E V E N T S A L F E S T I V TO G U I D E
STORMY WEATHER ARTS FESTIVAL INSIDE
Headlight Herald
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2023
TILLAMOOK, OREGON • WWW.TILLAMOOKHEADLIGHTHERALD.COM
VOL. 135, NO. 43 • $1.50
Tillamook teachers honored by students
Members of the Tillamook Student Government pose with the recipients of the inaugural North Star Awards: (1) Sammy Shmader and Samantha Atchison, (2) Aubrey Miller and Marcelo Carocci, (3) Bridget Allen with Skylear Clowers and Brooklyn and Hayden Bush, and (4) Lorena Nieves with Cepeda Oliveras. Courtney King was unable to attend the ceremony. PHOTOS BY JENNIFER GUARCELLO.
WILL CHAPPELL Headlight Editor
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illamook School District held a ceremony to recognize teachers’ academic achievements and hand out the inaugural North Star Awards on October 13, at the high school auditorium. Six teachers and one staff member received the award, which was conceived by new Superintendent Matt Ellis to recognize the positive impacts that teachers and staff have on students’ lives. “It is often the case that we wait until the end of the
school year to recognize our employees,” Petty said. “By celebrating our educators more consistently, we hope to acknowledge more employees, more frequently.” Samantha Atchison, Marcelo Carocci, Adriana Cepeda Oliveras, Courtney King, Skylear Clowers, and Brooklyn and Hayden Bush received the student-selected North Star Awards from members of the Tillamook High School student government. Atchison, who teaches language arts at the high school, was credited with helping the student body’s
vice president, Sammy Schmader, overcome a fear of public speaking and making her feel seen and heard. Student body secretary Audrey Miller said that Carocci had made history entertaining and engaging, which had not been her prior experience with the subject. Communications Officer Bridget Allen thanked the Bushes, who both teach agricultural sciences and run the high school’s 4H program, for their mentorship in that program and for always helping to put a smile on her face.
Treasurer Lorena Nieves also credited Cepeda Oliveras, who teaches Spanish, for helping to keep her smiling through the ups and downs of high school and thanked her for always listening. Student Body President Austin Berry Killian wrote in a letter read by Schmader that Clowers, who works in custodial services, always brings a positive attitude to his work that helped to put him in a good mood. Peyton Rawe and Shayla Hillstrom, who are serving as the principles of 2024’s SEE TEACHERS HONORED PAGE A6
Doug Olson CARE welcomes Jeff Blackford as Executive Director selected as county commissioner C WILL CHAPPELL Headlight Editor
ommunity Action Resource Enterprises Inc. in Tillamook has hired Jeff Blackford, who brings an extensive and successful history in charitable organization management, as its new executive director. Blackford recently sat down with
the Herald to discuss his history, passion for not-for-profit work, philosophy and plans at Community Action Resource Enterprises Inc. (CARE). “With programs and partnerships and relationships we can develop and create these programs,” Blackford said. “That’s going to save the taxpayer a lot of money, it’s going to save lives, it’s going
to keep people out of jail, it’s going to keep people out of the ER and at the end of the day we hope to make a huge difference in the population of people that are homeless.” Born in Seattle, Blackford grew up in Alaska before attending college at the University of the Virgin Islands, in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. After college, Blackford briefly returned to Alaska
before moving to Seattle and meeting his partner, Jim. Together, the couple bought Timberline Spirits, a successful bar and music venue in Seattle that they ran for seven years. Blackford still keeps headshots from performers who graced the Timberline’s stage in his office and looks back fondly SEE JEFF BLACKFORD PAGE A5
Hurry in, sale ends October 31 WILL CHAPPELL Headlight Editor
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illamook County Commissioners Mary Faith Bell and Erin Skaar selected Doug Olson to serve the remaining year of retiring Commissioner David Yamamoto’s term at their October 18 meeting. The selection came following a six-week process that culminated with a candidate’s forum and
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