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ROCKAWAY BEACH BUSINESS SELLS RAINWATER, PAGE A2
Headlight Herald
TILLAMOOKHEADLIGHTHERALD.COM • AUGUST 28, 2013
LONGEST RUNNING BUSINESS IN TILLAMOOK COUNTY • SINCE 1888
‘KILL PERMITS’
Child-abuse trial ends in conviction By Joe Wrabek
jwrabek@countrymedia.net
A long-pending court case involving the alleged physical abuse of a 2 1/2-year-old foster child was decided August 23 when a jury of 10 women and two men found Robert Gary Derrick of Tillamook guilty of first-degree criminal mistreatment, a class C felony. The three-day trial before Circuit Judge Jonathan Hill was held 18 months after Derrick’s indictment on Feb. 16, 2012, and two years after the abuse reportedly took place. Derrick and Courtney Crist were foster parents of a 2 1/2-year-old-boy and an infant girl (Crist technically was the “parent” and the full-time caregiver). The couple had served as foster parents for 13 months. The criminal mistreatment allegedly occurred between August 18 and 21, 2011, during a three-day period when Crist and the infant girl were out of town and Derrick was the boy’s lone caregiver. When children’s services personnel from the state Department of Human Services office in Tillamook visited the couple’s home August 22 on an unrelated matter they noticed bruises on the boy and took him to Tillamook County General Hospital. The next day, he was
See ABUSE, Page A7
INDEX Classified Ads...............B5-8 Crossword Puzzle............ A8 Fenceposts....................B3-4 Letters.............................. A4 Obituaries......................... A6 Opinions........................... A4 Sports............................ A12
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VOL. 124, NO. 35 $1.00
Andy Long campaign ads violated election law By Joe Wrabek
jwrabek@countrymedia.net
Yet not everyone is convinced the kill permits are the best way to handle the elk problem. “This has been an ongoing problem for many years, with elk going in and destroying crops,” said Bev Johnson, another farmer on Blaine Road who lives about 11 miles from where the bull elk were killed. Johnson added that if kill per-
The Oregon Elections Division has ruled that a group of Tillamook County Sheriff’s Office employees who ran a newspaper ad supporting Andy Long for sheriff in Andy Long last November’s general election violated state elections law by not filing papers as a political commitBill Spidal tee, appointing a treasurer and filing campaign expense reports. The complaint had been filed with the Elections Division on Oct. 25, 2012, by Bill Spidal, Long’s opponent in the sheriff’s race. It concerned an advertisement that ran twice in the Headlight Herald that expressed support for Long, listed supporters’ names and stated, “This message was paid for by the above listed people.” Spidal claimed that because the supporters solicited contributions and made expenditures to support Long’s candidacy, they were required to form a campaign committee and disclose campaign finance activity. Spidal subsequently attempted to withdraw his complaint, but was told by the Elections Division that he could not. Long won the election. Sgt. Paul Fournier, a spokesman for the Long supporters, told the Elections Division on Jan. 15 that the group had met and decided to run the ads because the same
See ELK, Page A3
See AD, Page A3
Photos Courtesy of ODFW
Elk herds imilar to this one in Roosevelt, Ore., have been damaging crops in south county for years.
Controversial elk-control method takes some heat By Sayde Moser
smoser@countrymedia.net
You can’t throw a stone in south Tillamook County without hitting someone with an opinion about “kill permits.” Sgt. Todd Hoodenpyl of the Oregon State Police can attest to that. He said he’s been fielding calls for days after what some area residents are calling “the cornfield massacre” on Blaine Road. Hoodenpyl said farmer Bill Slavens had obtained a kill permit to keep elk herds from damaging his corn crops. Permits are issued through the Oregon Department of Forestry to address wildlife damage to crops and property, said ODFW wildlife biologist Herman Biederbeck. “We have a statutory obligation to address wildlife damage,” Biederbeck said. The solution – a controversial one – is to qualify for a kill permit, which allows a landowner to destroy a specified number of elk within a set period of time. It’s not an actual hunt, said Biederbeck. The landowner isn’t allowed to harvest the meat. It must be picked up by a certified butcher and donated to the Oregon Food Bank. And landowners are allowed to kill only cows, not bulls, which is where the latest controversy surfaced. Slavens shot and killed two bulls the night of August 21. Hoodenpyl said Slavens called
Where do you stand on kill permits? Take our online poll at tillamookheadlightherald.com. the Oregon State Police and reported his mistake immediately. “He was remorseful and took credit for everything that took place on that property.” Hoodenpyl said. “When we issue these permits, we make sure everyone is aware that everyone is watching what’s going on and that everything has to be done legally, so that if anyone sees any problems to give us a call immediately,” he said.
Play explores a vulnerable Sherlock Holmes By Sayde Moser
smoser@countrymedia.net
Audience members familiar with the strong, stoic character of detective Sherlock Holmes will be intrigued at seeing a different side of the timeless character this weekend. The Tillamook Association for the Performing Arts (TAPA) production of “Sherlock’s Secret Life” “is a more sensitive side of Sherlock,” said director Robert Buckingham. “A younger, more idealistic version that we haven’t seen before.” The play is a prequel, written by Ed Lange. “Because it’s a prequel, taking place before any of the Arthur Conan Doyle stories were written, the playwrite is able to take some liberties,” said Buckingham.
SHOWTIMES
Aug. 30 - 7 p.m. Aug. 31 - 7 p.m. Sept. 1 - 2 p.m. Sept. 6 - 7 p.m. Sept. 7 - 7 p.m. Sept. 8 - 2 p.m. Sept. 13 - 7 p.m. Sept. 14 - 7 p.m. Sept. 15 - 2 p.m. This is Buckingham’s sixth time directing for TAPA. He said he knew he wanted to pursue “Sherlock’s Secret Life” before he had even finished reading the script. “I instantly found it interesting,” he said. “It brings together all the excitement of Sherlock
See TAPA, Page A7
Photo by Sayde Moser
Peter Vultaggio, right, in the role of the famous detective watches as Professor Moriarty, left, played by Stewart Martin, is forcibly removed from Holmes’ house.
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