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About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 17, 2018)
Wednesday, January 17, 2018 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon 15 Lara set to change plea in killing Pollard runs fast indoor mile for Gonzaga By Charlie Kanzig Correspondent BEND (AP) — A change-of-plea hearing has been scheduled for Edwin Lara, who police say killed a woman in July 2016 while working as a campus safety officer at Central Oregon Community College. Court records show the hearing has been sched- uled for January 22-23 in Deschutes County Circuit Court. Juli Walden VanCleave, the mother of victim Kaylee Sawyer, posted on Facebook that Lara agreed to a plea deal that would send him to prison for life, avoiding a possible death sentence. Lara’s defense lawyer, Thaddeus Betz, declined comment when contacted by The Bulletin newspaper. Authorities say Lara killed Sawyer in Bend on July 24, and later kidnapped a woman in Salem. They drove to California, where he allegedly shot and wounded a man and carjacked a vehicle with a family inside. Lara pleaded not guilty after his arrest and has been awaiting an October 2018 trial. Sisters graduate Brandon Pollard started 2018’s indoor track season with the second- fastest indoor mile ever run by a Gonzaga athlete. After redshirting last sea- son due to injury, Pollard showed neither his speed or racing tactics had any signs of rust as he moved up steadily throughout his heat of the mile at the UW Indoor Preview at the Dempsey Center in Seattle, to win in 4:08.00. His time was the second fastest of the day by a collegian at the meet (James West of Oregon ran 4:04.9 in a separate heat) and the 10th fastest of the day among 54 milers who raced. Kris Kristovich, who coached Brandon during his middle school years and has kept in contact with him throughout his career, watched a video of the race, provided by Brandon’s mother, Shannon. “He did some track work- outs here in Sisters during the winter break and I had him over for lunch and he told me that he was feeling as strong as he has ever been,” said Kristovich. “Watching him run that race, I marveled at how he has always been such a great tactical runner with pretty amazing finishing speed.” P o l l a r d ’s c o a c h a t Gonzaga, Pat Tyson, seemed to agree in a press release after the meet, saying “Brandon ran a brilliant tac- tical race, positioning him- self in the top three or four throughout the first 1,200 meters and would take the lead at the bell, opening up a huge victory,” Pollard won the state title for 800 meters as a senior at Sisters High School in 2014 and holds the Gonzaga school record at that distance with a time of 1:49.88. His time Saturday for the mile eclipsed his lifetime best of 4:10.69, setting him up for what could be a very exciting outdoor track season. Kristovich said that in addition to Pollard’s high- quality training, he might have discovered a secret weapon for the young runner. “My wife, Penny, fed Brandon a tuna melt with home-made tuna before he ran that 1:49 school record in the 800 three years ago, so when he told me about his race in Seattle I had him come up for lunch again and it’s hard to argue with the results,” he said with a laugh. “He’s such a great kid. I couldn’t be more proud of him.” In his profile on the Gonzaga athletics website, Pollard, a physical education major, says that one of his PHOTO BY HARRY POLLARD Sisters graduate Brandon Pollard is becoming an elite runner. goals is to break 4 minutes in the mile. With a start like he had Saturday, achieving that goal CHOPS Bistro LIVE MUSIC Do you have 2 hours a week to be in the best shape of your life? C Cenobia Gonzalez: T Tony Gonzalez: L 67 lbs. and went Lost f from 28% body fat to 11% After Happy Hou r Specials 4 to 6 p.m. Fridays & Saturdays, 6 to 8 p. m . Bill Keale, Sundays 5 to 8 p.m. L 54 lbs. and went Lost f from 43% body fat to 19% Before just became a bit closer. Pollard’s next race will be for 800 meters in Pullman, Washington on January 20. ialty Join us for amazing food and spec m. c co o c ck k t tails in our lounge or dining roo FREE intro session! C Call l l 541-699-7800 5 4 1 6 9 9 7 370 E. Cascade Ave. | 541-549-6015 Join Sisters’ Strongest or email coach@crossfi tsisters.com Fitness Community! In the Ray’s Shopping Center • crossfi tsisters.com L Lounge open 4:30 p.m. to close | Dining Room 5 p.m. to close | Closed Mondays WALK-IN & URGENT CARE SERVING OUR COMMUNITY Locally owned & operated by proud Outlaw parents Dr. Eric & Deb Wattenburg ON-SITE X-RAY! Open every day, after-hours ! & weekends 541-548-2899 3818 SW 21st Pl., Ste. 100, Redmond www.yourcaremedical.com
