Category: General Interest

URGENT DONATE TO DEFEAT MEASURE 29 61

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Submitted By: bbq@nehalemtel.net – Click to email about this post
With less than a week to go we desperately need funds to keep the campaign to defeat Measure 29-161 going strong until the very last day. As of this posting less that 16% of the ballots are in. There is still time to reach voters and help them to understand how dangerous and costly this measure would be to the county.

Please donate anything that you can to A Just Right PAC at ajustright.org. Every dollar counts and goes directly to costs. We are registered with the state and you can see expenditures listed on Orestar.

Thank you!

IT TAKES CASH TO GET INFORMATION IN MANZANITA

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Submitted By: rkinor@gmail.com – Click to email about this post
The Manzanita City Council homepage prominently announces its commitment in conducting City business to “inform and actively engage residents, second homeowners and businesses in identification of and solutions to community issues. The Council invites and encourages citizen involvement in the development of City programs and services.”

Having been encouraged by the Council to become informed and involved in the important issues of how the City develops its Budget, I carefully examined the FCS Indirect Cost allocation Study that the Council has relied upon to move $213,000 out of City Water Funds for City Hall staff services for the next Fiscal Year Budget now under discussion.

I noted a small footnote at the bottom of page 6 of the FCS study that stated “FTE (Full Time Equivalent) support for the Parks Department, Roads Fund and Water Operating Fund is provided by the Public Works Department and are based on detailed employee timesheet records for the 2021 calendar year.”

Apparently our Public Works employees do take the time to document how they spend their day working in their three different areas of responsibility resulting in a very accurate accounting of their time for Budgeting purposes. We are told that City Hall staff can’t be bothered to fill out a similar timesheet to record just the one activity of time they spend daily assisting the Public Works Director manage the water utility. Why use a simple and direct approach to gather the information you are interested in like other City employees have to do when you can hire a consultant for $30,000 to create a complex model to get you an answer more to your liking?

Wanting to make sure that I fully understood how the FCS Study came to its indirect cost conclusions, I made a public records request for a blank timesheet that our utility workers fill out to document how they spend their time in maintaining our streets, parks and water system. I was informed that this request would require one hour of a City Hall staffers time and a charge of $43.07.

Thinking that there must be some misunderstanding of my request, I clarified that I only wanted to see a copy of a blank timesheet that apparently is readily available and in regular use by Public Works employees. Sorry, 1 hour of staff time and $43.07 payment to get a copy of a blank timesheet.

Maybe the City should rewrite its invitation to the public by saying it encourages citizens to become informed and involved in these important issues, but if you need information other than what we want you to know, be prepared to open your checkbook.

Public Hearing on next year’s Budget is May 18th at 6 pm. Come ask your questions, there’s no charge. us02web.zoom.us/j/86345266710

Wheeler Waterfront Development – Input Requested

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Submitted By: gardencoachkaren@gmail.com – Click to email about this post
A letter was recently sent to Wheeler Residents. Anyone, whether you live in Wheeler or not can provide public input regarding this issue.

Dear Wheeler community member,

You have recently received a letter from the City giving the facts and timeline about the applications filed by Ken Ulbricht of Botts Marsh LLC for the Botts Marsh upland property over the last two years, and the city’s actions in the public processes. We copy the city’s update at the end of this newsletter for you, in case you wish to refer to it again.

The most immediate action is a new City Council hearing on the original Botts Marsh LLC application approved by the former City Council two years ago. After two lawsuits, that application, for a hotel and a fish processing/sales plant plus restaurant, is being heard by City Council again on remand from the Land Use Board of Appeals. The hearing will be at 7:00 PM on Tuesday, May 24th. We need people to attend the hearing and submit testimony! Because this is a new hearing, you must resend any testimony you sent on this first Ulbricht application (which had two conditional use requests, for the hotel and the fish sales/restaurant building) in September 2019 — just re-date and make any additions you wish. Whatever happens on the Botts Marsh upland parcel will greatly impact Wheeler’s future. Please submit comments by Monday, May 16th to have your comments included in the packet — and come speak at the hearing on the 24th at 7:00 PM at City Hall. You need not be a resident of Wheeler to participate in this process. You may comment now even if you had not previously.

Send Comments to Mary Johnson, Wheeler City Manager pro tem
Email: maryjohnson@ci.wheeler.or.us
Hard Copy: Wheeler City Council, PO Box 177, Wheeler, OR 97147

Here are a few additional facts you might not know that are very important to bring up City Council on May 24th or in written testimony beforehand.

1, This section of Wheeler’s bayshore, called Botts Marsh, was originally part of the bay and for the first part of the 1900’s supported a commercial fishing industry, water transportation of logs, and then (once the parcel was filled in) a shingle mill. Most or all of the parcel is now fill land and in most places is only 1-2 ft above the designated FEMA flood plain. An earlier attempt in 2007 to develop the site with condominiums was dropped because of serious geologic problems.

2. Because of the previous industrial use of the site, there are soil contamination problems on parts of the property. An environmental review investigation was completed for Tillamook County in 2017. Mr. Ulbricht has never addressed the potential contamination in his application materials (including this application having a remand hearing May 24th), even though geotechnical engineers stipulate that any construction would necessitate the removal of large quantities of possibly toxic soils. This is a serious public health and safety issue the city needs to address at the hearing.

3. Geotechnical Engineers have cautioned that there are greater than normal risks associated with any construction on fill lands such as these highly compressible and liquefiable soils, which are also within the tsunami inundation zone. Conditions have not changed, and these issues have not been addressed. Botts Marsh LLC has only provided a recycled geological hazard report from 2007, not a current report dealing with this proposed development.

4. A key issue in the debate over this project is the role of Wheeler’s Vision Plan. The Land Use Board of Appeals has upheld the Vision Plan as a mandatory decision criterion — and also made it clear that the development limit under it is limited to no more than ten units. This is a very powerful tool for Wheeler to be able to chart its own future according to its own vision. The Vision Plan definitely applies to this Ulbricht project, and we encourage you to mention it and its standards.

4. In a town as small as Wheeler, a project that could involve major construction on as much as 50% of the town’s environmentally sensitive waterfront is necessarily one which should involve the community and address all potential problems. This has not occurred at any time since Botts Marsh LLC began submitting applications to the city. At no time has Mr. Ulbricht submitted an application for cottages as he originally presented to the community shortly after he purchased the property

5. The Wheeler waterfront is not a backstreet industrial parcel – It is the most visible piece of beautiful bay coastline to everyone traveling on Highway 101. The accessibility and the historical qualities of the three-block town make it one of the most photographed sites on the Oregon coast. A proposal to have the City of Wheeler purchase this Botts Marsh upland property is still on the table, but Mr. Ulbricht has not thus far moved it forward, though grants and loans are available to the city. Past attempts to purchase the parcel have failed due to financial problems.

Fred Meyer Scam

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Submitted By: bbq@nehalemtel.net – Click to email about this post
Has anyone in bbq land received a telephone call from an alleged Fred Meyer person indicating you had one a store gift card that they wish to deliver to your door? If so let us know, as we’ve checked with Fredd Meyer mangers of both Tillamook and Warrenton stores and they have no knowledge of such a card or visitation protocol.
Thanks.
Chuck at bbqw@nehalemtel.net

The Ol’ Bait and Switch

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Submitted By: bluefishout@earthlink.net – Click to email about this post
Imagine the scene: You’re at the Fair. It’s the first big event you’ve been to in over a year. Maybe you’re holding the hand of someone you care about. Maybe you got the elephant ear that you’d been craving. You’re happy and doing something normal feels good. Then someone shouts out “Hey, do you want to sign a petition to protect the Second Amendment?”
It’s an obvious yes for a lot of people. Maybe even me. But then I would ask what were they doing with the petition. I’m always wary of the ol’ bait and switch.
Good people take things at face value and sometimes not-so-good people take advantage of that.
I can believe that folks signed the petition to get Measure 29-161 on the ballot based on a false promise that it protects the Second Amendment. It doesn’t and there is every chance that signers weren’t given the opportunity to read the full ordinance before signing.
If they had they would see that it had no power to affect the Second Amendment and that the real question should’ve been “Hey, do you want to sign a petition that limits local law enforcement on basically all firearm regulations?”
That question is not as obvious of a yes. They wanted the signatures so they didn’t ask that way.
I know this to be true because every signer that I have checked with has told me that it happened as described above.
With transparency Measure 29-161 would’ve never made it on the ballot.
It’s up to voters to right this wrong.
Vote NO! on the false promises of Measure 29-161.

HIGH TIDE HOME CLEANING

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Submitted By: kyrasin1@gmail.com – Click to email about this post
Hello,

Hello all,
Everyone is getting ready for the Spring & Summer Fun! We are here to help you!

We do Weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, or whenever you need cleanings for your home. Please give us a call and ask. Years of experience.

Please give us a call and ask. 503-717-2585

Thank you so much for all your support everyone!!!!

County Commissioner

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Submitted By: carriefuller@hotmail.com – Click to email about this post
To the Editor:
We are supporting Mary Faith Bell for Tillamook County Commissioner because she is the best person for the job. Her opponent, Graydon Hallock, has an extensive record of both criminal and civil matters. What stands out the most are the Family Abuse Prevention Act charges. Go check out his record on the Tillamook County Circuit Court public computer in the courthouse. His record, and the pattern of abusive behavior in it, speak for themselves.
When asked about his criminal history at the Pacific City candidates forum, Graydon answered as if he’s only been in trouble once. He seemed to be referring to the time in 2015 that he hit the mother of his child with a vehicle, while the child was in the vehicle, for which he was convicted of two counts of recklessly endangering another person, one count each for the victim and the child. Describing this incident in the Pacific City forum, Graydon blamed the victim, said he was falsely accused, said the court was wrong and he’s going to get his record expunged.
His court record does not support his story. For example, in a declaration filed with the court in April 2017, Graydon Hallock admitted that he was sentenced to 24 months of probation on two counts of recklessly endangering another person, and that prior to that, he had been subject to the conditions of a security release agreement. He admitted that he served 45 days in the Tillamook County Jail and was given credit for time served. He also admitted that he was ordered to complete a batterer’s intervention program and a 12-week nurturing parent class. A month after that judgment, an arraignment order was issued against him for contempt and failure to follow the action plan set by the court.
This is one example from his lengthy record. He didn’t show up for the AAUW candidates forum at all, maybe because he didn’t want to answer any more questions about his crimes. Bottom line: we don’t want a commissioner who threatens, hurts and endangers women and children and thinks he’s above the law.
We stand with women and children. We stand with victims. We stand with leaders who will work to protect victims. We stand with Mary Faith Bell.

Carrie Fuller, Tillamook
Lauren Wilks, Tillamook

Vote Yes for Measure 29-164 Support our Libraries

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Submitted By: allanmadeline@aol.com – Click to email about this post
The North Tillamook Library in Manzanita is one of the beauties of the area that first attracted us to Manzanita. Years later when I retired, I made my first volunteer commitment to the library. Libraries are the heart and soul of communities and are reflective of the community the serve.
Our Library serves the three villages and the surrounding rural areas in north County. It makes available books, movies, free WiFi, computer and printer access, assistance in finding resources, the next great read and the use of free community space and programs. With your free library card, you also have access to digital books, movies, magazines, out reach programs and the Bookmobile. It continued to safely provide these services during COVID restrictions.
The Library system in Tillamook County receives 95% of its operating support from a 5-year levy which expires June 2022. Measure 29-164, on the May ballot, will renew the operating levy for another 5 years. The current rate of 65 cents per $1000 assessed value will be the same for the next 5 years. The libraries are a widely recognized asset by the people who live here.
Failure of the levy will mean the loss of libraries and the programs they provide. Programs such as literacy for preschoolers, summer reading activities designed to sustain readers between school years and online homework and tutoring services. The Bookmobile brings books to residents of nursing homes and rural families. Libraries provide resources for job seekers including access to computers, assistance and instruction for seeking employment.
I urge you to join us in voting YES for Libraries by voting YES for Measure 29-164, keep open our Library in Manzanita, as well as those in Rockaway Beach, Garibaldi, Bay City, Pacific City and Tillamook. Thank you.
Madeline and Allan Olson

Leave the Trees? Yes, Please!

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Submitted By: ben.killen.rosenberg@gmail.com – Click to email about this post
Posting on behalf of Kim Rosenberg loretta.kim.rosenberg@gmail.com

Leave the Trees? Yes, Please!

During the discussion of PUD’s contract renewal at April’s City Council Meeting, the City Manager and the Director of Public Works talked about tree clearing by PUD. Not every tree PUD removes is interfering with power lines, not every tree is an actual danger, not all lots have to be stripped bare of mature trees. In the past, PUD has removed healthy mature trees without the City’s permission. The City Manager and Director of Public Works pushed back hard on PUD until they agreed to change their chain saw ways. No more removals of healthy mature trees without the City’s permission. This kind of robust oversight by the City will preserve and protect our trees into the future.

The City Manager has also begun enforcing Ordinance 95-4: Tree Provisions and Regulations. After a permit is submitted to remove mature trees, our inspector now takes a look-see to make sure the trees have to come down. If in doubt, an arborist takes a look before the permit is approved. A recent application was denied after an arborist concluded that the trees to be removed were healthy.

As we’ve lost our tree canopy we haven’t done a good job of replacing it with the trees that like our rainy climate and poor soil, support our birds and wildlife, prevent flooding and suck up carbon. While I happen to be a fan of all trees, I’m talking here about the Grand Master Flash of the North Coast, the Sitka Spruce, a sump pump of a tree. These bad boys take care of business sucking up water like a shop vac in a flooded basement and sequestering carbon while they’re at it. They get huge like the giant in Cape Meares State Park, but I’ve planted two in my back yard in soggy places to help with the standing water. All the heavy-duty conifers in the area will do the job, but the Sitka Spruce does it especially well and because it only lives in a ten-mile range close to the coast, it’s a vanishing breed like a native of the South Coast, the Port Orford Cedar. Conifers, like these, are of our specific place and help to retain the character and history of the coast in addition to all the environmental benefits they provide.

Trees are making the news everywhere these days. You can read Cannon Beach’s mayor, Sam Steidel’s essay about trees in a recent North County News. And for those with an interest in environmental science, OSU’s Director of the Estuary Technical Group at the Institute of Applied Ecology, Laura Brophy has written reports for MidCoast Watersheds Council, the Oregon Shores Conservation Coalition and NOAA on how we in Oregon have lost 90% of the coasts forested marshes. These small stands of water-sucking, oxygen-producing, pollution-fighting, forested habitat occur in small little pockets on buildable land like the .34 acres on the 3rd Street lot. The trees on that lot were natural flood protection from the high water table.

We’ve always had Ordinance 95-4 on the books, which prohibits clear cutting without a permit or tree replacement plan so it begs the question why were the property owners allowed to log those 100+ year-old trees on designated Open Space Land and not put even one back? A condition of Open Space Land is that the property owners aren’t supposed to extract resources or develop the land while receiving the tax benefit. They’re supposed to wait until it’s delisted.

Let’s not blame the tornado anymore for damaging the lot. The trees that blew down were removed immediately but the unpermitted logging happened 2 full months later and there’s no arborist’s report that would attest to the condition of any of the trees. Development on the lot had always been denied before because of the old growth trees and the marshy wetland.

You might think that nobody at City Hall knew the logging was happening. But from the phone calls that were made that day by concerned folks, like my neighbors and I, they did. So why wasn’t a permit issued? Why was no replacement plan on record and why were no trees ever replanted?

Had the City required the previous property owners to follow the Ordinance, would the lot have been cleared at all? Would DSL have approved the in fill of wetland if it were still forested? Every step in the process was in violation of Ordinance 95-4 and it was allowed. Why?

We have Ordinances that are the rules creating the town our Comprehensive Plan describes. If you want to build a house or a motel or tattoo parlor there are codes and ordinances that give you the rules to do so. Most of us follow the rules as best as we can, knowing that there are consequences, if we don’t. At least that’s how it’s supposed to work. The rules that govern some of us, should apply to all of us.

It should be a simple thing to find out why, in this case, the rules didn’t apply but it hasn’t been. What I’ve learned this last couple of years since I started this depressing little research project, is that the work of government belongs to every single one of us every single day, not just the few people elected to office. To be a good citizen is to engage. When I fail to show up and be a participant in the stuff I care most about, I’m not part of the discussion and I don’t have a voice in what happens.

Now go on out and plant you something. I sure am.

Kim Rosenberg loretta.kim.rosenberg@gmail.com

Democratic Candidates for Governor Forum

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Submitted By: bluefishout@earthlink.net – Click to email about this post
Registered Democrats, here is a link to the forum that was held this weekend with the candidates up for the Democratic Nomination.

www.facebook.com/ordems/videos/1029334721319844

If you feel like you never have a choice just know that there are over 30 people running for Governor of Oregon. The PRIMARIES are where you have a choice.

Be sure and vote by May 17th.

Following the money in local politics

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Submitted By: dmccalltillamook@gmail.com – Click to email about this post
When my ballot arrived, I remembered a piece from a few days ago warning of “a “fake” campaign funded by outside progressive money.” With a few minutes to spare, I took the author’s advice and researched the PAC’s campaign finances on Orestar.
Orestar is the state’s campaign finance transparency system, individually identifying each contributor giving over $100 to a campaign. As I’ve heard former Senator Betsy Johnson state many times, it works well because the legislature commissioned it. 

Right there, laid out in black and white, was the cold proof of who was financing this group. Dozens of people had donated less than $100 each, and only a handful over that. I recognized all but one of the names — people who live in Netarts, Tillamook, Bay City, Nehalem, Manzanita, etc. All locals. The largest contribution was $1000. I didn’t see any red flags here. 

Since I had a few more minutes to invest in this rabbit hole, I decided to check out some local races, since as Tip O’Neill told us, “All politics is local.” So on to the commissioner race! Not surprisingly, the average contribution was a bit higher, but once again, I recognized most of the names who were listed as contributors to Mary Faith Bell’s campaign as locals. Her opponent had not reported any contributions or expenses at all. 

So on to the state house race! New locals running for this open seat. The first thing I noticed when I pulled up Logan Laity’s info is a line highlighted in red. When Orestar was created, they must have wanted to make it easier for us to identify the red flags of out-of-state influences on our politicians. Well, it looks like Logan received $150 from someone in Montana — maybe an old friend or relative? Other than that, pretty boring looking at his list. 
Cyrus Javadi has managed to draw in about six times as much money. Although he has quite a few red lines, they appear to be from family members or fellow dentistry professionals. So where’s the money coming from? Quite a few political action committees have made significant contributions, with one giving as much as A Just Right has raised in aggregate so far! 
The third contestant in this race has not yet raised or expended any money. 

The state senate, not surprisingly, is a different story. Heading into an uncontested primary, the Democrat has raised about as much as the Republican. The number of “red lines” is about the same, though Melissa Busch’s appear to be from individuals in Kansas, whereas Suzanne Weber’s appear to be primarily from large corporations. I chuckled when I saw that Anheuser Busch Companies have given $3,500 to Weber’s campaign, rather than to their namesake. 

I’ll keep this in mind as I fill in my ballot. 

HELP!

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Submitted By: diannerbloom@gmail.com – Click to email about this post
Fellow Community members, Help! Our county is in desperate shape. We do not have enough nurses and healthcare providers to take care of us. Nurses and health care providers are trained to assess, diagnosis, treat and evaluate (all nursing functions) folks with all types of conditions. If we expect to remain healthy and well or to attain a certain level of functioning as we age, we need good nursing care provided by a number of different types of health care practitioners. Voting yes on TBCC Measure 29-165 will enable our community to educate our nurses and health care providers. A local program will allow students to stay locally, both while in school and after graduation, along with making an adequate salary. We have had our local assisted living centers close because we don’t have health care providers. The Nehalem Bay Health District is doing all they can to make sure the Nehalem Valley Care Center (the only skilled nursing care center in Tillamook Co) stays open and is adequately staffed. We all have to work on this issue. Help your community, vote yes for the Community College Bond and TBCC’s efforts to deal with our critical nursing and heath care provider shortage. Thank you

Dianne R Bloom BSN, MSN, CNM
Nehalem Bay Medical Reserve Corp

Tillamook County Ballot Measures

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Submitted By: barbaraandchuck@nehalemtel.net – Click to email about this post
I was disappointed to find that the Measures on the Tillamook County ballot were not included in the voter’s pamphlet. A helpful employee at the County Clerk’s office told me they are available on the Clerk’s website. www.co.tillamook.or.us/clerk/elections/2022-may-primary-election

Here is some information about each of the measures and how I am voting.

Measure 29-161
www.co.tillamook.or.us/sites/default/files/fileattachments/clerk039s_office/page/69486/29-161tillco2ndamendnoticeofballottitlecircled.pdf

Question: Should Tillamook County officials be prevented from enforcing most state, federal and local firearm regulations?

Paragraph 1 of Summary: This ordinance would prevent Tillamook County and its employees from devoting resources or participating in any way in the enforcement of any law or regulation that affected an individual’s right to keep and bear arms, firearm accessories or ammunition.

I urge you to join me in voting NO on 29-161. This measure is unnecessary, confusing, potentially dangerous and probably unconstitutional. I don’t believe that Second Amendment rights are under attack.

I also urge you to join me in voting YES on all three of the following measures.

A new healthcare education building at TBCC would be a great boon to our county. Currently healthcare positions are not being filled and/or cost the healthcare organization much more to hire temporary employees at higher rates. Many of these positions are not being filled because of lack of housing. This is a creative solution to the housing crisis by filling healthcare positions with local, trained residents who already live here.

The library is a vital resource that we cannot do without.

Many veterans endured trauma on our behalf and deserve our support.

If your home is ASSESSED at $200,000, these three measures would cost you $182 a year or a little over $15 a month at the published rates. For me that is equivalent to 3 lattes or 3 Wanda’s scones a month. I am definitely willing to forgo these treats to be able to pay my share for a library, a healthcare education building and support our veterans who sacrificed on my behalf.

Measure 29-165
www.co.tillamook.or.us/sites/default/files/fileattachments/clerk039s_office/page/69486/29-165tbcc_bondmeasure5172022.pdf

Question: Shall Tillamook Bay Community College issue $14,400,000 principal amount of general obligation bonds to construct a Healthcare Education Building?

Summary:
If approved, this measure would finance the construction, equipping and furnishing of a new healthcare education building on existing TBCC land. The Oregon legislature has approved an $8,000,000 grant if the District can provide matching funds.

A new building provides the capacity to add a nursing program, additional healthcare occupations training programs, expand and add new degrees and certificates to meet the community’s growing workforce training needs. It will include state-of-the-art simulation labs, high-tech classrooms, office space and a large community event center that the college, local businesses and community organizations can utilize.

TBCC is the only community college in Oregon that does not have its own nursing program. TBCC students have to enroll in other colleges for this training and certification.

Bonds would mature in 20 years or less from the date of issuance and may be issued in one or more series. If approved the total bond tax rate is estimated to be $0.19 per $1000 of assessed value. Actual rates may vary based upon interest rates incurred and changes in assessed value.

Measure 29-164
www.co.tillamook.or.us/sites/default/files/fileattachments/clerk039s_office/page/69486/29-164renewaltillcolibrarylevy5172022.pdf

Question: Shall Tillamook County continue countywide library operations by levying $0.65 per $1000 of assessed value for five years, beginning in 2022? This measure renews current local option taxes.

Measure 29-163
www.co.tillamook.or.us/sites/default/files/fileattachments/clerk039s_office/page/69486/29-163tillvetlevy5172022.pdf

Question: Shall Tillamook County levy a five-year tax of $.07 per $1000 assessed value for County Veteran’s Office beginning 7-1-2022? This measure may cause property taxes to increase more than three percent.

There is also a Bay City levy for fire protection that I am not able to vote on since I am not a resident of Bay City. www.co.tillamook.or.us/sites/default/files/fileattachments/clerk039s_office/page/69486/29-162cityofbaycityfire5172022.pdf

Crime in local areas

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Submitted By: dixiegainer@gmail.com – Click to email about this post
Reading the Headlight Herald this week, I see that there are problems with crime in Wheeler and also in other local areas. The article says that Law enforcement and city officials are doing all they legally can to get the petty theft problems taken care of. The laws that the voters of Oregon have put into place have made policing and holding criminals accountable extremely difficult and officers are frustrated.

So what laws did WE, the Oregon voters put in place? If we voted for them they must have been on a ballot. And if they were on a ballot – what party put them there? These laws came from the Oregon legislature – obviously the majority party put them on the ballot. I don’t remember anything on the ballot that would keep Oregon police from doing their job. What were these laws WE voted for? I believe these laws are there. Look at votes to defund he police leading to an enormous rise in murders and crime and vandalism in Portland. Where did this all come from?

“We are dealing with a well connected network of people running around stealing property to sell for money,” said a Wheeler local business owner who would like to remain anonymous. The uptick in crime in Tillamook County is raising eyebrows and has people hoping that property thieves will be stopped. Can we stop this? I think we can with better choice in voting. Lets get a balanced legislature.

Water, Water, Water & Weather

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Submitted By: bluefishout@earthlink.net – Click to email about this post
These top stories would have arrived in your inbox if you were subscribed to the Tillamook County Pioneer.

Coast Guard rescues 2 stranded hikers from coastal cliff in Manzanita, OR Monday April 25th

Nehalem Bay Fire & Rescue, Coast Guard Rescue Couple from Neah-Kah-Nie Mtn. Cliffside Monday April 25th

Is Your Drinking Water Safe? A Free Zoom Workshop Monday May 9th, 5:30 to 6:30 pm

TILLAMOOK COUNTY DAILY WEATHER BRIEFING: Gordon’s Update 4/27/22

FREE DAILY NEWSBRIEFS DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX EVERY EVENING. FREE, YEP, FREE!

Sign up today at www.tillamookcountypioneer.net/xscripts/register.php

Is Your Drinking Water Safe? Free Zoom Event with NCCWP

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Submitted By: april.nccwp@gmail.com – Click to email about this post
Join North Coast Communities for Watershed Protection’s Upcoming Meeting on Monday May 9th from 5:30 to 6:30 pm.

At the meeting, we will update you on our efforts and offer a workshop that will teach you mapping tools. Find out exactly where your water comes from and empower yourself with tools to track clear-cuts and pesticide sprays in your area. We’ll also discuss upcoming volunteer opportunities and direct actions you can take to protect our forests and watersheds. We look forward to seeing you there!

Sign up on our website: healthywatershed.org

An exciting upswell of momentum is building around Oregon’s forests and drinking watersheds right now. It’s the perfect time to reinvigorate our shared efforts to safeguard and restore our drinking water sources.

Our goal is to bring attention to the evolving coastal drinking water crisis—quality and quantity—resulting from corporate logging and pesticide spraying practices, and aspects of climate change (heat domes and the drought, for example).

By law, all water in Oregon is publicly owned, regardless of who actually owns the land. All watersheds that supply wells, spring boxes, or municipal systems should be legislatively protected. As a matter of law, and in recognition of the necessity of clean and safe drinking water for all, there should be no more logging nor pesticide spraying in drinking water sources.

We are advocating for the critical need to prioritize DRINKING WATER FIRST!

North Coast Communities for Watershed Protection (formerly Rockaway Beach Citizens for Watershed Protection) is a grassroots group working, through education and advocacy, for better protections of the water we drink, the air we breathe, and the forests that sustain us. healthywatershed.org |www.facebook.com/NCCWATERSHEDPROTECTION
Contact us at: rockawaycitizen.water@gmail.com

Graydon Hallock’s Criminal History

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Submitted By: vivi@nehalemtel.net – Click to email about this post
We the undersigned would like Tillamook County voters to be aware of the criminal history of County Commissioner candidate Graydon Hallock.
The following is only one of several charges related to harassment and reckless endangering of multiple women starting in 2011. He has served jail time and been required to attend various programs on domestic violence and nurturing parenting.
In January, 2015 Graydon Hallock was indicted by the Grand Jury of Tillamook County on several felony and misdemeanor charges arising out of an incident in which he hit the mother of one of his children with his vehicle in the presence of his minor child. He spent time in jail and eventually pled guilty to one class A misdemeanor charge of recklessly endangering another person.
Hallock has also been cited on several occasions in several counties for traffic infractions. Most recently, he was charged in Umatilla County with careless driving and passing in a no passing zone while driving a double trailer commercial vehicle. In March he was found guilty of the latter charge.
These matters are all public record and anyone can use the public computer in the hall at the Tillamook County Courthouse to come to their own conclusions about this candidate.
We do not think Graydon Hallock should hold public office.
Lane deMoll Barbara McLaughlin Vivi Tallman Nehalem Jake Burden Wheeler

Citizens given opportunity for input on Cannon Beach Elementary School Remodel

Posted on by North Coast BBQ

Submitted By: rkinor@gmail.com – Click to email about this post
Cannon Beach is inviting it citizens to share their ideas on how to use their 1950 Elementary School and Quonset Hut to create a model community center. For years Manzanita citizens have been given a long list of reasons why the Underhill School could not possibly be remodeled for our City Hall. How could the Cannon Beach City Council have made such a poor decision on such an important community project?

We have been told that saving a small piece of what little is left of Manzanita’s past was unimportant. Cost shouldn’t be a consideration because short term rental income is at record levels and can pay for 30 years of debt to build a new City Hall. The Cannon Beach Elementary School remodel is already underway, take the opportunity to go see for yourself on Saturday what yet may be possible in Manzanita.

www.ci.cannon-beach.or.us/executive/page/community-bulletin-april-2022-elementary-school-rejuvenation-meet-greet

Trees in Our Era

Posted on by North Coast BBQ

Submitted By: kaleen@wineinger.com – Click to email about this post
Do we cherish character and environment in Manzanita? What is the solution?

Trees in Our Era
By Cannon Beach Mayor Sam Steidel

Question is, does a property owner have a right to cut trees on their property? In order to build or a view or for any reason they wish? Didn’t every lot in town become a house by cutting a tree down?

Does not the community also have a right to maintain a tree canopy?

Yes, most houses built in CB at some time did cut trees. Had to, place was saturated by ‘em. It is pretty easy to say the tribes a long time ago would have seen a vastly more complete canopy. Hundred years ago, fifty, even ten years ago, each era has both a connection to a canopy we do not have today. Both in quantity and in loss. That said each era had reason to complain about loss of trees from the prior era as well as one which we could say is much better than we have today.

Thing is, today we are finally realizing how dramatic the loss has become because we can see an end point. But before I delve into that, a definition.

The term canopy refers to a cover, in this topic’s sense, the cover of the older stock of grandad trees.

It is on us as caretakers of our environment to acknowledge that we have not well filled in with the follow on generations of the natural stock. Namely spruce, hemlock and cedar. We planted, in our attempt to be responsible; shore pine, decorative cherry and here and other pretty esteem-building anomalies. I confess I chose a beech, not wholly a native. I have since mended my ways and planted two hemlocks and a fir. (afraid the elk took the fir recently)

Our, the city’s, plan for replacement could have been better designed to rebuild the canopy in the last fifty years if the program specified species. Bygones. Time now is to quit the blame pointing of past generations and whining about what could-have-beens and dive into a solution for today. In both replacement and preservation.

We can not replace the canopy that was. Not quickly. We can see our mistakes and move toward corrections. Yes in the past cutting was allowed, even promoted. To that point, so was filling in wetlands, then called swamps. So was shoving out sand for the ocean to take it away, or hauling sand here and about. So was scarfing up round ‘beach’ rock. Or moulding the intertidal estuaries with concrete and boulders digging drainages and shoring up hillsides.

All things frowned upon today because we see them as finite, dangerous tactics or important landscapes. In the topic of the grandad trees, finite threatens the city scape. Yes many are aging to an extent they are dangerous. What with the cultural climate of insurance and liability, dangerous is also an ever lowering bar.

The few remaining groves of canopy and the spartan stalwarts that fortune provided locations between house footprints have become the thin green line of survivors. Trees are a renewable resource, only if we remember to renew. Forget to pay your cable bill and no soap operas for you, forget to plant trees and no trees for generations. We neglected to pay, or perhaps we tried to pay on credit with ornamentals and shore pines. Just think, if every shore pine planted from the fifties on was a tall and healthy hemlock. Or my beech was a fifty year old cedar. Dang.

My point is, if you haven’t got it yet, trees matter to the community. Aesthetic character, climate endurance, native environment, historical and cultural honor, so many good reasons to be mindful for keeping what we have left.

Is that fair to the new house builder? Probably not. Neither is no infill of wetlands or fire codes to the hundred year ole cottage. Be no downtown with out fill. Thing is if a new arrival chooses this community for it’s character and culture it is on them to adopt an understanding not bring the baggage of standard-practices.

But the value of their property? Was and is created by the value of the community. Cannon Beach has this very unique quality that holds higher property value greatly because of how the community so cherishes character and environment.

Pose this question in forty years time from now, how might property values be made if the character is altered too harshly? No tall trees in the built up areas. No wetlands. Every lot built to the max with cookie cut boxes. Parking on every spare patch of land. Dunes molded and partitioned. Every other house rents for $1200 a night in 2060 dollars. Is value so entirely reliant on proximity to the beach?

Perhaps I exaggerate. Try and imagine, go back to 1960. What would a resident of that era who was concerned about their community then say if they saw what it was like now? Would today be a shock? Perhaps as much of a disbelief as when we see old photos of back then, but, in the opposite?

Time to own up. We did wrong with good intent rules. Time to do what we can to make good. Trees mean more today. Time to make rules work inline with who we are.

A One of a Kind Experience!

Posted on by North Coast BBQ

Submitted By: revolutionginger@gmail.com – Click to email about this post
Just in time for Mother’s Day- and for all those Taurus Birthdays out there! A gift that takes self care to the next level!

One Day Only: Saturday, May 7th

North Fork 53 Communitea Wellness is hosting a very special spa day including:
One hour of full body massage
One hour of foot soak & reflexology (foot massage)
One hour of wood fired steam sauna w/ cold plunge
all on our riverside herb and tea farm in Nehalem.

but that’s not all..
We also include:
Farm blended teas and treats throughout the day
Locally sourced Kelp mineral face mask
A Communitea Gift bag to take home and enjoy!

There are only 6 tickets are being offered in each of the morning and after afternoon sessions!

$259 per person for four hours of treatments, relaxation, pampering and fun.
Don’t miss this one, it may be the last one of the season!

“Yesterday was the perfect retreat I needed and I’m glad I got to share it with others who wanted to treat themselves, too. The tea, of course, was refreshing and the snacks were delicious My massage by Gia was amazing and the sauna and cold plunge made me feel like a new woman. I would certainly do this again and am eager to see the future events this cute little farmhouse in Nehalem has planned”

Blessed be to you all and thank you for the pampering!”
-Mysti

Get your tickets here before they sell out!
mailchi.mp/northfork53/untitled-page