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Tillamook County Wellness Page 16

Elks Care Page 3

Headlight Herald

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2020

VOL. 133, NO. 49 • $1.50

TILLAMOOK, OREGON • WWW.TILLAMOOKHEADLIGHTHERALD.COM

Light Parade

County offices reopen by appointment only T

(Top) The TCCA float was a big hit. (Bottom) The official Christmas Tree was lit for the community to enjoy. Photos by Hilary Dorsey

Tillamook kicks off Christmas with tree lighting, holiday parade Hilary Dorsey Staff Writer ‘Christmas in Tillamook’ was held Saturday, Dec. 5, outside Tillamook City Hall. The 18th annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony took place at 5 p.m., followed by the Holiday Light Parade. Before the tree was lit, people had the opportunity to join in caroling along with the Tillamook High School Chamber Choir. Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus were also at the event, allowing kids to say hello while social distancing. Kids brought letters for Santa and families enjoyed gifts and snacks. The Holiday Light Parade followed shortly after the tree lighting. Families enjoyed the various parade floats as the rain held off until the end of the parade. Send comments to: headlightreporter@countrymedia.net

Rockslide occurs at Oceanside tunnel A

rockslide occurred at 10:45 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, at the south opening of the Oceanside Tunnel, partially blocking access. Netarts-Oceanside Fire District and Tillamook Ambulance were dispatched to rescue individuals who were potentially trapped. According to the fire district, upon arrival it was determined that there were parties trapped on the north side of the tunnel with an incoming tide that would need assistance. Fire district personnel devised a plan bringing those individuals out of the south opening which was now approximately 3 feet in diameter. Victims were removed safely, one by one to the Oceanside beach with the removal taking approximately 25 minutes. No word from the fire agency as Dec. 5 of how many people had been rescued, who they are or their conditions. Oregon State Parks representative closed the tunnel access until further notice. No details have been released about what caused the slide. First responders urge beachgoers to be extremely careful when venturing along the beaches, in tunnels and bank sides.

Hilary Dorsey Staff Writer

he Tillamook County Board of Commissioners agreed during a board meeting Wednesday, Dec. 2, to reopen certain county offices to the public by appointment only, as they were before the governor’s two-week freeze. Chief of Staff Rachel Hagerty said on Nov. 17, the board signed an order closing certain Tillamook County offices. If the county lets their current order expire, county offices will reopen to the public by appointment only. “Under order 20-023, which was signed by the board of May 22, county offices will reopen to the public by appointment only,” Hagerty said. “That began before on June 8.” Commission Chair Bill Baertlein said the county still has OSHA guidelines to follow. “We’re still proceeding with all OSHA guidelines, Oregon Health Authority guidelines, as well as the new county risk assessment plan the governor’s office has come out with,” said Joel Stevens, Tillamook County Counsel. Commissioner Mary Faith Bell said the county has cautious guidelines in place by having people do business with the county by appointment only. Every other organization can be open under moderate risk, with restrictions, she added. “I’m really grateful to the governor’s office for these new guidelines because they’re based on science, they’re detailed and they’re specific to each county and where we’re at,” Bell said. Commissioner David Yamamoto said the county was very cautious regarding COVID-19 beginning in March. The people of Tillamook County have taken this seriously, he added. He expressed concern over employees. Baertlein said he has concerns about employees too but at this point, he said their best efforts are to go back to where they were two week ago and be open by appointment only, letting the order expire. Commission-elect Erin Skaar said the county shut things down prior to other counties, and shut some things down that those other county never did. The ‘moderate risk’ category the county is currently in encourages the county to have employees work from home as much as possible. The commissioners agreed to let the order expire, allowing county offices to reopen by appointment only. Send comments to: headlightreporter@countrymedia.net

County health leaders discuss COVID-19 cases, vaccines T

Hilary Dorsey Staff Writer

he Tillamook County Community Health Centers on Friday, Dec. 4, reported 25 new confirmed positive COVID-19 cases in the county. There are 50 cases being monitored, which include 25 active cases and 25 close contacts. Adventist Health Tillamook President Eric Swanson reported during the county’s commu-nity update meeting Friday, Dec. 4, for Oregon’s hospitality for Region 1, which includes Tillamook, Clatsop, Clackamas, Multnomah and Washington counties, 53 adult ICU beds are available. “We currently have cumulative positive and presumptive cases totally 149,” Tillamook County Community Health Centers Administrator Marlene Putman said during the meet-ing. “We have total confirmed cases of 129 and 20 presumptive.” Putman said the county has 50 cases the health center is currently monitoring. The total number of positive cases for November was 61, compared to the total in October: 24. Three people are currently hospitalized. There have been no COVID-19 deaths in the county at this time. “We recognize that the most common symptoms is fever, cough, tiredness, and loss of taste or smell – a change in loss of taste or smell,” Putman said. “Serious symptoms re-quire medical treatment. Those include shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, loss of mobility or confusion, and chest Photos courtesy of Leslie Brown

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