FROM PAGE ONE
TUESDAY, MAY 18, 2021
THE OBSERVER — 5A
STEM
Continued from Page 1A
Kathy Aney/East Oregonian, File
Seventeen-year-old Weston-McEwen senior Bailey Munck testifi es re-
motely from Pendleton on March 25, 2021, for Senate Bill 649, known
as Bailey’s Bill. The bill increases penalties for criminal sexual contact
with an underage victim when the defendant is the victim’s teacher.
BILL
gonian. “I just have a
problem with picking
Continued from Page 1A
and choosing who gets
justice.”
also doesn’t remember
Levy is all in. She
the rule being used.
hopes to meet Munck,
“This is an extremely now 17, and tell her how
rare occurrence,”
proud of her she is.
Sekerak said. “When
“It’s criminally wrong
this many members of
that teachers aren’t held
a committee want to
to the same high stan-
do something, the chair
dard as coaches,” she
usually works something said. “Children are our
out.”
greatest assets and we
Noble, a former
need to protect them.”
McMinnville police
Levy will testify
chief, said he knew
on May 18, along with
about
Hansell,
the rule
Munck and
because
“Children are others.
he studied
While
our greatest
the rule-
testifying
book the
remotely
assets and
same way
to the
he studied
Senate Judi-
we need to
the crim-
ciary Com-
inal code
protect them.” mittee of
as a law
the Oregon
— Rep. Bobby Levy,
enforce-
Legislature
R-Echo
ment
in March,
offi cer.
the teenager
“It’s in
was direct.
my nature to get a feel
“What is the signifi -
for what’s out there,” he
cant diff erence between
said.
a teacher and a coach?
Noble said committee Do coaches somehow
members tried other
carry more authority
strategies fi rst. When
than a teacher might?”
eff orts to urge Bynum
she asked the senators.
to schedule a hearing
“Coaches and teachers
failed, they fi nally
should be prosecuted
resorted to House Rule
equally as they both
8.20. Noble said all nine have responsibility for
members simply thought students’ safety and
the bill deserved to be
they both have positions
considered.
of authority and power
“People who we
over their students and
entrust with our youth
players.”
must be held to a higher
If Munck’s abuser,
standard,” he said.
DeYoe, had been a
“They have to be held
coach, he might have
accountable.”
been convicted of a
Rep. Bobby Levy,
Class C felony, a crime
R-Echo, who is shep-
that carries sentences up
herding the bill on the
to fi ve years in prison
House side, felt relief
and a $125,000 fi ne. But
when the bill became
DeYoe wasn’t techni-
unstuck. Bynum had
cally a coach. Instead,
stopped by Levy’s desk
DeYoe, 31, got a lighter
to let her know the bill
sentence. In the plea
was moving again.
deal, he forfeited his
Levy said she had
teaching license, ter-
communicated with
minated his housing
Bynum about her rea-
lease in Athena and
sons for holding up
agreed to have no con-
the bill, but said, “I’m
tact with minors who
going to let her speak for are not family members.
herself.”
He spent a night in the
A request to Bynum
Umatilla County Jail
by the East Orego-
and will serve fi ve years
nian was not returned
probation. He wasn’t
by press time. How-
required to register as a
ever, Bynum told Ore-
sex off ender.
gonian reporter Chris
Adding the words
Lehman that she is frus- “and teachers” to the
trated about legislation
existing law would
designed to dial back
close the loophole, said
the eff ects of Measure
Munck and others who
11 that is stalled. She
testifi ed that day. This is
expressed no reserva-
a simple fi x, they said.
tions about Bailey’s Bill,
“This is a solid bipar-
but seemed to be using it tisan bill,” Levy said. “It
as a bargaining chip.
should pass out of the
“I don’t have any
House with full support
problems with the bill
and go to the governor’s
itself,” she told the Ore-
desk to be signed.”
ReMake Learning
Days Across America
also funded several local
events throughout Oregon
to enlist caregivers, par-
ents and children in
STEM activities. Meghan
Ballard hosted two such
events, May 11 and May 14,
in La Grande.
One was a visit to Pete’s
Pond on Miller Drive,
where Ballard and Boy
Scout Troop 515 planted
native trees and shrubs with
the goal of strengthening
the water quality and stimu-
lating the local ecosystem.
“For young learners,
and all ages really, getting
that hands-on experience
really helps cement the con-
cepts in their brain,” Bal-
lard said. “Being able to see
it visually and learn about
it through talking and dis-
cussions while seeing your
peers do it helps out a lot.”
The local scouts planted
upward of 20 trees and
shrubs, including Oregon’s
state fl ower, the Oregon
grape. GO STEM Hub and
Plantworks in Cove donated
the plants for the event.
On May 14, a younger
crowd gathered to take
part in an aquatic insect
and water quality survey
at Pete’s Pond. The pre-
schoolers in attendance
sampled for macroinverte-
brates in the pond and cre-
ated arts and crafts.
While COVID-19 lim-
ited the scope of in-person
events, the largely vir-
tual STEM Week went
2306 Adams Ave
La Grande, OR 97850
(541) 963-8411
We're just west of I-84 (exit 261)
on Adams Ave at 20th St.
lesschwab.com
Davis Carbaugh/The Observer
Members of the Boy Scout Troup 515 plant trees near Pete’s Pond in
La Grande on Tuesday, May 11, 2021, as part of STEM Week.
on smoothly throughout
Oregon.
“We’ve really focused
on being able to provide the
resources we would have
done in person,” Melville
said. “We are holding ses-
sions and diff erent events in
person, but making sure that
we’re following protocols
and providing those oppor-
tunities online as well.”
Among the online
resources, GO STEM Hub
purchased the license for an
online showing of “Picture
a Scientist,” a 2020 Tribeca
Film Festival selection that
documents a new age of
women in STEM explora-
tion and careers.
“I hope they fi nd
that they can enjoy sci-
ence, math and engi-
neering,” Rainboth said
of those who participated
in STEM Week. “Experi-
encing what they’re good
at leads to critical thinking,
problem solving and career
connections.”
Learn more about STEM
education in Eastern Oregon
at www.go-stem.org.
RESIDENCY
Continued from Page 1A
from a pre-production
standpoint.”
The cohort consists
of four former fi lm fes-
tival participants and two
newcomers.
Four of the fi lm-
makers reside in Cali-
fornia, while Parker Win-
ship is from Wisconsin and
Karina Lomlin Ripper is
from Portland. Samantha
Crainich is originally
from Alabama and Alex-
ander Craven hails from
Colorado.
The previous roles of
these fi lmmakers include
directing, producing,
acting and working in art
departments.
Natalie Metzger, a
fi lm producer, is using
the change of scenery
to inspire creativity
and experience a new
community.
“My bread and butter
is mostly producing, so
switching from the fast
pace of producing to
slowing down was a big
shift,” Metzger said. “Get-
ting to know people, get-
ting to know the area and
hiking through the hills
has been magical.”
Director H. Nelson
Tracey said he hopes the
residency program con-
tinues and more fi lm-
makers can come to know
La Grande and experience
this creative process.
“It feels like there’s a
potential for a lot of great
stuff ,” Tracey said. “With
Chris specifi cally and
what he’s creating, there’s
a sense of ambition and
potential energy here that
is not often found in a
regional fi lm festival.”
WE’RE
Hours
Mon-Fri: 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Sat: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Alex Wittwer/The Observer
From left, Xavier Green, Avery Durr, Lucy Wright and Aria Wright inspect water samples from Pete’s Pond,
La Grande, on Friday, May 14, 2021, during a STEM Week event.
HERE TO
HELP
Davis Carbaugh/The Observer
The Eastern Oregon Film Festival’s inaugural fi lmmaker residency cohort concludes a meeting Saturday, May 15,
2021, at HQ on Depot Street, La Grande. Festival director Chris Jennings (far left) is in charge of organizing the
residency and presenting opportunities for the fi lmmakers.
In addition to their
work, the fi lmmakers are
visiting local restaurants,
events, hikes and venues to
inspire them during their
time in Eastern Oregon.
The group visited the La
Grande Farmers Market on
its opening day Saturday,
May 15, and later attended
“Love Is a Scandal: An
Evening of Anton Chekhov
One Acts” at the Elgin
Opera House.
Jennings and the cohort
primarily meet at HQ on
Depot Street, La Grande, a
creative media studio and
live event venue. After vis-
iting the farmers market,
the group gathered at HQ
to have an open discus-
sion about logistics of the
EOFF and other local fi lm-
making opportunities.
“I have the mindset
of writing a project here,
but also coming back and
making a movie here,”
Tracey said.
The group of fi lm-
makers also visited the
Liberty Theatre on Adams
Avenue in La Grande. The
2021 EOFF will host most
of its showings at the his-
toric venue following the
completion of renovations
this fall.
“It feels like there’s a
lot of stuff happening in
La Grande, with the Lib-
erty Theatre being reno-
vated too,” Metzger said.
“It feels like there’s this
energy here, like a cul-
tural hub, which I think is
special.”
According to the Lib-
erty Theatre Foundation,
Eastern Oregon University
donated 300 seats to be
installed in the theater, and
Loso Hall on campus will
be used for the 2021 EOFF
as well. HQ also will fea-
ture as a venue for this
year’s festival.
“The next step is for
one of them to come back
and make a movie,” Jen-
nings said. “If we can
create a cycle of that with
our programming, then
not only are we hitting a
tourism aspect but we’re
also building a real viable
industry.”
Near the conclusion of
the residency, the cohort
will participate in a public
forum, discussing the
stay in La Grande and
fi lmmaking opportuni-
ties moving forward. The
event will begin at 7 p.m.
Friday, May 21, at HQ. For
more information, visit the
Eastern Oregon Film Fes-
tival’s Facebook page and
www.eofi lmfest.com.