On Saturday May 11, letter carriers will be doing more than just dropping off the mail; they’ll also be collecting food for the annual Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive. Hosted by the National Association of Letter Carriers, Stamp Out Hunger takes place around the country and is the largest single-day food drive.
You can take part by collecting nonperishable food items and leaving them in a bag near the mailbox early on May 11. A letter carrier or volunteer will pick up the donation and ensure it gets to Oregon Food Bank. Last year, one million pounds of food was collected in Oregon and Clark County, Washington. Our goal this year is to bring in another one million pounds. All donated food stays in the community where it was collected.
“Six days a week, our letter carriers are out in the community, traveling door to door. They see the subtle changes in income and know which house is struggling to put food on the table,” says CEO Susannah Morgan. “We’re proud to work together again this year to nourish and care for every neighbor.”
A list of most wanted foods is available at oregonfoodbank.org/mostwanted. Donations not picked up by letter carriers can be dropped off at any post office by Wednesday, May 15. Financial donations can be made online at oregonfoodbank.org/NALC
The Stamp Out Hunger food drive was created in 1993 by the National Association of Letter Carriers to encourage communities to come together in an effort to stock the shelves of food banks nationwide. Along with the National Rural Letter Carriers Association, the National Association of Letter Carriers has collected more than one billion pounds of food nationally since the drive’s inception.
“I’ve always strived to help everyone else in need through my life,” says Abe RedCloud, Letter Carrier and Oregon Coordinator for Stamp Out Hunger. “There are a lot of people that need help in the world, and this event helps millions of people in need of an essential item to live, food. Every time I see a house with a bag of food for me to pick up, I get super excited and say thank you to them the next time I see them. I’m super proud to be helping in this event every year.”
The food drive is made possible by Delta Fire and your local letter carriers, the U.S. Postal Service, Fred Meyer, AWS Elemental, UFCW Local 555 along with many dedicated volunteers and community organizations.
About Oregon Food Bank Oregon Food Bank works to eliminate hunger and its root causes… because no one should be hungry. Oregon Food Bank believes that hunger starves the human spirit, that communities thrive when people are nourished, and that everyone deserves healthy and fresh food. Oregon Food Bank helps feed the human spirit of 260,000 people every month through a food distribution network of 21 regional food banks serving Oregon and Clark County, Washington. Oregon Food Bank also leads statewide efforts to increase resources for hungry families and to eliminate the root causes of hunger through public policy, local food systems work, nutrition and garden education, health care screening and innovative programming. Find out how to feed the human spirit at oregonfoodbank.org.
While many of us welcome the warmer weather this time of year, we must remind ourselves that some of our loved ones may find themselves in an uncomfortable predicament. It could even result in their death.
We are speaking about our pets who accompany many of us on our trips and errands in a motor vehicle. We should never leave our pet unattended in a parked car. On warm days, and even cloudy days, the temperature in a car can rise to dangerous levels in minutes, even with the windows cracked open.
The brief stop we plan to make at the store could stretch to 15 minutes or more before we know it. Our mistake could cost our pet its life. Leaving the windows cracked won’t cool the car enough to protect our beloved pet, even if we have made water available.
In June of 2017, Gov. Kate Brown signed into law House Bill 2732 to protect dogs and children) left in hot cars. Oregon was the 11th state to pass such a Good Samaritan Law, which provides that anyone – not just law enforcement – may enter a vehicle (by force or otherwise) to remove an unattended domestic animal without fear of civil or criminal liability.
If you come upon a scenario like above where you believe an animal could perish, please contact our dispatch center at 541-265-0777 before deciding to enter the vehicle. Be ready to convey your location, the vehicle description, and a description of you. Our Animal Service Deputies will make every effort to respond quickly.
If you determine that more immediate life-saving action is necessary, please ensure that you:
have a reasonable belief that the animal is in imminent danger of suffering harm;
notify law enforcement or emergency services either before or soon after entering the vehicle;
use only the minimum force necessary to enter the vehicle; and
stay with the animal until law enforcement, emergency services, or the owner or operator of the vehicle arrives.
For more information and tips, check our website at www.lincolncountysheriff.net and like us on Facebook: Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office – Oregon
Lincoln City Police officer Torin Liden was assisted by Lincoln County Sheriff K9 officer Nix and an Oregon State Police trooper shortly after midnight Thursday in the apprehending of a wanted suspect who ran on foot after a traffic stop.
Jacob Ivan Sutter, 27, of Lincoln City.
At approximately 12:51 a.m., Liden initiated a traffic stop on a white 2000 Subaru sedan at D River Wayside for a traffic violation. The Subaru pulled over and Liden contacted the driver who identified himself as Jacob Ivan Sutter, 27, of Lincoln City.
A license and warrants check on Sutter, showed a suspended driver’s license and an active felony warrant issued for probation violation for burglary and stalking. As the information was dispatched over the radio, Sutter jumped out of the vehicle, ran down to the beach and fled north on foot. Linden did not give immediate pursuit, but instead provided responding officers with a good description of the fleeing suspect and watched him as he crossed the D River and continued to run north behind the Sea Gypsy hotel.
Additional Lincoln City Police officers, as well as a Lincoln County Sheriff’s sergeant and an Oregon State Police trooper responded to the chase and set up a perimeter while waiting for Lincoln County Sheriff’s Deputies, including K-9 Nix, to respond. Nix began to track the fleeing suspect north behind hotels and along the beach. The K-9 tracked Sutter for some distance before locating him hiding in thick brush about 20 feet up the embankment. Once Sutter realized that he had been found and that a K-9 was on scene, he complied with verbal commands and surrendered without incident.
Lincoln City Police secured Sutter in a patrol vehicle and transported him back to the original stop location.
Sutter was transported to the Lincoln County Jail and lodged on charges of misdemeanor eluding on foot, escape and felony warrant for probation violation. He was also issued a citation for driving while suspended and driving uninsured.
No injuries were reported as a result of this incident.
Lincoln City Police would like to thank the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office and the Oregon State Police for their assistance, along with a special thank you to Deputy Smith and K-9 Nix for their help in locating and capturing the suspect.
Director Will Fox’s Westside Christian group placed first (298 points), followed by Michael McClure’s band at Warrenton (283), then Taft (276), Oregon Episcopal School (275) and Rainier (265).
Whether taking down an opponent on the mat or turning two on the diamond, senior Taft High multisport star Cody Knott loves challenges. He’ll get one of his biggest next year when Corban University in Salem unveils its first-ever wrestling team.
Taft senior Cody Knott
Knott will be among a new group of scholarship athletes who will comprise the Warriors’ first-ever wrestling program under newly hired coachKeegan Davis,a two-time State champion at Sprague High School and Silverton High assistant coach who twice qualified for the NCAA tournament as a freestyle All-American at Oregon State and placed in the top-five at the Pac-10 Championships four times.
“I’m going to study business,” Knott said Wednesday after signing a letter of intent with Corban. “That’s their top program there, and I’ve wanted to go for business management. I’ve had my mind set on that for the past three years.”
The 18-year-old Knott, who also stars as an infielder on Taft’s baseball team, said he is not planning on trying out for the sport at Corban at this time. He said he will pursue a business degree because he hopes to own his own company someday.
Knott went 26-3 on the mat last season and placed third at 160 pounds in late February at the Class 3A OSAA State Wrestling Championships at Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Portland.
“It has been a long time since a Taft wrestler has competed at the college level, possibly it has been decades,” Taft wrestling coach Robb Ellis said. “Cody has a lot of talent, and getting the next-level coaching he will receive at Corban will cause him to shine.
“He has a great work ethic and attitude. He is respectful to his coaches and eager to learn more. Corban started a wrestling team at the perfect time for Cody, and Cody will be perfect for their team.
“High school wrestling is a grind, but college wrestling is a step up above that. It is a huge commitment and I am glad Cody decided to take it on, and I know he will be successful if he sticks with the process the Corban coaches will put him through.”
CE Jeffers Sports Center
Corban University is a private Christian college of about 1,200 students offering undergraduate work in biblical studies, liberal arts and professional studies, and graduate work in business, ministry, education and counseling.
Otis will be the site for a two-day cannabis-friendly music festival June 28-29, with several performers coming to the Oregon town to play music for a first-of-its-kind event, complete with a beer and wine garden.
“It is going to be a party in the pasture in Otis with a mix of some soulful and groovy music,” event organizers said.
Acts include:
Erotic City (Prince Tribute band)
Ayron Jones (Urban rock)
The Garcia Birthday Band
Lady Kat (Blues diva)
B.U.G.S. (Garage/Punk ledgends)
Zuhg (Local groove)
Richard Arnold (Sweet soul)
The Perry Gerber Band (Homegrown musician)
Tom O (Local songwriter)
Eight bands and singers will spend the weekend performing at Highway 18 and Old Scenic Highway 101 in Otis, where all ages are welcome to tent and RV camp under the stars.
Tickets are $20 per day and can be purchased at tickettomato.com, Zuhg Surf Shop or Otis Pizzeria. VIP tickets are available and include a T-shirt and up-front seating for a $30 cash-at-the-gate upgrade.
RV and tent camping must pay cash at the gate. Tents are $25 for the two days and RVs under 30 feet $40 and over 30 feet $50.
Merchandise and food vendor spots are available with no water or electricity provided. Interested vendors can call Tim at 503-516-5356 with any questions and can find vendor registration forms at otismusicfestival.com/vendors
Sponsors of the event include Gerber Tire, Zuhg Life Surf Shop, Otis Pizzeria, Ultrasonic Events, Beachcrest Brewery, Lincoln City Glass Center, Purple Starfish, Crystal Wizard and Taylor & Taylor Realty.
A familiar but newly imagined coffee spot will hold a grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony from 9-10 a.m. Friday at Lincoln City Outlets, with all-day specials and live music by Schroondonk.
“It’s been a huge amount of work,” owner Shelby Locke said. “We are really excited to open the doors and share it with everybody.”
Formerly known as Mojo Coffee that operated a drive-thru coffee shop in North Lincoln City, Salt will feature the nationwide coffee brand Stumptown Coffee Roasters and offer beer, wine, cocktails, tea and food.
“They are not calling it Mojo anymore because it’s a lot different than the coffee drive-up it had been,” Lincoln City Outlets Marketing Manager Sharyn Jasmer said. “Its a full-service cafe with sit-down and orders to go. It’s a great place for locals and our tourists to come sit and enjoy.”
“We have the entire menu we had as the coffee drive-thru,” Locke said. “We expanded it to include lunch, dinner and snacks along with beer, wine and cocktails.”
Two designated pick-up parking spaces will facilitate to-go orders.
The new store, located in between Momiji Express and OshKosh B’gosh, will be christened by the Lincoln City Chamber of Commerce with a ribbon cutting ceremony Friday morning.
The Siletz Tribal Charitable Contribution Fund distributed nearly $283,000 to 63 organizations on May 3 as it continued its quarterly donations to nonprofit groups.
The Siletz Tribe has made contributions through employment, monetary donations and cooperative measures to the Siletz community, Lincoln County and the state of Oregon. The seven-member charitable fund advisory board has distributed more than $12.8 million since its inception in 2001.
Overall, the Tribe has honored its tradition of sharing within the community by distributing more than $16.6 million through the charitable fund and other Tribal resources. Chinook Winds has donated more than $6.5 million in cash and fund-raising items since it opened in 1995. The casino also provides in-kind donations of convention space for various fund-raisers as well as technical support, advertising and manpower for many events.
The next deadline to submit applications is June 3. Eligibility for money from the charitable fund is limited to two categories:
Entities and activities located in the Siletz Tribe’s 11-county service area (Lincoln, Tillamook, Linn, Lane, Benton, Polk, Yamhill, Marion, Multnomah, Washington and Clackamas counties)
Native American entities and activities located anywhere in the United States
Applications and requirements can be obtained at ctsi.nsn.us/charitable-contribution-fund; by calling 800-922-1399, ext. 1227, or 541-444-8227; or by mailing Siletz Tribal Charitable Contribution Fund, P.O. Box 549, Siletz, OR 97380-0549. Applications can be submitted via e-mail at stccf@live.com.
Newport High School Grad Night
Distribution of $282,706.89
Arts – $15,800
Alsea Community Effort – materials and labor for raised rock wall planter at Alsea Community Library entrance; Alsea, OR; $1,500
Oregon Children’s Theatre – supplies and equipment for youth art center and art workshops; Toledo, OR; $3,500
Portland Japanese Garden – sponsor Art in the Garden exhibition of Japanese Ainu and American Indian woodcarvings; Portland, OR; $10,000
Yaquina River Museum of Art – supplies, publication and exhibit costs for arts and literature program for Siletz Valley Early College Academy students; Toledo, OR; $800
Cultural Activities – $3,000
Native American Peoples Association – food for annual pow-wow to support Native adults in custody reconnecting with family, culture and traditions; Salem, OR; $1,500
Native American Program at Warner Creek Correctional Facility – food and supplies for inmate American Indian pow-wow; Lakeview, OR; $1,500
Drug & Alcohol Treatment – $19,000
The Healing Lodge of the Seven Nations – renovation construction costs of regional youth treatment center; Spokane Valley, WA; $5,000
Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska – furnishings and equipment for Chee-Woy-NaZhee Halfway House; Winnebago, NE; $14,000
Education – $28,286.90
Central Linn Elementary School PTC – six-foot chain-link fence around school campus, including playground and sports fields; Brownsville, OR; $7,000
Eddyville Charter School – spiny dogfish sharks and dissecting tool set for science and body system studies; Eddyville, OR; $640
Kings Valley Charter School – cloud-based security cameras for school security and student safety; Philomath, OR; $3,048
Native American Rights Fund – Native law clerk position; Boulder, CO; $9,600
Salem-Keizer Public Schools, Indian Education – dentalium and cultural supplies for education presentations to fourth-grade classrooms; Salem, OR; $3,100
Siletz Tribal Head Start Parent Committee – swimming lessons, aquarium visit and end-of-year transition ceremonies; Siletz, OR; $1,650
Siletz Valley Friends of the Library – replace outdoor book return drop box; Siletz, OR; $2,800
Taft Elementary School – 3D printer to encourage STEM learning, skills and projects; Lincoln City, OR; $448.90
Health – $44,255
Albany Gleaners – food shares and meat from other sources for community food bank; Albany, OR; $2,000
ALS Association of Oregon and SW Washington Chapter – specialized medical clinics, equipment and materials to help vulnerable ALS patients and families; Portland, OR; $5,000
Canyon Gleaners – food shares and other food sources for community food bank; Mill City, OR; $2,000
Coastal Range Food Bank Inc. – fresh foods for rural community food bank; Blodgett, OR; $2,000
Innovative Concepts for Families of Lincoln County – with Medical Teams International, dental van visits to Lincoln County to treat uninsured adults with urgent dental needs; Newport, OR; $5,000
Junction City Local Aid – support operations of family emergency food pantry; Junction City, OR; $2,000
Lane Senior Support Coalition – emergency assistance for low-income seniors when other programs are not available; Eugene, OR; $4,500
Lincoln County Joint Transportation Committee – medical access bus passes for agencies and medical providers to distribute to low-income and disadvantaged patients; Lincoln City, OR; $5,000
Marys River Gleaners – food shares and food resources for community food bank; Corvallis, OR; $2,000
RSVP of Linn, Benton and Lincoln Counties – durable medical equipment for seniors and persons with disabilities; Albany, OR; $4,000
Sharing Hands Inc. – food shares for community food pantry; Brownsville, OR; $2,000
South Benton County Gleaners – food share and food resources for community food bank; Monroe, OR; $2,000
St. Vincent de Paul-Lebanon – food shares and food inventory for emergency food pantry; Lebanon, OR; $2,000
Sweet Home/Lebanon Downtown Farmers Market – match SNAP benefits with bonus coupons to add more fresh fruits and vegetables to households; Lebanon, OR; $2,000
Tillamook County Women’s Resource Center – paint, furnishings and décor to create welcoming spaces for trauma-informed conversations; Tillamook, OR; $2,755
Historical Preservation – $50,000
Burns Paiute Tribe – renovation of commercial building to house culture and heritage center; Burns, OR; $10,000
Siletz Tribal Arts and Heritage Society – Oregon Community Foundation curatorial staff endowment and museum capital building campaign; Lincoln City, OR; $30,000
Housing – $9,599
God Gear – equipment to safely treat bed bugs to maintain health and stability of transitional housing; Albany, OR; $9,599
Other – $42,194
Alsea Valley Gleaners – concrete forms, hydronic tubing and rebar for food distribution facility construction; Alsea, OR; $3,935
Bay Mills Indian Community – chairs and tables for Elder Center; Brimley, MI; $14,050
Panther Creek Senior and Community Center – parking lot grading and gravel, and storage shed; Otis, OR; $6,300
Salem-Keizer Volcanoes Baseball – sponsor game tickets to honor “Youth of our Military Families” on July 4; Keizer, OR; $1,200
Shangri-La – tables, chairs and carts to support Social Club activities for people with disabilities, plus staff admissions for activities to assist clients; Salem, OR; $2,384
Siletz All-Class Reunion – use as needed for reunion of all class years; Toledo, OR; $500
Tillamook County Family YMCA – improve and expand northwest parking lot; Tillamook, OR; $10,000
Tillamook Eagles Auxiliary #2144 – new Bingo system with flashboard; Tillamook, OR; $3,000
Yachats Pride – honoraria, tech support, venue, etc., for Gender Tea Kiki (panel discussion) during Pride weekend; Yachats, OR; $825
Prevention – $35,886
2019 Hawaii Senior Trip (Warm Springs) – senior trip to Hawaii to celebrate graduates; Warm Springs, OR; $500
Adler’s Voice – training and travel to improve child abuse interviews/investigations for disabled and nonverbal children of Marion County; Bend, OR; $5,000
B’nai B’rith Camp
B’Nai B’rith Camp – scholarships for youth to participate in day camp; Beaverton, OR; $5,000
Boys & Girls Club of Corvallis – exercise equipment for middle school fitness project; Corvallis, OR; $2,026
Capital Futbol Club – youth soccer scholarships for families with incomes below federal poverty line; Salem, OR; $5,000
CASA of Lincoln and Tillamook Counties – staff training fees, materials, trainer costs in advocate training program, VAULT database and other technologies; Newport, OR; $5,000
Cherry City Roller Derby – jerseys, pads, helmets, guards and loaner skates for youth age 10-17; Salem, OR; $2,860
Lady Bobcats Youth Basketball – basketballs, jerseys/shorts and gear bags for Nestucca girls tournament teams in grades 3-8; Hebo, OR; $2,000
Newport High School Grad Night Committee – drug- and alcohol-free grad night party; Newport, OR; $500
Parents of Senior Class Inc., Waldport High School – drug- and alcohol-free grad night party; Waldport, OR; $500
Senior Safe, Nestucca High School – drug- and alcohol-free grad night party; Hebo, OR; $500
The Pathfinder Network – support for Caring Dads, a 17-week violence intervention parenting program; Portland, OR; $7,000
Public Safety – $34,685.99
Adair Rural Fire and Rescue – replace fire protective turnouts for volunteers; Adair Village, OR; $10,250
Idanha-Detroit RFPD – purchase and install extractor washing machine for cleaning turnouts; Detroit, OR; $4,200
Lincoln City Police Department
Lincoln City Police Department – support for establishing a police K9 unit; Lincoln City, OR; $5,000
Pacific Northwest Search and Rescue – drone and ancillary equipment for use in technical search and rescue operations; Milwaukie, OR; $3,980.99
Siletz Valley Fire District – advanced tactical and protective gear for wildland firefighter team; Siletz, OR; $7,050
Sweet Home Fire and Ambulance District – training equipment, including advanced life support manikin, CPR manikin and AED trainer; Sweet Home, OR; $2,000
Toledo Fire Department
Toledo Fire Department – replace CPR manikins to meet new American Heart Association requirements; Toledo, OR; $2,205
This weekend, I walked the Newport Loyalty Days Parade, shaking hands, meeting children, petting dogs, and talking briefly with people and families that had come out to celebrate our coastal heritage and the sunshine. This was the first of six local parades I’ll walk this summer and I was particularly pleased to have students tell me on four different occasions they had met me in the Capitol. I then rushed back to Lincoln City and dressed up for the Cultural Center’s “Culture of Course” gala dinner.
Senator Roblan and I will host our fourth Town Hall series for this legislative session at 7:30 a.m. Friday morning, May 10th. The Senator and I will be here at the Capitol. You can join us live via video conference from our Community College campuses in Lincoln City or Newport.
For those of you in Tillamook County, I will host a joint Town Hall with Representative Tiffiny Mitchell this Saturday, May 11, at 2pm at the Tillamook Library. With big issues moving, this is an excellent time to meet with us for questions or suggestions.
Loyalty Days Parade in Newport
Student Success Act
Oregon pays for schools primarily with income taxes. When the economy is good, we invest; when the economy slumps, we cut. The result is a funding roller coaster. Our schools are falling behind.
This week, HB 3427, the Student Success Act, passed out of the House. Oregon has waited too long for a solution to education funding. Our class sizes are too large, our graduation rates too low and our class year too short. This bill includes necessary support for pre-school and early learning programs, funding for career and technical education, and more resources for students and teachers. It includes a plan to measure classroom performance results. It gives our kids and grandkids the education they deserve to succeed.
Whether you have kids in our schools, are a business looking for employees, or are retired and increasingly dependent on others for services and support, we all have a stake in quality education. Simply said, this bill was long overdue.
The proposal will add $1 billion each year to K-12 education. (Not the $5.67 billion I’ve been reading about on social media.) The Student Success Committee toured the entire state before preparing a proposal designed to address shortfalls and measure the results.
I’m particularly pleased the bill addresses pre-school and early learning programs. Too many of our children arrive at school challenged. Too many arrive from homes struggling with income insecurity, food insecurity or health insecurity. Too many are struggling with mental health problems, abuse or neglect. Twenty percent of the students in Lincoln County schools are listed as “homeless”. That’s one-in-five –a statistic that, frankly, I’m ashamed of.
We need to create an environment where our kids and grandkids arrive at school ready for the first lesson and not just anxious for the first meal.
While HB 3427 is a well-crafted compromise bill, it isn’t perfect. I would like more attention directed to farms and fisherman. I would like higher deductions for our smaller businesses. And I would like more support for our community colleges. We discussed the costs of this bill for over 6 hours on the floor. And as you can see in my speech, I believe the cost of doing nothing is far greater than the cost of doing what is necessary.
Speaking on the House floor for the Student Success Act
Certainly this proposal is complex, controversial, and for some, expensive. The measure proposes a tax of about half of one percent on business activity in Oregon. Groceries, health care and fuel are exempt.
In simple terms, here is how it would work:
1) The first million dollars of sales will be tax-exempt. This is designed to screen out smaller businesses. Ninety per cent of Oregon firms will not be affected at all.
2) Businesses with more than $1 million in sales can deduct 1/3 of their costs of goods or labor – whichever is higher. This is intended to minimize the effect of taxes “stacking” when a business buys products or services from another business.
3) Oregon individual income taxes will be reduced. This is intended to offset the possible increase in prices if tax costs are passed along to consumers.
How could the tax affect your business? As I said earlier, if your sales are under $1 million, it won’t affect you at all. For larger businesses, the results will vary depending on their industry, structure, costs, and current tax rate. Here is an example for one business with $2 million in sales.
Total sales in Oregon: $2,000,000
Less $1 million exemptions: ($1,000,000)
Equals gross taxable sales: $1,000,000
total labor $1,400,000
total cost-of-goods $300,000
other costs $200,000
Net profit $100,000
Less .35 x labor or CGS: ($490,00)
($1.4M x .35 = $490k)
Equals net taxable activity: $510,000
($1M – $490k = $510k)
Taxable activity x tax rate of .0057 $2,907
($510k x .0057 = $2,907)
Less .22 (deduction from federal taxes) ($640)
($2907 x .22 = $640)
Less .0875 (deduction from state taxes) ($254)
($2907 x .0875 = $254)
Equals final new tax: $2,013
($2907 – $640 – $254)
Is the plan perfect? Certainly not! I argued that the million dollar “floor” should be higher since many small businesses have sales over that threshold. I also was part of a group that successfully argued deductions should be more than the 25% originally proposed. The amount was increased to 35% but I still feel it should be higher. And I remain concerned about how the tax may affect “fleets and farms” – our fishing and dairy industry.
The proposal now moves to the Senate. We’re still researching and considering amendments. PERS and the expanding obligation of pension cost is next on the agenda.
Coastal Art Displays
As part of our continuing Coastal Art and Artists Gallery in our Salem office, this month we are presenting the Tuesday Stitchers from Pacific City. We’ve displayed paintings, photographs, ceramics, and now quilt art. And what makes these pieces particularly special is that the Stitchers donate each to the Caring Cabin – a residential facility in Tillamook to support children with cancer. One awaits each child who walks through the door. Over 1,000 exquisite hand crafted quilts have been donated so far. We’re proud to have some examples on display at the Capitol.
Thanks to the Tuesday Stitchers for sharing their work!
Vaccinations
This week we voted on one of the most contentious proposals of the 2019 session. HB 3063 will eliminate philosophical and religious exemptions to vaccinations and require that students be vaccinated or have a medical exemption in order to attend our schools.
This is an impossible choice, but our House rules don’t allow us to abstain from voting. On one hand, we have questions of personal freedom and the right of parents to control their children’s healthcare. On the other side, we have concerns for public health and public safety. In our district we have pre-school children not yet vaccinated, we have a large retired population whose vaccinations may have expired, and we have some schools where the un-vaccinated rate exceeds 50%. With the recent reemergence of measles in the northwest, we see how the consequences of this decision could be severe.
The lobbying on this measure has been unprecedented during my time in the Legislature. Last Thursday alone, my office received over 3,000 emails. The phone rang every few minutes all day. We had citizens coming to the office, rallying on the Capitol steps, waving signs at the entrance to the parking garage, and lining access to committee rooms or the House chamber in an informational gauntlet. The few letters we have received from our district have been evenly split on the question. The very great majority of contacts have been from outside the district.
We encourage you to write to us on any issue. But when you do, please note where you live along with your name. Our priority is to respond to the people of our coastal and coast range district.
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Many of the issues we deal with in Salem are difficult or contentious. But the work is important. Thank you for honoring me with the responsibility of representing you in our State Capitol.
The following news release was issued Wednesday by Taft High girls golf coach Heather Hatton regarding her team’s season, which concluded Tuesday with a sixth-place finish at the Class 3A Special District 2 Golf Championships at Santiam Golf Club in Aumsville:
Taft Girls Golf finished sixth out of seven district teams this year. It was definitely a building season with three golfers on the varsity team who had not competed in an 18-hole tournament prior to this year. Three golfers on our team had only competed in one full 18-hole competitive round prior to their competition at Districts these past two days. Grace Cawley in her second year for the Tigers posted two of her lowest rounds of her career starting with a 115 day 1 and a 121 day 2. Prior to that her first, and best, 18 hole round was a 134 at the District preview the week before.
Veronica Jin and Lydia Prins, who both were new to the sport this year, played only one 18 hole individual round of golf as well the week prior at the District preview. Asking them to compete in a two day tournament at this level is asking a lot. They are still working on their swings and learning the rules of the sport. They both fought hard and had great accomplishments each round.
Our three returners, Sammy Halferty, Violet Palermini and Olivia Baker, have a lot of experience on the course. Sammy, who chose to dual sport in both track and golf, played very well day 1 after little practice the prior week focusing on both sports this spring. She posted a 107 to help her team improve on the district preview team score a week early by 21 strokes. Sammy was unable to participate both days as this year District Track day 1 conflicted with golf district day 2. Sammy did an outstanding job of juggling both sports this spring and I hope she is able to do so her senior year next year as well. We have asked for that to be discussed at an earlier date next year to ensure that doesn’t happen again next year if at all possible. At a small school sometimes athletes that have the opportunity to contribute to more than one program we need to do our best to give them that support.
Olivia Baker unfortunately sustained a knee injury a few weeks prior to the District preview while volunteering at the home track meet. She fought against the pain during the preview and Day 1 of Districts producing scores that were higher than her talent with a 116. For golfers a key skill is to get through to your left side (as a right handed player) to hit quality, consistent shots. She had so much pain it just wast worth it to her, or me, to continue in the pain she was in. She made the tough decision Tuesday morning of Day 2 to withdraw. She had a great season leading her team in hard work, dedication and skill. I was proud of her to stay with the team all day and cheer them on help anywhere she could.
Senior Violet Palermini had a great district tournament shooting a PR of 91 her second day with two birdies on her round. A two day score of 103-91 for a 194 earned her 8th place and second team all district honors. It was fun watching her play and focusing on her strength in iron play putting away her driver to keep the ball in play. She can hit her irons as far as most players hit their drivers. Coach Lauren Sigman really worked closely with Violet all season to sharpen her skills.
I’m looking forward to having Sammy Halfery, Veronica Jin, Grace Cawley and Emma Kirkendall back next year to build a strong return to the District tournament. Emma really learned a lot this year and I know she will be back to compete for us. We are hoping to have Noa Stoll return who played for us her Freshman and Sophomore years in hopes to have some more depth in our team. I know of a few 8th grade athletes who are looking forward to playing for the Tigers as well for the 2020 season. I’m not sure who the head coach will be, but I know the athletes will be ready to play their best.
Golfers have a tough job and it’s tough to recruit because most athletes and parents don’t understand the difficulty of walking 18 holes, more than 5 miles, carrying a bag and competing while keeping their own score and their opponents. The fact that our young competitors continue to come out every year is a testament to their strenght.
A special thanks to Chinook Winds Golf Resort for their continued support of our program. The athletes have the opportunity to play there all year round as long as they are on the Tiger roster. That just doesn’t happen at many courses. Also to the coaching staff has seriously supported this season so greatly when I was needed to take on the head coaching this year. Lauren Sigman, Kyle Baker and Jazmyn Logan helped travel, ran practices last minute when I couldn’t make it or so that I could attend my oldest daughter’s college tournaments or my other daughter’s softball games.
Knott will be among a new group of scholarship athletes who will comprise the Warriors’ first-ever wrestling program under newly hired coach
