All County Keepsake Graduation Section Inside
Headlight Herald
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3, 2020
TILLAMOOK, OREGON • WWW.TILLAMOOKHEADLIGHTHERALD.COM
VOL. 133, NO. 23 • $1.00
Plenty of ‘Pomp’ unusual ‘Circumstances’ Tillamook High School celebrates 2020 Commencement Exercises
Hilary Dorsey headlightreporter@countrymedia.net
T
illamook High School’s (THS) senior procession took place Friday, May 29. Students drove from the high school to the Fairgrounds in a procession route with decorated cars. 139 students graduated as the Class of 2020. The community lined the procession route, cheered, held up signs, and decorated their houses to help celebrate the graduates. The ceremony was broadcast live on Tillamook High School’s Facebook page, as only cars with a ticket, provided to students, were allowed into the fairgrounds for the commencement. The event was also streamed live on KTIL. Quintin Metcalfe, student body vice president, began the ceremony by introducing Madison LeNormand to the stage to sing ‘The Star Spangled Banner.’ “Although today is a time of celebration, it is also a time of recognition of unfamiliarity,” said Maleah Upton, this year’s valedictorian. Most failures will lead to success, she said, citing this year’s senior win of the Homecoming Contest. Upton said she hopes her fellow students will carry on with resilience and that not everything that happens to you is within your control. No matter what happens, it will not affect every aspect of your life. Ruby Thompson, 2020’s salutatorian, said the group of graduates is not the same group that began high school in 2016. The class had their first charity drive victory sophomore year. She said the class celebrates in
EXCLUSIVE
ORIGINAL time of victory and overcomes when times are hard. Members of the choir stepped out of their cards while a video played of them singing ‘Jai Ho.’ Honors recognition included students who received academic scholarships; athletic scholarships; purple cords, representing Associated Student Body officers; green and white cord, representing those who completed three credits in one of the school’s CTE programs; green, red and white cord representing Seal of Biliteracy; gold, black and blue cords, representing members of the National Honor Society; gold cord representing 3.5 GPA or above; black and red, representing academic top 10 percent; and navy cords representing Key Club Membership. THS had eight foreign exchange students that would have been a part of the commencement, had their trip not been cut short due to the COVID-19 virus. The graduation ceremony ended with a brief fireworks show in celebration of the Class of 2020.
(Top) Tillamook Police officer Nick Troxel leads the drive by procession in route from the high school to the Tillamook County Fairgrounds. Students decorated their individual vehicles. (Bottom) Third Street was lined with people who came out to congratulate the graduates as they made their way to the Fairgrounds. (Inset) Emrey Werner’s vehicle ready for the parade. Photos by Hilary Dorsey and Joe Warren
County fully reopens 13 boat launches Hilary Dorsey headlightreporter@countrymedia.net
T
he Tillamook Board of County Commissioners voted Wednesday, May 27, to reopen 13 county boat launches seven days per week. Effective at 6 p.m. Friday, May 29, these 13 boat launches will be open for access by users with a Tillamook County Annual Parking Pass or Day Pass. Fully reopened boat launches include: Burton Fraser, Fishers Point, Little Nestucca, Lake Lytle, Memaloose Point, Nehalem Bay, Netarts Landing, Pacific City, Parks Landing, Roy Creek, Sollie Smith, Steiner and Three Rivers. The Tillamook Tidewater ADA access boat dock on Highway 131 is also
INDEX Classified Ads..................... A9-16 Crossword Puzzle.................. A14 Fenceposts........................... A7-8 Letters................................... A4-5 Obituaries................................ A6 Opinions............................... A4-5
open seven days per week. Commissioner Mary Faith Bell said the county encourages people to continue safe distancing practices. Just because the weather is nice, it does not mean the danger has passed. The Cape Kiwanda boat launch at Hungry Harbor Drive shall be open seven days a week to commercial dory boat operators, who are also permitted to the park on the beach. The boat launch is open to recreational dory boat operators Monday through Friday. Recreational operators are prohibited from parking on the beach but are permitted to park trailers in the Cape Kiwanda parking lot. The Hungry Harbor Drive boat launch will be closed at 6 p.m. on Fridays to the recreational fleet. Commission Chair David Yamamoto said things are going very well with opening the boat launches. Kilchis River Campground boat launch and Whalen Island boat launch will remain closed until June 15. Mills Bridge and Mapes Creek boat launches will remain closed until further Fishermen access the Netarts Bay via Netarts Landing Boat Launch now open. notice. Photo by Hilary Dorsey “The big test to me is going to be this weekend when we open three persons per boat. Boaters should feet. All county, state and federal parks up transient lodging again,” Yamacomply with all Oregon State Marine The City of Tillamook has followed within Tillamook County remain moto said. “This is going to be very Board regulations and the Governor’s the county and has opened all of the closed. All other county parking interesting to see how things operate; order on physical distancing in parking boat ramps seven days a week. Sue H. lots, beach accesses and certain what the county looks like.” lots, boat launches, and boats, which Elmore and Carnahan boat launches parking areas along road rights-ofAt their May 20 meeting, the comrequires maintaining a distance of six are both open. way remain closed. missioners voted to lift the limit of