Our T ime
www.TillamookHeadlightHerald.com
Our Time • 2015 Our Time Spring 2022 •• 1 1
Mooks Make State Playoffs
Our Time Section
Citizen North Coast
Inside
Headlight Herald
Page A9
Headlight Herald 2022
TUESDAY, MAY 24, 2022
TILLAMOOK, OREGON • WWW.TILLAMOOKHEADLIGHTHERALD.COM
Tilla Wheels ...
VOL. 134, NO. 21 • $1.50
ELECTION
Bell retains, College, Library and Veterans all winners T
TillaWheeles Car Club hosted its Spring Car Show in front of City Hall and the County Courthouse Saturday May 21. The sun was out and the cars were all shined up. Cars were judged and trophies were given in different categories. Photos by Joe Warren
Oregon gasoline prices rise over $5 a gallon for the first time ever T
JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net
he price you pay for gasoline in most cities in Oregon has now jumped to over $5 a gallon. Last week in Tillamook, regular gasoline jumped up to 5.29.9 per gallon. Pump prices began rising significantly following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The prices took another sharp jump, over 30 cents a gallon in some cities this past weekend surging to over $5 a gallon for unleaded. According to the American Automobile Association’s (AAA) price survey, the national and Oregon averages skyrocketed to new record highs after the price of oil jumped above $110 per barrel over the past week. Pump prices are setting new record highs again this week with the Oregon average climbing above $5 a gallon for the first time ever. The major
driver is the high cost of crude oil which is above $110 per barrel. For the week, the national average for regular jumps 15 cents to $4.52 a gallon. The Oregon average soars 21 cents to $5.06. “When we have high gasoline prices, they do trickle down to every part of the economy impacting all goods delivered by trucks powered by gasoline and diesel,” AAA Oregon/Idaho Public Affairs Director Marie Dodds said. “Everything we purchase and that we need transitions down to additional transportation costs.” Dodds said it’s not likely that there will be any price relief soon. “Unfortunately, crude oil
remains significantly elevated because of the ongoing war in Ukraine,” Dodds said. “Oil supplies were already tight before that.” The previous tight oil market is the result the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Dodds. “We saw demand for oil and gas fall dramatically during the pandemic,” she said. “The bottle fell out of the oil market, so production was reduced because of the loss of demand. It takes a lot of infrastructure, a lot of labor and a lot of time to ramp the supplies back up.” Following the Ukraine invasion, countries around the world ceased
ordering Russia crude oil, as a protest to the war. “So, Russian crude oil is no longer in place and that oil has to be replaced from supplies around the world and that is why prices are rocketing up,” Dodds said. Pump prices are fueled by the most part from the cost of crude oil. “On the average, abut 53 percent of what we pay for a gallon of gasoline is for the price of crude,” Dodds said. “Twelve percent is for refining, 21 percent is for distribution and marketing, and 15 percent is for taxes.” Dodds said the zooming gasoline prices are having a psychological impact on drivers. “People have done their best in dealing with $4 gasoline, but when you see $5-plus for a gallon posted on the service station signs, that does send shock waves,” she said.
Oregon wildfire season predicted to be challenging Hilary Dorsey Staff Writer
O
regon officials foresee another challenging wildfire season this year. Due to drought conditions, a large portion of the state could be affected by wildfires.
During a briefing Monday, May 16, Gov. Kate Brown said we are fighting fires of a new age and it is a different wildfire environment. Fires of the past have taught us that being prepared can be the difference between life and death. The time to prepare is now. “Oregon has one of the best wildfire response systems in the country,” Brown said. “We continue to lead the nation in this space, improving even further as we roll out requirements from Senate Bill 762, which passed in the 2021 Legislative session.” Brown said the state is asking all Oregonians to do their part to prevent
and prepare for wildfires. State Forester Cal Mukumoto said the majority of the wildfires that are responded to are caused by people. Chief Mike Shaw, of the Oregon Department of Forestry, said the cool, wet April and beginning of May has been a respite from what was seen in March. Oregon is in a significant drought pattern with exceptional drought covering the bulk of the east slope of the Cascades and extreme drought expanding across vast portions of eastern Oregon and into southwest Oregon. How long the weather stays in cooler, wet conditions will indicate
when wildfire season will begin. “In 2021, which was a very challenging season, the coverage of exceptional drought was significantly less than what you see for this year,” Shaw said. “This will likely translate to a very challenging fire season as the fires that begin in these areas will be very difficult to suppress over very significant portions of Oregon as we move into the fire season.” Travis Medema, chief deputy state fire marshal, said all conditions point to an active wildfire season. In June,
n See WILDFIRE, Page A3
Joe Warren jwarren@countrymedia.net
he results are unofficial until the County Clerk’s office certifies the election, but the numbers are released on the Secretary of State’s site late following the Oregon Primary Election held May 17. Of 20,844 active registered voters in Tillamook County, 9,375 ballots were accepted or 45% of the registered voters casting ballots. Winning the County Commissioner Seat pos. 3 was incumbent Mary Faith Bell with 74% of the vote or 5,985 votes. Challenger Graydon Hillock garnered 25% of the vote with 2,015 votes. Bell will retain her seat on the Tillamook County Commission for a second term. “I am grateful for the opportunity to continue to serve my community as Tillamook County Commissioner,” Bell said in an email after the election. “My sincere thanks to everyone who voted for me, and to the many people who helped me in my campaign. Tillamook County citizens come together to help one another in extraordinary ways, and this election was no exception. I am humbled and moved by all of the love and support, prayers and assistance I have received. Thank you!” Bell was also pleased to see the local levies supported in the election. “Beyond my race, I am thrilled that voters overwhelmingly supported the continued good work of Tillamook County Veterans Assistance, the Tillamook County Library system, and Tillamook Bay Community College,” Bell said “These esteemed organizations contribute significantly to the quality of life in our community and our yes votes speak to the bright future we are willing to invest in, for our neighbors and ourselves.” With the election behind her, Bell is ready to focus on the issues facing Tillamook County over the next few years. “In the days ahead Tillamook County Commissioners will work on policy about short term rentals that seek to preserve the livability of our residential neighborhoods and balance private property rights and economic opportunity; we will hear a second petition for the incorporation of Oceanside; we will undertake wage and compensation studies for our employees, and do everything in our power to retain the good people in our employ who provide essential services,” She said. “We will embark upon strategic planning for the county, which incorporates the values and priorities of its citizens. And if I have anything to say about it, we will fight the recent overturn of the Linn County class action lawsuit all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court if we have to. There is a lot of important work ahead of us, and I am grateful to be onboard.” Measures and Levy results Measure 29-161, Tillamook County 2nd Amendment Sanctuary Ordinance limiting firearm regulation was defeated 5,837 no votes to 3,102 yes votes., 29-163, Tillamook County five Year Veteran’s Services Operating Local levy won by a vote of 5,582 affirmative to 3,414 no votes. 29-164 Tillamook County renewal of local option levy to continue countywide library services also passed with 5,572 yes votes to 3,557 no votes. 29-162, City of Bay City 5-year local option levy for fire protection also passed with 331 yes votes to 130 no votes. 29-165 Tillamook Bay Community College Bond to construct a healthcare education building at TBCC passed with 5,069 yes votes compared
n See VOTE, Page A3