mike Camerlin and his date Janet took first place overall as Popeye and Olive Oil and Bobby Jacobs took third. See more Halloween pictures on page 3. Photos by Joe Warren
Tillamook County Beekeepers Assoc. donates 16 bee-friendly trees T
Joe Warren jwarren@countrymedia.net
he Tillamook County Beekeepers Assoc. is making good use to the funds they raised through their beehive raffles they held all summer long culminating to the drawing at the Tillamook County Fair in Aug. According to Brad York, the president of the local beekeepers association, said, they raised a total of $4,000, spent $2,500 on the trees and signs and also donated $1,00 to Oregon State University Bee Lab for research with the Oregon State Beekeepers Assoc. also matching $500 of that donation.
“This is a long term project,” York said. “We want to do this every year in the fall.” York has his reasons. He only buys trees that are “Bee friendly,” and he says that trees are a great source for bees. “Flowers provide bees nectar (carbohydrates) and pollen (protein) to meet their nutritional needs,” York said. “Healthy bees need more flowers to help them overcome the odds, one flowering tree is equivalent to one acre of flowers.” The local beekeepers donated 11 trees that were planted at Hoquarton Park in Tillamook and five trees were donated to the City of Manzanita as well. The local beekeepers
are looking for any help with this ongoing project. “Other organizations, fraternities, associations are invited to join us to plant even more trees in the coming years,” York said. “People can also go online at tillamookbeekeepers. org and donate money to our Save the Tillamook Honeybee fund.” All funds go directly to saving the honeybee. People can and are encouraged to plant similar beefriendly flowering trees or shrubs in their yards to help with the bees. Forty-five-percent of honey bee colonies are dying off every year in the U.S. due to lack of forage, pesticides and mites, York added.
n See TCTD, Page A12
Bee friendly trees donated by the Tillamook County Beekeepers Assoc. are ready to plant by the Tillamook Public Works crew. Pictured (left to right) Tim Lyda, A.J. Harmon, City Manager Nathan George, Casandra Parrott, Brad York, Ashley Rushing (in truck) David Lacock and Levi Beachy. Photo by Joe Warren
Hilary Dorsey Staff Writer
illamook County Health Department relayed during a Tillamook County Board of Commissioners meeting Wednesday, Oct. 27, 10 COVID-19 cases over the weekend from Friday, Oct. 22, through Sunday, Oct. 24. “Our 14-day case count was 65,” Emergency Preparedness Coordinator Ed Colson said. “That was from Oct. 10 through Oct. 23. Prior to that, it was 61.” Two new COVID-19 deaths from October were reported this week. Tillamook County’s 33rd COVID-19 related death is a 67-year-old woman from Tillamook County who died on Oct. 22 at Kaiser Permanente Sunnyside Medical Center. She had underlying health conditions. Tillamook County’s 34th COVID-19 related death is a 53-year-old man from Tillamook County who died on Oct. 27 at Adventist Health Portland. Presence of underlying conditions is being confirmed. There are currently nine total outbreaks under monitoring, Colson said. Oregon Health Authority confirmed outbreaks as of Oct. 27, at Tillamook County Creamery Association with 21 cases and Adventist Health with 10 cases. Monoclonal antibody therapy is still available in Tillamook County. It requires provider referral. “That treatment is available through a one-time IV infusion currently at the Tillamook Adventist Hospital,” Colson said. The health center has COVID-19 testing available through their acute care clinic, located at 2111 8th St. in Tillamook. Hours are 1-5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Make an appointment by calling 503-842-3900. COVID-19 testing is also available at Adventist Health and Rinehart Clinic. Vaccines are available at the Tillamook County Fairgrounds Convention Center from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, and from 1-5 p.m. Wednesdays for the month of November. The clinics are walk-in only. “60.04 percent of our residents in Tillamook County are fully vaccinated, as of the 25th,” Colson said. “Our vaccine clinic averaged about 24 last week.” Vaccines are also available at Adventist Health, Rinehart Clinic and local pharmacies. Colson said booster shots for all three vaccines now have recommendations. Those eligible for a booster for Moderna or Pfizer six months after their second shot include: people 65 and older, people living in a longterm care facility, people 50-64 with underlying health conditions, and people ages 18-64 with underlying health conditions or are at a high risk of exposure due to where they live or work, such as teachers, grocery store employees, health care workers and people who live in congregate care settings. Those vaccinated with the Johnson & Johnson vaccine are now eligible for a booster shot two months after their second shot if they are 18 and older. Individuals eligible for a booster may receive either the same or different COVID-19 vaccine as a booster dose, depending on advice for a health care provider, preference and availability. “For our youths age 5-11, regarding Pfizer, the advisory panel for the FDA met and voted to recommend Pfizer for 5-11 year olds,” Colson said. “The FDA will review the panel’s recommendation and a ruling is expected in the next few days.” From there, it will go to the Centers
n See COVID, Page A12