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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 28, 2015)
REGION Wednesday, January 28, 2015 PENDLETON Registrations available for Daddy Daughter Dance East Oregonian Registration is now un- derway for the annual Daddy Daughter Dance sponsored by Pendleton Parks & Recre- ation. The event is Saturday, Feb. 7 from 6-9 p.m. at the Pendleton Convention Cen- ter, 1601 Westgate. Open to girls in kinder- garten through eighth grade, the cost is $32 per father and daughter pair and $10 for each additional girl. The eve- ning includes dancing, snacks and refreshments, including the always popular chocolate fountain, a posed picture, a special gift at the door and a chance to win prizes. In its 11th year, the event usually sells out. Organizers encourage those planning to attend to register early. For more information, call 541-276-8100, go to www. Staff photo by Tammy Malgesini pendletonparksandrec.com Participants hit the dance floor during a past Daddy Daughter Dance. Registration RU VWRS E\ WKH SDUNV RI¿FH is open for this year’s event, which is Saturday, Feb. 7 at the Pendleton Convention Center. 865 Tutuilla Road. MILTON-FREEWATER &LW\WDSVZDWHUVKHGFRXQFLOVFLHQWLVWWR¿OOYDFDQWVHDW By ANTONIO SIERRA East Oregonian When it came down to choosing a replacement for an open seat, the Milton-Free- water City Council turned to a familiar face. Steven Patten’s natural in- terest in city issues was listed by multiple councilors as one of the reasons he edged out the two other applicants for the position at a meeting Monday. As an audience member, Patten has been a frequent attendee of council meetings since moving to Milton-Free- water in 2009. “Steven Patten almost had an unfair advantage in that KH VWDUWHG ¿OLQJ KLV DSSOLFD- tion several years ago when he started attending council meetings regularly,” Council- man Ed Chesnut said. “That impressed me partly because that was my prelude to getting on council. ... He was showing an interest long before there was any reason to be interest- ed.” Patten, an environmental scientist for the Walla Wal- la Basin Watershed Council, beat out Frank Millar, retired crop consultant for Wilbur-El- lis Co., and Verl Pressnall, the former maintenance director for the now-defunct Ferndale and Umapine school districts and the president of the East End Rod and Gun Club. According to meeting minutes of Patten’s Dec. 8 interview, he was selected for the seat despite living in Milton-Freewater for the least amount of time. After growing up in Colorado, Patten moved west- ward to attend Wal- la Walla University, his family’s alma mater dating back to his grandfather. Patten obtained bachelor’s degrees in history and biol- Patten ogy in 2007 and a master’s degree in 2009, mov- ing to Milton-Freewater short- ly thereafter. Although he praised the council for their practical approach to governing, he also offered ideas about ar- eas where Milton-Freewater could improve. While Milton-Freewater lies in close proximity to tour- ist attractions like Tollgate and the Blue Mountains, Patten pointed out that there was no- where in Milton-Freewater for potential tourists to stay. Patten also suggested the city create a brand that busi- nesses could use to attract more customers. A frequent topic of discus- sions during the interviews was the lack of integration between Milton-Freewater’s Hispanic population and the rest of the community. Despite comprising 43 percent of the city’s popula- tion, no Latinos sit on the city council and very few are involved in city government. During his in- terview, Millar said he encouraged two of his Hispanic ac- quaintances to ap- ply for the council seat to no avail. In an interview after his appoint- ment, Patten said the city needed to take “baby steps” in improving relation- ships with the Hispanic com- munity. Patten said he’s made an effort to talk with his Lati- no neighbors, including his recent decision to seek the council seat. He added that grassroots efforts like this could help build a foundation toward real progress. Although ultimately un- successful, the two other candidates didn’t leave the meeting completely emp- ty-handed. After appointing Patten, the council appointed Pressnall to the city’s budget committee and Millar to the planning commission. Another carryover from the last meeting was a potential all-terrain vehicle ordinance. First presented at the Dec. 8 meeting, the council contin- ued to discuss an ordinance that would allow ATVs to drive on city streets. The issue was brought about by resident Jesse Shaw, who said he had a $15,000 ATV that he wasn’t allowed to use on city streets. At the December meet- ing, Police Chief Doug Boedigheimer said staff didn’t have an opinion one way or another about an ATV ordi- nance. But on Monday, City Man- ager Linda Hall added that staff was strongly opposed to allowing ATVs on Highway 11, which they viewed as be- ing too dangerous. 6KDZ VHHPHG WR ¿QG WKH most traction with Council- man Brad Humbert, who of- fered to work with Shaw to create an ATV committee that would write an ordinance for council consideration. Although supportive, Humbert said Shaw and oth- er ATV ordinance supporters would need to provide details on the ATV permitting pro- cess and designated crossings on Highway 11 before he could approve it. ——— Contact Antonio Sierra at asierra@eastoregonian.com or 541-966-0836. HERMISTON Board to pick from three locations for new senior center Street behind Wal-Mart that is for sale. “It’s in a residential area Now that Hermiston has and it has lots of opportunity a $2 million grant to build a for green space around it,” new senior center, it’s time Fetter said. Another option would be for the city to decide in what part of town that $2 million the former Goodwill building at 740 West Hermiston Ave- should be invested. Hermiston Parks and Rec- nue. Fetter said the property reation director Larry Fetter, is 1.5 acres and has a “willing who wrote the Community seller.” The building on the Development Block Grant on property probably has asbes- behalf of the senior center ad- tos and other issues making visory board, told the Hermis- LW GLI¿FXOW WR UHSXUSRVH LQWR ton City Council Monday that a senior center, Fetter said, the board has narrowed down but the city would have the ÀH[LELOLW\ WR XVH WKH PLO- three properties to study. 7KH ¿UVW LV D DFUH lion block grant to tear down parcel on Northeast Fourth the old building, rebuild and By JADE MCDOWELL East Oregonian turn some of the asphalt sur- rounding it into landscaping or some sort of community garden. “A $2 million investment in that neighborhood would be a game-changer, no doubt about it,” Fetter said. The third option would be to build the 8,000-square-foot facility behind the Hermiston Public Library. The senior center would span the park- ing lot behind the library and block the section of road near the old Armand Larive arch- way where Northeast Second Street curves around to be- come Ridgeway Avenue. “It would go nicely with the redevelopment work in the Urban Renewal District,” Fetter said, referencing the “festival street” the city wants to create in front of city hall nearby. Fetter said the advisory board would study all three options further and at some point come to the city council with a recommendation. City councilors asked that an informational report ac- company the recommenda- tion so they could see why the board settled on that par- ticular option. “I think there are advan- tages to all three,” councilor John Kirwan said. BRIEFLY Hermiston police handled fewer calls in 2014 HERMISTON — Police saw a drop in total incidents and arrests from 2013 to 2014, according to the Hermiston department’s annual report. Hermiston police Chief Jason Edmiston on Tuesday released the by-the-numbers take on what his DJHQF\GLGODVW\HDU2I¿FHUVKDQGOHG 23,097 total incidents in 2014, down 14 percent from 2013. Most of that was due to a drop in calls for service, which fell 26 percent in the year. Hermiston police made 1,279 arrests in 2014, an 8 percent decrease from %XWRI¿FHUVDOVRKDQGHGRXW more citations: 6,045 in 2014 versus 5,575 in 2013, though the average over the past 10 years is 7,206. Hermiston Police Department has 31 employees, including the chief, two captains, four sergeants, 14 SDWURORI¿FHUVDQGWKUHHGHWHFWLYHV Department personnel, including seven UHVHUYHRI¿FHUVSDUWLFLSDWHGLQPRUH than 5,900 hours of training in 2014. That’s almost the equivalent of work of three full-time jobs. Edmiston reported the department in 2015 will track implementing policies IRURI¿FHUZRUQERG\FDPHUDVWKH affects of Measure 91, which allows Oregonians to possess recreational marijuana and goes into effect July DQG¿QGLQJZD\VWRKDQGOHSHRSOH suffering from mental health problems in the midst of dwindling resources. Tea party town hall features Sen. Hansell MILTON-FREEWATER – Sen. Bill Hansell, R-Athena, will address a town hall hosted by the Milton-Freewater Tea Party Patriots Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Milton-Freewater’s American Legion Hall, 424 N.E. Eighth Ave. Hansell plans to outline his ideas for the 2015 Legislative Session, which starts next Monday. The senator serves on the Ways and Means Committee and two sub-committees: Economic Development and Transportation, and Natural Resources, along with the Transportation Sub-Committee of Ways and Means. Hansell is especially interested in opinions about expenditures on transportation projects and other topics affecting his constituents. Larry Nye, moderator of the town hall and coordinator of the Milton- Freewater Tea Party Patriots, urged everyone who wishes to share thoughts to bring written remarks, which can be given to Hansell after the meeting. OSBA looks to replace vacant board seat ATHENA — To replace the ascending Dave Krumbein, Athena- Weston School Board member Scott Rogers was chosen to represent the Gorge region for the Oregon School Board Association Board of Directors. Krumbein, a member of the Pendleton School Board, vacated the seat to become board president. An association press release states Rogers wants to prioritize replacing aging school facilities and enrollment while on the board. Rogers, a Molalla native and /LQ¿HOG&ROOHJHJUDGXDWHMRLQHGWKH Athena-Weston School Board in 2011. The association is a member services organization for locally elected school boards at the school district, educational service district, charter school and community college levels. East Oregonian Page 3A UMATILLA Couple seeks semi driver who left crash scene By PHIL WRIGHT East Oregonian A Umatilla man has offered a $100 reward for information leading to the semi driver who left after his wife crashed into the big rig Thursday morning. Toshiko Boullester, 65, was on her way to work at about 5 a.m. from Umatil- la to Hermiston when she slammed into the side of a semitrailer blocking both lanes of Highway 730 near milepost 180. The crash to- taled her 2003 Nissan Alti- ma, according to the police report she and husband Jack McWhinnie had with them Tuesday. She suf- fered deep bruises on both knees and across her chest, and even bruised her lungs. “I’m lucky to be alive,” she said. “God must have been with me that day.” Boullester said it was still dark at the early hour and the semi did not have any lights on. She was driving about 50 mph in the Nissan, she said, when she saw the trailer and slammed on the brakes. But, she said, it was too late. Boullester said she was in pain and dazed from the crash and the driver of the semi never got out. She tried to call McWhin- nie, but his phone was on vibrate and he was asleep. Boullester said she decided to seek help and walk back to their home on South- shore Drive, about a quar- ter of a mile away. She said she was hurt- ing, dazed and a little scared, and she encoun- tered a man and asked for his help, but he turned her down. She reached their home, she said, pounded on the door and awoke her husband. McWhinnie said they hopped into his pickup and rushed back to the crash scene, but the semitrailer was gone. An ambulance then rushed Boullester to the emergency department of Good Shepherd Medical Center, Hermiston, which also is where she works as a room cleaner. The local hospital sent her to Kadlec Regional Medical Center, Rich- land, Washington, where she stayed the night. She visited her family doctor Tuesday and said she is still sore. She showed the purple and yellow bruises that mar her knees and up- per chest and left shoulder. McWhinnie said the $100 is what he could of- IHU ³,I , FDQ ¿QG WKH JX\ yeah,” he said, “it’s well worth it.” McWhinnie said people with information about the crash can call him at 541- 922-4673, or call the Ore- gon State Police in Pendle- ton at 541-278-4090. ——— Contact Phil Wright at pwright@eastoregonian. com or 541-966-0833. Backhoe cuts phone service for thousands By ALFRED DIAZ Union-Bulletin (PHUJHQF\ RI¿FLDOV DUH questioning how one back- hoe could knock out 9-1-1 service for thousands of UHVLGHQWV LQ ¿YH FRXQWLHV and cripple thousands of businesses Friday after- noon. “How is it possible that D ¿EHUFDEOH FXW FDQ FDXVH that widespread of an issue through multiple counties?” Walla Walla Emergency Services Communication Director Steve Ruley said. “We were very lucky in this county. Things worked out well. We had a prompt response and things were handled well.” At approximately 2 p.m., a backhoe operator near Lewis Road in Pasco cut WKURXJKDPDMRU¿EHURSWLF cable, resulting in numer- ous communication failures for emergency personal in Walla Walla, Franklin, Gar- ¿HOG &ROXPELD FRXQWLHV and the Milton-Freewater area, CenturyLink spokes- woman Kerry Zimmer said. The biggest source of problems was loss of cell- phone service, but even landlines were said to have experienced some failures, Ruley said. By 5:30 p.m. Friday, CenturyLink crews had ¿[HGWKHOLQHUHVWRULQJ 1 and other services that UHO\RQWKH¿EHURSWLFFDEOH During the communi- cations failure, cellphone availability was sporadic. Some users were able to send texts and make phone calls while others lost all services. Residents and busi- nesses with phones service through the Internet were also unable to call, includ- ing several businesses that often rely on emergency services. “We get a lot of calls from the nursing home fa- cilities,” Ruley said. In response to the fail- ures, members of the local chapter of Amateur Radio Emergency Services came forward to provide commu- nications backup. “They heard what was going on and came down. And we deployed them to the nursing home facili- ties,” Ruley said. Emergency systems are designed with redundan- cy, which means there is a backup system should the main system fail. Many of these backup system in- volve rerouting 9-1-1 calls to other nearby dispatch centers. In Milton-Freewater, Zimmer said dispatchers also lost 9-1-1 commu- nications, but were able to reroute incoming calls through Umatilla Emergen- cy Dispatch. SUBMIT COMMUNITY NEWS Submit information to: community@eastoregonian. com or drop off to the attention of Tammy Malgesini at 333 E. Main St., Hermiston or Renee Struthers at 211 S.E. Byers Ave., Pendleton. Call 541-564-4539 or 541- 966-0818 with questions. W e appreciate your trust in our care. 27 SW Frazer, Pendleton, OR 97801 Kevin Andrews, MD, L.L.C. Internal Medicine (General Medical Care for Adults) • Preventative Care • Sports Physicals • Accepting Most Insurances Mon. - Wed. 7:30 AM - 5 PM Open Late Thursday - Appointments Until 6:30 Closed Fridays • 541-276-6244
