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Tillamook County Wellness
Gardening Matters Page 7
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Headlight Herald
TUESDAY, JANUARY 5, 2021
VOL. 134, NO. 1 • $1.50
TILLAMOOK, OREGON • WWW.TILLAMOOKHEADLIGHTHERALD.COM
Sheriff’s office recognizes death of Todd Anderson, former sheriff T
Hilary Dorsey Staff Writer
illamook County Sheriff’s Office recognized the death of Todd Anderson, former Tillamook County sheriff, during a board of commissioners meeting Wednesday, Dec. 30. Anderson died Sunday night, Dec. 27, in Portland, due to ongoing health conditions. “Todd started his career with Washington County Sheriff’s Office back in the early 80s,” Sheriff
Jim Horton said. “He ended up coming to Rockaway Beach, where he was a police officer for a few years and then transferred to the sheriff’s office.” At the Tillamook County Sheriff’s Office, Anderson worked as a patrol deputy, narcotics detective, sergeant, and lieutenant before becoming sheriff, a position he held for several years. When he retired from the sheriff’s office, he worked at the Department of Public Safety, Standard and Training until he retired
Todd Anderson
Morning reflection
completely a few years ago. Horton said Anderson’s death is a huge loss for the community. Anderson was well-respected by many people, including throughout the state. Commissioner David Yamamoto said Anderson was a pillar of the community and was shocked by his death. “He was an outstanding leader,” Commissioner Mary Faith Bell said. “He was smart, well-respected, well-spoken and a pleasure to work with.”
Chief Wright explains challenges his officers face due to pandemic
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he Tillamook Police Department, like other community services, has been very busy this last year with the COVID 19 Pandemic negatively exacerbating livability issues as well as response to regular criminal activity within the City. There has been a lot of negative energy directed at the City Police Department for what is perceived as an inability to deal with these issues, especially with persons who are homeless or in some sort of crisis. Crisis can involve different types of medical or social issues and can be exacerbated by use of alcohol and or drugs. The Police Department responds to reports of criminal behavior as well as other behavior that affects livability issues, to Tillamook Chief of Police, include those that impact our local busiTerry Wright. nesses. Calls are documented and some sort of action to stop or minimize the
behavior is normally conducted. Normally, depending on the activity and circumstances, options include physical arrest and lodging at the County Jail, Citation to appear in lieu of physical arrest, referral to the District Attorney for possible warrant or other action, transportation to the Tillamook Regional Medical Center Emergency Room for crisis evaluation by medical and local counseling services or transportation to Tillamook Regional Medical Center for medical evaluation. With lodging at the County
n See WRIGHT, Page 4
Gov. Brown’s reacts to planned defiance of COVID-19 orders G
For the Herald
overnor Kate Brown today issued the following statement regarding planned defiance of her Executive Orders, which have reduced the spread of COVID-19 across Oregon:
“Oregon’s health and safety measures are in place to protect Oregonians, save lives, and keep our hospitals and health care workers from becoming overwhelmed by COVID-19. Oregonians have made incredible sacrifices throughout this pandemic and, now, many communities across Oregon are reducing the spread of COVID-19 and moving into risk levels that allow restaurants and businesses to reopen to at least some indoor service. “If businesses reopen too early and instead create new spikes in COVID-19 cases, the actions of
a few business owners could set entire communities back and keep them in the Extreme Risk category for even longer. “It’s unfortunate and irresponsible that some local politicians are choosing to willfully mislead business owners into jeopardizing public health and risking fines, instead of working with their communities to help stop the spread of COVID-19 so that we can reopen businesses, schools, and more
n See BROWN, Page 4
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Tillamook County remains in Extreme Risk T
Jeremy Cham captured this beautiful sunrise reflecting in the Tillamook River recently.
Horton said the family is asking for donations to certain charitable organizations such as www.publicsafetychaplaincy.com or www. odmp.org in Anderson’s name. Cards can be sent to the Anderson family at P.O. Box 1395 Long Beach, WA 98631. The sheriff’s office does not have information of a planned service at this time.
Staff Report
illamook County will remain in Extreme Risk through Jan. 14, according to an announcement from Gov. Kate Brown Tuesday, Dec. 29. The county has been in the Extreme Risk category since Dec. 18. The county risk levels are part of the state’s new public health framework to reduce transmission and protect Oregonians from COVID-19. The framework uses four different risk level for counties based on COVID-19 spread – Extreme Risk, High Risk, Moderate Risk, and Lower Risk – and assigns health and safety measures for each level. The risk level for each county is determined based on case rate and test positivity rate over a two-week period. Counties at Extreme Risk level are prohibited from indoor dining, indoor recreation and fitness establishments, and indoor entertainment establishments. Offices are to require remote work if able and close offices to the public and longterm care visitation is allowed only outdoors. There is a max of an indoor gathering size of six people and retail stores have a 50 percent capacity. If case counts improve, the county would be eligible to move to High Risk Jan. 15. High Risk would allow limited indoor dining, recreation and fitness establishments and entertainment establishments. According to Oregon Health Authority, in Tillamook County, there have been 283 confirmed positive COVID-19 cumulative cases and no deaths, as of Thursday, Dec. 31. There are 10 confirmed positive cases for the week of Dec. 27, as of Dec. 31. There were 36 positive cases the week of Dec. 20. Oregon’s hospital capacity for Region 1 hospitals – which includes Tillamook, Clatsop, Clackamas, Columbia, Multnomah and Washington counties – have 67 adult ICU beds available. A total of 38,698 vaccines have been administered throughout Oregon so far, Oregon Health Authority stated. A total of 183 people have been vaccinated in Tillamook County so far, with the highest number of doses occurring Dec. 23 with 85 doses. Ten vaccine doses were administered Wednesday, Dec. 30.
Ousele, Allen and Gillis reappointed to Tillamook County Planning Commission T
Hilary Dorsey Staff Writer
illamook County Planning Commissioners Gale Ousele, Chad Allen and Megan Gillis were reappointed to the commission by the Tillamook County Board of Commissioners during the board’s weekly meeting Dec. 30. Sarah Absher, director of Tillamook County Department of Community Development, said the request is to reappoint the three planning commission members for additional four-year terms each. “I’ve seen the stacks of paper they take home to review,” Commissioner David Yamamoto said. “The decisions they make are not always popular, but they can’t take their personal observations into account.” The planning commission makes decisions based on the criteria, Yamamoto added. If issues get appealed to the board of commissioners, it can be difficult for the commissioners to decide otherwise because of the research the planning commission performs to reach their decision. Commissioner Mary Faith Bell said the planning commission is a tremendous public service. Some meetings can go on until as late as midnight.
n See COUNTY, Page 4