Citizen North Coast
INSIDE
TAPA takes center stage
Get Ready Guide Inside
Pages A12
Headlight Herald
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2019
TILLAMOOK, OREGON • WWW.TILLAMOOKHEADLIGHTHERALD.COM
VOL. 132, NO. 39 • $1.00
Neskowin man sentenced to 20 years for drugs, firearm N
eskowin resident Jon Michael Walsh, 46, was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison and 10 years of supervised release for possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine and heroin and illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. According to court documents, in February 2018 Walsh was on postprison supervision for a 2015 federal firearms conviction when probation officers conducted a routine search of his vehicle outside a community center and found a stolen, loaded
pistol and concealed packages of methamphetamine and heroin. During a subsequent search of Walsh’s Neskowin residence, officers reportedly found additional distribution quantities of methamphetamine and heroin. Walsh later admitted to buying and selling methamphetamine and heroin in Lincoln and surrounding coastal counties to support his own methamphetamine addiction, according to the District of Oregon U.S. Attorney’s Office. U.S. District Court Judge Michael J. McShane also ordered Walsh to
forfeit the stolen pistol and any property derived from his drug trafficking activities. On March 8, Walsh pleaded guilty to one count each of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute heroin and felon in possession of a firearm. He admitted to dealing methamphetamine and heroin while possessing the loaded pistol to protect himself and drug supplies. Walsh previously served nine years in federal prison for distributing methamphetamine while in
possession of a firearm after being sentenced in June 1998. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Oregon State Police, Tillamook County Sheriff’s Office and the Lincoln City Police Department. It was prosecuted by Frank R. Papagni, Jr., Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon, and Michelle Branam, Lincoln County District Attorney. The case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the centerpiece of the Depart-
ment of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidencebased program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Amazing ...
Kilchis River Pumpkin Patch, Corn Maze opens in October Hilary Dorsey headlightreporter@countrymedia.net
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ilchis River Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maze will be open on Saturdays and Sundays during all four weekends in October from 12-5 p.m. The Haunted Corn Maze will take place on Friday, Oct. 25 and Saturday, Oct. 26 from dusk to 11 p.m. The Kilchis River Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maze boasts the largest corn maze on the Oregon Coast. This family business is located just past the two-mile marker on Kilchis River Road. It is open the four weekends prior to Halloween, Oct. 5-6, 12-13, 9-20, and 26-27. Kilchis River Pumpkin patch and Corn Maze offers good, wholesome family fun. Thousands of specialty pumpkins and gourds will be available, free hayrides, and one of the Oregon Coast’s largest corn mazes. The pumpkin patch is authentic with thousands of u-pick pumpkins grown on the farm, including special bi-colored and unconventionally shaped pumpkins and gourds. They are priced according to size and include a hay ride around the farm. “Prices of the pumpkins are by size, ranging from $3 miniature to $20 for the giant pumpkins,” said Patrick Zweifel, owner of the farm. The 5 acre corn maze has a unique design with miles of trails. The cost to go through the maze is $5. A Kid’s Maze is also available for $2. The Haunted Maze is $7. Several fall photo props are set up for great family photos. Field trips are also available. Call 503-815-3762 to schedule your field trip and get discounted pricing.
The Kilchis River Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maze boasts the largest corn maze on the Oregon Coast. This family business is located just past the two-mile marker on Kilchis River Road. It is open all four weekends prior to Halloween, Oct. 5-6, 12-13, 9-20, and 2627. Courtesy photo.
Deadly crashes in Tillamook County Cody Mann headlightnews@ countrymedia.net Hilary Dorsey headlightreporter@ countrymedia.net
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ack-to-back fatal crashes left two dead in Tillamook County this past week. A Bay City man was killed in a head-on crash Friday night, and a Bureau of Land Management (BLM) worker was killed in a crash Thursday evening in the Beaver area. According to Oregon State Police (OSP), at around 9:16 p.m. Sept. 20, troopers and emergency crews responded to a twovehicle crash on Highway 101 near mile post 62 in the Idaville area. OSP said a 1992 Chevrolet C1500 driven by 57-year-old Bay City resident Randall Sisson was southbound when it crossed into the northbound lane and collided with a 2017 Ford U-Haul truck driven by Darryl Borg, 66, of Nehalem. Sisson was killed in the crash. Borg and his pas-
senger, 40-year-old Steven Borg of Nehalem, were not injured. The crash investigation is ongoing. An OSP spokesperson confirmed that alcohol containers were found at the scene. Test results to determine if the crash was alcohol related are pending. OSP was assisted by Tillamook County Sheriff’s Office, Tillamook Police Department, Tillamook Fire Department, and Oregon Department of Transportation. Nestucca Rural Fire and Rescue (NRFR) was dispatched to a crash on Upper Nestucca Road at 6:42 p.m. Thursday, Sep. 19. Emergency crews arrived at 7:07 p.m. to find a vehicle that was 75-100 feet off the road. Burden’s Towing was credited with conducting the difficult, hours-long recovery effort. A Nestucca fire official said the assistance was crucial. Tillamook Fire District, North Lincoln Fire and Rescue (NLFR), Tillamook County Sheriff’s Office (TCSO), and Oregon State Police
Police said a Bay City resident was southbound on Highway 101 and crossed into the opposing lane, colliding with a 2017 Ford U-Haul. Photo: Oregon State Police (2) The U-Haul driver and passenger were not injured in the crash. Photo: Kota Borg also assisted. At 7:13 p.m., it was determined to have been a fatal accident, according to NRFR. NRFR deployed at least a dozen personnel to the scene. Tillamook Fire Department sent and additional four to assist. NLFR also sent four. Units were cleared from the scene sometime after midnight. TCSO later confirmed
that the crash killed a BLM worker who was identified as 64-year-old Michael Steigh of Willamina. A TCSO press release said Tillamook 911 was notified by a BLM employee that they had located a crash site involving an overdue BLM worker off Nestucca River Road, around 13 miles east of Beaver. The press release said Steigh was driving a tractor
with a brush cutting attachment when he went off the road and crashed down a steep hill. Noticing Steigh was late to return, BLM staff made calls and went looking for him. Steigh was unresponsive when located but also difficult for searchers to reach. After arriving at the scene, NRFR confirmed he suffered fatal injuries in the crash.