Pacific City Sun, September 22, 2023

A recently completed restoration in tributaries of the Sand Lake Basin is expected to improve fish habitat

On Our Cover:

A PARTNERSHIP

Assistance for Aquatic Life

A recently completed streambed restoration on the Sand Lake Basin is expected to improve fish habitat

By TIM HIRSCH of the Sun

With its wood enhancement project in Andy Creek reaching completion earlier this month, Nestucca, Neskowin and Sand Lake Watersheds Council, together with its partners, is well on the way to improving fish habitat in the three tributaries of the Sand Lake Basin. The additional tributaries that are a part of the project are Jewel and Sand Creeks, both of which converge just downstream of where Sand Lake Store is and flow into Sand Lake.

The large wood habitat enhancement project owns its beginning to a limiting habitat analysis that the Watersheds Council did in 2019. A key finding of that analysis revealed that streams here are understocked with large wood, which Watersheds Council Executive Director Dave Shively said is important for providing habitat complexity and flood plain connectivity to the stream. He said such woody debris is also important for juvenile salmon “in particular during the winter months when flows are high, but also during the summer months when they need nice good, cool habitat with plenty of cover so that they can rear up through the first year of life and then migrate out later on.”

For all three Sand Lake tributaries, Shively said the Watershed Council has identified 74 sites and individual placements for large wood within approximately 2.69 miles of these tributaries. Approximately four to eight logs, half with rootwads attached, are the key components installed at each of the sites. Complete Brush Cutting Services, LLC, was the contractor for the project.

Much of the funding — $84,753 — for the project came from the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board, but Tillamook Estuaries Project, through its local grant program made possible by Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funds that the National Estuaries Program receives through the EPA, contributed $50,000 in funds to get the Andy Creek portion of the project across the finish line. In-kind donations accounted for another $47,464 bringing the total for the project to $182,037.

“We were very happy to be able to offer Dave (enough) so

he could finish part of the project,” said Kristi Foster, executive director of TEP. “Otherwise, he’d have to demobilize, then, in the future, remobilize and then this project would cost even more to finish.”

Others contributing to the project were Stimson Lumber Company, U.S. Forest Service-Siuslaw National Forest, and the Confederated Tribe of Siletz Indians, each of which supplied logs for the effort.

“These three tributaries, Jewel, Sand and Andy Creeks, are very important for a variety of species,” said Derek Wiley, fish habitat restoration biologist, ODFW-Tillamook. “The goals of putting wood in here depends on the site. It could be creating pool habitat where there’s no pool habitat available. This system has a lot of gravel, but some of our systems are limited. So, putting wood in that will catch gravel is important.

“The wood supports macroinvertebrates, (which is) very important for juvenile salmonids as far as food production. And then, for coho, probably one of the biggest things is all channel habitats. When we have those big flows in the winter, water’s moving down really quickly. Those coho really need these allchannel habitats so back water side channels…and they can find that slow water.”

2023,

including Nestucca, Neskowin, and Sand Lake Watersheds Council, Stimson Lumber Company, Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife, the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians, United States Forest Service and others has enabled an aquatic habitat enhancement project on the Sand Lake Basin.

COMPLETED large wood aquatic habitat enhancement project in tributaries to the Sand Lake Basin is expected to improve fish habitat. The Nestucca, Neskowin, and Sand Lake Watersheds Council oversaw the project.

Photo by Tim Hirsch

THE SAND LAKE Large Wood Aquatic Enhancement Project will seek to improve habitat for coho and other species that utilize freshwater aquatic habitats for various life stages and contribute to coho recovery.

Photos by Tim Hirsch

Cape

parking lot construction resumes

Cape Kiwanda Parking Lot reconstruction resumed on Sept. 18, directly after the Cape Kiwanda Longboard Classic and Cycle Oregon events concluded. The parking lot reconstruction is the first part of Tillamook County’s Kiwanda Corridor Project (KCP) to be built.

Phase II includes completion of the new restroom and will be immediately followed by Phase III in order for the new lot and all its amenities to be ready for use by July 2024. These final two phases are broken out in order to keep the lot operational while partially closing the north side and then the south side. The phases include demolition of the existing restrooms; repaving / grading of the parking lot and Hungry Harbor Road with upgraded stormwater management systems; construction of pedestrian-only pathways to the beach; civic overlook; upgraded refuse and recycling; EV charging stations; information kiosk; safe routes for drop-offs, pedestrians, bikes and the free PC Shuttle; and the trailhead for the Multi-Use Path.

The design team has also incorporated infrastructure for future wayfinding connections to the five other project elements of the KCP. For more information on the overall KCP, visit the project website: https://tillamookcoast.com/ southcounty/kiwanda-corridor/

County transient lodging taxes and dayuse revenues from Pacific City parking lots have funded the County’s KCP planning and construction work to date. The County was just awarded a sizeable grant from Oregon Parks & Recreation’s Large Government Grant Program, which will significantly aid in completion of the Parking Lot and allow additional funds to be spent on remaining components of the KCP.

The KCP connects multiple county properties and supports the development of other public spaces with a thoughtfully programmed design that disperses crowds, creates opportunities for equitable outdoor play and education, and promotes stewardship of Pacific City and its natural resources as a whole.

The six project elements include: Cape Kiwanda Parking Lot, Jensen Property, Nestucca Valley Community Alliance Park, Multi-Use Path, Webb Park, and the Shorepine Village Boardwalk.

The KCP’s values are: Place (Honor the natural and built heritage of Pacific City), People (Enhance the experience for the diverse range of people in Pacific

City), Natural Environment (Prioritize sound ecological decisions and support sustainability), Fiscal Responsibility (Make efficient and responsible financial decisions and maintain affordability), Connectivity (Support and integrate multimodal connectivity in and around Pacific

City while prioritizing accessibility) and Safety (Prioritize everyday safety alongside emergency management).

For more information, contact Rachel Hagerty, Tillamook County Chief of Staff, at Rachel.Hagerty@tillamookcounty.gov.

Photos by Tim Hirsch

EMERGENCY RESPONDER VOLUNTEERS were trained to deal with emergencies in the great outdoors during a recent Wilderness Medicine course. The program is sponsored by the Tillamook Coast Visitors Association.

Wilderness First Aid classes now available for Tillamook County groups

Tillamook Coast Visitors Association sponsored a Wilderness First Aid Class Sept. 9-10 for 16 North County emergency volunteers and professionals. The 16hour class was held at Nehalem Bay Fire & Rescue Station and instruction was provided by Pacific Wilds and National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) Wilderness Medicine.

“Providing our local emergency responders relevant training benefits our residents and our visitors,” says Dan Haag, TCVA Director of Trails & Outdoor Recreation.

Course goals aligned with ongoing training in emergency preparedness for responders such as local Medical Reserve Corps, CERTs and Nehalem Bay Fire &

Rescue. The program included a mix of classroom and outdoor scenarios with hands-on response practice and decisionmaking.

Instruction included the Patient Assessment System, how to provide effective first aid treatment for injuries and illnesses common in the outdoors, and how to make appropriate evacuation decisions while in an austere environment, where medical care is not readily available.

TCVA will continue to offer this class to all of Tillamook County. Emergency responder groups interested in participating in future wilderness medicine training sessions are invited to email Dan Haag at dan@tillamookcoast.com for more information.

Tool helps visitors calculate, mitigate their carbon impact

Oregon Coast Visitors Association has launched a new Travel Impact Calculator to help visitors to the Oregon Coast determine and mitigate the carbon impact of their travel through a donation to a coastal stewardship nonprofit. It can be found on OCVA’s website, thepeoplescoast.com, under “Be Kind to the Coast.”

“Travelers choose to visit the Oregon Coast for its scenic beauty and environmental quality,” says Arica Sears, OCVA deputy director. “After visitors fall in love with the Coast, they want to help care for the Coast. Our travel impact calculator helps them give back by contributing to a coastal stewardship nonprofit.”

Carbon dioxide emissions are linked to changing climate, a key concern for Oregon Coast communities. OCVA’s calculator and voluntary donation system are part of its Mitigation, Adaptation and Resiliency Plan,” adopted in 2022.

OCVA’s travel impact calculator estimates carbon emissions resulting from visitor transportation, including air travel, vehicle

travel, and public transit. Visitors who use the calculator input their travel distance and miles per gallon or vehicle type to calculate their approximate emissions.

The tool then offers visitors the opportunity to mitigate their calculated impact by making a donation to the Tillamook Estuaries Partnership, an environmental nonprofit doing work to capture carbon and care for the environment.

“We are pleased to partner with OCVA on this initiative,” says Claudine Rehn, TEP deputy director. “Enabling visitors to support coastal conservation and restoration fits well with our commitment to community engagement and education.”

Coastal estuaries mitigate carbon emissions by sequestering carbon, or pulling it out of the atmosphere. Voluntary visitor donations will help support TEP’s native plant nursery, which provides coastally-adapted stock for environmental restoration projects along the entire Oregon Coast.

talkback

Longboard contest lauded for commitment to safety

To the Editor:

I’d like to say what a professional job the longboard competition was. As Dory charter operator, it is my utmost concern to keep my passenger safe and the surfers safe. I want to thank the announcer at that longboard competition for his professionalism and concern, he let the surfers know when the boats were coming in, he gave them ample warning, and they all listened to him, and it was a pure

pleasure to have them down there this weekend. Thank you.

Mark Lytle owner of charter operator Pacific City Fishing (pacificcityfishing.com)

Pacific City Sun welcomes reader feedback. Letters to the Editor are published on a first-come, first-serve basis, and are subject to the availablity of space. Letters should be concise and relevant to South Tillamook County. Letters should be no longer than 350 words and may be edited for length, grammar and style. Submit your letters to tim@ pacificcitysun.com for consideration. Thanks for reading the Pacific City Sun and participating in this opportunity to share your thoughts and opinions with our many readers.

Nestucca River Country

Looking Back

Photo courtesy of Tillamook Coast Visitors Association

Building Opportunities

By TIM HIRSCH of the Sun

Students are now reaping the reward of Nestucca Valley School District’s recently finished Career Technical Education Lab, a 13,000 square foot building funded by a combination of remaining bond funds from the addition/ remodel of the Nestucca K-8 Campus, plus dollars from the district’s general fund and a loan.

The new building is already being used by approximately 90 students in varying capacities. Features of the new building include a weight room for athletic programs and strength-training classes; a 2,500 square foot flex shop, and a 2,500 square foot metal shop. It also features a computer lab, a classroom designed and equipped for virtual instructors, storage space and a teacher’s office that has windows that look out on the flex and metal shop.

The new building, which is sited at the high school campus, was completed under the oversight of general contractor O’Brien Construction and cost approximately $5.4 million.

The aforementioned flex and metal shops can be opened up to each other or closed off. The flex shop is designed so it can be used for a number of things such as bicycle maintenance or for painting a number of projects.

The metal shop has a variety of tools of the trade including welders and welding stations, the latter of which were built by longtime instructor Ron Smith, and a CNC fabricating machine.

“(With the) CNC machine, (students will be) able to manufacture parts and (other) things,” said Chad Holloway, NVSD administrator of Facilities and Alternative Education. “Part of the (idea) is to be able to put something together in the (school’s) CAD program and have the machine (produce it).”

Holloway said that while the facility is a huge upgrade, it’s just the first step in developing more opportunities for students other than preparing them for college.

“We’re working with the other districts

in the county to create a five-year plan that aligns CTE (programs) across the county to develop CTE programs that serve our kids and leverage the strengths of the individual districts,” Holloway added. “We’re doing that in cooperation (with Tillamook Bay Community College), our Northwest Regional (Education Service District), and a number of industry partners.

“As part of that process, one thing we’re looking at doing is bringing together a skills center in cooperation with all (our) partners. It will give (students) opportunities that we wouldn’t be able to offer on our own, and, maybe. other districts wouldn’t be able to offer on their own because of the size of the districts and the resources they have. But, if we’re able to put them all together, and cooperate in that fashion, it’s going to be

much more successful.”

For members of the public, there are two upcoming opportunities to get a tour of the new facility and hear from the district about its future goals. There’s a Portico meeting designed to solicit input from parents on Sept. 27, starting at 6 p.m. (see related story, page 7), and the Pacific CityNestucca Valley Chamber of Commerce will hold their next monthly meeting at the facility on Tuesday, Oct. 3, starting at noon.

Nestucca Valley Presbyterian Church

NESTUCCA VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT’S newly completed Career Technical Education Lab is a 13,000 square foot building that is the cornerstone for the district’s dedication to providing education in trades such as welding and parts manufacturing.

THE CAREER TECHNICAL EDUCATION building houses a flex shop, pictured above left, and a metal shop, above right, which can be opened up to each other or closed off. Pictured below is a weight room for athletic programs and strength-training classes.

NVSD’s recently completed Career Technical Education Lab is the new cornerstone of the district’s dedication to education for the trades

Photo s by Tim Hirsch

He’s Taking the Helm

CARE to hire Jeff Blackford as its fourth executive director in organization’s 32-year history

Community Action Resource Enterprises (CARE), Inc. recently announced that Jeff Blackford will be joining their team as their next executive director starting this month. Blackford joins CARE after a seven-year run as the executive director of C.H.A.N.C.E., an agency that works with those experiencing homelessness, addiction and mental illness in Linn, Benton, and Lincoln Counties.

“Jeff brings a lot of great experience and a track record of success in the very projects and programs that we are working on at CARE right now,” explained Dusti Linnell, CARE’s board chair, who, along with board treasurer Nicole Vertner, has been fulfilling the functions of the ED since February.

“We are excited that Jeff will be joining our community and for the leadership and enthusiasm he will bring as CARE begins unrolling some new services for our friends and neighbors in Tillamook County.”

As announced in May, CARE is working to increase the number of shelter beds and shelter options available to the residents of Tillamook County who are experiencing homelessness. Reportedly, Blackford has extensive experience working on issues related to housing and homelessness from his time with C.H.A.N.C.E., including acquiring a 140-bed shelter that provides critical access to shelter and supportive services to the people of Albany, Ore.

“I have watched the work that CARE has been doing in Tillamook County for years and cannot express just how excited I am about being part of this team,” Blackford said. “I am looking forward to working with this team to introduce new shelter services for people experiencing homelessness, and to supporting all of their other amazing

programs focused on housing, homelessness, poverty, and parenting support and early childhood development.”

Blackford is not only a proven nonprofit executive with a track record of success, but he also has spent years working with coastal communities in Oregon.

“One of the great assets that Jeff brings to CARE is his experience working in rural and coastal communities like ours,” said Linnell, “and not only does he understand communities like ours, but he is also skilled in finding creative and collaborative solutions to some really challenging problems like housing and homelessness. Jeff is exactly who we need, and I am thrilled for what he will do for us in Tillamook County.”

To learn more about CARE visit their website at CAREinc.org and like them on Facebook @TillamookCARE. To learn what CARE can do for you, give them a call at 503-842-5261.

NVSD to host Parent and Community Portico Evening

Nestucca Valley School District will be holding a Parent & Community Portico Evening on Wednesday, Sept. 27 at 6 p.m. The event will be held in the Career and Technical Education Lab at Nestucca Valley High School, which is located at 34660 Parkway Dr. in Cloverdale.

The evening, which will feature guest presenter Michael Garlin, invites the community to give input on topics such

as what they want to see in a Nestucca graduate and what values they think the school district should stand for.

Those who can’t make the meeting in person can still watch the streamed presentation and share their opinion via a link found at nestucca.k12.or.us.

A tour of the district’s new CTE building will be available after the presentation to parents and the community.

JEFF BLACKFORD has been named Community Action Resource Enterprises (CARE) Inc.’s new executive director. Blackford’s experience of working with housing and homelessness issues aligns with CARE’s goal of increasing shelter beds and options in Tillamook County.

Photo courtesy of Jeff Blackford

Cyclists Aplenty

Nestucca Valley School District gives positive review of experience hosting the Cycle Oregon Classic

By TIM HIRSCH of the Sun

In what was Cycle Oregon’s final weeklong event, Nestucca Valley School District hosted more than 1,100 riders on Sept. 11 when they first rode into the K-8 campus to the cheers of Nestucca High School cheerleaders.

And, while according to the school officials, the hosting efforts didn’t cost the district anything, it did earn them plenty as Cycle Oregon donated $25,000 to the district so they can continue to develop its sports fields.

In addition, according to a letter penned by Superintendent Misty Wharton, “multiple school teams, NVSD staff, and parent groups volunteered time, which resulted in their teams, programs and groups receiving thousands of dollars.”

Wharton also noted that by observing the K-8 campus in action with thousands of people camping, it gave the district “insight into how we can organize in an emergency and how our facility functioned.”

In the letter, Wharton also addressed some concerns heard from the public. She noted that students had lost no instruction time.

“Every year, weekdays fall differently, and we continue to serve our students more

than five additional days than the state mandates,” she explained.

She also wrote that there were no security issues and that during the whole event, “the only Cycle Oregon participants that had been in the building are those with a disability accessing our locker room showers on days that students were not present.”

Wharton further elaborated at the district’s board of director meeting on Sept. 18.

“It was a great opportunity for high school kids (participating in) activities and sports to fundraise with 1,100 to 1,200 people,” she told the Board. “There were vetted adults (present) when the interfacing was happening.”

She also commented on the positive behavior by the visiting cyclists.

“Those bicyclists that were here for Cycle Oregon were respectful, kind, enjoyed our area, left our campus cleaner than they found it, and so it was a chance for our kids to interface with these different people as well,” she said.

For more information on the Nestucca Valley School District, visit Nestucca.k12. or.us.

NESTUCCA VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT hosted more than 1,100 riders Sept. 11-13 as the final edition of the Cycle Oregon Classic made the Nestucca K-8 School one of its key stops on its seven-day tour. Below, cyclists make the trip back to Cloverdale after a Sept. 12 side trip on the 3 Capes Scenic Route.

Photos by Tim Hirsch

Photos by Tim Hirsch

Photos by Tim Hirsch

Calendar Events of

MANZANITA FARMERS MARKET

Sept. 22, 4-7 p.m. Underhill Plaza, 635 Manzanita Ave., Manzanita. Variety of vendors with fresh fruit and vegetables, arts and crafts, and much more. For more information, visit manzanitafarmersmarket.com.

NESKOWIN FARMERS MARKET

Sept. 23, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Hwy. 101 & Summit Rd., Neskowin. Various vendors - arts and crafts, fresh vegetables and fruits, and much more. SNAP match.

TILLAMOOK FARMERS MARKET

Sept. 23, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Corner of Laurel Ave. & Second St., Tillamook. Fruits and vegetables, arts and crafts, SNAP match. For more information, visit tillamookchamber.org.

FALL KITE FESTIVAL

Sept. 23-24, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. D River Wayside, Lincoln City, For more information, visit ExploreLincolnCity.com or call 541-996-2119.

BLOCK PRINTING CLASS

Sept. 23, 2-3:30 p.m. PC-Pour Wine Bar, 33310 Cape Kiwanda Dr., Pacific City. Carve your own block print and press into mixed media. $55 fee includes supplies and instruction and first beverage. Sign-up at PC-Pour.com.

BINGO NIGHT

Sept. 23, 5-6:30 p.m. PC-Pour Wine Bar, 33310 Cape Kiwanda Dr., Pacific City. Free admission. Must be 21 or over. Free Bingo. Sign-up at PCPour.com.

MCMINNVILLE SHORT FILM FESTIVAL

Sept. 23, 7 p.m. NCRD, 36155 9th St., Nehalem. Award-winning short films. $10 tickets, available at the door. For more information, visit ncrd.org.

PACIFIC CITY FARMERS MARKET

Sept. 24, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Grounds of South Tillamook County Library, 6200 Camp St., Pacific City. Fresh and local food, artisans crafts and more.

GRIEF & LOSS SUPPORT GROUP

Sept. 24, 2-4 p.m. Kiawanda Community Center, 34600 Cape Kiwanda Dr., Pacific City. For more information, call 503-965-7900.

PACIFIC CITY WALKING WONDERS

Sept. 25, 27 & 29, 10 a.m. Meet at Kiawanda Community Center, 34600 Cape Kiwanda Dr., Pacific City. For more information, visit https:// tillamookcountywellness.org/move-well/walking-groups/ or contact coordinator Kathy at katystar7@hotmail.com or 503-801-7448 (text).

COMMUNITY CONVERSATION

Sept. 26, 5-7 p.m. PC-Pour Wine Bar, 33310 Cape Kiwanda Dr., Pacific City. Joel Zwink will talk about his photos and how to get the most out of your phone camera. Sign-up at PC-Pour. com.

TILLAMOOK COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MEETING

Sept. 27, 9 a.m. Tillamook County Courthouse, 201 Laurel Ave., Room 106. Also available via teleconference live video at tctvonline.com or teleconference at #971-254-3149, conference ID: 736-023-979 (listen only). For agenda, visit co.tillamook.or.us/bocc.

SOUTH TILLAMOOK COUNTY

LIBRARY STORYTIME

Sept. 27, 3:30 p.m. South Tillamook County Library, 6200 Camp St., Pacific City. Co-hosted by David and Theresa. All ages invited. For more information, call 503-965-6163.

PARENT & COMMUNITY PORTICO EVENING

Sept. 27, 6 p.m. Nestucca Valley High School, CTE Lab, 34660 Parkway Dr., Cloverdale. Guest speaker Michael Garlin. Add your voice to the

Sept. 23, 10:30 a.m. Meet at Sitka Sedge Natural Area parking lot, three miles north of Cape Kiwanda. Fundraising walk for Pet Partners of the Oregon Coast. Walkers welcome with pet or without.

shaping the future of the Nestucca Valley School District. For more information, call 503392-3194.

CELTIC SERIES: HERON VALLEY

Sept. 27, 7-9 p.m. Lincoln City Cultural Center, 540 NE Hwy. 101, Lincoln City. Heron Valley plays traditional Scottish and Irish music. Tickets $20-$35. For more information visit LincolnCityCulturalCenter.org or call 541-994-9994.

PAINTING GROUP

Sept. 28, 10 a.m.-noon. Kiawanda Community Center, 34600 Cape Kiwanda Dr., Pacific City. All levels welcome. For more information, call 503-965-7900.

TAI CHI

Sept. 28, 10:30 a.m. Kiawanda Community Center, 34600 Cape Kiwanda Dr., Pacific City. Volunteer led for all ages and levels. For more information, call 503-510-0588.

ROCKAWAY BEACH ARTISANS MARKET

Sept. 28, 4-8 p.m. Ocean’s Edge Wayside, South 1st St., Rockaway Beach. For more information, visit rockawaybeach.net.

TILLAMOOK COLISEUM THEATER

100TH BIRTHDAY

Sept. 30. Tillamook Coliseum Theater, 310 Main Ave., Tillamook. Prizes, tours, raffles, movies, and comedy event. Doors open at 10:30 a.m. For more information, visit tillamookcoliseum.com or call 503-842-6111.

NESKOWIN FARMERS MARKET

Sept. 30, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Hwy. 101 & Summit Rd., Neskowin. Various vendors - arts and crafts, fresh vegetables and fruits, and much more. SNAP match.

MANDALA ROCK PAINTING & CANDLE WORKSHOP

Sept. 30, 2-3:30 p.m. PC-Pour Wine Bar, 33310 Cape Kiwanda Dr., Pacific City. Create your own Mandala Rock Painting and Scented Candle. $55 fee includes supplies, instruction and first beverage. Limited spaces available. Sign-up at PC-Pour.com.

TILLAMOOK FARMERS MARKET

Sept. 30, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Corner of Laurel Ave. & Second St., Tillamook. Fruits and vegetables, arts and crafts, SNAP match. For more informa-

tion, visit tillamookchamber.org.

PICTIONARY NIGHT

Sept. 30, 5-6:30 p.m. PC-Pour Wine Bar, 33310 Cape Kiwanda Dr., Pacific City. Free admission. Must be 21 or over. Play Pictionary. Sign-up at PC-Pour.com.

BIG BAND SATURDAY NIGHT

WITH THE LINCOLN POPS

Sept. 30, 7-10 p.m. Lincoln City Cultural Center, 540 NE Hwy. 101, Lincoln City. Swing and big band tunes for dancing and listening. Tickets $20. For more information visit LincolnCityCulturalCenter.org or call 541-994-9994.

GRIEF & LOSS SUPPORT GROUP

Oct. 1, 2-4 p.m. Kiawanda Community Center, 34600 Cape Kiwanda Dr., Pacific City. For more information, call 503-965-7900.

THE SENSATIONAL BARNES BROTHERS

Oct. 1, 7-9 p.m. Lincoln City Cultural Center, 540 NE Hwy. 101, Lincoln City. Soul Gospel Music by Chris and Courtney Barnes. For more information visit LincolnCity-CulturalCenter.org or call 541-994-9994.

PACIFIC CITY WALKING WONDERS

Oct. 2, 4 & 6, 10 a.m. Meet at Kiawanda Community Center, 34600 Cape Kiwanda Dr., Pacific City. For more information, visit https:// tillamookcountywellness.org/move-well/walking-groups/ or contact coordinator Kathy at katystar7@hotmail.com or 503-801-7448 (text).

STITCHERS QUILTING GROUP

Oct. 3, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Kiawanda Community Center, 34600 Cape Kiwanda Dr., Pacific City. Community of people who make things for others - all levels welcome. $3 admission.

PACIFIC CITY-NESTUCCA VALLEY

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE MEETING

Oct. 3, noon. Nestucca K-8 Campus. Tour of new CTE building, plus local community and business matters.

SOUTH COUNTY FOOD PANTRY

Oct. 3, 12:30-6 p.m. Nestucca Valley Presbyterian Church, 35305 Brooten Rd., Pacific City.

COMMUNITY CONVERSATION

Oct. 3, 5-6:30 p.m. PC-Pour Wine Bar, 33310 Cape Kiwanda Dr., Pacific City. Charlie Royster, owner of Oregon Coast Tours, will speak on

best excursions in the local area. Sign-up at PC-Pour.com.

TILLAMOOK COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MEETING

Oct. 4, 9 a.m. Tillamook County Courthouse, 201 Laurel Ave., Room 106. Also available via teleconference live video at tctvonline.com or teleconference at #971-254-3149, conference ID: 736-023-979 (listen only). For agenda, visit co.tillamook.or.us/bocc.

PLANT PROPAGATION CLASS

Oct. 5, 10 a.m.-noon. Tillamook County Master Gardeners Learning Garden, Tillamook County Fairgrounds, 4603 3rd St., Tillamook. Bring plant you’d like to propagate; other supplies provided. Register at https://beav.es/Tbw.

PAINTING GROUP

Oct. 5, 10 a.m.-noon. Kiawanda Community Center, 34600 Cape Kiwanda Dr., Pacific City. All levels welcome. For more information, call 503-965-7900.

TAI CHI

Oct. 5, 10:30 a.m. Kiawanda Community Center, 34600 Cape Kiwanda Dr., Pacific City. Volunteer led for all ages and levels. For more information, call 503-510-0588.

ARTIST OF THE MONTH RECEPTION

Oct. 6, 5-7 p.m. Bay City Arts Center, 5680 A St., Bay City. Eric Sappington and Brittany Sheffield. For more information, visit baycityartscenter.com or call 503-377-9620.

ARTIST RECEPTION

Oct. 6, 5-7 p.m. Lincoln City Cultural Center, 540 NE Hwy. 101, Lincoln City. Sculptor Angela Haseltine Pozzi’s show Single-Use Planet: Facing Humanity. For more information visit LincolnCity-CulturalCenter.org or call 541-9949994.

PUMPKIN PLANTER WORKSHOP

Oct. 7, 2-3:30 p.m. PC-Pour Wine Bar, 33310 Cape Kiwanda Dr., Pacific City. Learn to create seasonal pumpkin planters.$55 fee includes supplies, instruction, and first beverage. Signup at PC-Pour.com.

HIKING EXPLORIENCE

Oct. 7, 10 a.m. Friends of Wildwoods Open Space, Lincoln City. Trailhead on West Devils Lake Rd., just north of NE 22nd St. at Milepost 2. Free and no registration required. For more information, visit ExploreLincolnCity.com or call 541-996-1274.

TRIVIA NIGHT

Oct. 7, 5-6:30 p.m. PC-Pour Wine Bar, 33310 Cape Kiwanda Dr., Pacific City. Free admission. Must be 21 or over. Test your trivia knowledge. Sign-up at PC-Pour.com.

SOLO SPEAK PRESENTS:

EVERYONE HAS A STORY

Oct. 7, 7 p.m. Grown-up personal stories for grown-ups with Shay Knorr, Doral Vance, and Rodney Dahl. For more information, visit tillamooktheater.com.

SOUND BOWL SUNDAY

Oct. 8, 6:30-7:30 p.m. Kiawanda Community Center, 34600 Cape Kiwanda Dr., Pacific City. $10 admission. For more information, call Kris Rooke, 425-894-4111.

CELTIC SERIES: GADAN

Oct. 8, 2-4 p.m. Lincoln City Cultural Center, 540 NE Hwy. 101, Lincoln City. Gadan plays mix of traditional Irish music, bluegrass, and Appalachian music.Tickets $20-$35. For more information visit LincolnCity-CulturalCenter.org or call 541-994-9994.

PET PARTNERS WALK

A Season of Plenty

NVS will host its 41st annual Harvest Festival on Oct. 7

It’s the time of year when days get a little shorter, leaves start showing off their autumnal colors, pumpkins start popping up everywhere and locals start looking forward to Neskowin Valley School’s Harvest Festival, traditionally held the first Saturday in October. NVS will be hosting its 41st annual Harvest Festival on Saturday, Oct. 7 from 11 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Kids activities, raffle drawings, a cider press, and live music will be part of the offerings at the festivities. As in past years, food will be available at the Slab Creek Grill and the Bakery Cafe.

The funds raised will benefit the school’s Visual and Performing Arts curriculum. Students will be able to participate in theater productions, improv lessons, art literacy workshops, collaborative art projects, and hands-on educational field trips in the community.

Businesses interested in sponsoring the Harvest Festival can contact Head of School Sari Tullis for information.

For 50 years, NVS students have benefited from small class sizes, individualized education, multi-age classes and experiential learning that immerses students in the natural areas of the Oregon Coast. The school is located at 10005 Slab Creek Road in Neskowin. For more information on the school or Harvest Festival, visit neskowinvalleyschool.com.

LIVE MUSIC will provide a soundtrack to NVS’s Harvest Festival on Saturday, Oct. 7.

Oregon Coast prepares for Annular Solar Eclipse

When the sun and the moon align for an annular eclipse on the morning of Oct. 14, Oregon Coast towns from Gleneden Beach on the Central Coast to Langlois south of Bandon will be treated to what Oregon Coast Visitors Association is describing as an unforgettable show of shadow and fire.

OCVA says that many remember the total solar eclipse which swept across Oregon in 2017. This time, the moon will block out most, but not all of the sun, creating a spectacular ring of fire around the dark orb (“annular” means ring-shaped).

A 90-mile-wide shadow will drift east and southward to darken towns like Newport, Waldport, Yachats, Coos Bay, and Bandon. The heart of the deepest, completest part of that shadow — the path of totality — will stretch roughly from Florence southward to

Reedsport. There, peak darkness will last the longest for about four and a half minutes.

To watch the show, gazers should plan to observe essential safety precautions. Protective glasses are currently available for sale at shop.visittheoregoncoast.com/collections/ eclipse-2023, and available for free at Oregon Welcome Centers from Oct. 1-14.

Travelers to the coast are being asked to visit responsibly and be kind to the coast. Suggestions include: know your options for where to watch and where to stay; plan to arrive early at any beach or viewpoint; realize that parking is limited, so have a Plan B and consider car-free possibilities like biking or walking; prepare to practice beach safety and pack out personal trash; and consider a donation to help mitigate the impact of your travel.

Facing Fate with Faith, a Bible devotional written by two sisters who have each faced multiple cancer battles, shares their incredible journey of how God has strengthened them in their

When you feel like there is nowhere to turn and you don’t know where to find the comfort in the Bible, this guide written by sisters who have experienced cancer together will point you in the right direction. Regardless of your stage or progression of disease, you can find messages intended just for you. Facing Fate with Faith reminds you that you are not alone.

KIDS ACTIVITIES are one of the hallmarks of Neskowin Valley School’s Harvest Festivals, and this year’s 41st rendition promises to follow that tradition.

Photos courtesy of Neskowin Valley School

Housing Commission opens second round of funding for Multifamily housing projects

The Tillamook County Housing Commission is now accepting applications for its second round of funding to aid development of multifamily rental housing in Tillamook County. Proposed projects must be to build new multifamily rental housing of three units or more and may be located anywhere in Tillamook County, including cities and unincorporated areas. To support the immediate needs in the County, funding is prioritized for affordable and workforce housing options.

The online application is available by visiting co.tillamook.or.us/bc-hc.

Applications will be accepted until 4 p.m. on Nov. 6.

Any individual, private company, builder, developer, public agency, local government, or nonprofit organization may apply. Both new projects and projects already in planning stages are eligible to apply. Funds may be requested for any associated cost of the proposed project including infrastructure, system development charges, cost overruns, materials, labor, and permits.

The maximum amount the grant will fund is $20,000 per unit in a project. There is a total of $400,000 to award in this funding cycle.

To maintain fair standards for assessment, applications received will be evaluated by the Tillamook County Housing Commission using a criteriabased point system, weighted to ensure that small and large projects are given equal chance to receive funds.

Applicants must submit a pro forma, the financial document that demonstrates their need for additional financing for the proposed project. Applicants will also make a short presentation of their project to the Tillamook County Housing Commissioners at its December meeting. The Housing Commission will make recommendations for awarding funds to the Tillamook County Board of Commissioners. Final award decisions will be made by the Board of County Commissioners.

The Multifamily Family Housing Fund was developed by the Finance Committee of the Tillamook County Housing Commission. The fund is supported by fees Tillamook County collects for Short Term Rental (STR) Operator Licenses in unincorporated areas, and is part of the Commission’s larger strategy to find collaborative and achievable solutions to the countywide housing shortage.

A list of 2022 funded projects can be found on the Tillamook County Housing Commission website.

For more information, contact Housing Coordinator Parker Sammons, at housing@co.tillamook.or.us or, visit co.tillamook.or.us/bc-hc.

New earthquake center to focus on Cascadia Subduction Zone

By MICHELLE KLAMPE Oregon State University

Oregon State University researchers will play key roles in a new multi-institution earthquake research center dedicated to the study of the Pacific Northwest’s Cascadia Subduction Zone, which is capable of producing earthquakes comparable to the largest recorded globally.

The U.S. National Science Foundation has awarded $15 million over five years to the Cascadia Region Earthquake Science Center, or CRESCENT. The center includes researchers from 14 institutions across the U.S., including Oregon State and Portland State University, and will be led by Diego Melgar of the University of Oregon.

Initially, CRESCENT will focus on foundational science to better and more holistically understand the complex dynamics of the Cascadia Subduction Zone, which runs from northern California to British Columbia.

“Cascadia is a unique tectonic environment. We really don’t have the traditional, everyday seismic signals that give us information about the state of stress of the Earth beneath our feet, but we know that these very big earthquakes occur,” said Pieter-Ewald Share, a co-principal investigator for CRESCENT and an assistant professor of geophysics in OSU’s College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences.

Large earthquakes have been typical in Cascadia’s geologic history, with the most recent occurring in January 1700. Yet relatively few earthquakes are felt by the region’s population. Previous research indicates the subduction zone produced earthquakes as big as magnitude 9.0. A future event will significantly impact communities across the Northwest.

“Part of our goal here is to collectively explore and quantify the various data and signals unique to Cascadia, take advantage of emerging cutting-edge laboratory, modeling and computational tools and provide a more holistic idea of the seismic hazard posed by

the subduction zone,” Share said. “This new, coordinated effort to push the science forward will positively impact and increase our resilience and preparation for a future event.”

Researchers will map out a strategic plan for the CRESCENT at a kickoff meeting in late October. More than 140 scientists, partners and educators will gather at the University of Oregon to launch the effort and begin building the community.

Three major pillars comprise the center’s work over the next five years. Along with the foundational science, the center will prioritize workforce development, to grow and diversify the next generation of geoscientists, and community collaboration, to translate and communicate the center’s findings and recommendations for improving earthquake resiliency of communities, businesses and infrastructure of the Pacific Northwest.

“The main goal of the center is to bring together the large group of geoscientists working in Cascadia to march together to the beat of a singular drum,” said Melgar, an associate professor of earth sciences at the University of Oregon and the center’s principal investigator and director. “The center organizes us, focuses collaboration and identifies key priorities, rather than these institutions competing.”

CRESCENT also includes Oregon State’s Michael Olsen of the College of Engineering; Ben Leshchinsky of the colleges of Engineering and Forestry; and Andrew Meigs and Anne Trehu of the College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences, who will all serve as senior personnel for the project.

Meigs, a professor of geology, will play a leading role in the workforce development pillar of CRESCENT, which will be tasked with engaging, energizing and training the next generation of diverse geoscientists who will take on Cascadia’s biggest science questions in the future.

“The workforce effort will create experiential learning opportunities across a spectrum from high school to university students,” Meigs said. “We aspire to build

cohorts of students from underrepresented groups and provide opportunity to interact with CRESCENT scientists by engaging in earthquake science and gaining skills and experiences that are relevant to their careers and communities.”

Share has various roles in the foundational science pillar and he and Olsen, an expert in earthquake engineering and hazard mitigation, will serve on the committee for the community collaboration pillar.

CRESCENT builds on a foundation of more than three decades of past and ongoing earthquake research at Oregon State, including the Cascadia Lifelines Program, a research initiative to improve performance of critical infrastructure during a major earthquake. Another significant and ongoing effort, the Cascadia Coastlines and Peoples Hazards Research Hub, seeks to increase understanding of the chronic and acute natural hazards and climate changes that face coastal communities.

Additional institutions involved in the project include University of Washington, Central Washington University, Western Washington University, Cal Poly Humboldt, Purdue University, Smith College, Stanford University, University of North Carolina –Wilmington, University of California, San Diego, Virginia Tech and the U.S. Geological Survey.

CRESCENT is one of two earthquake research centers to be funded through NSF’s Centers for Innovation and Community Engagement in Solid Earth Geohazards program.

The Southern California Earthquake Center, which has operated for more than 30 years, also received funding. That center’s activities include helping to develop the earthquake early warning system ShakeAlert; coordinating the annual “Great ShakeOut” earthquake drill; and establishing the California Earthquake Country Alliance, which is dedicated to improving earthquake and tsunami preparedness, mitigation and resiliency.

Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission votes to end wildlife killing contests

At a Sept. 15 hearing in Bend, the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission voted unanimously to prohibit wildlife killing contests for coyotes and other species classified as unprotected mammals in the state. A coalition of 22 local and national wildlife and conservation organizations and hunters, wildlife management professionals, scientists, veterinarians and advocates across Oregon submitted testimony in support. Oregon is now the ninth state to vote to end these competitions.

In wildlife killing contests, participants compete for cash and prizes to kill the most, the largest and the smallest coyotes and other wildlife within a specified time period.

The Humane Society of the United States has gone undercover at dozens of these contests across the United States, including a 2018 investigation at a Hines, Oregon

contest.

More scientific studies reportedly find that these contests do not reduce coyote numbers or prevent conflicts with livestock, and may even increase them. Instead, more economical and effective methods are available to help Oregon farmers coexist with native wildlife.

“Wildlife killing contests are abhorred by the Oregon public and have no place in our state,” said Kelly Peterson, Oregon state director for the Humane Society of the United States.

Organizations that supported the proposed rule included the Humane Society of the United States, Animal Legal Defense Fund, Animal Welfare Institute, Bitterbrush Broads & Bros Leadership Team, Cascadia Wildlands, Center for Biological Diversity, Central Oregon LandWatch,

Endangered Species Coalition, Great Old Broads for Wilderness, Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association, Humane Voters Oregon, Lark Ranch Rescue and Rehabilitation, National Wolfwatcher Coalition, Northeast Oregon Ecosystems, Oregon Humane Society, Oregon Wild, Portland Audubon, Predator Defense, Project Coyote, Think Wild, Western Environmental Law Center, Western Watersheds Project and the Humane Society Wildlife Land Trust.

Oregon becomes the ninth state to ban wildlife killing contests, following Arizona, California, Colorado, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Mexico, Vermont and Washington. In June, the New York state legislature passed a bill to end wildlife killing contests. The legislation now awaits the governor’s signature.

Seek and Ye Shall Find

Tillamook Vision’s ‘Find the Eye’ Treasure Hunt ends at Mt. Hebo

By CHELSEA YARNELL for the Sun

At the base of Mt. Hebo, hidden in a huckleberry bush, was the treasure David James had been looking for: a glass eye sculpture. As finder of the sculpture, James became winner of Tillamook Vision Center’s 2023 “Find the Eye” $5,000 treasure hunt.

“I like treasure hunts and solving and finding things,” James said. “I saw that it was in Tillamook County, and I thought I had a good chance of finding it.”

Tillamook Vision Center, with Pacific Vision branch in Pacific City, launched the “Find the Eye’” treasure hunt at the end of August.

A glass eye sculpture was hidden in an undisclosed location in Tillamook County, and the community was invited to search, all in hopes of being the first to touch it and win the cash prize.

The event was an effort to give back to the community as a thanks for their support through the years. Tillamook Vision Center co-owners Dr. Lee Johnson and Kristin Johnson drew inspiration for the hunt from a similar hunt done in Kanab, Utah known as “Find the Spine.”

“There’s a chiropractor out there that does a very similar hunt,” Kristin said. “We thought it was neat and we wanted to have something in Tillamook County that draw people out to see our beautiful sights.”

To find the perfect hiding place for the eye sculpture, the husband-and-wife duo spent time exploring Tillamook County with their five children.

“My biggest concern was that it would end too soon,” Dr. Johnson said. “If someone just stumbles across it on a trail, it’s a letdown and (the hunt) ends before people even know about it. I wanted somewhere it could be off the trail, still be safe, and not damaging to wildlife.”

After spending some time as a family hiking Pioneer Indian Trailhead on the west side of Mt. Hebo, Dr. Johnson decided it was the perfect hiding place for the glass eye.

After hiding the eye, a trail camera was mounted to watch for treasure seekers.

Tillamook Vision Center announced the hunt and invited the community to participate (official registration cost $30/person). The first person to find the eye (wearing the official event t-shirt) would win $5,000, and $1,500 if not.

Clues and riddles about the location of the hidden eye were posted via Tillamook Vision Center’s Facebook page and via email every few days.

“I wrote about 70 percent of the clues myself,” Dr. Johnson said.

Clue #2: “Catch, and release. Catch, and release. If you pass them while you search, say hello,” and Clue #6: “The place where I lie is haunted by the ghosts of listeners past,” were just two of the nine clues released before the eye was located.

“Several people would send us messages daily and we couldn’t confirm or deny anything about the location,” Kristin laughed.

On the 13th day of the hunt, James found the eye.

Searching for several hours on the morning of his discovery, the ninth clue was the final giveaway: “The giraffe kneels, and the game strays, 100 steps if you count them right. Up through the emerald explosion to the slightly lonelier bush under which I hide.”

After the clue was posted on Facebook, James commented on the post: “This is the clue I’ve been waiting for.”

James, hailing from Nehalem, had narrowed down his search area when Clue #6 was released.

“I knew Mt. Hebo had an old radar station,” James said. “I didn’t immediately go out there, but the next clue came out and I started looking up hiking maps.”

Clue #7: “Where 1/4 and 5 1/2 meet, nearby dwells a Troll” led James to a junction point on the Pioneer Indian Trailhead on Mt. Hebo.

“I got up at 4:30 a.m. on Saturday morning, and I had some time and hiked the trail. I found the ‘1/4 and 5 1/2’ sign at the junction with a bridge and few giraffe trees nearby,” James said. “I told myself that I would get up early Sunday morning and would expand my search area. I thought I had a pretty good chance and I told myself that I would just keep looking until I found it.”

He narrowed down his perimeter to about 200 feet and four hours into his search on Sept. 10, he found the glass eye sculpture hidden at the bottom of a huckleberry bush.

“It was pretty cool,” James said. “I think they did a great job writing the clues.”

While Mt. Hebo was the final destination, James, and other participants, spent time searching other areas in Tillamook County.

“That was exactly what we wanted from the event: to encourage people to get out and be active and see the beautiful places near where we live,” Dr. Johnson said. “It was highly successful just for those things.”

Tillamook Vision Center, which has been serving Pacific City since September 2022, plans to host the event again next year.

Located

in the Bayshore Medical Building at 38505 Brooten Rd., Pacific City, the eye clinic is currently seeing patients two days a week.

As for James, he’s enjoying his first purchase with his prize money: a new chainsaw.

DAVID JAMES (pictured center) is the winner of the 2023 ‘Find the Eye’ treasure hunt after finding the hidden glass eye sculpture on Mt. Hebo. Sponsored by Tillamook Vision/Pacific Vision and owners Dr. Lee Johnson & Kristin Johnson (pictured right).

Photo courtesy of Tillamook Vision Center

Super in the Surf

Competitors wow judges, spectators at the 23rd annual Cape Kiwanda Longboard Classic

By TIM HIRSCH of the Sun

The surf was up, the sun was shining and longboard competitors were making waves at the 23rd annual Cape Kiwanda Longboard Classic, held Sept. 16-17.

Initial heats were held on Saturday, Sept. 16 with finals actions hitting the growing surf on Sunday, Sept. 17.

“Especially on finals day, not only did the swell pick up, but it came across the sandbars just the way we like it to,” said co-organizer Lisa Macy-Baker. “There were more shoulders (in the waves than on Saturday).”

And great conditions ushered in equally superb surfing, she added.

“A couple of those finals were just epic,” Macy-Baker said. “I was super impressed.”

Amongst the many impressive final heats — all of which featured “incredible displays of surfing” was the men’s 40-49 division, she added.

“It was wave after wave of maneuvers and long rides and nose rides,” Macy-Baker said. The event, which was once again organized by Moment Surf Co. by MacyBaker and Moment owner Jeff Mollencop, also served as a fundraiser for the Pacific City Skatepark, Maui Strong and for the medical expenses for longtime surfer John Baker, who suffered a serious bicycle accident.

The event has also drawn more and more spectators to witness the surfing heroics.

“It’s really become a spectator event where people are (coming to see) impressive surfing,” Macy-Baker said, adding that the good weather of the last two years deserves an assist, as does the event’s new live stream and “terrific announcers.”

Amongst the announcers’ duties was not

only to call the action and report the current standings, but to encourage safety on the beach and in the water. As part of that, like clockwork, they vocalized warnings when dory boats made their return trip.

“They did a great job,” Macy-Baker said, who also gave credit to safe practices by dory boat captains. “It was safety first. (Prior to the event), we had a lot of communication with the Dorymen’s Association and with state parks. We played together. It’s everybody’s ocean and everybody’s beach, and, when we put safety first, we can all play together. (Both dorymen and surfers) made efforts to do so.”

And Macy-Baker was equally appreciative of the role the community played in making a successful event.

“We’re appreciative of the community’s support,” she told the Sun. “I saw a lot of people from the community just out and enjoying themselves. (I watched them) coming in the tent and (bidding) on silent auction items and buying beverages. The vibe was great. It felt good.

“Ultimately, we want a professionally run surfing competition that is also a community gathering. And if we can raise some money for good causes, that’s another bonus.”

Top three finishers (in order of finish) in each category were:

Men (60-plus): John Meyer, Luis Lozano, Leon Gieselman; Women (60-plus): Deena Gomber, Patti Van Ham; Men (50-59):

Michael Zeeman, Brian Noji, Rob Russo; Women (50-59): Jeannine Mackie, Jerri Clark, Roberta F. Pietrok; Men (40-49): Zack Howard, Russell Seagull McClanan, David Schiaffino; Women (40-49): Skaidra Scholey, Hana Perlee, Kate Fox; Men (30-39): Max Danger, Sean Fagan, Robbie Ledbetter; Women (30-39): Kelly Aldinger, Olivia Schroeder, Mackensie Russo; Men (18-29):

Travis Cockcroft, Nate Fletcher, Deklyn Wood; Women (18-29): Natasha Roth, Mikaela Mulhall, Saphara Harrell; Boys (13-17): Jack Howard, Lachlan Meyer, Soren Johnson; Girls (13-17): Jami Lee, Layla Newell, Layla Schroeder.

For more information about the Cape Kiwanda Longboard Classic, visit capekiwandalongboardclassic.com.

LONGBOARDER COMPETITORS entertained spectators as they performed for the judges at the 23rd annual Cape Kiwanda Longboard Classic, which was held Sept. 16-17 at Cape Kiwanda in Pacific City.

Photos by Tim Hirsch

THE TILLAMOOK COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE recently started utilizing a small office space in the Nestucca K-8 School building as a convenient place for their South County deputies to do general office duties that pertain to their assignments.

A Satellite Station

Tillamook County Sheriff utilizes Nestucca K-8 for office space

By CHELSEA YARNELL for

the Sun

Tillamook County Sheriff’s Office now has a small office space inside the Nestucca K-8 School building. The office space, not open to the public, is a place where South County patrol deputies can catch up on reports and other logistical paperwork without having to leave their patrol area.

“I’m looking forward to it,” said Deputy Kris Wood, who spends most of his work week patrolling the southern part of Tillamook County. “It will save a bunch of time and allow me to be closer to my calls.”

Tillamook County is 75 miles from north to south, and according to Undersheriff Matt Kelly, the standard is that three sheriff deputies cover that area on a day-to-day basis.

“Deputies need a space to write up a narrative or a report about their calls,” Kelly said. “This (location) allows them to do that and stay in the region that they’re at. They used to have to come up to the Tillamook office and that would

cut into their response times.”

The Tillamook County Sheriff’s Office was approached by Nestucca School District about having their office in the school building.

“We had a number of interactions over the years with the Sheriff’s Department for various reasons. Our relationship with them has been a positive one,” said Chad Holloway, administrator of Facilities and Alternative Education.

“Having a presence on campus and having a substation here is a really positive thing. We were more than happy to partner with them, and it works out for us, too.”

The sentiment is similar from the Tillamook County Sheriff’s Office.

“It gives our deputies an opportunity to interact with the kids more frequently,” Kelly said. “Our partnership with the (Nestucca) School District is outstanding. It’s just one of our relationships that goes really well. It’s awesome that they thought of us.”

Years ago, the Tillamook Sherriff’s Office previously had a substation office inside the Pacific City Fire Hall.

Photo courtesy of Tillamook County Sheriff’s Office