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INSIDE
INSIDE
Photo collage from the 125th Tillamook County Fair
YoW Recipe Page A3
Page A2
Headlight Herald
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 17, 2016
TILLAMOOK, OREGON • WWW.TILLAMOOKHEADLIGHTHERALD.COM
VOL. 127, NO. 33 • $1.00
Like father
Year of Wellness impacting OYA garden
Headlight Herald/ Brad Mosher
Jeremy Coons (right) is presented with a check for $20,000 from Mary Bosche of the Rural Development Initiative Wednesday in Garibaldi.
Like son Courtesy photo/ Oregon Youth Authority
Year of Wellness volunteer Neal Lemery works with young sex offenders in the garden at Tillamook Youth Correctional Facility.
Like son
By Ann Powers apowers@countrymedia.net Daniel, convicted sex offender, knows firsthand how a troubled life can grow into a healthier one through the power of gardening. In fact, he said gardening is his “reason for getting up in the morning” and the inspiration to better his life “on the outside” when he’s released in October from the Oregon Youth Authority’s Tillamook Youth Correctional Facility – where he’s been housed for the past five years. “If you don’t really think your life is worth it, it gives you a real reason to continue living,” Daniel explained. “Because I’m helping these plants live and they depend on you. You feel appreciated and it helps you enjoy your life.” Year of Wellness volunteer Neal Lemery agrees. The former Tillamook County Justice of the Peace
n See GARDEN, Page A10
INDEX Classified Ads..................... B5-10 Crossword Puzzle.....................B2 Fenceposts........................... B3-4 Letters................................... A4-5 Obituaries............................. A6-7 Opinions............................... A4-5 Sports................................ A11-12
this year and brought home a second-place trophy. Marty, 54, plans on racing one more year and then ‘passing the pig’ to his son. “I’ll just do my best and hopefully it’s in my blood,” Dillon said. “We’ll see how it turns out.” The Pig-N-Ford Races have been a popular event at the Tillamook County Fair since
n See WALKER, Page A3
n See GRANT, Page A9
Courtesy photo/ Model T Pig-N-Fords, Headlight Herald photos/ Brad Mosher and Jordan Wolfe
Walkers join ranks of third generation Pig-N-Ford racers When it comes to Pig-NFord racing, the Walkers have winning in their blood. Three generations worth to be exact, starting with Dean Walker, of Tillamook, who won his first race in 1959 and went on to win seven more wrapping up his victory streak with the world championship in 1968.
His son, Marty Walker, won his first Pig-N-Ford competition in 1996, before Dean died of lung cancer in 1998. He went on to score 12 more world titles including the 2016 top nod, Aug. 13. “Yeah, I love it,” Marty said. “But, I’ve had my run and it’s time for my son to take over. I think he’ll be one of the all-time best.” That would be Dillon, 16, who raced for the first time
By Brad Mosher bmosher@countrymedia.net Tillamook Bay Seafoods moved a step closer to opening for business on the commercial wharf in the Port of Garibaldi Wednesday. The fledgling company received a grant from Rural Development Initiatives, a Eugene-based nonprofit at a meeting in Garibaldi City Hall. That infusion of capital will allow the company, co-owned by brothers Jeremy and Jesse Coon, to get a new fish hoist. That, in turn, will be the start of a plan to building a fish processing plant which could help spawn a commercial renaissance in the Port of Garibaldi. Jesse Coon said that as he was growing up in the commercial fishing, he could see a need in the port. “What we don’t have,” he explained. “We don’t even have an ice plant here in Garibaldi. I saw an opening. “I am a bait dealer. We are leasing more space from the Port of Garibaldi so that we can expand into seafood processing and get an
(Top) Dean Walker won his first Pig-N-Ford Championship 1959 and went on to score seven more top finishes. (Center) Marty Walker scrambles with a pig as he clinches his 13th Pig-N-Ford Championship this year. (Bottom) Dillon Walker, 16, is the third generation of Walkers to carry on the family tradition of Pig-N-Ford racing and winning.
By Ann Powers apowers@countrymedia.net
Local officials hope grant helps spawn new business in Garibaldi
New restaurant has old ties By Jordan Wolfe jwolfe@countrymedia.net
Margarita: A cocktail made with tequila and citrus juice. Also, the Spanish word for “daisy.” At Tillamook’s newest restaurant, Las Margaritas, it’s about the flowers, not the beverage. “I’m not advertising alcohol,” Victoria Mata Lopez, owner, laughed. “I just love the flowers.” Las Margaritas is located in the same building as Mata Lopez’s previous restaurant, La Casa Modelo, Tillamook’s first Mexican restaurant. “I’ve spent my life in here since I came to this town in 1988,” she said. After working at La Casa Modelo for eight years, she purchased the restaurant. She laughed, “That’s a lot of years.” Six years ago, she closed the restaurant. “A lot of people ask me why I closed.” Following the death of her son Javier Torres Mata to cancer, she stepped away from the restaurant business and leased the building. “When Javier was sick, the whole town came and helped me,” she said, adding she is thankful for everything the community has done for her
and looks at opening up another restaurant as a way of saying “thank you.” “I was missing something – and it was this.” Mata Lopez said while looking around the newly painted interior of the restaurant. In January, Mata Lopez began working on renovations to the building and opened Las Margaritas on July 3. “I’m just so excited,” she said, “We have a wonderful cook, Lolita. I love Lolita.” Dolores “Lolita” Pacheco Cruz had never met Mata Lopez before, but came by the restaurant and offered her abilities in the kitchen. “She is so professional,” Mata Lopez said. Promising to host a grand opening soon, Mata Lopez said she is inviting everyone to enjoy the standouts from their menu, including homemade tamales and the fajitas Lolita makes. She said the menu features similar items from La Casa Modelo and new dishes, as well. “Everything is homemade and nothing comes from a can. We cook it like at home,” she said, adding, “We have the best salsa in town.” Since opening Las Margaritas, Mata Lopez said, “My favorite part is my people – the custom-
Headlight Herald photo/ Jordan Wolfe
Victoria Mata Lopez (l), owner of Las Margaritas and her cook Dolores “Lolita” Pacheco Cruz (r). After a six-year hiatus from the restaurant business, Mata Lopez, owner of Tillamook’s first Mexican restaurant, La Casa Modelo, is excited to start again. ers- new and old faces that come in and give me a hug.” When asked about how competitive Mexican cuisine in Tillamook has become, Mata Lopez smiled and said, “We all have an opportunity. The sky is
for everybody.” Las Margaritas is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday at 1160 Highway 101 North in Tillamook. For more information, call 503-3545032.