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INSIDE

Check out our new Hometown Heroes weekly feature Pages 7

Headlight Herald

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29, 2020

TILLAMOOK, OREGON • WWW.TILLAMOOKHEADLIGHTHERALD.COM

VOL. 133, NO. 18 • $1.00

Local Numbers

Tillamook County Election Forum 2020 Tillamook County Sheriff Race

ography, FBI Instructor Certification, Emergency Management Specialist, DPSST Management and Supervisor Training, FEMA Incident Command, PIO Training, Oregon State Sheriff’s Association Command College.

Family: Third generation lifelong resident with many family members still here. I am married, and together my wife and I have three sons and one daughter that we have raised in this community.

Family: Wife of 43 years, 2 children Why are you running for Sheriff of Tillamook County? With 24 years of experience I have the background, training and problem-solving skills to move this Office forward. As the Incident Commander for Tillamook’s COVID-19 response I see that COVID-19

Name: Gordon McCraw Age: 65 Education: High School, some College, USN Meteorology/Ocean-

n See MCCRAW, Page 2

School, Tillamook Bay Community College, DPSST Corrections and Police Academy.

Name: Josh Brown Age: 46 Education: Tillamook High

Why are you running for Sheriff of Tillamook County? There is a need at the Sheriff’s Office for change… a need for fresh perspective and fresh leadership. Leadership whose focus is what’s best for the Sheriff’s Office and the County. For many years the common procedure has been for a

n See BROWN, Page 2

Tillamook County Commissioner Race Position 1 Family: I am an Oregonian and a small town girl. I was raised in Maupin, where my parents and sister still live. I am married to Jim Skaar and we have two children Emily and Kasey. Jim is the manager at the Trask Fish Hatchery. Emily is a freshman at Tillamook High School. Kasey is the Assistant Fire Chief at Jefferson County Fire in Madras. Kasey is married and has two daughters that round out our small family. We are an active family that enjoys the many outdoor opportunities available in Tillamook County. We like to camp, fish, hunt, hike, and garden just to name a few.

Name: Erin Skaar Age: 51 Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Geology

Why are you running for Commissioner of Tillamook County?

n See SKAAR, Page 3

High School Class of 1987, Tulane University Computer Training Center - Microsoft Certified Professional, Microsoft Certified Product Specialist, Tulane University College Class of 2002, Bachelors of Science, Major in Information Technology, Minor in Information Systems, Tulane University School of Social Work Class of 2006, Masters of Social Work.

Name: Christopher Kruebbe, LCSW, CADC I Age: 51, DOB April 15th, 1969

Family: My family of origin are all New Orleans natives, my father George grew up in Uptown New Orleans close to Audubon Park, a block off St. Charles Avenue where you can catch a Street Car to downtown New Orleans. My mother Martha grew up in the small Illinois

Education: Archbishop Rummel

n See KRUEBBE, Page 7

Tillamook County Commissioner Race Position 2

& Management)

Trevor; 2 Grandchildren, Declan 12 and Tamsin 10

Name: David Yamamoto Age: 60 Education: BA Psychology, California State University, Fresno Family: Wife, Terrie; Son,

Why are you running for Commissioner of Tillamook County? Since being elected, I am proud of my accomplishments yet find there is much more to be done. I am an unabashed advocate for our natural resource-based industries which provide so many fully benefited, family wage jobs…all while protecting the environment. Public safety is paramount and I have been able to bolster the Sheriff’s Office to the point we have reinstituted the Tillamook Narcotics Task Force and are preparing to institute 24/7 patrols.

n See YAMAMOTO, Page 3

Family: Married with one daughter

Name: David McCall Age: 51 Education: B.Sc. Georgetown University (Language & Linguistics); M.Sc. American Public University (Environmental Policy

Why are you running for Commissioner of Tillamook County? In these trying times we need innovative and proactive leaders, ones who are not afraid of new ideas. I care about our community and the environment we live in, including local people, families, and businesses. I will represent ALL of Tillamook County, from Manzanita all the way to Neskowin, and from Oceanside all the way to the summit, whether incorporated or not.

n See MCCALL, Page 9

County leadership discusses governor’s framework for reopening Oregon Hilary Dorsey headlightreporter@countrymedia.net

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he Tillamook County Leadership Team teleconference discussed in their call Wednesday, April 23, Gov. Kate Brown’s

INDEX Classified Ads......................10-14 Crossword Puzzle.....................B2 Fenceposts..............................8-9 Letters......................................4-5 Obituaries................................ 6,8 Opinions..................................4-5

framework for reopening Oregon: a plan Brown introduced on April 14 to restart public life and business while maintaining healthy Oregon communities. Oregon must first slow the growth of COVID-19, as well as acquire adequate personal protective equipment (PPE) to protect health care workers and first responders. Once that is done, Oregon can begin to reopen by ramping up COVID-19 testing capacity in every region of Oregon, developing a robust contact tracing system to track and contain cases, and establishing a quarantine and isolation program for new cases. Eric Swanson, president of Adventist Health Tillamook, said the hospital has a good supply of PPE and they are ready to begin reopening steps. The hospital has 25 beds normally but can expand to 50 beds. The hospital is ready to open back up for normal business.

Marlene Putman, administrator of Tillamook County Community Health Centers, said revised COVID-19 testing has expanded to provide for medical, frontline workers, and grocery workers. The new revised guidelines state to increase testing of these groups. “By expanding that testing, they’ll have a better idea of who really is impacted, even including some that are asymptomatic,” Putman said. The center is continuing to do testing and follow up investigation. The emergency preparedness coordinator is continuing to order and distribute PPE. Commissioner Bill Baertlein asked if restaurants will have to be inspected before opening back up or if that will happen on a normal basis. “We are still doing inspections for those restaurants that are providing take out,” Putman said.

Putman said there may still be things that need to be checked before reopening. Oregon State Rep. David Gomberg said Oregon is under increasing pressure to reopen but needs to do so cautiously. Chairman David Yamamoto said the county has been in contact with Lincoln, Clatsop and Columbia counties to coordinate together on reopening. Reopening on a slow and consistent basis will be a challenge. The state parks department said they are coordinating with cities where state parks are located and are considering a limited day use. Commissioner Bill Baertlein said the county will be trying to reopen for residents in the near future. Discussion in the teleconference was aimed at doing this in a slow and safe manner with the health and safety of residents a top priority.

COVID-19 cases stay at six Hilary Dorsey headlightreporter@countrymedia.net

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o new positive cases of COVID-19 have been reported in Tillamook County as of Monday, April 27. Cases in the county remain at six. In a County Leadership Team Teleconference on Monday, April 27, president of Adventist Health, Eric Swanson, said the hospital saw 18 vehicles Sunday, April 26, and one person was screened for COVID-19. Adventist Health received guidance from the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) on Friday, April 24, for nonurgent procedures. Restrictions for visitors will remain in effect. “We’re seeing less and less people being screened,” Swanson said. Tillamook County Community Health Centers Administrator Marlen Putman said the center has seen a decrease in people being screened as well. According to data released by OHA on Friday, April 24, Oregon has prevented as many as 1,500 hospitalizations and 70,000 positive COVID-19 cases. “We’re monitoring, the hospital is monitoring, the state is monitoring daily and weekly to see what those numbers are looking like, including working with our dental providers,” Putman said. The center is looking at the American Dental Association for guidance with reopening. They will also look for additional guidance in the next two weeks for what restrictions will be loosened. “We’ll have some additional testing to do over this next week to address those populations that have been identified for expanded testing,” Putman said. Tillamook Family Counseling Center is continuing to provide telehealth services. They are anticipating forming some support groups. As of April 27, there have been 2,311 positive cases in Oregon, with 91 deaths and 48,964 people tested. There have been zero deaths in Tillamook County and 254 negative cases. According to the OHA, as of Friday, April 24, Oregon’s cumulative positive testing rate has remained consistent at about five percent tests performed. The national average is 18.4 percent. Oregon’s low test positivity rate reflects decreasing numbers of individuals with COVID-19 symptoms due to Gov. Kate Brown’s stay-at-home order and increasing testing statewide.

State eyes lifting order on non-urgent procedures Hilary Dorsey headlightreporter@countrymedia.net

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ov. Kate Brown announced Thursday, April 23, that she will be lifting her order delaying non-urgent procedures for health care providers, as long as they can demonstrate they have met new requirements for COVID-19 safety and preparedness. Hospitals, surgical centers, medical offices, and dental offices that meet those requirements will be able to resume non-urgent procedures on May 1. In a press teleconference held April 23, Brown said Oregon is in a position where she can lift the executive order on non-urgent procedures. Brown had halted non-elective procedures that required person protective equipment (PPE) on March 23. People can now start to think about much-needed medical or dental work. Medical providers will need to demonstrate they have the ability to minimize the risk of coronavirus transmis-

n See STATE, Page 7


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