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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (April 22, 2015)
REGION Wednesday, April 22, 2015 UMATILLA By GEORGE PLAVEN East Oregonian Photo contributed by Washington Department of Transportation One lane of bridge closed to repair hole The eastbound steel truss bridge, which carries travelers Work crews have closed from Washington into Ore- RQH ODQH RI HDVWERXQG WUDI¿F gon, was built in 1955. The on the Columbia River Bridge westbound bridge was added at Umatilla to repair a one- in 1988 to allow two lanes of travel in each direction. foot-wide hole in its deck. Oregon and Washington Washington Department of Transportation spokesper- are equal owners of the set of son Summer Derrey said it bridges at Umatilla, but Wash- isn’t uncommon for bridges ington’s transportation depart- to develop a hole in the deck, ment performs the mainte- which is the concrete part of nance. Derrey said the 60-year- the bridge that vehicles drive on, just like roads on land de- old eastbound bridge current- ly being repaired is on the velop potholes. “This project is considered VWDWH¶V³VWUXFWXUDOO\GH¿FLHQW´ list. It is slated for a complete routine,” she said. Construction began on deck replacement but Derrey Tuesday and Derrey said the said the project won’t make it bridge should be back to two to the top of the construction lanes of travel on Wednesday schedule for at least a couple of years. afternoon. East Oregonian 3HQGOHWRQVFKRROGLVWULFWÀRDWV general tax levy for May ballot East Oregonian The Pendleton School District is returning with a EDOORWLVVXHIRUWKH¿UVWWLPH since 2013, this time to pay for staff and programs instead of buildings. 7KH OHY\ ZKLFK ZDV ¿UVW approved by voters in 2000, DVVHVVHVFHQWVSHU DVVHVVHGYDOXHRYHU¿YH\HDUV and will generate roughly $300,000 per year for the district’s general operations. The levy also would garner SHU \HDU LQ HTXDO- ization payments from the state. The levy has been re- newed by voters twice since LWZDV¿UVWLQWURGXFHG If voters reject the levy and let it expire in June, it could exacerbate the district’s tenuous budget situation. Pendleton School Board Chairman Steve Umbarg- er recently said the dis- trict would already face a EXGJHWVKRUWIDOOEH- cause of a decrease in fund- ing if the proposed state bud- get is passed, and that number would dip into the millions without the levy. State help could be on the way in the form of the Leg- islature’s revenue forecast in May. Forty percent of any additional tax collections fea- tured in the forecast will go toward education. If the additional reve- nue still fails to cover some district’s budget gaps, Rep. Peter Buckley, D-Ashland, co-chairman of the Joint Ways and Means Commit- tee, said his committee will “wrestle” with the state bud- JHWWR¿QGDOWHUQDWLYHVRXUFHV of revenue. Voters approved a $55 million bond two years ago to pay for the cost of a number of facility improvements, which include the conversion of Hawthorne Alternative High School to an early learning center and new buildings for Washington and Sherwood Heights elementary schools. Ballots are due May 19. Page 3A Candidates: Port should play to its strengths Franell, Imsland tout affordable electric rates to draw customers A one foot wide hole in the deck of the bridge from Washington to Umatilla, shown from the underside of the bridge, is being repaired. East Oregonian The Port of Umatilla should play to its strengths and leverage existing as- sets to attract future business, according to the candidates vying for one of three VHDWVRQWKH¿YHPHPEHUSRUWFRPPLV- sion. Jerry Imsland and Joseph Franell GLVFXVVHGWKHLULGHDVDQG¿HOGHGTXHV- tions during a lightly attended forum Monday at the Hermiston Conference Center, sponsored by the Hermiston Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Team and Eastern Oregon Women’s Coalition. Both men said either one of them would do a good job in the position, and both have at least some measure of familiarity with the port; Imsland has been hired to appraise some of the port’s property through his Pendleton-based company, while Franell — the CEO of Eastern Oregon Telecom — acted as mediator during a zoning dispute be- tween the port and city of Umatilla. Franell was appointed to the port commission after Tim Mabry resigned in March. It is the only contested port commission seat in the May 19 elec- tion. Jerry Baker, of Athena, and Kurt Bendixsen, of Hermiston, are each run- ning unopposed for other seats. Tamra Mabbott, Umatilla County planning director, moderated the forum and asked questions ranging from the port’s biggest challenge to the role the Getting that situation resolved could OHDGWRDERRVWLQEDUJHWUDI¿FHVSHFLDO- ly for goods in containers, Imsland said. “The port is one of the largest hubs we have for international exposure,” he said. Other questions focused on how the candidates would prioritize projects and assess risk. Franell said it’s all about getting the biggest bang for the buck, Franell Imsland DQG SRLQWHG VSHFL¿FDOO\ WR GHYHORSLQJ commissioners play in luring new de- the port’s valuable water rights. On March 10, the port agreed to velopment. Franell said the Port of Umatilla suf- lease an unused portion of its Columbia fers from an unfair comparison to its River water rights to a group of agri- downriver neighbor, the Port of Mor- cultural producers seeking greater irri- row, which has grown into Oregon’s gation across the basin. That’s brought second-largest port largely on the back in roughly an additional $500,000 per of value-added agriculture. The two are year. Imsland said the port should err on not the same, he said, due to their lo- cations and ability to build on certain the side of caution but that, by doing their homework, they can minimize risk lands. What the Port of Umatilla does have, on any business proposal. The port can, and should, work Franell said, is a steady supply of af- closely with other economic develop- IRUGDEOHHOHFWULFLW\DQG¿EHURSWLFVWKDW make the McNary Industrial Park at- ment groups in the community, Franell tractive to energy-hungry facilities like and Imsland agreed. Both candidates said that, with the port’s knowledge of big data centers. “We have some of the most reason- how to move and market the region’s able electric rates in the U.S.,” Franell agriculture and manufactured goods, the commissioners can provide a logi- said. The Columbia River is the port’s cal unifying voice for promoting local greatest asset, Imsland said, with its business. “The Port of Umatilla seems to be hydroelectric dams churning out ample renewable energy and providing inland the natural mechanism to host all of shippers access to the Port of Portland those diverse interests,” Franell said. Ballots for the May election will be for overseas exports. But ongoing labor disputes in Port- mailed April 29. For more information, land have affected Eastern Oregon’s contact the Umatilla County Elections ability to move those products afford- 2I¿FHDW ——— ably for customers, with both Hanjin Contact George Plaven at gplaven@ Shipping and Hapag-Lloyd ending its eastoregonian.com or 541-564-4547. calls at Portland’s Terminal 6. BRIEFLY Classes offered for Alzheimer’s caregivers Class features making a leather wrap PENDLETON — People caring for persons with Alzheimer’s often experi- ence isolation, frustration and depres- sion. Oregon Care Partners is offering classes geared to help caregivers cope with their role. The training is free to anyone working or living in Oregon, whether they’re a family member, SHUVRQDOFDUHJLYHURU¿UVWUHVSRQGHU Classes coming to Pendleton include: •Positive Approach to Care Work- VKRS$SULODPWRSPDWWKH Red Lion Hotel. •Challenging Behaviors: Effective Approaches to Common Behaviors in the Non-Dementia Adult Population, April 23, 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Eastern Oregon Center for Indepen- dent Living. •Living with Alzheimer’s for Care- givers: Middle Stage, May 8, 12:30-5 p.m., at the Pendleton Senior Center. •Person Centered Dementia Care: Leading Your Team to Success, June 8 DQGDPWRSPDWWKH5HG Lion Hotel. •Living with Alzheimer’s for Care- givers: Early Stage, June 26, 1-5 p.m., at the Pendleton Senior Center. Oregon Care Partners also offers free online classes. To register for classes, go to oregoncarepartners.com and go to classes or call 1-800-930-6851. PENDLETON — A leather wrap that can be used for things like storing QHHGOHV¿VKLQJÀLHVDQGVDPSOH embroidery stitches is featured in an upcoming class at Pendleton Center for the Arts. Tough enough to put in a pocket or toss in a backpack as you travel to your next adventure, participants will leave class with a cool book and the skills to make another one on your own using either fabric or paper pages. No prior binding experience is necessary. The class is Saturday, May 2 from QRRQWRSPDWWKHDUWVFHQWHU N. Main St., Pendleton. The cost is $50 for members of $55 for non-members. For more information or to register, FDOO It’s time to dance HERMISTON — Learn the basic moves of two styles of dances as Hermiston Parks & Recreation offers swing and basic social dance classes. The sessions begin Thursday, April 30 and run for six weekly OHVVRQVWKURXJK-XQH6ZLQJGDQFHV LQFOXGHWKHVWHSVZLQJVWHSVZLQJ and East Coast swing. It runs from SP7KHIR[WURWZDOW]DQG FKDFKDLVIURPSP7KH sessions are held in the Lanham Room at the Hermiston Public Library, 235 E. Gladys Ave. The cost is $30 for residents or $38 for non-residents. No partner is required to register. For more information, visit www. hermistonrecreation.com. To register, FDOORUVWRSE\WKH UHFUHDWLRQRI¿FH1(6HFRQG6W Hermiston. KOA discount helps kids with cancer PENDLETON — Campers at the Pendleton KOA will receive a discount for a night of camping , while at the same time helping children with cancer. As part of Kampgrounds of America’s annual KOA Care Camps Big Weekend, paying guests on Friday, May 8 will receive a night of camping for $10 on Saturday, May 9. The entire fee will go to KOA Care Camps, which provides family camping experience for children battling cancer. KOA Care Camps are a network of 95 specialized, medically equipped summer camps throughout north America. They provide a true summer camp experience at no charge to their families. To reserve a site or cabin today for this special weekend, go to www. KOA.com and click on the Big Weekend event box. Ballots to be sent April 29 E\ WKH (OHFWLRQV 2I¿FH QR later than 8 p.m. May 19. The best choice for drop- Ballots will be mailed to Umatilla County voters on ping off ballots will be at one Wednesday, April 29 for the of four drive-up boxes set up around the county, Lindell May 19 election. Elections Supervisor Kim said. Boxes will be located at Lindell said residents should the Umatilla County Court- make sure to return their house in Pendleton, as well ballots early to ensure their as Hermiston City Hall, Mil- ton-Freewater City Hall and votes are counted in time. “With changes in the way the Nixyaawii Governance mail is processed, it’s import- Center in Mission. Staff will be monitoring ant that voters either drop off their ballots early or make the need for additional boxes sure they are sent in a week in order to increase voter par- ticipation, Lindell said. in advance,” Lindell said. “We want to do whatever Mail is now sent to Port- land for processing before we can to make it convenient it is returned to the county, for voters to cast their ballots VRPHWLPHV DV PDQ\ DV ¿YH and participate in the election days later. Under current process,” she said. “This is a guidelines, Lindell said it major interest on the part of doesn’t matter when a bal- our new governor, and we lot is postmarked, but rather want to show that local of- ¿FLDOVDUHRQERDUGZLWKKHU when it actually arrives. Ballots must be received efforts in this area.” East Oregonian Take Home Bleach Kits just $40 in April! D r. H ibbert D ental 1100 Southgate, Suite 3 Pendleton, OR 97801 www.drhibbertdental.com • 541-612-3707 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 suppor t!
