Category: General Interest

Submitted By: babbles@nehalemtel.net – Click to email about this post

this is an open letter to linda ballard, who posted on BBQ on 12/19/23 about “troubles in manzanita.”

i am a long-term nehalem resident who has been following manzanita city council discussions and decisions.

i would like to comment on your narrative in your BBQ post.

1) “our deeply rooted, well regarded and honorable mayor ….” deb simmons is not deeply rooted in manzanita. she was a political unknown when she ran for mayor. she had no previous government experience, so i would think that she is neither “well regarded” nor “not well regarded.” based on her tenure as mayor, she has certainly garnered both of those appellations. i do know that she was a well-regarded fifth grade school teacher in nehalem grade school for a number of years after her “retirement” to manzanita,

2) i also don’t get why there is an ongoing investigation, and i agree with you that it is opaque to the public. i am aghast that it has cost the city of manzanita 6 figures in expense (don’t get me started on the hourly rate that lawyers charge). i do understand that whatever this is, the council was informed of the employee complaint by the city attorney in May 2023, and the council voted unanimously in June 2023 to authorize the independent investigation that was strongly advised by the city attorney and their insurer. It would certainly be more comfortable for all on the city council if they could release more information, but legally they cannot. i do not think there is a “cover-up” by city council members. it’s typical in litigation to not publicize ongoing discussions. i agree that it IS frustrating to not really know what is going on.

3) i had high hopes for deb simmons’ tenure as mayor. then already in the first months of her tenure i learned two things that i thought were odd.
a) she refused the traditional conversation with the outgoing mayor. i thought to myself, “hmmm…. that’s strange.”
b) she nixed the new planning commission appointees that had been selected with due process. i thought this action was also strange, since she was brand new in her tenure as mayor. (i also wondered how she got to unilaterally nix due process and appoint who she wanted.)

4) as the months continued i learned that deb simmons refused all discussion with other council members except at public meetings. i found this also strange. especially as a newbie to politics, you would think one-on-one discussion with fellow council members would be valuable.

5) while you state you are in the dark about the investigation, nevertheless you have come to the conclusion that “there have been no findings of wrongdoing by the Mayor and the council is covering it up.” do we know that this investigation involves the former mayor? do we know that her resignation has anything to do with the employee complaint investigation? i am wondering what facts led you to this conclusion.

6) “hundreds of grassroots petition signers” is an exaggeration. manzanita has a population of 633 permanent residents. that’s how many people get to vote (if they are registered—which i would guess most of them are). i believe the petition signers represented about 20% of that number (and were they all permanent residents? were they all registered voters?).

7) “The council has demonstrated a pattern of overlooking smart, experienced citizens to fill vacancies on the council….”
a) when the council appointed kathryn stock to the council to fill a vacancy, i read all the letters of application. hers stood out head and shoulders above the others, both for the level of intelligence about city concerns, and for the depth of her work experience that would stand her in good stead. the council didn’t “overlook” anyone; they picked who seemed to them to be the best candidate.
b) ditto when the council picked brad hart to fill a vacancy.

8) “our mayor was elected by hundreds of voters….” 356 to be exact. running unopposed.

9) “A minority of loud activists appears to be calling the shots….” from attending city council meetings, the council members appear to me to be both thoughtful and well-prepared. they are intelligent, successful-in-their-careers, retired citizens who have chosen to serve the city and its residents on city council. i have had conversation with each of them at one time or another. i don’t believe any of them sits on city council for personal gain, or for any undisclosed motive. they just want to bring their capability and experience to serve the citizens of the city in which they live. i don’t think any of them are listening to “loud activists.”

10) i’m wondering what are the facts that justify you stating that the current city council is dominated by an “anti-diversity, anti-inclusive mindset….”

i agree with you, linda, that the fracturing of the community is very sad. where i don’t agree with you is as i’ve listed above.

om peace namaste

lucy brook
nehalem resident

Troubles in Manzanita

Posted on December 17, 2023 by North Coast BBQ

Submitted By: hildiballard@gmail.com

Friends and Neighbors,

“If everyone is thinking alike, then somebody isn’t thinking”
George S Patton to his troops

The troubling developments of the last few weeks in Manzanita have citizens worried. Our deeply rooted, well-regarded and honorable Mayor felt the need to resign her position, this, subsequent to the resignation of two city councilors this year and the sudden ‘retirement’ of a long term city hall employee. What is going on in Manzanita?

An opaque employee complaint emerged this year and an investigation has been ongoing, for months, with the citizens footing the bill of $139,000.00 and counting. Citizen requests for investigation findings have been stonewalled. If there has been wrongdoing we need to know about it. This investigation is a public record and subject to disclosure. The city council has not been transparent about the issue furthering distrust. Citizens remain in the dark.

My conclusion is that there have been no findings of wrongdoing by the Mayor and the council is covering it up. The power of ugly innuendo has served its purpose resulting with the Mayor’s resignation. Had there been any wrongdoing you can be sure that information would have leaked all over the place. Who is responsible for this expensive mess.?

Our Mayor was elected by hundreds of voters and sought to represent them by asking tough questions. She pushed back on spending matters for which we applaud her. She pushed back on ‘group think’.
The failures of this council to cultivate diversity of opinion is costly. Some seek unity in the community, but unity is built on trust and that trust is absent here.

A minority of loud activists appears to be calling the shots while hundreds of grassroots petition signers have been ignored. It is time to act inclusively and respect and include diverse opinions.

The council has demonstrated a pattern of overlooking smart, experienced citizens to fill vacancies on the council (despite their repeated efforts) and this further erodes trust – goodbye unity.

It is time to root out the anti-diversity, anti-inclusive mindset that dominates the current city council. The damage done so far is enough, the body count too high, the fracturing of the community too sad.

Linda Ballard
Manzanita Homeowner

Submitted By: hildiballard@gmail.com – Click to email about this post

Friends and Neighbors,

“If everyone is thinking alike, then somebody isn’t thinking”
George S Patton to his troops

The troubling developments of the last few weeks in Manzanita have citizens worried. Our deeply rooted, well-regarded and honorable Mayor felt the need to resign her position, this, subsequent to the resignation of two city councilors this year and the sudden ‘retirement’ of a long term city hall employee. What is going on in Manzanita?

An opaque employee complaint emerged this year and an investigation has been ongoing, for months, with the citizens footing the bill of $139,000.00 and counting. Citizen requests for investigation findings have been stonewalled. If there has been wrongdoing we need to know about it. This investigation is a public record and subject to disclosure. The city council has not been transparent about the issue furthering distrust. Citizens remain in the dark.

My conclusion is that there have been no findings of wrongdoing by the Mayor and the council is covering it up. The power of ugly innuendo has served its purpose resulting with the Mayor’s resignation. Had there been any wrongdoing you can be sure that information would have leaked all over the place. Who is responsible for this expensive mess.?

Our Mayor was elected by hundreds of voters and sought to represent them by asking tough questions. She pushed back on spending matters for which we applaud her. She pushed back on ‘group think’.
The failures of this council to cultivate diversity of opinion is costly. Some seek unity in the community, but unity is built on trust and that trust is absent here.

A minority of loud activists appears to be calling the shots while hundreds of grassroots petition signers have been ignored. It is time to act inclusively and respect and include diverse opinions.

The council has demonstrated a pattern of overlooking smart, experienced citizens to fill vacancies on the council (despite their repeated efforts) and this further erodes trust – goodbye unity.

It is time to root out the anti-diversity, anti-inclusive mindset that dominates the current city council. The damage done so far is enough, the body count too high, the fracturing of the community too sad.

Linda Ballard
Manzanita Homeowner

Submitted By: pattyrinehart@nehalemtel.net – Click to email about this post

A huge thank you to one and all who have given so much to so many in our community. There are so many grateful families you have helped during this time of year. I just had someone contact me this morning as they had received a couple of fruit gift packs and it seemed there was no way they could eat everything. They are bringing the baskets to me and what is in them will be distributed to those who need a bit of extra help. If you find yourself in this same spot, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with me. If you need food or if you have some to share call me-503-368-6081. Remember we cannot accept homemade food; it must be packaged by someone with the proper commercial licenses. Again, let’s keep up the good work sharing and caring for others.

Just want to share these addresses one more time:
Meals for Seniors Inc.
PO Box 852
Rockaway Beach, Oregon 97136

Rockaway Beach Lions
PO Box 611
Rockaway Beach, Oregon 97136

North County Food Bank
PO Box 162
Wheeler, Oregon 97147

Nehalem Senior Lunches
PO Box 156
Nehalem, Oregon 97131

CHILD Program
PO Box 156
Nehalem, Oregon 97131

Happy Holidays! Best, Patty

Submitted By: ggitzen@nehalemtel.net – Click to email about this post

Does anyone have information as to who destroyed the Wheeler Gateway Sign some time from Dec 6 to Dec 10?
Contact Garry Gitzen
503 354-7668
or email: ggitzen@nehalemtel.net

Submitted By: babbles@nehalemtel.net – Click to email about this post

from lucy brook, i am copying and pasting an article published 12/3/23 on the Tillamook County Pioneer.

Trying to See: Be Careful What You Wish For

Posted on December 3, 2023 by Editor
By Michael Randall
Here’s a serious question for you: should we be concerned about the 2024 presidential election’s outcome? Let’s examine what one of the leading candidates thinks about and speaks about widely. When he ran in 2016, he said, “I could stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody, and I wouldn’t lose any voters, OK?”
We found out that might be true, though he never tested his theory so violently during his presidency. But he did his best to undermine the integrity of the 2020 election, and has challenged its outcome ever since with his “Big Lie,” even when told by his own senior staffers that he lost that election. Also, he incited an insurrection in January 2021 to try to stay in power.

Why is his repeated lie and his illegal efforts to stay in power OK with so many people, people who fervently want to see him elected president again? Apparently, some of us do not mind having to live under a totalitarian system in which the dictator says what the law is and is not, where citizens’ fates are determined by the dictator alone.

What is the wide appeal of this “not-even-a-man” (“NEAM,” my new acronym to counter “MAGA”)? He has called veterans “chumps” and “losers” and “suckers,” and has called desperate people on our southern border “criminals and rapists.” If elected in 2024, his team is already planning for him to invoke the “Insurrection Act” so that he can use the military to quell citizen protests. His team now plans to build massive camps to hold illegal migrants after sweeping the country for them prior to their deportation. Also, they are now vetting the names of people they would appoint to roughly 1,500 higher level positions in different federal agencies, people who will swear loyalty to Trump rather than to the US Constitution. These plans actually are underway for 2025, if he wins. Don’t believe this? Look it up.
Do his supporters like to be told what to do by a dictator? He pleases millions of these folks, gets their juices up with his seething anger against immigrants, senior military officers, the media, federal agencies, and the courts. On the Veterans Day just past, he pledged that “…we will root out the communists, Marxists, fascists and radical-left thugs that live like vermin within the confines of our country….” He claimed, “They’ll do anything to destroy America, and to destroy the American Dream.” This rotten-flesh rhetoric is putrid meat to feed his disciples. Where are the communists? Where are the vermin? Most importantly, what are the people like who believe in and support his ridiculous garbage?

Johns Hopkins University did a study in 2011 before Trump came onto the political scene, a study in which they evaluated a large sample of people, part of which was to identify personal characteristics of people who held negative attitudes toward minority groups, especially African Americans and Muslims. In 2018, they decided to go back to those same people to see what they felt about Trump after he had been in office for two years. They found that people with negative attitudes toward minorities were widely supportive of Trump. What are they so afraid of regarding people of a different skin color or different religion?
Much media coverage asserts that Trump created the current angry, hateful atmosphere in American politics. But the Johns Hopkins study found that he was simply the flame that attracted angry moths from the dark. Such animosity (full of fear, angry resentment, and the sense of being victimized) has always been present in any human population. But Trump’s unhealthy mental condition, belligerence, racist language, and fine-tuned cunning drew this kind of person to him. He knew just how to appeal to them and make them into what psychiatry calls “totalists,” people who are totally committed to some idea, and whose minds are closed to new information that contradicts their current thinking. (Of course, many “progressives” on the political left are totalists, too.)

A former senior Trump White House official is quoted anonymously in Jonathan Karl’s new book, “Tired of Winning.” The man worked closely, daily, with Trump and says, “HE LACKS ANY SHRED OF HUMAN DECENCY, HUMILITY OR CARING. HE IS MORALLY BANKRUPT, BREATHTAKINGLY DISHONEST, LETHALLY INCOMPETENT, AND STUNNINGLY IGNORANT OF VIRTUALLY ANYTHING RELATED TO GOVERNING, HISTORY, GEOGRAPHY, HUMAN EVENTS OR WORLD AFFAIRS. HE IS A TRAITOR AND A MALIGNANCY IN OUR NATION AND REPRESENTS A CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER TO OUR DEMOCRACY AND THE RULE OF LAW.”

Trump’s thought process and political language closely resemble those of Adolph Hitler, Joseph Stalin, and Mao Tse-tung, whose tyranny killed many millions of people, crushed their surviving citizens into submission and made them silently obedient. Many Americans do not think such things can happen here. But in times of confusion and crisis like now, many people among us would welcome being told what to think and do by their chosen dictator, and would be glad to see violators punished for disobeying.

They should be careful what they wish for. Trump has openly expressed admiration for Russia’s Putin, China’s Xi Jinping, Hungary’s Orban, Turkey’s Erdogan, and North Korea’s Kim Jung Un–all dictators who have severely tightened the screws on their people to create police states. Everything Trump (remember “NEAM”) says points us in that direction if he is elected President a year from now.

Submitted By: jwmerc@gmail.com – Click to email about this post

Hi folks – Jeff here from the honey/maple syrup booth – regretting the last minute cancellation of Tuesday’s (12/12) scheduled “pop-up” in Wheeler. Anyone who has followed my activities in Tillamook County over the years knows that backing out of a commitment is NOT my style. Realization of the need to make the change came too late on Monday to submit a post here on the BBQ.
If someone has specific needs PRE-HOLIDAY (gift or otherwise) they should reach out to me via text to my cell: 208-424-0042, by e-mail: jwmerc@gmail.com or by instant message on the JW Merc Facebook page (I may be able to accomodate delivery).
Otherwise – I will be back in the area come January – and should anyone be in the south Lincoln County area I am available roughtly five days a week there in downtown Waldport.
Have a great holiday season – and please accept my apologies if you were inconvenienced by the cancelled appearance…jw

Submitted By: pattyrinehart@nehalemtel.net – Click to email about this post

Hello neighbors. At the end of this message, I’ve included something I got off the internet last week as a guide to help with food insecurity. That said every little bit helps.
I’ve called the Neah-Kah-Nie S.D. Superintendent’s office and found out there will be no food provided through the school system for the Christmas holiday. Kids will be out of school from December 16 through January 1. This means 16 days with no breakfast or lunch programs at school. Please do what you can to help feed these kids. Lots of things in our lives end. We have the end of a day or the end of the year-but no end to food insecurity. So, let’s pitch in and all do what we can to help with this problem.

I want to provide you with some addresses where you might send money or donate food over the holidays. Nehalem Senior Lunches can be reached at 503-368-5612 or PO Box 156, Nehalem, Oregon, 97130. This would be for Senior Lunches provided on Tuesday and Thursday.

Meals for Seniors located in Rockaway Beach, PO Box 852, Rockaway Beach, Oregon, 97136. Free lunches are provided on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.

North County Food Bank, PO Boxx 162, Wheeler, Oregon, 97147. Remember they also have a clothing bank.

Rockaway Beach Lions, PO Box 611, Rockaway Beach, Oregon 97136. Lions will be providing Christmas dinners for several families.

The CHILD Program run by the Nehalem Bay United Methodist Church is providing clothes and toys for many children for the holidays. It’s getting a bit too late to shop now, but they could always use cash donations. Please be sure to write CHILD on your check. Address is Child Program, PO Box 156, Nehalem, Oregon, 97131.

OK, here is the list I got off the internet:

1. Everyone donates Kraft Mac and Cheese in the box. They can rarely use it because it needs milk and butter which is hard to get from regular food banks.
2. Boxed milk is a treasure, as kids need it for cereal which they also get a lot of.
3. Everyone donates pasta sauce and spaghetti noodles.
4. They cannot eat all the awesome canned veggies and soup unless you put a can opener in too or buy pop tops.
5. Oil is a luxury but needed for Rice a-Roni which they also get a lot of.
6. Spices or salt and pepper would be a real Christmas gift.
7. Tea bags and coffee make them feel like you care.
8. Sugar and flour are treats.
9. They fawn over fresh produce donated by farmers and grocery stores.
10. Seeds are cool in Spring and Summer because growing can be easy for some.
11. They rarely get fresh meat.
12. Tuna and crackers make a good lunch.
13. Hamburger Helper goes nowhere without ground beef.
14. They get lots of peanut butter and jelly but usually not sandwich bread.
15. Butter or margarine is nice too.
16. Eggs are a real commodity.
17. Cake mix and frosting makes it possible to make a child’s birthday cake.
18. Dishwashing detergent is very expensive and is always appreciated.
19. Feminine hygiene products are a luxury and women will cry over that.
20. Everyone loves Stove Top Stuffing.
21. Diapers
22. Wipes
23. Buns
24. Baked goods
25. Potatoes
26. Nuts
27. Seeds for eating or cooking
28. Raisins
29. Dishwashing pods
30. Rags and cleaning supplies
31. Pet food
32. Pet supplies
Thank you all!

Patty

Submitted By: ben.killen.rosenberg@gmail.com – Click to email about this post

Posting on behalf of Loretta.Kim.Rosenberg@gmail.com

Update to Lawsuit Response

I want to acknowledge that the Pioneer updated the article Cara Mico wrote. They removed the word lawsuit after the article posted. While I got it right about Will Stone’s posts, I was mistaken about Randy Kugler’s use of the word lawsuit. I believed he used that word in a response to someone’s post but when I looked, I couldn’t find it. I want to apologize for my mistake. In future posts I’ll make sure to slow my roll and include direct quotes as I usually have in the past.

Kim Rosenberg
loretta.kim.rosenberg@gmail.com

Submitted By: maggie@spamanzanita.com – Click to email about this post

Celebrating those who live and/or work in Manzanita !

Give yourself the gift of self-care with 10% off full-priced spa treatments for our residents who live within 20 miles of Manzanita and all who work here. Just tell us you’re a “local local” or where you work when you book.

Book online @ spamanzanita.com
or text/call at 503.689.8679 or call 503.368.4777.

Check out our Winter Wellness packages and other specials (sorry, specials can’t be combined with the locals discount)

3-PACK INTRODUCTORY INFRARED SAUNA PACKAGE
Infrared saunas offer a multitude of health benefits including detoxification, improved heart health, faster muscle recovery, pain relief and more.

WINTER WELLNESS PACKAGE
Sink into relaxation and soothing warmth with this package perfect for the cooler days. Hot stones reach deep into tense muscles to help you relax and release. During the massage a magnesium-packed warming mud is applied along the spine to detoxify, warm, re-mineralize and relax tight back muscles. You’ll finish with an infrared sauna session to close out this warming, soothing and oh-so relaxing Winter Wellness treat.

RENEW & REVIVE PACKAGE
Restore your skin’s glow with our ultimate age-defying facial. The cleanest, purest ingredients, White Algae, White Wine, White Tea, and Copper Peptides blend with Hyaluronic Acid, Vitamin C, Probiotics, and an intense marine-based oxygen serum to give the skin a superior boost. Then relax into a red-light therapy infrared sauna session to allow all of those nourishing products to absorb and renew your skin.

Submitted By: Tinnindeb@gmail.com – Click to email about this post

Join us for our Holiday Party!

FRIDAY, December 15

Please RSVP by December 13 so we know how many folks to plan for an evening of good cheer and great music!

Send your RSVP email to Mary Moran at: moranmem@gmail.com

NOT A MEMBER, JOIN AT THE DOOR FOR $20 ($40 per couple)!

Pine Grove Holiday Party on 12/15/23

Time: 5pm – 8pm

Place: Pine Grove Community House

Put on your holiday duds and join us…

A community gathering to celebrate the holidays.

Music by Stay Tuned 1st set – 45 minutes

Sing Along with Rob Borgford after 1st set of Stay Tuned. Holiday music – 30 minutes

We will have a visit from Santa who will draw names for our door prizes.

2nd set by Stay Tuned.

Appetizers and desserts:

We are hoping some of our community members will contribute a favorite holiday appetizer or dessert.

Tela Skinner will be organizing this.

If you are interested in bringing a special appetizer or dessert, please email Tela Skinner: telaskinner@gmail.com

We will serve beverages: wine, beer, coffee and water.

There will be 3 special door prizes. As people check in they will fill out a ticket giving them a chance to win one of our door prizes. All door prizes have been donated by members or businesses of our Manzanita community.

Come and dance, sing and/or connect with your neighbors.

Submitted By: pattyrinehart@nehalemtel.net – Click to email about this post

The Clock is Ticking!

I have a few CHILD TAGS which need filling. CHILD is a program sponsored by the Nehalem Bay United Methodist Church. This is a program which gets Christmas gifts, clothing, and toys for children in our community. This note will let you know the age of the child and what is on their Christmas list. You can return these gifts, unwrapped please, to the Nehalem Bay United Methodist Church in Nehalem. Tuesday and Thursday are probably good days to take presents to the church. A number to call would be 503-368-5612. If you would like a receipt for your gift, please enclose a receipt and how we might reach you.

Girl-Age 5-Anything to do with Mermaids or Rapunzel
Girl-Age 5-Pants, top, and PJ’s girls’ size 5
Girl-Age 9-Jacket Jr. small and shoes size 3 youth
Girl-Age 9-Jeans size 9 girls, tops and PJ’s girls’ size 8/10
Girl-Age 9-Drawing supplies
Girl-Age 15-Pants miss 6/8, Tops miss medium
Girl-Age 15-Drawing supplies and Brain Games
Girl-Age 15-PJ’s miss large, shoes size 8.5
Boy-Age 9-Jacket boys 10, PJ’s boys 9, Shoes 3 youth, favorite color purple
Boy-Age 9-Pants and tops boys’ size 9
Boy-Age 9-Crocs size 3 youth, RC Car, Squishmallow, dinosaurs, Slippers 3 youth,
Boy-Age 12-PJ’s Men’s small, shoes 7.5
Boy-Age 12-Legos
Boy-Age 12-Sweat Pants, men’s small, tops men’s small
Boy-Age 16-Jacket men’s medium, shoes size 9, favorite color black
Boy-Age 16-Pants 28×30, tops and PJ’s men’s medium
Boy-Age 18-Jacket men’s medium, Shoes size 8
Thanks to all who have helped with this project. You are making a difference for so many families!

Submitted By: dixiegainer@gmail.com – Click to email about this post

……for evil to triumph, is to yell “its a conspiracy theory” when something you hear makes you uncomfortable

Submitted By: richardmastenik@gmail.com – Click to email about this post

Quonset Hut Reverie

I don’t know if it has registered yet with many people around here, but a community landmark is in the process of being destroyed. Another part of our visual history has been condemned to the breaker’s bucket and the picker’s axe as a demolition crew ignominiously removes the quonset structure that has guarded the east end of Manzanita Avenue and east entrance of our little town for more decades than I can imagine. To many new people around here that building is little more than a reminder of all that’s old and in their way in our once quaint little community. In their haste to create their vision of a future that these few new people hold for our town they seem compelled to obliterate the last remnants of our storied past – and replace them with something new and shiny, with something that speaks of their power and progress, I guess.
For me that building is a reminder of my earliest days in this once delightful little town – before much of the rest of the world discovered us. Very, very many summers ago I split my shopping between the little grocery store “downtown” and Neahkahnie Bob’s store that used to occupy the unusual object of this reverie, when I moved here in the 1970’s. I recognized early on that our distinctive little building was clearly modeled after the imposing blimp hangers down in Tillamook complete with the blocky, but functionless, poritcoes at the south end of “our hanger” that faithfully mimicked the real thing the US Navy built up and down all of our coasts to house the aircraft that were sent aloft to protect our shores during the Second World War. I always like to believe our little “hanger” was designed and built as an homage and even as a memorial to the men and women and their Service that rose to the occasion to defend our Nation in the time of our greatest peril. As you go about your errands in the coming days – and if your travels bring you into Manzanita from that compass quarter – you might at least give a moment’s pause for that building and it’s significance to our community for all of these years, and a final nod to it’s part in our collective story as it completes it’s rendezvous with time. I also invite you to give a thought to those young men and women for whom in it’s youth it was valued as much more than just an old eyesore.

Richard Mastenik, Manzanita

Submitted By: rkinor@gmail.com – Click to email about this post

Kim, your claim that I have stated that ” the City Manager is involved in a lawsuit with the City” is false. I have always referred and written about this matter in the way that the City has described it as an “investigation”.

Rather than falsely accuse me of saying things that I did not say, how about accurately reporting what I have said? My direct quotes follow on what I have written follow:

“As a citizen, I expect full disclosure of the actions of all of our public officials. If Mayor Simmons’s actions were such a threat to our City, I certainly want to know the details.”

“How much of that $90,000 is for the never ending investigation of the complaint filed by the City Manager against our now ex Mayor and when will citizens be allowed to review the investigation’s findings?”

Had you accurately described to readers what I have written, most fair minded citizens would likely conclude that I am interested in the facts and truth surrounding this investigation.

The investigator’s report and all fees paid by the City surrounding this investigation are public records. Citizens have a right to inspect public records without undue delays and burdensome fees and that is what we all should expect from our City officials.

The public’s right to know the details of an investigation concerning the City’s highest elected official outweighs any expectation that the complaining party’s accusations should be withheld from the public and their identity remain anonymous.

You state that “the city attorney’s job is to protect the city’s interests”. If protecting the city’s interests includes legal reasons for the refusal to release public records that are not a part of any lawsuit, I would expect citizens would have a problem with that.

Submitted By: andrew@colorcouncil.com – Click to email about this post

Hi there- Anyone have a recommendation for someone who knows baseboard heaters? Mine appears to have kicked the bucket. Would love to get it fixed!

If you or someone you know might be able to help, shoot me an email. Thanks

Submitted By: ben.killen.rosenberg@gmail.com – Click to email about this post

Posting on behalf of Kim Rosenberg loretta.kim.rosenberg@gmail.com

Lawsuit: A Fact Check

Less than a month after being sworn in—February 2023, the former mayor called her lawyer, and her lawyer called the city’s attorney incurring legal fees which have continued to accrue since then. I wrote about that awhile back.

The city of Manzanita is our attorney’s client. Council and the mayor act as agents of the city while in office, so it’s odd that a mayor would use a personal lawyer for anything to do with city business, but that’s what happened.

An executive session was scheduled near the end of February. There was no employee complaint at the time.

The city’s attorney duty is to protect the city’s interests and once the mayor involved her lawyer, it must have been clear that all was not well in Manzanita. I mean, when a volunteer member of a governing body for a town of about 600 residents shows up with their personal lawyer in tow, it probably isn’t a good sign.

The employee complaint wasn’t received by the city’s attorney until May and once he and the city’s insurance company saw it, they suggested an independent investigation to protect the city’s interests. Council voted unanimously at the regular meeting in June to approve the expenditure.

It took time for the independent investigation to be completed. I’m sure there were hours of interviews with multiple people to schedule and I assume some people were interviewed more than once.

During the investigation, the mayor continued to use her personal lawyer which increased the workload for both the city attorney and the investigator. That’s one reason why the legal bills and bills for the investigation have grown so large.

In a recent article Cara Mico wrote for the Pioneer and in posts by Randy Kugler and Will Stone on North County News and North Coast BBQ, they’ve each stated that the city manager is involved in a lawsuit with the city.

But, there is no lawsuit. Never has been. Lawsuits are a matter of public record as Mico, Kugler, and Stone all know. It’s an easy thing to fact check. There is no public record because there is no lawsuit. This begs the question—Why would a former journalist, a working journalist and a former city manager continue to repeat something that they straight out know isn’t true about a city employee?

So far, no details have been released about the investigation. The city’s attorney’s job is to protect the city’s interests and he’s taking care to do just that. Anything that you might hear or read about the investigation is speculation or just plain old gossip. The only source of information would be one of the four sitting members of council and they’d need to be willing to disclose privileged information from executive sessions risking censure. And that would beg the question who would want to do that and why?

Kim Rosenberg loretta.kim.rosenberg@gmail.com

Submitted By: brad.hart@evcnb.org – Click to email about this post

mailchi.mp/evcnb.org/enewsletter-dec-5-2023?e=[UNIQID]

Read our eNewsletter December 5, 2023

– Are You Winter Storm Ready?
– The Great Shakeout
– Website Upgrade
– Volunteer Spotlight
– Neighborhood News
– Pop-Up Shop and Classes

Submitted By: qulwater@msn.com – Click to email about this post

A local (gSMART Recovery group meets weekly at 5pm-6pm at St Catherine’s Church.

SMART Recovery USA – a 501(c)3 organization – is a fresh approach to addiction recovery. SMART stands for Self-Management and Recovery Training. This is more than an acronym: it is a transformative method of moving from addictive substances and negative behaviors to a life of positive self-regard and willingness to change.

Groups are open to anyone.

For more information about SMART see smartrecovery.org.

Submitted By: nbumcchild@gmail.com – Click to email about this post

The Christmas portion of the CHILD program is in full swing as we prepare for the holidays. But…there are still some tags available that need to be filled in order to provide for some of our local children. If you are able to help, please pick one (or more) up and shop. The gifts need to be returned by the 15th of December so that “Santa” can get his delivery bag ready and in his sleigh.
If you don’t find the tags posted at a local business, come by Nehalem Bay United Methodist Church and there should be a few hung in the window.
A big thank you for your support. It is great to live in a community filled with so many generous people. CHILD would not be possible without your support.

Submitted By: tevisdiii@gmail.com – Click to email about this post

GENERAL INTEREST

Interview with Pepe Escobar, ( not the drug lord):
For those of you who don’t know, Pepe has the respect of journalists and political analysts around the world for his depth knowledge and history regarding the grand chess board. Despite his accent, this wide angle discussion presents probably the clearest possible picture of where and why the players are doing what we see in real time and since events are moving at breakneck speed, someone like Pepe is worth listening to for an hour. And if one is not familiar with the various acronyms, like BRICS, BRI, ( the silk road), SHANGHAI CORP., IMEC, or the Ben Gurion Canal, etc, take some notes, because this is an honest, unfiltered view.

(might have to copy and paste to a new window?)

www.sott.net/article/486510-Pepe-Escobar-US-needs-Gaza-war-to-destabilize-BRICS-Greater-Eurasia