THH 4-4-12

Page 1

BEACH TRASH

DOUBLEHEADER

SOLVED

DROPPED HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS, PAGES A11-12

9K LBS OF DEBRIS CLEARED LOCALLY, PAGE A2

Headlight Herald

TILLAMOOKHEADLIGHTHERALD.COM • APRIL 4, 2012

MAY ELECTIONS

LONGEST RUNNING BUSINESS IN TILLAMOOK COUNTY • SINCE 1888

Repaired and ready for the season

Library budget review

BY ERIN DIETRICH edietrich@countrymedia.net

CAPE MEARES – More than two years after local vandals fired shots into its historic Fresnel lens, repairs to stabilize the Cape Meares Lighthouse are finally completed and lighthouse volunteers hope the structure is stable enough to reopen to visitors later this month. The lighthouse opened for the season April 1, though visitors can’t yet ascend the 25 spiral stairs to view the lens, crafted in Paris to cast a light 21 nautical miles out to sea. Though the repairs were completed in March, Oregon Parks and Recreation officials are still completing work on a dampening system, due to

BY ANTHONY RIMEL arimel@countrymedia.net

As Tillamook County residents prepare to vote on the renewal of the library levy this May, a frequent topic of debate has been the library system’s budget. Many have questioned whether salaries are too high, and if the county can continue to afford the tax of 65 cents per $1,000 dollars of assessed property value. The Headlight Herald has been examining the library’s publically available budget. Here’s what we found: In the 2011-12 fiscal year, the library spent $999,230 on salaries. This represents 17 full time union employees, 12 part time non-union staff working less than 19 hours a week and three non-union managers. The library also spent $612,490 on benefits. The total expenses of the library in this year were 2,786,000. This means that personnel expenses were 58 percent of library expenses for the year.

The Cape Meares Lighthouse opened April 1, though visitors still cannot climb the stairs to view the lighthouse’s lens.

concerns about vibrations set off by visitors ascending and descending the iron steps. Friends of Cape Meares Lighthouse volunteer Barbara Bennett said they hope to be able to let visitors up into the tower in about two weeks. “People are very disappointed because they want to go up and see the lens,” Bennett said. Throughout the month of April, the lighthouse will be open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursdays through Sundays. Until the tower reopens mid-April, visitors can still go inside the lower level to view interpretive information and peruse the well-stocked gift shop.

See REPAIRS, Page A9

Nestucca schools want to know what you think

FULL STEAM AHEAD

BY ERIN DIETRICH edietrich@countrymedia.net

See LIBRARY, Page A10

CLOVERDALE – When the Nestucca Valley School District board decided to close Beaver School and move to a four-day school year in 2009, they promised to revisit that decision in three years. Three years later, the district is making good on that promise, and is deeply involved in what superintendent Kathryn Hedrick calls the “Visioning Process.” To reevaluate the major cost- Share your cutting measthoughts ures of 2009, Online surveys the board is are available at now actively nestucca. seeking the k12.or.us, or opinions of Nestucca Val- request a paper ley School survey at District staff, 503-392-4892. students, parents and other Responses are due by noon community April 16. members. A community forum was held in February, and the district is now conducting an online survey through mid-April, to be analyzed and presented to the board in May. The 15-question survey asks participants to voice their opinion regarding major potential changes to the district, including whether a four- or five-day school week is preferred, and whether the district’s middle school should be reopened at Beaver or at some other site. Participants are also asked to rate their satisfaction with the school district in a variety of areas, from bullying to academic progress. The district moved to a fourday school week under thensuperintendent Connie Kennedy in January 2009, after battling a $1.47 million budget shortfall that school year. “The board made a quick decision at the time, and the community felt like they weren’t able to give the input they wanted,” said Hedrick, who is mid-way through her first year serving as superintendent of the district. “In response, board felt it wouldn’t be a ‘forever deal.’” Hedrick estimates the cost to return to a five-day school week, with shorter days, is about $105,000 for one year.

INDEX Classified Ads .........................B5 Crossword Puzzle....................B2 Business..................................A7 Fenceposts ..............................B3 Letters..................................A4-5 Obituaries................................A6 Sports....................................A11

CORRECTIONS

ANTHONY RIMEL/HEADLIGHT HERALD

These overgrown tracks near Tillamook will now be maintained by the Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad, which plans to eventually run tourist trains to the city.

In last week’s article, “Oar House changes hands,” the new owner is Jessica Kliever, not Klieber.

After a year of negotiating, OCSR gets contract with Port

The submitted photo from ‘Capes residents move to higher ground’ was taken in Cape Meares, not Oceanside, by Ellen Steen.

WEATHER MAR 28 29 30 31 APR 1 2 3

HIGH 50 50 48 53 47 57 50

STATS LOW 44 46 44 41 41 40 41

RAINFALL 1.29 2.56 .48 .55 .29 .00 --

MARCH NORMALS LOW: 38 HIGH: 56 TOTAL PRECIPITATION: 9.74 WEATHER COURTESY OF WEATHER UNDERGROUND

Vol. 124, No. 13 75 cents

BY ANTHONY RIMEL arimel@countrymedia.net

TILLAMOOK – The Port of Tillamook Bay Board of Commissioners has approved a contract with the Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad (OCSR) to extend the area of track on which they can operate their tourist trains. The 20-year exclusive lease agreement for 46 miles of track took 14 months to be reached. The tracks the Port board agreed to lease to OCSR at its March 27 meeting start near the Air Museum and extend to beyond the Salmonberry River. OCSR sought an exclusive agreement to use the track because they will gain some valuable exemptions from the Federal Railroad Administration if the track is designated as a tourist railroad. Tim Thompson, of OCSR, said having the track designated as a tourist railroad will make it easier for them to restore and operate on the track. “We’re not looking for a handout,” said Thompson. “All we want is use of the track. We don’t want any money from the Port.”

Thompson said the agreement gives OCSR two years of use of the track before they start making payments to the Port. According to Thompson, OCSR’s business model would need a couple of years to build ridership to support payments on the track. Thompson said OCSR gets people to stop in local communities who otherwise wouldn’t. “We’d like to bring that not just to Garibaldi and Rockaway, but to Tillamook as well,” he said. Thompson said OCSR had 13,000 riders last year. Several of the Port commissioners expressed enthusiasm about the idea at the meeting, but Port Commissioner Bill Baertlein, who is running for Tillamook County Commissioner, said he favored plans that would convert the track to pedestrian trails. He also added he was “thinking about” a multi-million dollar offer the Port had received from a company that would like to buy the tracks and remove them for scrap.

City gives Scenic Railroad $10K grant At the April 2 meeting of the Tillamook City Council, the city decided to allocate $10,000 to OCSR to help build a new foundation for the train depot, which was moved to a lot adjacent to the Blue Heron from its original home at the railroad tracks on 3rd Street. The city funds will also be used to restore the interior and exterior of the depot. Hurd said that the depot will be used as office space for OCSR, and as a location to sell tickets and merchandise. Councilor Steve Forster asked Don Hurd, who had written the council a letter in support of the railroad, what the status was on OCSR’s contract with the Port. After being told that the contract was approved, the council approved the grant. Hurd’s letter to the council also said the lease agreement will allow OCSR to finalize purchase of a large steam engine and encourage an investor to purchase 13 dinner cars which are in “first class condition.” “We want to sell Tillamook City, its merchants and OCSR, and we want your help,” Hurd wrote.

See OCSR, Page A9

Officer was involved in disturbance following DUII arrest BY ANTHONY RIMEL arimel@countrymedia.net

A local state trooper was involved in a suspicious incident at a Tillamook apartment complex in January, a month after he was put on administrative leave for a DUII charge. Trooper Mitchell Hurliman was arrested for driving under

the influence on Dec. 23, after being stopped with his thengirlfriend, Anika Sullivan, in Washington County. A month later, it seems the two were no longer dating and Tillamook police were called to respond to a disturbance between them at Sullivan’s apartment. Oregon State Police Public Information Officer Gregg Hastings said the state police

were aware of the incident, and it would be considered in their internal investigation of Hurliman’s DUII. At around 11:30 p.m. Jan. 23, neighbors called police to Sullivan’s apartment complex. The police report indicates that Hurliman had taken a backpack from 18-year-old Tony Martinez, who was visiting Sullivan that night.

According to the report, Hurliman, 46, told police he took the backpack after “stopping by” to visit the 29-yearold Sullivan. “Hurliman told me Tony Martinez was in her apartment drinking when he arrived,” states the report from the January incident.

See OFFICER, Page A9

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503-842-4457 Fax 503-842-7684

See NESTUCCA, Page A9

- Clay Cook S-C Paving Co.

H22772

Commercial & Home Delivery

Office (503)842-6220 Toll Free (877)339-4572


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