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Shop Local! Four page list of Businesses Open to serve you right here Pages A11-14

INSIDE

Hometown Heroes & Firefighter of the Month

Headlight Herald

WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 2020

Pages A2-3

VOL. 133, NO. 20 • $1.00

TILLAMOOK, OREGON • WWW.TILLAMOOKHEADLIGHTHERALD.COM

Tillamook opens parks, weekday boat ramp, lodging Hilary Dorsey headlightreporter@ countrymedia.net

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he Tillamook City Council held a teleconference meeting Monday, May 4, to discuss a request from the Tillamook Chamber of Commerce to amend the City of Tillamook Emergency Declaration, dated April 6, to lift or modify restrictions on local businesses and public spaces not identified by an executive order of

Oregon Gov. Kate Brown. This includes full access to parks other than play equipment, courts and the skate park; weekday ramp/dock access for fishing and water sports; and full availability of lodging within the City of Tillamook. Parks must have signs establishing the need for six feet of physical distancing. Weekend closures of ramps/ docks are consistent with Tillamook County Sheriff’s Office request. The Chamber believes that lodging in the

City of Tillamook is a wellcontrolled environment that lends itself to a manageable influx of overnight visitation. Justin Aufdermauer, president and CEO of the Tillamook Chamber of Commerce, said City Manager Paul Wyntergreen has signed an amendment to the City of Tillamook’s executive order that went into effect Thursday, May 7. The boat launches opened Monday, May 11. “We will be monitoring lodging, parks, and boat

launches along with the City to ensure that required safety measures are being followed,” Aufdermauer said. “We will report weekly to city council to ensure that things are closely monitored.” It is the priority of both the Chamber and the City of Tillamook to reopen what they can responsibly, monitor those items, and make sure the community stays safe, Aufdermauer said. The City of Tillamook has limited hotels with limited rooms.

“We know our community is not ready to handle visitors to full capacity and we whole heartedly believe that the opening of these rooms allows for a manageable influx of visitation,” Aufdermauer said. “The majority of our hotels have already expressed that they will be going above and beyond required social distancing by implementing processes such as limiting rooms available, rotation of rooms, temperature checks, increased sanitation, and limited amenities.”

Heroes flyover

Gov. Brown releases plan for reopening counties G

The Oregon Air National Guard scheduled several flybys last Friday and Tillamook made the list. The guard flew their famous F-15 Eagles over hospitals and other locations throughout Oregon during the month in order to salute Oregonians on the forefront of the COVID-19 pandemic and lift moral during a time of severe health and economic impacts. The tribute was conducted by Oregon’s 173rd Fighter Wind, based in Klamath Falls and the 142nd Wing, based in Portland. About 50 people gathered on Adventist Health’s Tillmaook parking lot to witness the flybys. Photos by Joe Warren/Headlight

Commissioners begin plan to reopen county boat launches Hilary Dorsey headlightreporter@countrymedia.net

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he Tillamook County Board of Commissioners held a briefing Tuesday, May 5, and voted unanimously to phase in reopening of county boat launches that began Wednesday, May 6.

INDEX Classified Ads....................... B2-6 Crossword Puzzle.....................B4 Fenceposts........................... A8-9 Letters................................... A4-5 Obituaries................................ A6 Opinions............................... A4-5

Four boat launches are now open: Nehalem Bay Boat Launch, Memaloose Point, Netarts Bay and Pacific City boat launch at Sunset Drive. The boat launches will be open mid-week for the first three weeks for users with a Tillamook County annual pass or day use pass. Commissioner Bill Baertlein said the main goal is to keep people in Tillamook County safe. They are opening the boat launches gently and hoping people comply. “This just makes a lot of sense,” Commission Chair David Yamamoto said. “Local residents are going stir-crazy at home.” If everything is open all at once, there could be another influx of people similar to what happened during spring break. “This is our first step in this and we just want to see how this is going to work,” Yamamoto said. “As a week goes by, and two weeks go by, there is every possibility we may

Memaloose Point. Photo by Hilary Dorsey.

open additional boat ramps.” People should bring supplies with them and not make unnecessary trips. Be purposeful in what you are doing. One boat should be on the boat ramp at a time. People should being needed supplies with them. “Please wash your hands frequently and don’t make unnecessary trips,” Yamamoto

With opening up the parks with more access other than play equipment and state parks, there is need for signage for social distancing. The county has done something similar with four boat launches: Nehalem Bay Boat Launch, Memaloose Point, Netarts Bay and Pacific City boat launch at Sunset Drive. The boat launches will be open mid-week for the next three weeks for users with a Tillamook County annual pass or a day use pass.

said. “Go from your home to the boat launch.” All state parks in Tillamook County remain closed. Boat launches will be open May 6-7, May 12-14, and May 18-22. Thereafter, the commissioners will consider phase two of reopening. Launches

n See REOPEN., Page 2

Hilary Dorsey headlightreporter@countrymedia.net

overnor Kate Brown announced Thursday, May 7, new details of her framework for rebuilding a safe and strong Oregon, including new guidance for counties and businesses on the phased reopening process. The guidance is the product of a robust engagement process with stakeholders, doctors, health experts, business owners, and local officials to chart a path forward while keeping Oregonians healthy and safe. Brown said Oregon has taken extraordinary measures to protect lives and is on track to meeting goals public health experts have laid out. The state is increasing and enhancing its supply chains for personal protective equipment (PPE). Data and science are Brown’s guideposts for reopening Oregon Gov. Oregon. Kate Brown. “Reopening any part of our state comes with risk,” Brown said. Until there is a vaccine, we cannot go back to life as we knew it, Brown said. Physical distancing will remain a normal part of life for many months to come. We must continue to use video conferencing to connect with people. If there is not an uptick in hospitalizations during Phase I, a county will be reassessed for Phase II. Large gatherings such as concerts and conventions will not be allowed until there is a vaccine. Any large gathering through September should be cancelled or modified. Counties can enter Phase I beginning as early as May 15. “We have consulted extensively with doctors, nurses, and public health experts,” Brown said. “They tell us that under the right restrictions, we can take this step safely.” Doctor Renee Edwards of OHSU said the governor has continued to take a scientific approach in reopening Oregon. Measures will need to be slowly phased out. Patrick Allen, director of Oregon Health Authority, said COVID-19 has not gone away and we are not in the clear in the country or state. State and local health experts will expand testing and contact tracing. They are in the process of adding 600 contact tracers. People are encouraged to remain six feet apart while hiking and wear facemasks in public. There needs to be adequate testing in each county that wants to reopen. There needs to be adequate PPE for health care workers. On May 1, Governor Brown lifted her order delaying non-urgent medical procedures, with safeguards in place for health care workers and patients. This included dental clinics. “This is important health care that people need to be able to access,” Allen said. “There are different levels of use of personal protective equipment and we are allowing these procedures when hospitals have taken steps to conserve personal protective equipment.” Allen said dentist offices are having a harder time to reestablish. On May 5, Governor Brown announced the limited reopening of some outdoor parks and recreation areas. Next week, updated safety guidelines regarding transit, certain child care, summer school, and summer camps and youth programs will be issued. Each step of reopening is contingent on Oregonians following the safety guidelines for each sector. “Oregonians have a history of building a safe and strong community, even in uncharted territory,” Allen said. “We can do it again if we all work together.”

n See BROWN., Page 2


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