Current Listing

At Wednesday’s Board meeting on June 17th, their county counsel told me that the Commissioners will be considering what actions are available to them regarding this issue. Because the District Attorney is an elected official, ultimate accountability rests with the voters. If Ms. Olsen does not resign, a recall effort may be the only available remedy, although such an effort cannot begin until six months into her new term in 2027. Ms. Swanson of the Tillamook County Pioneer suggested that we contact the Attorney General’s Office to file a complaint.

Many community members believe that victims, employees and victims right advocates have already been harmed by the problems identified within the office and that additional harm continues to occur. Concerns have also been raised regarding retaliation against a whistleblower in the sheriffs office who is risking their career to do the right thing. Individuals who come forward in the public interest should be protected from retaliation, and their identities should remain confidential.

The investigation into the District Attorney’s Office identified significant concerns. According to county officials, efforts were made to work with Ms. Olsen to address those concerns, but those efforts were unsuccessful.

Commissioners will be discussing potential responses, including reviewing the District Attorney’s county-funded stipend and other county-provided benefits including her bond insurance. Any action should be carefully considered to avoid creating unintended precedents that could affect other elected offices in the future.

If you support crime victims, government accountability, and transparency, please consider participating in the Board of Commissioners meeting on June 17. You may participate via Zoom, submit written testimony or in person. You need to sign up to be on Zoom or provide written testimony by 12 pm on Tuesday the day before the board meeting. If you choose to testify the day of the board meeting, you just need to sign up when you arrive. Meetings are at 9 am every Wednesday. Information is on the county website under Board of Commissioners. Link: www.tillamookcounty.gov/

Public participation matters. The Commissioners need to hear from community members who are concerned about the future of the District Attorney’s Office and its impact on victims, employees, and the public. They need our support now as do all the victims, employees, law enforcement and victim rights advocates.

Also, if you know any of these victims, I encourage them to file an ethics complaint with the state bar against Ms. Olson’s license.(our DA)

Please share this information with others who may be interested.

Link to Board Briefing regarding the DA issue on June 10, 2026. You Tube. www.youtube.com/@tillamookcounty1434

Robin

Pacific City

Please join the North County Resistance in Nehalem on Saturday, June 13 from noon to 2 PM, for our weekly protest.

I am asking people to bring either food or a check made out to North County Food Bank, PO Box 162, Wheeler, Oregon 97147 or Nehalem Bay Community Services, PO Box 232, Nehalem, Oregon 97131. We will get your check and/or your food to where you want it to go.

People facing food insecurity are finding it even harder to get by. Most of you likely understand this, given the rising cost of everyday necessities. The extra dollar or more added to a gallon of gas can mean less money available for groceries. Would you consider donating 10% of what you pay for groceries every week to our local food banks? Say your weekly grocery bill averaged $50 per week-could you donate $5 to help feed our neighbors? We have always had Food Insecurity in this country. Lately, due to government cuts, it has effected many more people.

The following is information I found online:

Oregon food banks are navigating federal funding cuts through state support, local fundraising, strategic planning, and community partnerships to meet rising demand.

Impact of Federal Cuts
Food banks across Oregon have faced significant challenges due to recent federal funding reductions. The USDA cut over $1 billion in funding for food banks and schools, including canceled food deliveries and programs that supported local farmers and school meals, leaving organizations like the Oregon Food Bank with dozens of truckloads of food canceled KOIN.com+1. Rural food banks, such as the Dallas Food Bank, report receiving 6,000 pounds less food per month, forcing them to purchase staples like cereal, canned vegetables, and meat, which strains already tight budgets KATU. Rising food prices and increased demand have compounded these challenges, with some food banks seeing a 31% increase in visits over the past year KOIN.com+1.

Strategies for Survival
Food banks are employing several strategies to cope with these cuts:
• State Support: Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek allocated $5 million to food banks and declared a state of emergency to mitigate the loss of SNAP benefits, allowing coordination with local governments and nonprofits to provide financial and food assistance oregoncapitalchronicle.com.
• Local Fundraising and Revenue Diversification: Organizations like Rogue Food Unites are seeking new revenue sources to reduce dependence on donors and maintain operations despite federal shortfalls Oregon Public Broadcasting.
• Strategic Planning: Food banks are reassessing their distribution and purchasing strategies to maximize limited resources, including prioritizing essential items and culturally relevant foods Oregon Public Broadcasting+1.
• Community Partnerships: Programs like Double Up Food Bucks help SNAP participants purchase Oregon-grown produce, supporting both families and local farmers oregonfoodbank.org.

Broader Implications
The cuts have disproportionately affected vulnerable populations, including children, immigrants, and rural communities, where food insecurity rates are higher KATU. Food banks are also addressing barriers for Spanish-speaking communities and ensuring safe, inclusive environments for all visitors Oregon Public Broadcasting. Advocates are pushing for state legislation, such as SB 611, to extend food assistance to children excluded from SNAP due to immigration status, aiming to provide more stable support oregonfoodbank.org.

Conclusion
Despite historic levels of need and reduced federal support, Oregon food banks are surviving through a combination of state emergency funding, strategic planning, local fundraising, and community-focused programs. These efforts aim to maintain access to nutritious food for Oregonians while advocating for long-term policy solutions to address food insecurity Oregon Public Broadcasting+4.

Thank you for taking the time to read this. Do hope you can help out our local food banks.

Best,
Patty Rinehart

Foxy is a shepherd mix. Her DNA test says she’s 9 years old, about 30% Border Collie, Collie, and Australian Cattle Dog, and 52% German Shepherd. To me she looks like an Australian Shepherd or a McNab Shepherd. She weighs about 70 pounds (probably about 15 pounds overweight). She has the brains and the heart that you’d expect from those breeds.

I adopted her 6 months ago from a rescue in Texas. They told me she did not like other dogs.

She has a scar on her nose and a damaged ear. I suspect those might be injuries from a traumatic encounter with another dog when she was young. When she is on leash and she sees another dog, she is so reactive that I cannot manage her. I have tried numerous different leash and collar combinations and contraptions. What it really comes down to is that I am not strong enough.

Foxy is such a sweet and loving companion. She’s very cuddly for a big girl. In the house she’s very responsive, often knowing what I want just from a gesture. She has a crate and she goes into it voluntarily, but I dont close the door. She’d prefer to spend all her time with you, of course, but when I’ve left her alone she’s been fine.

If you think you might be the right person for Foxy and would like to learn more about her, please contact me at paprikapink@gmail.com

I’ve been enchanted by the “250 to 250” short films documenting some of the many citizens and organizations that guided the American democratic project at various inflection points in our shared history. Each film is about one minute long and is narrated by various historians, economists, politicians and filmmakers.

You can find them all at any of these social media platforms:
www.youtube.com/@twofiftytotwofifty

250to250.substack.com

instagram.com/250to250

tiktok.com/@250.to.250?_r=1&_t=ZT-95WLMGNIcEn

(Bluesky) bsky.app/profile/250to250.bsky.social

threads.com/@250to250?igshid=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

Happy viewing!

Barbara

Life: A Love Story
By Elizabeth Berg

Sweet little story about a dying woman’s letter to an old friend describing ordinary and surprising things in her house with deep meaning for her. A real LOVE story to life, love, marriage/ relationships and what really matters.

Available at the Tillamook Library