Tillamook hosts Cowbell Classic Pickleball Tournament

Chelsea Yarnell • June 5, 2025

Let’s hear more cowbell for the fastest growing sport in the country: pickleball! The Tillamook Pickleball Club is bringing the competition and hype to the coast this month. 


The “Cowbell Classic” will be hosted June 21-22 at the outdoor courts at Al Griffin Memorial Park in Bay City, as well as the indoor courts at the Tillamook County Fairgrounds. The pickleball tournament is round robin style with events in men’s, women’s, and mixed doubles that are also categorized by skill and age groups. The cost is $50 for one event, and $25 for an additional event. All participants receive a commemorative t-shirt and gift bag. A raffle and barbeque will be held at Al Griffin Park in Bay City following the completion of events on Saturday, June 21.


“This is our first tournament, so we’re trying to make it memorable,” Tillamook Pickleball Club President Roger Miller said. “We have enough players that are pretty active and have played in other tournaments. We felt that the time was right and we had some people who were willing to step up and pull this together.” 



Proceeds from the tournament will help to improve the lighting for the indoor courts at the Tillamook County Fairgrounds. 


“We play inside the dairy barn and it’s a barn,” Miller said. “It has outdated florescent lights that are way up in the roof and were never designed to fully illuminate pickleball or tennis courts.” 


Updating the lighting for maximum visibility is a key safety improvement for tennis and pickleball, and will also allow the Fairgrounds to utilize the facility during the Fair and the off-season. The Tillamook High School girls tennis team also uses the indoor courts during their spring season. 


On any day of the week a group from the Tillamook Pickleball Club gets together to play. 


“Pickleball is gaining momentum everywhere and it’s gaining momentum here; we have 90 members in our club and we’re seeing it grow,” Miller said. “We welcome everyone and accommodate all levels.” 


Miller encourages those who are curious about the sport to attend and watch the competition during the Cowbell Classic. 


“Come learn more about pickleball, talk to members from the club, and see what it’s all about.” 



As of publication, over 60 participants are expected to compete in the tournament. To learn more or to register, visit here. Registration is open through June 13 at 8 am. 


This year’s Cowbell Classic sponsors include: Berkshire Hathaway, Jenck Farms, Trask River Productions, Rob Trost Real Estate, The Mook Golf, Current Café – Oceanside, Pelican Brewery, Tillamook Family YMCA, Lay's Potato Chips, Franz Bakery, TAPA, Les Schwab Tires, Main Street Pizza, Tillamook Farmers Co-Op, NAPA, and Boyd's Implement. 


To learn more about regular play and to join the Tillamook Pickleball Club, email: info@tillamookpickleball.org. Memberships is $150 for the year and includes unlimited play. 


By Chelsea Yarnell September 6, 2025
What influences an area? Laws? The economy? The environment? “Oregon Voices” tries to answer these questions . As a traveling exhibit from the Oregon Historical Society, “Oregon Voices” examines some of the important people, industries, organizations, and laws that have shaped the state of Oregon from the end of World War II through 2020. “My hope with bringing ‘Oregon Voices’ to the Museum is to expand the narratives displayed in the permanent and temporary exhibits,” Tillamook Pioneer Museum Exhibit & Programs Developer Jenny Teece said. “This traveling exhibit touches on multiple different identities, industries, and perspectives that encapsulates the Oregon experience that people from all walks of life can relate to.” The exhibit has five, threesided pop-up kiosks that cover a different topic on Oregon history: industry and economy; equal rights and social justice; migration and immigration; environment and energy; and Indigenous Tribes of Oregon.
By Chelsea Yarnell September 6, 2025
Celebrate National Public Lands Day by cleaning up the beach from Oceanside to Netarts with the Friends of Netarts Bay WEBS and Oceanside Action Partnership, Saturday, September 27, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. WEBS and OAP will have welcome tables set up at The Schooner Restaurant and the upper parking lot at Oceanside Beach, so volunteers can choose where to start the day. “Let’s take this opportunity to clean up the beach with friends or family, or expand your community by teaming up with fellow volunteers,” says Marina Dreeben, WEBS stewardship coordinator. “In addition to cleaning up the beach, join us for a marine debris survey demonstration at The Schooner at 9:30 a.m. to learn how debris is monitored on the beach year-round, and how you can help!” In our efforts to reduce waste, instead of using plastic bags, please bring your own bucket to collect debris. There will be some extra buckets on hand if needed. Be sure to stick around after the cleanup for a special treat just for volunteers – The Schooner will be grilling up fresh oysters from Pearl Point Oyster here in Netarts to thank you for keeping our coastal ecosystems clean!! As you head out to clean up or just explore, it is important to remember that ocean shores can be dangerous. Avoid logs in the water, keep your distance from marine mammals, and never turn your back on the ocean! If you find any hazardous material, please alert a staff member. Advanced registration saves time, but is not required. To register and read more about this event visit http://www.netartsbaywebs.org/events Questions? Contact info@netartsbaywebs.org
By Chelsea Yarnell September 6, 2025
Join WEBS Board President, Michael Krall on Saturday, September 20 for an introduction to Tillamook County birds and birding. Starting with an optional, two-hour slow and easy bird walk, participants will scope out some of our Northwest feathered friends along inland trails and coastal shores. After the walk, the group will meet at the Netarts Community Club for an informative indoor presentation. Michael will share his photographs, some tips on where and when to bird in Tillamook County, and talk about some of the birds we can expect to see in these diverse habitats. Michael birds and photographs extensively in Tillamook County, around Oregon, and beyond. He caught the birding bug starting with a Golden Eagle banding in central Oregon with his 8th grade science teacher some 60 years ago. Michael said, “I have always been partial to woodpeckers.” In 2017, he made a book of photographs featuring all 22 woodpecker species found in the US and Canada. Now Michael is working on the 50 or so US warbler species and has just a few to go! “So many birds, so little time!” Registration is required. Learn more and register for this event at: https://www.netartsbaywebs.org/even ts
By Chelsea Yarnell September 4, 2025
Editor’s note: This feature story contains information about suicide and suicide prevention and awareness. If you, or someone you know, is struggling with thoughts of self-harm or suicide, help is available: Suicide & Crisis Lifeline : Call or text 988. 24/7 Tillamook County Crisis Hotline : 1-800-962-2851 or 503-842-8201 24/7 AgriStress Helpline (available specifically for people in farming, ranching, fishery, and forestry industries): call 833-897-2474 Mental health and behavior health services are available at: Tillamook Family Counseling Center: 503-842-8201, tfcc.org Adventist Health : 503-815-2292 Nehalem Bay Health Center : 1-800-368-5182 Tillamook County Community Health Centers: 503-842-3938
By Chelsea Yarnell August 28, 2025
The Tillamook Police Department is proudly announcing the launch of MyPDConnect, a cutting-edge online reporting platform designed to allow you to report low-level crimes online right from your phone, tablet or desktop! MyPDConnect empowers residents and visitors to quickly and easily report crimes directly to local law enforcement without having to wait for an officer response or spend unnecessary time calling dispatch. Key Features of MyPDConnect: • Report Crime Easily: Report low-level crimes such as Damaged Property, Theft, Graffiti, Shoplifting, Ordinance Violations (to include parking) and other crimes or violations, right from your mobile device, tablet or desktop. • Upload Unlimited Pictures, Videos and Documents: An unlimited number of pictures, videos and documents can be uploaded with each report to easily provide information to law enforcement. • Multi-Language Support: Submit the report one of the available languages such as English, Spanish, French, German, Korean and Chinese. Additional languages available! • Instant Notification: Receive text and e-mail updates when your report has been processed and completed. • Easy Access: You may text the word report to 971-265-9906 to receive a text link to file a report. “We are thrilled to launch MyPDConnect, a platform that will truly enhance the way we can serve our community,” said Chief Troxel. “With MyPDConnect, we are providing additional ways for the community to connect easily with our department to report crime and receive faster service.” You may visit https://tillamookpd.mypdconnect.com to report a crime at any time.
By Chelsea Yarnell August 28, 2025
Inside the Tillamook Farmers' Co-op , a new boutique is offering western wear, but elevated. The Cowboy’s Closet softly opened June 1, but celebrated their grand opening and ribbon cutting on August 22.
By Chelsea Yarnell August 21, 2025
Starting a business is already a leap of faith for most. And when you have question as a small business owner, who do you call for help? That’s where the Tillamook Bay Small Business Development Center (SBDC) is able to assist. “A lot of our students are experts in the goods and services that they provide, but need training in other areas,” Tillamook Bay SBDC Director Leon Telesmanich said. “There’s a lot of people who are starting out and don’t know what to do, or they get going and have questions.”  Tillamook Bay SBDC serves a variety of businesses, from small commercial fishing operations to restaurateurs to manufacturers. The organization offers free, confidential one-on-one advising for businesses in every phase of development, from a rough idea to a small empire. Additional workshops and classes focused on other business-related areas of need are also offered.
By Chelsea Yarnell August 14, 2025
They’re elusive, a mystery: the band that doesn’t exist. When the Neah-Kah-Nie Coast Art and Music Cultural (NCAM) Foundation decided to host the Rockaway Beach Music Festival, they wanted to bring together talented musicians from the greater Northwest area as well as showcase local talent. That includes budding youth artists. “Dead Lines is a group of local musicians who together to write and rehearse a set of original music and debut at the Rockaway Beach Music Festival,” NCAM volunteer and Dead Lines band member Cosmo Jones said. “Our goal was to be able to incorporate student performers and our lead guitar player is going into his senior year at Neah-Kah-Nie High School. Go Pirates!” Coming together to form the band is Jones on drums, Chad Martin (you may know him from Brittney Bakes) on vocals, Mike Simmons (NKN music teacher) on bass, and NKN senior Lucien on guitar. “The band plays a genre of our own making called ‘ill ass yacht rap’ and it blends mega-lyrical hip hop with danceable grooves, live players with yacht rock tinted funk that can go from one to 11,” Jones said. When settling on a name, “Dead Lines” was chosen for many reasons. “One, we needed a deadline as several of us have always talked about working on music,” Jones said. “Two, we all live and work here, and own businesses. The Rockaway economy is designed for tourism and in the winter the lines are dead, so we need to do more. Three, it's hip hop and our rapper resurrected some old lines to get the ball rolling.” As a new band, Dead Lines doesn’t have any merch of their own yet, yet encourage guest to purchase NCAM items to raise money for the foundation. “This performance is a demonstration of what happens when a student gets to have their education supplemented and excels because of that opportunity,” Jones said.
By Chelsea Yarnell August 7, 2025
Cars parked in just about every available spot surrounding the Tillamook Airport on Aug. 4. Peoples’ eyes scanned the sky for a much anticipated site: the arrival of a combat-tested AV-8B Harrier II. Most heard it before they saw it. The Harrier arrived under its own power: a rare moment that allowed the public a unique opportunity to witness military aviation history in motion. The jet’s capabilities were demonstrated to the gathered crowds: a tour through the skies of Tillamook County, takeoff and landing, and (most impressive) a hover maneuver. The Harrier will become a part of the Tillamook Air Museum ’s collection as a long-term loan by the National Naval Aviation Museum. “This aircraft represents an extraordinary chapter in modern military aviation,” said Christian Gurling, Museum Curator. “We are proud to accept this historic piece of Marine Corps history. Acquisitions such as this are fast positioning the Tillamook Air Museum as a world-class destination for aviation heritage, as we continue to broaden and enhance the scope of our exhibits. We look forward to interpreting its legacy for the public in a way that honors its service and the people who flew it.”
More Posts