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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (March 28, 2015)
REGION Saturday, March 28, 2015 East Oregonian Umatilla weed board says hold the mustard Garlic mustard dominates other species under trees and in cool drainages Submitted photo Invasive garlic mustard, pictured here at an infestation on Cabbage Hill, has been found along the Umatilla River near the Oxbow site in Hermiston. VTXLVKLWEHWZHHQ\RXU¿QJHUVDQGWKHQ you can smell it really easily. The leaves produce a distinct garlic odor when crushed.” 7KHSODQWKDVZKLWHÀRZHUVLQ$SULO or May, Durfey said, but does not bloom for very long before going into seed production. He said the weed, with its ³NLGQH\VKDSHGOHDYHV´FDQEHGLI¿FXOW to spot because it blends in with other plants in wetter areas next to trees. Durfey said the Oregon Weed Board aggressively targets garlic mustard, and he has received two grants to address the only known outbreak in Eastern Oregon. Although the herbicides registered to kill garlic mustard are not extremely effec- tive, he said he tries to “stay on top of it” with spring and fall applications. The weed can be pulled by hand, he said, but the plants should be placed in bags immediately and burned because their high-water content allows them to “go to seed” the same day. Contact Durfey at 541-278-5462 or dan.durfey@umatillacounty.net. BRIEFLY TRCI inmate dies LQLQ¿UPDU\ UMATILLA — An inmate at Two Rivers Correctional Institution died Thursday evening after attempts to resuscitate him failed. George Phillip Murphy Jr., 70, was found unresponsive in the Umatilla SULVRQ¶VLQ¿UPDU\DFFRUGLQJ to a news release from the Oregon Department of Corrections. Paramedics could not revive the man, who died at 7:10 p.m. The Oregon State Police Criminal Investigation Division is investigating the incident, as it does with all unexpected deaths and possible crimes in state HERMISTON EOTEC event center goes out for second bid request for bids was issued March 19. The bids are due April 16, Frew said, and the Construction companies ¿UP ZLOO GHOLYHU D UHFRP- will get a second chance to mendation to the board at its bid on a major structure at April 24 meeting. Frew said the scope of the Eastern Oregon Trade and Event Center after a the event center was also IRUPDO FRPSODLQW ZDV ¿OHG PRGL¿HG DQG WKH EXGJHW about the bidding process for the building was reduced from $2.8 million to $2.7 the last time around. Knerr Construction of million. Despite the setback, Frew Hermiston was one of three companies that bid to design the project is still on sched- and build the $2.7 million ule for completion by May event center, the centerpiece 2016, and he hopes it will of the $12.9 million project even be completed early. Construction on the site south of Hermiston. When G2 Construction of Kenne- near the Hermiston airport wick was selected for the is currently on hold during job in February, Knerr com- a mandatory notice and plained that the bid scoring comment period to comply ZLWK1DWLRQDO(QYLURQPHQ- was handled improperly. The EOTEC authority tal Policy Act. But Frew board voted to put the proj- said Barton Laser Level- ect back out for bid during ing of Hermiston should be able to resume work on the Friday’s meeting. “One of the bidders dis- site grading and utilities on agreed with how the bids April 13. Frew said the documents were scored based on the various categories,” said soliciting bids to design and board chair Ed Brookshier. build the rodeo arena should “And we simply decided, EH ¿QDOL]HG IRU DSSURYDO DW along with Frew Develop- the April 24 meeting and ment, that our best course future bid packages will in- clude lighting, vendor pow- was to rebid the project.” Brookshier said the orig- er, fencing, underground inal bid selection was can- irrigation, paving and side- FHOHG DQG WKH VSHFL¿FDWLRQV walks. Multiple projects will of the project and scoring be under construction during ZHUH FODUL¿HG LQ D QHZ UH- the second half of the year, he said, and piecing the “jig- quest for bids. John Frew, CEO of Frew VDZSX]]OH´WRJHWKHUZLOOUH- Development Group that is quire careful coordination of managing the EOTEC proj- the schedule and contractors. Brookshier said the board ect, said Knerr Construc- tion was fair to question is still working to acquire the whether the bidders clearly total funding needed to com- understood the instructions. plete the project, which is After clarifying the scoring currently budgeted at nearly methodology, he said, a new $12.9 million. By SEAN HART EO Media Group By SEAN HART EO Media Group An invasive plant well known in west- HUQ 2UHJRQ DQG WKH 3DFL¿F 1RUWKZHVW has been spreading in Umatilla County. Umatilla County Weed Control Su- pervisor Dan Durfey said garlic mustard PDGHLWV¿UVWDSSHDUDQFHLQ(DVWHUQ2UH- gon atop Cabbage Hill several years ago and has since traveled down drainages to the Umatilla River all the way to the Ox- bow site in Hermiston. He said the weed will eliminate small native plants and “take over everything” in areas under trees, where the plant thrives. While Durfey is most concerned with preventing garlic mustard from spreading into the timber from Cabbage Hill, he said people should be aware of the high-priority invasive species and inform the county weed control depart- ment when it is found. “As long as we know where it is, and people know about it, that’s half the battle right there,” he said. “When we know where it’s at, if it’s expanded like this stuff has, we can make a better game plan on containing it.” He said garlic mustard is a cool-sea- son herb native to Eurasia that few ani- mals will eat because of its distinct smell. “It’s pretty easy to identify,” he said. “All you’ve got to do is grab a leaf and Page 3A prisons. Murphy had been at TRCI since Sept. 30, 2004, serving a sentence for second- degree sexual penetration out of Coos County. He was eligible for release as early as Feb. 27, 2017. His family has EHHQQRWL¿HGRIKLVGHDWK TRCI opened in 2000 and houses 1,800 male inmates. Investment for women subject of meeting 3(1'/(721²7KH American Association of University Women, in recognition of Equal Pay Day, welcome Lisa 1HZPDQRI'$'DYLGVRQ and Jill McEntee of Russell Investments to their April program meeting. “Women: Wired to Invest” is Thursday, April 2 at 7 p.m. at the Vert Club Room, 345 S.W. Fourth St., Pendleton. Equal Pay Day, April 14, acknowledges the additional time women must work into 2015 to equal the pay made by men in 2014. The program will provide information and strategies for the unique investment needs of women, who make on average only 78 cents for every dollar made by men but live an average of 5 years ORQJHUDPRQJRWKHU¿QDQFLDO challenges. The program is free and open to the public, but an RSVP is requested to ensure adequate materials for all attendees. Call Linda 1HZPDQDWRU email lnewman@dadco.com if you plan to attend. ——— Briefs are compiled from staff and wire reports, and press releases. Email press releases to news@ eastoregonian.com CONCEALED CARRY PERMIT CLASS Oregon - Utah - Valid 35 States PENDLETON Red Lion - 304 SE Nye Ave. April 2 nd • 1:00 pm or 6:00 pm Walk-Ins Welcome! OR/Utah: (Valid in WA) $80.00 or Oregon only: $45 www.FirearmTrainingNW.com • FirearmTrainingNW@gmail.com 360-921-2071 Thank You, Pendleton Foundation Trust! Student Scholarships: The Foundation administers several student scholarships yearly including the Pendleton Foundation Trust Fisk Award. This $5,000.00 scholarship is awarded to a Pendleton High School graduate. In addition, two $2,500.00 scholarships are awarded to deserving PHS graduates. Your gift lives in our community! You can help!! All donations, small and large, continue to help build and protect the many activities of our town. 24 MONTH CLOSED END LEASE. $2499 DUE AT SIGNING. $750 SUBVENTION CASH PROVIDED BY TOYOTA FINANCIAL SERVICES. PLUS APPLICABLE TAX AND FEES. STK# 15T021. Back Row: Brent Fife, David Blanc, Kevin Hale, John G. McBee Front Row: Pat Terjeson, Ron Hughes, Kathy Houk Pendleton People Helping Pendleton People Learn more at www.pendletonfoundationtrust.com ON APPROVED CREDIT lue ountain ommunity ollege Board Member in the Spotlight Eddie De La Cruz Owner, Sunrise Cleaning & Janitorial BMCC Board of Education Member Hermiston ALL OFFERS EXPIRE 03-31-15. ALL PRICES PLUS APPLICABLE TITLE, REGISTRATION AND $75 DEALER DOCUMENTATION FEE. VEHICLES SUBJECT TO PRIOR SALE. PRICES DO NOT INCLUDE COLLEGE REBATE OR MILITARY REBATE. SEE DEALER FOR MORE DETAILS. EXPRESS SERVICE CENTER $ 10 OFF Not valid with any other offers. 1 coupon per purchase. Offer expires 03-31-2015. Ed Eddie dd De La Cruz has lived in Hermiston for 37 years. He is d highly hi i ig involved in the Hermiston community. Eddie is Ch ha h Chairman of the City of Hermiston Hispanic Advisory Committee, President of the Hermiston Cinco de Mayo Co om o co om o committee, President of the Hispanic Soccer League, hosts the rad ra dio p rogra m “La Voz Del Pueblo” every Sunday on La Ley Hispanic radio program Rad Ra adio io 99.5 FM, and an nd has worked with the Umatilla County Fair Board Radio org organi anizin anizing i zing g L Latino atino Day. ati Day Eddie ha has five f organizing children and one grandchild, all of whom have been raised i d in i the th Hermiston H i t community. i His newest endeavor is serving on the BMCC Board of Education! Have you heard about the BMCC bond? BMCC wants to continue to provide a high-quality education for students so they can succeed like our many distinguished alumni! Check out the bond page on our website to learn more about how BMCC could continue to provide an affordable education for family- wage jobs, a safe and secure learning environment and protect the community’s investment. Look for the bond on the May 19, 2015, ballot! www.bluecc.edu BMCC is an equal opportunity employer and educator.
