Tillamook County Wellness
THS Graduation Info.
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Headlight Herald
TUESDAY, MAY 25, 2021
VOL. 133, NO. 21 • $1.50
TILLAMOOK, OREGON • WWW.TILLAMOOKHEADLIGHTHERALD.COM
COVID-19 cases decrease in Tillamook County T
Hilary Dorsey Staff Writer
illamook County Health Department reported during a community update Tuesday, May 18, 41 COVID-19 cases from April 28 through May 8. Tillamook County remains in Moderate Risk. Emergency Preparedness Coordinator Ed Colson said under the new vaccine goals, once the state’s goal of 70 percent of age eligible residents, 16 and older, receiving at least one dose of the vaccine are met, risk level capacity limits will
be removed statewide. The state anticipates reaching this goal by the end of June. If a county reaches 65 percent of residents having received one COVID-19 vaccine dose, the county may move to the lower risk category. Oregon is following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) new mask guidance for fully vaccinated people, Colson added. “The guidance recommends that fully vaccinated people no longer need to wear a mask or physically distance except when required by federal, state, local, tribal or territori-
al laws, rules and regulations including local businesses and workplace guidance,” Colson said. “The CDC does still say that schools, hospitals, health care clinics, correctional facilities, long term care facilities and when using public transportation are all exceptions to the new guidance as well.” Oregon Health Authority states those fully vaccinated are no longer required to wear a mask in most indoor settings, where vaccination status is checked. Businesses and employers can determine their own mask use policies, with proof of vac-
cination in place. “Cases are starting to decrease in Tillamook,” Colson said. “The weekly data from Tuesday, May 11, through the 17th showed eight new COVID-19 cases, 21 cases in contacts in monitoring, and zero currently hospitalized.” Adventist Health Tillamook President Eric Swanson reported 342 hospitalizations across Oregon, as of May 18. A total of 773 ventilators are available in the state. Colson said there are plenty of appointments available to receive a vaccine. As of May 18, 59 percent of
Dairy Princess Llamas takes home 60th Dairy Princess Crown wo contestants competed for the title of Tillamook’s 60th Dairy Princess-Ambassador. Mariana Llamas and Allison Dixson, both seniors at Tillamook High School went through a series of judging activities on Sunday May 16th to determine who would be taking home the title and the crown. Candidates were judged on an inclusive application that covered their dairy experience, their accomplishments in agriculture organizations, and their community and school activities. They then proceeded to have a 15-minute interview with the panel of 3 judges. In this interview candidates were asked questions to determine their dairy knowledge, how they would handle scenarios when speaking to the public and what their future plans, hopes, dreams and aspirations are. A small gathering of family members, Dairy Women and friends joined to conclude the judging activities. Here both girls delivered a 4-minute prepared speech relating to the dairy industry and presented a television commercial promoting dairy products. After the judging portion was complete, retiring 2019 Tillamook Dairy Princess-Ambassador, Araya Wilks opened the judge’s envelope and crowned Mariana Llamas. Mariana is the daughter of Hector and Erika Llamas. She is currently employed at Roby’s Furniture and has carried a dairy cattle project in FFA the past 4 years. Retiring Princess Araya received a $1,000 Tillamook Creamery scholarship and $2,500 in other scholarship
2019 Tillamook County Dairy Princess-Ambassador Araya Wilks crowns Mariana Llamas the 2021 Tillamook County Diary Princess. Courtesy photo contributions for her service. Tillamook County Dairy Women are excited to announce Roby’s Furniture of Tillamook as Mariana’s official title sponsor. Roby’s Furniture has been a longtime supporter of the Tillamook dairy industry and is honored to contribute as the sponsor for the 60th year of the Tillamook Dairy Princess-Ambassador program. Their sponsorship will help
Mariana attend and partake in the Oregon Dairy Princess Ambassador Program by covering participation and travel expenses. Llamas will join 4 other young ladies throughout the state to promote dairy products and dairy farming and interact with a wide variety of audiences. The program focuses on coupling personal growth and development of the girls with promotion
and education to the public on dairy products, nutrition and dairy farming. Llamas will be competing in the spring 2022 for the Oregon State title. Tillamook Dairy Women are gracious for the support of Roby’s Furniture and all the community scholarship sponsors who contribute to the fund that allow this program to succeed.
Vaccines are free, Colson added. You can book an appointment online at https://tillamookchc.org/coronavirus/vaccines/ or call for assistance at 503-8423914. Call to make an appointment for COVID-19 testing at 503-842-3900. Send comments to: headlightreporter@countrymedia.net
Unofficial May 18 Special Election results announced O
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age eligible residents have received one dose and 46.5 percent are considered fully vaccinated.
Hilary Dorsey Staff Writer
n Tuesday, May 18, Tillamook County voters hit the polls to decide district elections. The unofficial votes have been tallied and the county clerk’s office has 20 days from the election to certify the vote totals. Voter turnout for Tillamook County was 32.44 percent, as of 11:45 p.m. May 18. Unofficial results show Matt Kelly won Tillamook County Emergency Communications District 911 Director, position 3. Kelly got 3,739 votes compared to challenger Christopher Kruebbe, who received 1,401. It was a close race for incumbents running for Tillamook County Transportation District Director, position 3. Linda Adler received 2,758 votes; her challenger, Jackie Edwards, received 2,177. The race for Tillamook County Transportation District Director, position 5 was also a close race. Mary B. Johnson received 2,830 and Chris Kell received 2,390. Neah-Kah-Nie School District Director, zone 4, was another slim margin as of election night, with Mike Wantland receiving 959 votes and Damian Laviolette receiving 947. “First off, I would like to thank all those that took the time to vote, either way. Its important that we all recoginize the significance of voting,” Wantland said. “Secondly, I want to state how much respect I have for Damian Loviolette. I consider him and his family to be an important part of our community. I consider Damian to be of strong character, values and integrity. He is a asset to our community. His voice is significant. And I would vote for him again. “Thirdly, and most overwhelming, the support I received from all of those that convinced me to run and spread my vision. THANK YOU!!!! This does not happen without all of you that supported me. It is humbling and I am honored to be given this opportunity to serve the NKN schools. “As for my priorities moving forward, I will work to elevate the voice of our families, teachers and staff of NKN. As well as, make all efforts to get our kids back in school. We have the opportunity to define ourselves and our community. That our actions will match our words and that our decisions will support our communities needs,” Wantland said.
n See VOTE, Page A10
Tillamook’s city manager focuses on improvements, employees T
Hilary Dorsey Staff Writer
illamook’s new city manager, Nathan George, was welcomed to the city in late December. George has almost 20 years of governmental experience. George’s annual salary is $87,400. George is originally from Camas, Wash. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Sociology from Brigham
Young University and had his first internship while in Utah. He went to graduate school and received a Master of Public Administration from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. “While I was in grad school, I worked for both the university – I worked in the Center for Public Affairs Research – and I worked for the City of Elkhorn,” George said. “I worked both of those part time and went to school full time for two years.” He obtained his Senior Leadership Institute Certificate at the University of Virginia and is an International City/County Manager Association Credentialed Manager. George worked for the City of Elkhorn – which was later taken over by Omaha – and then worked
Nathan George
his first manager job in Pennsylvania, was an assistant city manager for Emporia, Va., and later interim
city manager, and served a community of 85,000 people in Fishers, Ind., where he served 11 years as an assistant manager. He was also a payroll manager for Multnomah County. “I worked down at the state of Arizona,” George said. “I worked for the Arizona Department of Transportation for almost two years.” George said he really wanted get back to working in local government, as it is his passion. He has been working in local government for about 20 years. His first job in local government was in 2001. “I really wanted to be in the northwest,” George said of what brought him to the area. “I wanted to be in Oregon specifically.” When he interviewed for the city
manager job with the Tillamook City Council, he found the council members passionate about the employees. “One of the things I feel strongly about is that the number one most important asset of an organization are employees,” George said. “They are the nuts and bolts of an organization.” George has big plans for the city and city council, as he provided details on during the City Council Retreat held in March. He provided the council a two-year management plan, which includes strengthening the council/city manager form of government, eliminate council committees, and to put the right depart-
n See MANAGER, Page A10