INSIDE
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Check out photos from Dory Days
Softball team heads to Ariz. July 30 PAGE A12
PAGE A2
Headlight WEDNESDAY, JULY 23, 2014
Herald
TILLAMOOK, OREGON • WWW.TILLAMOOKHEADLIGHTHERALD.COM
VOL. 125, NO. 30 • $1.00
Manteca, Calif. police arrest Loaf Love buses thieves
After an extensive investigation, July 15 at 12:45 p.m., members of the San Joaquin County’s Delta Regional Auto Theft Task Force arrested two people involved in the theft of several Tillamook Cheese vehicles, which included three custom VW Micro-Buses, valued at $300,000. Both suspects were taken into custody in the City of Rocklin, Calif., without incident. The suspects are being booked at the San Joaquin County Jail on charges of Stolen Vehicle, Possession of Stolen Property, Arson and Conspiracy. Brian Michael Lancaster, 32, of Sacramento, and Ryan Anthony Monaco, 38, of Sacramento were arrested for the theft of the Tillamook Cheese tour buses. The theft occurred over the
Courtesy photo
Courtesy photo
Brian Michael Lancaster
Ryan Anthony Monaco
weekend, while the Tillamook Cheese transport truck and trailer containing the restored VW buses were parked at a hotel parking lot in Manteca. The San Joaquin County’s Delta Regional Auto Theft Task
Force consisting of the California Highway Patrol, the Manteca Police Department, the San Joaquin County Sheriff Department, the Lodi Police Department, the San Joaquin County Probation Department and the
San Joaquin County District Attorney’s Office, took the lead in the investigation. If not for the combined efforts of each member the San Joaquin County Delta Regional Auto Theft Task Force this quick recovery of vehicles and apprehension of these suspects would not have been possible.
Multimillion-dollar dory lawsuit commences By Chelsea Yar nell cyarnell@countrymedia.net
Cole Ortega
INDEX Classified Ads.......................B5-8 Crossword Puzzle.................... B2 Fenceposts...........................B3-4 Letters......................................A4 Opinions..................................A4 Obituaries................................A6 Sports.....................................A12
Courtesy Photo
Opening statements for the $5.3 million dollar personal-injury lawsuit of Cole Ortega vs. Darrell Martin and the State of Oregon commenced on July 16. In 2008, Ortega’s left arm was severed when he collided with Martin’s dory boat while surfing near Cape Kiwanda in Pacific City. Surgeons at Legacy Emmanuel Hospital in Portland were able to re-attach his arm after the accident. A complaint filed on Ortega’s behalf in 2010,
seeks funds from the State of Oregon for failure to provide adequate warnings of the danger of collision between dory boats and other person near Cape Kiwanda and Martin for negligence in several accounts. Opening statements from Ortega’s attorney Daniel Dziuba, Martin’s attorney Thane Tienson and the State of Oregon’s attorney John Geil were heard on the second day of trial. “This case is not about separating boaters from surfers,” Geil said, addressing the jury. “This is really a lawsuit between Mr.
Martin and Mr. Ortega.” Geil argued on behalf of the State that Ortega did not enter the State Park on the day of his accident. Rather, he accessed the beach several blocks down. Therefore making warning signs irrelevant to the prevention of the accident. “The state did not cause this accident,” said Geil. Dziuba agreed that the Marine Board has chosen to keep the area mixed recreationally and that the State is immune from lawsuits for people who do not follow See LAWSUIT Page A5
Library closes Aug. 2 for memorial service By Blayne Sheaffer bsheaffer@countrymedia.net On Saturday, August 2 at 11 a.m., the Tillamook County Library will close for a service in remembrance of the long-time member, Lon Meisenhelder. Library Director Sara Charlton said it’s necessary to celebrate someone who put so much time and effort back into the community. “He was into everything,” Charlton said. “I counted it up; he did 90 parades with us, 16 fairs—being there every single day. He was here 23 hours a week, helping. He did anything anyone asked… You name it, he was there helping.” Meisenhelder worked at the library until about a month before his passing, and his family, friends, the staff and community will honor him for the works and joy he brought to Tillamook. Charlton spoke of Meisenhelder as a “Renaissance Man,” and how he enjoyed doing various things in the town. The public is welcome to attend the hour-and-a-half service while the library is closed. Tillamook County Commissioner Mark Labhart will be speaking about Meisenhelder and his involvement. See SERVICE Page A5
People’s Utility District, City Council State Police make arrests hold transmission line workshop in Garibaldi By Michael Waterloo mwaterloo@countrymedia.net
For an unconfirmed reason, the car left the roadway down the embankment where the passenger side struck a tree. The car then came to rest on the ground in heavy brush among the trees and was not visible from the roadway. It appears the crash occurred at least 12 hours before the vehicle was spotted by the hitchhiker. Delgado was pronounced deceased at the scene.
The Coast Guard issued a notice of 13 safety violations, including four especially hazardous condition issues, to the crew of a fishing vessel during a joint law enforcement boarding with the Oregon State Police in Tillamook Bay, Sunday. Coast Guard Station Tillamook Bay boarding team members identified numerous safety violations aboard the fishing vessel Jimco and the Coast Guard issued a captain of the port order on the vessel, requiring the crew to keep it in port until all identified safety issues are fixed. The Coast Guard received notification from the Oregon State Police that the crew was potentially operating the vessel in violation of the Federal Clean Water act, with other numerous safety issues. Coast Guard watchstanders in the Tillamook Bar watchtower identified the vessel as it entered the bay, and a joint Coast Guard and Oregon State Police boarding team met the boat at the Garibaldi Marina at 5 p.m. During the joint boarding, it was discovered that a female crewmember aboard the vessel had two outstanding warrants. She was taken into custody by Oregon State Police. Further investigations by Oregon State Police officers revealed the woman had a personal use amount of methamphetamines in her possession. The existence of
See CRASH Page A5
See GARIBALDI Page A5
After two years of proposals and appeals, the Tillamook PUD and City Council held a joint workshop on Monday, July 14, to discuss the plans of the Tillamook to Oceanside Transmission Line Project. Debra Nudelman, senior mediator at Kearns & West, presided over the workshop, which featured both the PUD board members, City Council members and members of
LONGEST-RUNNING BUSINESS IN TILLAMOOK COUNTY SINCE 1888
See UTILITY Page A5
One dead, one injured in weekend crash Oregon State Police is continuing the investigation into the cause of a fatal traffic crash found Sunday evening by a hitchhiker along Highway 101 about one mile north of Cannon Beach. The vehicle was spotted approximately 40 feet down a heavily wooded embankment where the passenger was deceased and the driver injured. On July 20, at approximately 8:30 p.m., OSP and local emergency responders were notified that a male hitchhiker spotted a crashed vehicle after hear-
ing cries for help from down an embankment along Highway 101 near milepost 28. Cannon Beach Police Department and Cannon Beach Fire and Rescue arrived first and confirmed one person was deceased and another with serious injuries. Preliminary investigation indicates a 2004 Chevrolet four-door driven by Gabriela Rayon, age 21, from Vancouver, Wash., was traveling southbound on Highway 101 with a passenger identified as Ruth A. Delgado, age 23, from Los Angeles, Calif.