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Headlight Herald

Tuesday, June 23, 2026 | Vol. 138, Issue 25

$2.00

www.TillamookHeadlightHerald.com

50th Kite Fest takes flight

Commissioners vote no confidence in Olson Will Chappell

I

Rockaway Beach celebrated its 50th annual Kite Fest June 19-21, with 50 pilots converging on the city from around the country and vendors taking over the wayside. Acrobatic displays and large kites filled the sky during the days and Saturday evening saw a special night flight to honor the anniversary.

County leaders discuss annex plans Will Chappell Headlight Editor

T

illamook County commissioners and department heads met with consultants on June 15, to begin discussions on how the county will use the ex-Bureau of Land Management building on Third Street that it acquired earlier this year. Discussions revolved around priorities for the new building, with commissioners agreeing on four principles to guide the renovation and relocation of staff processes. Those principles are ensuring that the circuit court’s space needs are met, securing outside funding to pay for as much of the work to renovate the ex-Bureau of Land Management (BLM) building as possible and ensuring that the new space is efficient for staff and customers. Tillamook County Chief Administrative Officer Rachel Hagerty began the meeting, saying that it marked the beginning of a five-phase project to upgrade and move county staff into the property purchased in late March for $2.475 million. Hagerty said that after going through the planning process to determine which departments should be in the new space, engineering work would need to be done to prepare for construction and renovation, before employees were able to relocate. At that point, county leaders will need to evaluate how to use the vacated spaces in the courthouse. Two consultants from DLR See annex, Page A8

69th Dairy Parade and 39th Rodeo set S

Staff Report

ummer activities begin in earnest this weekend in Tillamook County, with the 69th annual Dairy Parade on June 27, and 39th Tillamook County Rodeo taking place on June 26 and 27. Rodeo events lead the weekend off on Friday, with the Miss Tillamook County Rodeo

and Junior Miss Tillamook County Rodeo competitions and Little Tillys pageant during the day before the first night of competition at 7 p.m. at the Tillamook County Fairgrounds. Saturday’s activities start off with the YMCA Milk Run at 8 a.m., before the June Dairy Parade begins rolling through downtown at 11 a.m., with a theme of “Stars, Stripes and

Dairy Delights.” Rodeo champions will be decided on Saturday night and the Miss Tillamook County Rodeo and Junior Miss Tillamook County Rodeo crowned at the halftime. See the insert in this edition or online at our website for a map of the parade route, list of entries and more details about the rodeo and milk run.

Headlight Editor

n the latest salvo in the ongoing conflict between the Tillamook County board of commissioners and District Attorney Aubrey Olson, commissioners voted unanimously for a resolution of no confidence in Olson’s performance at their meeting on June 17. The resolution came after an outside investigation completed in February that substantiated 35 complaints against Olson and her staff, the most serious related to incompetence and a lack of care for the victims of crimes, especially those involving accusations of sexual assault and domestic violence. The board was joined in their vote by the board of directors of Tides of Change, the local agency that serves the survivors of gender-based violence in the county, several of whose members appeared at the meeting. Commissioners also approved a $950,000 settlement that will go into a fund for the former property owners of parcels sold by the county who did not receive repayment after the sales of those properties, a $2.2 million contract for upgrades at the Pacific City Transfer Station, a $414,000 contract for electrical improvements at the fairgrounds, the $109,000 purchase of a tractor for the parks department and the $155,000 purchase of a search and rescue incident command trailer for the sheriff’s office. The meeting began with several representatives from Tides of Change speaking in support of the resolution of no confidence, which commissioners had discussed at their board briefing the previous week. Tides of Change Executive Director Valerie Bundy thanked commissioners for their words in support of survivors the previous week and speaking out on their behalf to call attention to the issues in the district attorney’s (DA) office. Bundy said that survivors deserve respect and dignity and that she hoped the board bringing the problem to the public’s attention would lead to an improvement for them. Tides of Change Board Vice Chair Sarah Ermer then read a letter signed by the entire board, which said that survivors’ fears of not being believed led to domestic violence and sexual assault being among the most underreported violent crimes. The letter said there appeared to be a lack of accountability by the DA’s office in response to the investigation and that the board supported the commissioners in voting no confidence in Olson. Board Member Cristel Scott thanked commissioners for supporting survivors with the vote and Board Member John Prather said that the current situation in the office was emboldening offenders. After two members of the public also voiced their support for the vote of no confidence, County Counsel Bryan Libel introduced the resolution, saying that he had based it on the investigation findings, Olson’s subsequent attempts to use subpoenas to retaliate against Sheriff Joshua Brown and the whistleblower who initiated the investigation into her See commissioners, Page A3

IN THIS ISSUE Send us a news tip at tillamookheadlightherald.com | Your message could be the first thing our readers see! News A2-3, 8, B1-3 Opinion A5-7 Obituaries A7 Sports B1 Classifieds B4-8

Weather Tuesday 6/23

Wednesday 6/24

Thursday 6/25

Friday 6/26

Saturday 6/27

Sunday 6/28

Monday 6/29

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