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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 20, 2016)
REGION Wednesday, January 20, 2016 East Oregonian Page 3A Umatilla Co. commissioners join call to end Malheur refuge occupation By JADE MCDOWELL East Oregonian The Umatilla County Commis- sion added its voice Tuesday to a growing list of Oregonians asking the armed occupiers of the Malhuer National Wildlife Refuge to leave the state. Commissioners unanimously approved a resolution in support of the Association of Oregon Counties’ request for a peaceful dissolution of the occupation so that the asso- ciation can continue to work with Oregon’s congressional delegation on resolving land use issues in the state. “Local control is a long-held tenet of Oregon counties, and as such, the board would like to see these out-of-state and out-of-county militants go home to their families, and respectfully ask them to do so,” the resolution stated. Commissioner Larry Givens recently returned from a trip to Washington, D.C., as the new pres- ident of the Association of Oregon Counties. Givens said he met with Representative Greg Walden, who said that the takeover of the refuge, led by the family of Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy, had put a stop to “all kinds of good talk” Oregon’s legislators had been having with the Bureau of Land Management. “Things are heating up and it’s not a real good situation.” lance and one wasn’t available. On Monday, for example, he said there were 25 calls for service and two “outright delays.” “Eventually someone is going to lose their life,” he said. &RPELQLQJ WKH ¿UH GLVWULFWV DW a new, higher tax rate would allow — Larry Givens, the combined district to hire more Umatilla County Commissioner staff, provide coverage to territory that was previously outside of any “The Bundy standoff brought ¿UH GLVWULFW IXOO\ VWDII )LUH 6WDWLRQ everything to a standstill,” Givens 2 on Diagonal Road to decrease said. response time and put aside money He said Harney County leaders IRU UHSODFLQJ ¿UH WUXFNV VR WKDW WKH have asked the association of coun- department does not have to ask ties for help with public relations voters for a bond or levy. and other logistics to keep order as The new district would be tied PLOLWDQWV JRYHUQPHQW RI¿FLDOV ODZ ZLWK5HGPRQGIRUWKHFKHDSHVW¿UH enforcement and the media have district of its size in the state, he said. descended on the area. Property taxes for residents outside “Things are heating up and it’s RIWKH+HUPLVWRQDQG6WDQ¿HOGFLW\ not a real good situation,” he said. OLPLWV ZRXOG JR XS EXW 6WDQ¿HOG On Tuesday the commission residents would actually see a also held a public hearing on the decrease in their taxes, while Herm- proposed May ballot measure to iston tax bills would stay exactly the combine the Hermiston and Stan- same. ¿HOG¿UHGLVWULFWV At the end of the presentation, No members of the public were commissioner George Murdock said present for comment, but Hermiston the commission had an interest in Fire Chief Scott Stanton laid out the supporting the ballot measure. case for the new district. “The more of Umatilla County He said as calls for service in the ZH FDQ EULQJ XQGHU ¿UH SURWHFWLRQ +HUPLVWRQ6WDQ¿HOG DUHD LQFUHDVHG the better,” he said. EXW VWDI¿QJ OHYHOV VWD\HG WKH VDPH On Tuesday the commission also the district had more instances approved a draft of a joint recom- where someone called for an ambu- mendation to the Bureau of Land Management from Umatilla County and Morrow County in support of an alternative route for the proposed Boardman to Hemingway Transmis- sion Line project, The route would run through the southern part of the counties instead of near Interstate 84. “I support this because it reduces the impact on our citizens in Umatilla County,” Commissioner Bill Elfering said. The commission approved an expansion of a contract with Susan Bowers of Eastern Oregon Business Source for human resource and professional development, and created a new $2,050 per month contract with Bowers for economic development in the county. The commission also increased the county’s emergency manager position from halt time to roughly 24 hours per week. In December, commissioners listened to a recom- mendation to increase the position to full time after current emergency manager Jack Remillard retires later this year. But county council Doug Olsen told commissioners Tuesday that staff had concluded there was not enough money available to make the position full time. ——— Contact Jade McDowell at jmcdowell@eastoregonian.com or 541-564-4536. CONDON Robert Burns Supper celebrates Scottish traditions East Oregonian Merriment will be abundant as the Scot- tish heritage of the greater Condon area is celebrated during the annual Robert Burns Supper. The event, in its 19th year, honors the past generations and traditions of the old country, including the poetry and memory of Scotland’s beloved poet, Robert Burns. The celebration, which is Saturday beginning at 2 p.m. at the Condon Elks Lodge, 117 S. Main St., is planned on the Saturday nearest the poet’s Jan. 25 birth date. Tickets are $17 per person or $30 for a couple. Pipers, drummers and other participants come from near and far to help the Condon community celebrate its Scottish heritage on the 257th anniversary of the birth of “Rabbie” Burns. The celebration features lively music from the Old Country, a traditional Scottish meal of haggis, neeps and tatties, and anec- dotes from the annuls of Scottish families who settled in the greater Gilliam County area in the mid-to-late 1800s. The Chase-Couture-Fatland families and representatives of those families will provide brief histories of their lineage. In addition, it’s anticipated that Andrew Jamieson of Condon will serve as spokesman for the popular poet, in reciting Burns’ most well-known works at Burns Suppers, “To a Haggis,” and one of his most animated poems, “Tam O’Shanter.” Others are welcome to perform readings, recitations and musical renditions of Burns’ works. Also, area families of Scottish heri- tage are encouraged to search their family lore for diaries, notes, photographs and other memorabilia, and to share the information at the gathering. A shortbread contest has become a popular part of the event. The top three winners will be singled out, but unique prizes are made available for all who enter. For more about the shortbread contest, call Jannie Allen at 541-571-9507. The regular program ends about 5 p.m., however, the fun and toasting generally continues with more music from the pipers. A limited menu of soup, sandwiches and salad bar will be available into the evening. For more information, contact 541-384- 2421 or times-journal@jncable.com. Photo contributed by McLaren Stinchfield Bill Shelton of Carson, Washington, Rick McCaul of Portland and the Con- don Highland Guard Pipers participate in the 2015 Robert Burns Supper. PENDLETON — Rep. Greg Walden, R-Hood River, will be returning to his congressional district later this week, including several stops in Umatilla and Morrow counties. After town hall meetings in Arlington and Rufus, Walden will make appearances in Boardman, Hermiston and Pendleton Friday. According to a press release, Walden will tour the Boardman Tree Farm at 1 p.m. and the Eastern Oregon Trade and Event Center construction site at 3:15 p.m. before traveling to Pendleton to attend the Pendleton Chamber of Commerce’s First Citizens Banquet at the Wildhorse Casino and Resort at 5:30 p.m. No leads yet in cow slaughter STANFIELD — Oregon State Police are still looking for information to track down whoever shot and killed a 2-year-old heifer in a winter pasture along Feedville Road. Trooper Mitchell Goldman said several people have called with tips since local rancher Terry Anderson found the animal butchered late last week, but no serious leads. “We’re just kind of hoping someone will speak up,” Goldman said. “It’s a pretty big deal to shoot somebody’s cattle like that.” The culprit could face H[WHQVLYH¿QHVRUSULVRQ time if caught. Theft of livestock is a Class C felony in Oregon, dating back to the old days of cattle rustling. Anderson reported someone butchered his FRZLQWKH¿HOGEHIRUH apparently making a hasty getaway, leaving most of the body to waste. He is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to a conviction. The Oregon Cattlemen’s Association has offered an additional $1,000. Goldman said there is the possibility more than one person was involved. Anyone with information should contact OSP at 541-567-3215 or call 1-800-452-7888. State offers free well testing in Umatilla County SALEM — The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality is offering free well P SYCHOLOGICAL S ERVICES OF P ENDLETON , LLC water testing in Umatilla County as part of the Statewide Groundwater Monitoring Program. The state environmental agency in a written statement announced it will test groundwater in 60-100 wells in the Walla Walla River Basin for nitrate, arsenic, bacteria and pesticides. The DEQ then will send well owners an individualized report of results. The sampling will take place in February 2016 and again in the fall. Visit www. oregon.gov/deq/WQ/Pages/ Groundwater/GWProtection. aspx for more information and click on the link for “Free Water Well Testing in Walla Walla Basin” for an informational sheet and a map of the study area. To be considered for this study, call 503-693- 5736 or send an email to groundwater.monitoring@ deq.state.or.us. C ONTACT U S WWW.PENDLETONPSYCH.COM OR CALL US AT 541-278-2222 East Oregonian The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation announced the hiring of former Pendleton City Coun- cilor Jane Hill as its new legislative affairs manager in a press release Tuesday. “We are very pleased to have Jane’s experience and political acumen,” CTUIR spokesman Chuck Sams said in a statement. “She will be a great addition to our policy team.” Hill will work under Sams in the tribes’ communica- tions department and will be responsible for coordinating state and federal legislative affairs. Hill has extensive expe- rience in lobbying and state politics, having worked for the Oregon Trial Lawyers Association, Oregon Student Association and the staff of Sen. Ron Wyden. Although Hill announced she was going to resign her from her at-large seat on the city council to take a job with the CTUIR in late December, Sams did not specify her role until the tribes’ press release. With the council having received Hill’s letter of resignation Tuesday after- noon, the council still has to vacate her seat and appoint a replacement. That replacement coun- FLORU ZLOO KDYH WR ¿OH IRU election by March 8 if they wish to hold the seat beyond the length of Hill’s term, which expires at the end of 2016. Mwah Tell the world how you feel, send a message to your special someone for Valentine's Day! $ ONLY 15 00 10 Words + Photo $ ONLY 10 00 20 Words Fill out this form and send to our offices... Chris McClellan 541-278-2678 Shannon Paxton 541-564-4530 211 SE Byers Ave. Pendleton 333 E Main St. Hermiston Your Name: Daytime Phone: Address: City: Zip: Person's Name: Message: ❑ Emailed photo to classifieds@eastoreonian.com Remember: Please include a check or money order. Hermiston Herald East Oregonian ❑ $15 with Pic ❑ $15 with Pic ❑ $10 without ❑ $10 without Publishes Feb. 13 Winter Blues? We Can Help! Hill named CTUIR legislative affairs manager Love ! s e t o N BRIEFLY Walden to make stops in Eastern Oregon Friday Jane Hill Publishes Feb. 10 ❑ I would like to pay with my credit card (Visa or Mastercard only) Cardmember's Name: Card Number: Cardholder's Address: Card Type: Exp. Date: Entries must be received by Feb. 3rd at Noon.