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INSIDE
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Shark attack in Cannon Beach Page A13
YOW: Pumpkin Chili
Voter registration deadline is Tuesday
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Headlight Herald
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2016
TILLAMOOK, OREGON • WWW.TILLAMOOKHEADLIGHTHERALD.COM
Award-winning Public Works Dept. quietly keeps county safe
Pundits share biggest issues facing County By Julius Jortner For the Headlight Herald jortnerj@gmail.com Jennifer Purcell and David Yamamoto, running for Tillamook County Commissioner, Position No. 2, to replace retiring Commisioner Mark Labhart, spoke at the Pelican Pub in Pacific City as part of the candidates forum hosted by the Pacific City Nestucca Valley Chamber of Commerce on Oct. 3. After hearing the two introduce themselves to the fifty or so attendees, make opening statements, and answer questions from the audience, forum moderator Doug Olson of PC thanked both for participating and said he thought the county would be in good hands whoever won the commissioner position. Also participating were Dick Anderson, a former mayor of Lincoln City now running for State Senator against incumbent Arnie Roblan (who was absent due to hospitalization in Portland), and State Representative David Gomberg, running for re-election against a challenge from Tom Donohue of PC (who was attending to a commitment in eastern Oregon).
n See FORUM, Page A10
INDEX Classified Ads..................... B5-10 Crossword Puzzle.....................B2 Fenceposts........................... B1-2 Letters................................... A4-5 Obituaries............................. A6-7 Opinions............................... A4-5 Sports................................ A14-16
The $1.7 million Wyss Bridge project recently completed construction. By Ann Powers editor@northcoastcitizen.com Liane Welch takes that ageless idiom about not burning bridges very literally. In fact, the Tillamook County Public Works Department (TCP-
WD) director and professional engineer is on a constant quest to repair, replace and build new ones – and it hasn’t gone unnoticed. Winning awards Welch and her department will receive the Oregon American Pub-
The Oct. 6 public hearing that would decide whether or not the Odd Fellows Building could locate a commercial marijuana grow operation came to a sudden halt. There was a shortage of city planning commissioners. With two open positions on the planning commission and another on vacation, every available member of the (theoretically) seven-member City of Tillamook Planning Commission needed to be present. They were short one; meaning a quorum was not met. “We’re trying to conduct business in a business manner,” said Steve Parsons after the hearing was rescheduled,
“So communication is important.” Jan Stewart-Wells, Chairman of the planning commission, made several calls to Tamra Jacobs, the fourth and final planning commissioner needed to proceed with the hearing. However, fifteen minutes after the scheduled 7 p.m. commencement, the hearing was postponed. And an audible sigh of disappointment filled the room. John Janac, owner of the Odd Fellows Building, John Rasmussen, applicant for the grow operation, and many others had traveled from the Portland-metro area to attend the hearing. “I’m disappointed,” City Planner David Mattison said, “We had our presentation
Fatal collision claims life of Tillamook man
Courtesy photo/ TCPWD
lic Works Association’s (Oregon APWA) 2016 Project of the Year Award, in the ‘structures less than $5 million division,’ during the Oregon APWA fall conference in
n See BRIDGE, Page A10
No quorum, no grow operation: Truant planning commissioner postpones Second Street hearing By Jordan Wolfe jwolfe@countrymedia.net
VOL. 127, NO. 41 • $1.00
ready and everything.” City Manager Paul Wyntergreen quipped he didn’t start a fire back home in anticipation of a long night at City Hall. Wyntergreen alerted the audience the soonest possible reschedule date for the hearing would be Oct. 27, due to a 20-day notice required for a special meeting. If approved, no retail, sales or exterior structural changes would occur on the premises and five grow rooms will be surrounded with a perimeter walkway along the exterior foundation walls, according to a staff report provided on Oct. 6. If odor is of concern, the grow operation will have an
n See QUORUM, Page A13
Gordon Bronson A two-vehicle collision resulted in the death of Gordon Bronson, 86. The incident occurred shortly after 9 a.m. on Oct. 5 at Wilson River Loop and Highway 101 in Tillamook, according to the Tillamook City Police Department. From initial investigation, it was determined that a red Chevrolet pickup was northbound on Highway 101 and attempted to turn left onto Wilson River Loop towards Fred Meyer/Denny’s. At the same time vehicles were southbound on Highway 101 in both southbound lanes with a green light, entering the intersection. The vehicle in the left lane was just able to avoid a collision but the vehicle in the right lane, just behind and to the right of the other southbound vehicle was not able to see the pickup pulling across in front of him until the last moment. The southbound driver attempted to avoid a collision but was not able to, hitting the turning pickup which caused both vehicles to spin and come to rest. The driver, sole occupant, of the turning Chevrolet pickup was rushed to the hospital by paramedics, with assistance from the Tillamook Fire Department. Despite Heroic efforts at the emergency room, the injuries to the driver were too severe and he was later pronounced deceased. One occupant of the other vehicle was transported by ambulance to the emergency room, suffering non lifethreatening injuries. The occupants of the other vehicle directly involved are also Tillamook residents.
Hunger never takes a summer break ‘Grub Club’ hiring new program manager to keep program going strong By Ann Powers editor@northcoastcitizen.com Judy Gollon, of Tillamook, has thousands of mouths to feed every summer and she’s looking for someone to take over that very worthwhile challenge. As the Tillamook United Methodist Church (TUMC) Grub Club program manager, Gollon said whoever is hired to replace her won’t get rich from their paycheck, but they will be rewarded in many other ways far outweighing monetary gain. The Grub Club offers free, nutritious weekday lunches during the summer at various Tillamook County locations for children ages 1-18 living within the county. Gollon, 72, is retiring after overseeing the church’s program for the past four years. “You don’t get paid a lot, but you know you’re doing a good service for the community and for the children,” she said. “At least they can get a lunch and keep from going hungry. It may be the only meal they get.” TUMC member Susie Johnson launched the county’s first Grub Club at the church 12 years ago, with Georga Dorsey taking over the program after her. Gollon said Dorsey hired her to manage the program that serves an average of
File photo
“Grub Club” volunteers have been known to pack up to 8,900 free and nutritious sack lunches for kids when school is out for the summer. Volunteers prepare meals at the United Methodist Church in Tillamook.
7,000 free summer lunches. The operation is mostly volunteer-run and sponsored by numerous local organizations, including the Oregon Food Bank-Tillamook County Services. Mis CarlsonSwanson, the food bank’s branch services manager, said food insecurity can impact up to one in four children countywide, and 62 percent of students in Tillamook County
schools qualify for free and reduced meals. “It’s very serious in Tillamook County,” she said. Which is why the free summer lunch program is seriously needed for the county’s youngest, and often most vulnerable, members. Carlson-Swanson said many people associate the holiday season with food-drive season when donated
groceries for low-income households may become more accessible and abundant. However, with nearly 2,000 kids across the county relying on free and reduced priced meals during the school year, the burden placed on families during the summer can be substantial.
n See GRUB, Page A12