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‘Lessor’ is more

Chelsea Yarnell • February 10, 2025

Local couple takes over Bunker Grille at The Mook 

The Mook at Alderbrook Golf Course was recently awarded “Large Business of the Year” at the Tillamook Area Chamber of Commerce’s annual Community Awards Banquet. 


And now, Eric and Trina Lessor are ready to bring a dining experience, that matches the award-winning golf experience, to the property. 


The Lessors took over the Bunker Grille and Event Center, located on the second level of the clubhouse at The Mook, in October. 


“Everything just fell into place,” Eric said. “It’s a new adventure for us. It’s a challenge because this place hasn’t really been successful yet, but it really could be. This is just a beautiful facility.”


Eric had been catering in the area for years.


“I like to cook, make things, and be creative,” Eric said. “I like it when I watch people taste [the food that I make] and you see their eyes light up and come to life.”


He recalls learning to cook at an early age. 


“Back when I was 12-years old, I had to cook Saturday night dinners,” Eric said. “My grandmother had cancer, so she would sit in her chair and tell me to do this, and then this.”


Since his grandmother’s kitchen, Eric has expanded an interest in cooking a variety of food, as is reflected in the Bunker Grille’s menu: Italian-style dishes, burgers, and house-smoked meats. 

A standout item is the 1/3-pound ground brisket burger. Weekly specials, including burger of the week, are a nod to Eric’s continuous innovation.


“Our goal is to have people think of us when they want to go out to eat,” Trina said. “We really want to be family-friendly, and we have the space to host your special event or business meeting.”


The Bunker Grille and Event Center is open to the public, and serves lunch and dinner Monday 11 a.m. – 7 p.m., and Thursday – Saturday 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. The restaurant features a full bar. 


In addition to their main dining room, the Bunker Grille and Event Center also has two rooms that can be booked for events. One of the spaces is designated the “game room” and features foosball, air hockey, and plenty of comfy seating. 


This Valentine’s Day, the Bunker Grille and Event Center has a special dinner menu for two. The menu includes hor d'oeuvres of sweetheart caprese skewers; shrimp cocktail or sautéed scallops appetizers; an apple blossom or Caesar salad; choice of cupid’s pinwheel steak, parmesan salmon royale, or roasted portobello mushroom; paired with stuffed red pepper, macaroni and cheese, or roasted red potatoes; and for desert: crimson brownie a la mode. The menu will be available for dinner Friday and Saturday Feb. 14-15. The cost is $60 a person. Reservations can be made by calling 971-289-4653. 


Valentine’s Day is just one of the many special evenings the Bunker Grille and Event Center hosts. Since opening, the Lessors have hosted a family-friendly New Year’s Eve party, family game nights, and special dinners for high school dances.


For restaurant updates, upcoming specials and events, follow the Bunker Grille and Event Center (new Facebook page) here. Kids eat free on Thursday with a paying adult meal. Veterans and first responders receive 10 percent off every day. 


In addition to the Bunker Grille and Event Center, Eric Lessor is the owner of Oregon Coast Wireless/Computer Support & Services and Trina Lessor operates Hope Inspired School & Tutoring4Success. 


The Bunker Grille is located at The Mook at Alderbrook at: 7300 Alderbrook Rd, Tillamook. 

'Hank the Cowdog' steals the show

By Chelsea Yarnell • March 13, 2025
Bulls & Bronc (indoor rodeo event) was a sold out show on March 8, bringing out a crowd of 1,000 to the Tillamook County Fairgrounds. Check out the video The Newsie captured of “Hank the Cowdog” that has 3.7 million views on social media! 

Country Coffee franchise opens in Tillamook

By Chelsea Yarnell • March 2, 2025
Country Coffee franchise opens in Tillamook, Oregon.

Food Roots focuses on school gardens, closes retail marketplace

By Chelsea Yarnell • February 27, 2025
Food Roots will dedicate the majority of its efforts to school gardens and supporting food producers in 2025. The non-profit was the recent recipient of a nearly $25,000 grant from the BottleDrop Fund of the Oregon Community Foundation . The grant will be utilized to fund the Learning Gardens at three Tillamook County schools: Liberty Elementary, East Elementary, and Garibaldi Grade School. “We have amazing school partnerships to nurture this education and food growth. We're excited to be working with teachers and have these gardens be a part of their classrooms,” Food Roots Executive Director Lindsay Ward said. “Then, all the produce that's harvested from these gardens will be donated to the school food pantries. We're able to provide materials, staff time, and volunteer recruitment efforts towards these gardens as a result of coordination between this and other wonderful grants we’ve received.”

Tillamook 2025 brand campaign focuses on Morning Star

February 19, 2025
Beginning 116 years ago, the Morning Star took sail to deliver a boatload of dairy to the people of the Pacific Northwest. Aboard: products from Tillamook County. Tillamook farmers had more butter and milk than you could imagine. The problem? Tillamook is isolated. There were no real roads connecting the Tillamook Bay to the growing Port of Portland. And the rugged coastal mountain range was dangerous. So, they took to the sea. After months of work and many failures, they found success in the Morning Star. It became Oregon’s first official ship. Building on the “Extraordinary Dairy” brand platform that was introduced by Tillamook County Creamery Association and Leo Chicago, initially launched last May, the 2025 brand campaign tells the tales of the Tillamook origin story which starts with the brand’s dairy boat.

Jones-Knudson Apartments open

By Chelsea Yarnell • February 12, 2025
The Jones-Knudson Apartments in downtown Tillamook celebrated their ribbon cutting ceremony on Saturday, Feb. 8. The project has been in the works since 2019 to bring more housing options to the workforce of Tillamook County. Owner Lisa Greiner purchased the building in 2018. The first level of the building was renovated to house her dance studio: Oregon Coast Dance Center . The second story was not set up as housing. “People always ask me what was up there before: it was just one, big, gigantic open room we were using for storage,” Greiner said. “So, it’s super surreal to not have it be storage up there and actually see this come to fruition.”

Homing pigeon delivers WWII love note

By Chelsea Yarnell • February 9, 2025
Pigeon Handler Specialist Sylvia Tartas received only one message during her tour in Tillamook County, and it had nothing to do with the war. The Pigeon Loft exhibit recently opened at the Tillamook Air Museum . The exhibit highlights the history of the United States Navy WAVES: Women Accepted for Voluntary Emergency Service. These women trained homing pigeons that were carried on airships and utilized during radio silence in World War II. The WAVES oversaw a pigeon loft at Naval Air Station Tillamook. Homing pigeons were not often used on the West Coast, so WAVES Pigeon Handler Specialist 2nd Class Tartas received only one message during her service. On a plaque in the exhibit recounts the message: “What are you doing tonight, Red?” (asking her out on a date.) It’s said that Sylvia later remarked: “Yes, I sure did go out with him!”

Where to find art this February

By Chelsea Yarnell • February 5, 2025
“Heart for the Art” awards given First, second, third, People’s Choice, and Youth awards were given out at the “Heart for the Art” artist reception on Feb. 2. The art exhibition is sponsored by for Adventist Health Tillamook and is on display at North County Recreation District through the month of February. A portion of artist sales are dedicated to fitness scholarships that promote heart health in north Tillamook County. First place: Bosch: U.S. Fancy by Connie Vincent Second place: Piers End by Hannah Hood Third place: Evard, The Sunset Bull by Lisa Miska People’s Choice: Shimmer by Jack Ryser Youth Award: Fish by Kayla Bakker

CARE Shelter Village makes progress

By Chelsea Yarnell • February 4, 2025
This past week "Pallet Shelters" were installed on the property directly next to CARE on First Street in Tillamook as the latest improvement to the CARE Shelter Village. "Pallet Shelters" are temporary shelters that are made of easy-to-assemble panels, packed flat for shipping. This village of temporary housing will be operated by CARE. There will be a large group shelter where those needing a safe place can stay night-by-night. The smaller units are for those, who opt to, can receive intensive case management to be assisted to be housed. “We have some major work still needing to get done,” CARE Executive Director Jeff Blackford said. “The electric vault needs to be installed, the storage unit has to be placed, [and] furnishings need to be ordered.” Blackford estimates the housing village will open within the next couple months.

"Relay" the message: Three Capes Marathon Relay happening on the coast

By Chelsea Yarnell • January 29, 2025
Through the years, Tillamook County’s Eva Manderson has been a participant on numerous Three Capes Marathon Relay teams. “I love the fun of doing a relay,” she said. “It’s a motivation to get out there with everyone else who’s running or walking, but it’s even better to do it with a team.” This year’s Three Capes Marathon Relay will be hosted on Saturday, February 22. The Three Capes Marathon Relay is a 26.2 mile course traveling the Three Capes Scenic Loop, starting at Cape Meares Lake, passing Cape Lookout, and end at the beach in Pacific City.
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