Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 3, 2015)
REGION Saturday, January 3, 2015 East Oregonian Page 3A STANFIELD Police lieutenant joins local force lays off recently Editor’s Note: This is another installment in the annual East Oregonian se- ries “Our New Neighbors,” where we introduce readers to people who have moved to the area within the last year. Our New Neighbors By SCOTTA CALLISTER EO Media Group tlers. They’re coming along, and doing great.” Toombs is also a leader in the police department, taking on more administrative du- ties in his role as lieutenant. Along with Chief Bryon Zumwalt, they supervise two By GEORGE PLAVEN East Oregonian The new job came with a promotion in title, albeit in a slightly smaller town. And that’s exactly the opportuni- ty Monte Toombs was look- ing for. Toombs, 36, joined the as lieutenant in March 2014, rising up the chain of com- mand after serving as a patrol- Idaho — population 3,142. Combined with the city of about 2,750 residents. But Toombs said he enjoys work- ing in smaller communities that give him the chance to interact more and build better trust with the people. that helps solve crime or deter crime when they feel they can come talk to you,” Toombs said. Toombs is not exactly a stranger to Eastern Oregon. just across the Snake River from Nyssa. Like Umatilla County, the region there is added second shift one part-time ordinance of- Staff photo by George Plaven Lt. Monte Toombs joined the Stanfi eld Police Depart- ment March 3, 2014. dominated by agriculture and Toombs said he feels right at home surrounded by farm- land. from a friend who began his own law enforcement career in the city. Likewise, Toombs said he was sold on the com- munity after seeing the quali- ty of local schools and moved into the area with his wife, Megan, and three children. “I just like the communi- ty support,” he said. “It’s the involvement with the kids. kids. So does Echo. That’s where a lot of small towns struggle, and I think both towns here are doing a good job.” It didn’t take long for Toombs to follow suit. Af- ter the school year began, he was contacted by Echo Su- perintendent Raymon Smith about coaching the Cougars’ tling team. The team has 10 kids, in- High School donated a mat two weeks before the season started in November, and Toombs said they are already building a solid foundation. “We’re doing really well,” Zumwalt and Toombs have been putting in a lot of hours, training up two new in May. Once things calm down a bit, Toombs said he is looking forward to more camping trips with his family. They are especially looking forward to a trip out to the Oregon coast. Toombs said he sees him- the long-term. “I’ve seen in both com- munities here, there are a lot of people who want to be involved in things and help out,” he said. “You have to have people like that to have a good community.” ——— Contact George Plaven at gplaven@eastoregonian.com or 541-564-4547. Lumber Co. is laying off the second shift at its Mal- heur Lumber plant, just six months after the swing crew was hired. Ochoco president, cited a lack of logs for the mill as the reason for the decision. He said the supply issues have been building over the past log deliveries didn’t materi- alize. The mill did not receive “the contracted and ex- pected volumes of timber,” He called the current sit- uation “beyond disappoint- ing,” but also termed the layoffs temporary. He said Ochoco will work to restore those jobs. “Our main goal is to keep the one shift going,” he said. “And then we want to put these folks back to work again.” The exact number of workers affected was not Before the layoffs, the company had 132 employees the swing shift was added. The addition of a second National Forest’s 10-year stewardship contract would provide more certainty for the local timber industry. The stewardship program in- cludes a commitment to sup- ply the local mill and wood products industry, keeping it alive for a ramped-up slate of forest restoration work. “The wood is there, the over the past two years,” This week, however, he was disheartened. “This was not planned,” he said of the layoffs. He noted the company has invested $1 million in the plant this year, in large part a the stewardship contract. BRIEFLY Intoxicated driver causes crash, sends Irrigon couple to hospital By PHIL WRIGHT East Oregonian DUII arrests by year people in 2014 for driving under the in- 2013. Hermiston police, though, topped that with 111 arrests or citations for duii crease of one from 2013. The arrest statistics come from ports and Hermiston police Chief Jason Edmiston. From 2010 through 2014, Hermiston police have cited or arrested Roberts said there could be a lot of factors that account for a local spike in duiis in 2011, including having more of drugs but not alcohol. But he was pleased that overall the numbers were “pretty consistent” and a far cry from police dealt with about a decade ago. Roberts explained he uses the total as a barometer to gauge duii arrests. If Year 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 Pendleton 85 115 92 88 93 Hermiston 106 121 146 110 111* *As of Dec. 31 at 1 p.m. year to year but arrests and citations for driving impaired do not move much, Roberts said that could be a good sign that fewer intoxicated drivers are on the road. Edmiston said his department each year applies for a grant to help pay for duii enforcement. The National Highway Transportation Safety Ad- ministration provides the funds, which the Oregon Association of Chiefs of on catching impaired drivers, and he said in past years the department has received as much as $8,000. He said that could account for the spike in duiis Hermiston police saw in 2012. But the grants also come with strings. The grants specify when de- partments can use the funds, Edmiston said, and that usually means the holi- days of Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years, and recently the weekend of Super Bowl. Roberts said that was one reason his department stopped applying for the lice could get grant money but only for enforcement during Round-Up, Roberts said, and while that would pay for an enforcement and respond to another call. Roberts said that did not seem like good policing. He said Oregon State those grants because state troopers pri- marily stick to road patrols. an uptick in the number of duii arrests over this New Year’s holiday peri- od, which ran Wednesday at 6 p.m. to od, troopers arrested 37 people for driv- also reported troopers responded to 35 crashes this year that involved impaired drivers, two of which included fatalities. PENDLETON City council to vote on fire station assessment By ANTONIO SIERRA East Oregonian With the start of the new Council has 11 months to convince the voting public to put property tax money to- ward a capital improvement bond. The council’s effort will begin in earnest Tuesday perform a needs analysis on According to a report from Mackenzie, the needs assessment would “assess the condition of (the) existing fa- cility, determine the required needs for the replacement fa- cility, and develop a concept design and anticipated proj- ect budget for the facility in preparation of the future bond measure.” maintained the need to re- structure and move it to the downtown area to improve emergency response times. The city is considering three potential sites, including staying at the station’s current Ave. After the assessment, negotiate with Mackenzie on a second phase, which would include schematic design and construction services. Also to be considered by When Caring, Quality and Commitment Make a Difference. bla Ha ñ o l e a S sp E Call Today for your FREE Assessment Providing Personalized In-home Care 24/7 541-429-8099 920 Frazier Ave ste 212 Pendleton Or 97801 www.aqhcinc.com • Personal Care Checks • Housekeeping • Meal • Appointments Preparation • Bathing • Laundry • Companionship • Home Care • Respit Care • Grooming • Errands • Medication • Memory Care Assistance • Cognition • Insurance •Groceries Billing • Blood Pressure • Insured • Bonded • Licensed Happy New Year From Dr. Hibbert, Lacee, Jessica, Bailey, Heather, and Sarah the council is amending an ordinance that would prorate business license fees for busi- nesses opening after the be- ginning of the year. Currently, owners have to pay fees for the entire busi- ness year, which runs from Feb. 1 to Jan. 31, regardless of when they open their busi- ness. Because the city would lose $3,400 in fees from amending the ordinance, the council prompted city staff to look into raising temporary business fees vendors pay to operate during Round-Up to A city report states the city charges $100 to residents and $160 to out-of-town vendors to operate temporarily during Round-Up week. To cover the ment, staff calculated the city would need to raise the out- of-towner fee to $227. For context, staff is look- ing into what other rodeo towns charge for temporary business licenses. P SYCHOLOGICAL S ERVICES OF P ENDLETON , LLC Winter Blues? We Can Help! C ONTACT U S WWW.PENDLETONPSYCH.COM OR CALL US AT 541-278-2222 We wish to thank everyone attending the celebration of life for our husband & father, Roger Doyle, and for the many cards we received. Our special “thank you” to Dr. Russ Harrison giving of his time for many visits to Roger at home. It was a comfort to Roger & to the family. Our thanks to all the people who helped us care for Roger. St. Anthony Hospice, Sharon McAtee, Stacey McAtee, Tisha Porter, Pat Barnes and Jennifer Flury, with their help we were able to care for Roger when he wished to be at home. Rogers suffering is over and we know he is now with old friends in heaven. God Bless You! Mary, Doug, Kathie & Families 541-612-3707 she crashed into an Irrigon couple near Echo. State police reported Krishin Tia Croy, 28, of 1435 Auburn Ave., Baker City, was when she collided with the rear of a Chrysler Sebring at about 3 p.m. Thursday. The car traveled off the interstate and crashed into a roadway sign before coming to a rest. Kenneth Joseph Evans, 68, was the driver of the Chrysler, and his wife, Jannette Evans, 65, was the passenger. Croy Both are from Irrigon. State police trooper Jeremy Gunter reported Jannette Evans suffered serious injuries in the wreck. Hermiston ambulance services took the couple to Good Shepherd Medical Center, Hermiston. Hospital spokesman Mark Ettesvold said Good Shepherd treated and released them. Croy, though, remains in the Umatilla County Jail, intoxicants (alcohol and drugs), second-degree assault and reckless driving. Swim team hosts talent show HERMISTON — A talent show to raise funds to support the Hermiston High School swim team is scheduled for Saturday at 7 p.m. at the HHS auditorium, 600 S. First St. Tickets are $10 each or $20 for a family. for their favorite performers by donating funds. The top fundraising acts will win Best of Show and a prize. and more. wreath from Cottage Flowers, a massage and pedicure also hold a bake sale, selling cookies and milk. and other transportation costs for the team to attend For more information, call Lynne Hamblin at 541-571- BREASTFEEDING CLASS Want to make your breastfeeding experience the best for you and your baby? One night class covers breastfeeding benefits, pumping and much more. Come to this FREE class, taught by a certified lactation consultant, and learn techniques that make for a successful experience. Free but please pre-register. January 7 • 12-1:30pm GSMC Conference Rm 3 & 4 (by the cafeteria) BABYSITTING BASICS 101 Bab ysi Basi tting cs 101 For babysitters ages 10-15. Learn childcare techniques, children's developmental ages and what to expect, basic first aid and infant and child CPR. Next class: Saturday, January 10 9:00am-3:00pm GSMC Conference Room $30, includes lunch & all class materials Must pre-register & pre-pay For information or to register for a class, call (541) 667-3509 or email healthinfo@gshealth.org
