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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (April 10, 2015)
REGION Friday, April 10, 2015 East Oregonian MEACHAM Page 3A BOARDMAN Cause not yet found in March train derailment Hiring, No hazardous materials spilled following cleanup was carrying residual liq- XH¿HG SHWUROHXP JDV DQG another was loaded with ap- proximately 20,000 gallons of methylene diphenyl di- isocyanate, or MDI, a com- By GEORGE PLAVEN pound in polyurethane used East Oregonian to make some glues and seal- ants. 8QLRQ 3DFL¿F 5DLOURDG LV No hazardous materials still looking into what caused were leaked into the environ- a train hauling hazardous ment. Meacham Creek is a materials to derail March 2 WULEXWDU\RIWKH8PDWLOOD5LY- in a remote and forested area er, and provides habitat for a of the Blue Mountains near YDULHW\RI¿VKVSHFLHVLQFOXG- Meacham. ing bull trout and steelhead. A total of 10 cars jumped Michael Boykin, federal the tracks in a narrow, steep- on-scene coordinator with sloped canyon where the the EPA in Seattle, arrived tracks run on an embank- on scene a day after the de- ment overlooking Meacham railment. He said the clean- Creek. One of the tank cars up team returned off and on “The site should be re- stored,” Boykin said. “All the cars should be out. The metal is being salvaged.” The main contaminant, Boykin said, was the MDI. Since the material reacts with water to produce carbon di- oxide, carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide, it could have posed a threat to native ¿VKLQWKHFUHHN “We were very fortunate,” Boykin said. The site of the accident Photo contributed by the E.P.A. A Union Pacific train de- is about 2.5 miles northeast railed early March 2 in a of Meacham, away from forested area along Mea- homes. The land surrounding cham Creek. the railroad’s right-of-way is RYHU WKUHH ZHHNV WR ¿QLVK RZQHGE\3HQGOHWRQ5DQFK- disassembling and removing ers, a ranching corporation. Crews did have to build the cars. a temporary road into the site, Boykin said. Additional restoration activities includ- ed reseeding native grasses, planting red willow bushes along the creek bank and re-establishing the natural grade of the hillside above the road. 8QLRQ 3DFL¿F VSRNHVPDQ Francisco Castillo said he is checking back with the team into the cause of the derail- ment. Their investigation looks into all possible fac- tors, including weather, the condition of the track and human error. ——— Contact George Plaven at gplaven@eastoregonian. com or 541-564-4547. PENDLETON City mulls over funding options for infrastructure Estimated that deferred maintenance, new fire station would cost up to $18M facility maintenance. Though he acknowl- edged the need for a new ¿UH VWDWLRQ KH ZDVQ¶W VXUH By ANTONIO SIERRA VLWHVIRUDQHZ¿UHVWDWLRQ² the public agreed and didn’t East Oregonian the station’s current location want to jeopardize the mon- at 911 S.W. Court Ave., the ey for badly needed repairs. “I don’t want to throw Mostly unsuccessful in Baxter’s Auto Parts parking bringing the community lot at 336 S.W. Emigrant out the baby with the bath to city hall, Pendleton city Ave., and the Elks Lodge at water,” he said. Public Works Director RI¿FLDOV ZLOO QRZ JR WR WKH 14 S.E. Third St. The analysis revealed the Bob Patterson estimated community to discuss the FLW\¶V ÀDJJLQJ LQIUDVWUXF- Baxter’s parking lot would deferred maintenance and a allow the best response QHZ ¿UH VWDWLRQ ZRXOG FRVW ture. At a capital improvement times for emergency ser- up to $18 million over 20 advisory committee Thurs- vices, although Corbett said years, while street repair and GD\ &LW\ 0DQDJHU 5REE the city hasn’t started nego- maintenance would cost an Corbett said the city will tiations for any of the sites additional $14 million. Add in the $8 million hold a series of listening and other locations could bond to help fund the city’s sessions at schools through- come under consideration. While a previous bond 3XEOLF (PSOR\HH 5HWLUH- out the city to garner input on how to fund repairs and SURSRVDOJURXSHGDQHZ¿UH ment System that’s already improvements for the city’s station with repairs and im- RQ WKH ERRNV DQG WKH ¿QDO streets and facilities, as well provements to other city fa- number far exceeds the cilities like city hall, the Vert $32 million the state allows DVDQHZ¿UHVWDWLRQ The committee meeting Auditorium and the aquatic Pendleton to borrow through also brought news that the center, Councilman Al Plute voter approved bonds. Patterson suggested seek- Pendleton Fire Department suggested at least two sepa- DQGWKH3RUWODQGGHVLJQ¿UP UDWHERQGV²RQHIRUWKH¿UH ing out some sort of funding Mackenzie analyzed three station and one for deferred to cover street repair tempo- chief in place. One set of infrastructure needs that the committee decided was best left to the city council was the master plan detailing the future de- mands of the city’s water, sewer and storm drainage — Al Plute, systems. City councilor, on uniting Although the council is fire hall and street set to consider adopting the repairs under same bond. master plan at their next meeting, Patterson said the rarily. In the meantime, the proposed utility rate increas- city would hire a consul- es and system development WDQW WR ¿QG D PRUH SHUPD- charges won’t be voted on nent source of funding that until later. The city’s series of com- would not only repair roads munity meetings will be at but maintain them. Corbett said the commit- Lincoln Primary School on tee would decide at its next April 22, McKay Creek Ele- meeting whether to put the mentary School on April 29 bond proposal on the Nov. and Washington Elementary School on May 6. All meet- 3 ballot. While time is of the ings will be from 7 p.m. to essence, Councilwoman 8 p.m. ——— McKennon McDonald said Contact Antonio Sierra a bond campaign for a new ¿UH VWDWLRQ ZRXOG EH KDUG- at asierra@eastoregonian. HU ZLWKRXW D SHUPDQHQW ¿UH com or 541-966-0836. “I don’t want to throw the baby out with the bath water.” BRIEFLY College fair set for April 16 Fire board asks for feedback AA announces new hotline number Class of ‘65 plans 50-year reunion +(50,6721² 5HSUHVHQWDWLYHVIURP Eastern Oregon’s most popular colleges will be on hand to answer questions at the North Central Oregon College Fair Thursday, April 16 from 6-8 p.m. in the Hermiston High School commons, 600 S. First St. More than 30 institutions will be represented, including the military and trade schools. All high school students in the region are invited to attend. “The North Central Oregon College Fair is a convenient and fun way for families with high school students to learn more about what they need to do to prepare for college, college life and activities, as well as meet the representatives that have all of the latest information on scholarships and majors,” Hermiston High School counselor Jacque Brandow. After failing to convince voters to pass a ballot mea- sure combining Hermiston Fire & Emergency Services ZLWK6WDQ¿HOG)LUH'LVWULFWLQ November, the two districts want to hear why the measure failed. Area residents can voice their concerns on a survey DWZZZKHUPLVWRQ¿UHFRP RUHPDLO¿UHERDUG#KHUPLV- WRQ¿UHFRPZLWKIHHGEDFNRU questions. It’s too late for the districts to try again during the May election but the board hasn’t ruled out a future campaign. 7KHWZR¿UHGLVWULFWVELOOHG the merger as a way to save PRQH\LPSURYHHI¿FLHQF\ and provide better services LQFOXGLQJVWDI¿QJWKHRXWO\LQJ VWDWLRQVDW:HVWODQG5RDGDQG 3XQNLQ&HQWHU5RDGDURXQG the clock. Property taxes would have stayed the same in Hermiston, gone down LQ6WDQ¿HOGDQGLQFUHDVHG for residents outside the city limits but inside the district. The local district of Alcoholics Anonymous has a new hotline number. People calling the number may obtain information about AA meetings throughout District 3, including Hermiston, Pendleton, Mission, Arlington, Boardman, Condon, Heppner, Ione and Fossil. In addition, callers can be connected to members of the group. The toll-free number is 800-410-5953. +(50,6721² Organizers are planning a 50-year union for the Hermiston High School class of 1965. The event is July 17-18 and begins with a memorial service Friday, July 17 at 5 p.m. at McKenzie Park for Gordon Spearman, a Vietnam veteran. Following the service is a no-host gathering at the Midway Tavern, which will include free hors d’oeuvres. A picnic is planned Saturday, July 18 at 4 p.m. at Spillway Park, located near McNary Dam. It features catered food and beverages. A class photo will be taken at approximately 5 p.m. The reunion fee is $30. In addition, for an extra fee, people can participate in a round of golf Saturday, July 18 at Echo Hills Golf Course. To register or for more information, including details about the April 14 planning meeting, call Connie at 541- 564-0137. volunteer events at SAGE Center East Oregonian Job seekers can learn more about positions with ConAgra Foods at a hiring event Monday, April 20 at the SAGE Center in Boardman. ConAgra Foods is hiring at both its Hermis- ton and Boardman Lamb Weston potato plants, as well as the Morrow Cold Storage and Watts Broth- HUV 5H3DFN IDFLOLWLHV DW the Port of Morrow. Po- sitions include general laborers, sanitation, truck operators, mechanics and lab technicians. The event will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Attendees should come ready to interview, and must apply online at www.conagrafoodsca- reers.com. The SAGE Center will DOVRKRVWWKH¿UVW0RUURZ County Volunteer Expo on May 6. Sponsored by Abengoa and Portland General Electric, the event will bring togeth- er a number of service groups for residents to learn about how they can help in their community. “This is a chance for people to take advantage RI¿QGLQJRXWZKDW¶VKDS- pening in Morrow Coun- ty,” said Sheryll Bates, event organizer and di- rector of the Heppner Chamber of Commerce. “It’s also a good opportu- nity for volunteers to see how these community groups work.” The expo is free and open to the public from 3:30-7 p.m. Dinner will be served, and children can watch a free showing of the movie “Despicable Me” in the SAGE Center theater beginning at 5. Any groups interested in participating can con- tact the SAGE Center at 541-481-7243; the Hep- pner Chamber of Com- merce at 541-676-5536; the Boardman Chamber of Commerce at 541- 481-3014; or the Irrigon Chamber of Commerce at 541-922-3857. The dead- line to register is Thurs- day, April 30. ———————— Briefs are compiled from staff and wire reports, and press releases. Email press releases to news@eastoregonian.com Todd Tennant Business Health Farm Life Todd Tennant One Responsible Source Agent 541/276-2302 • 800/225-2521 The Stratton Agency Pendleton / Hermiston • stratton-insurance.com 5K RUN, 5K WALK, 10K RUN, KID'S BUTTE SCOOT All races begin & end at Hermiston's Butte Park DRAWINGS • FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY Online registration & race information at WWW.BUTTECHALLENGE.COM REGISTER ONLINE BY APRIL 23RD TO ORDER A CUSTOM TECHNICAL RACE T-SHIRT All proceeds benefit THE HERMISTON CROSS COUNTRY PROGRAM Thank you for your support!
