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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (May 16, 2015)
REGION Saturday, May 16, 2015 East Oregonian 0HUNOH\SURSRVHVDFUH 3DLQWHG+LOOVZLOGHUQHVVDUHD By GEORGE PLAVEN East Oregonian One of the “Seven :RQGHUV RI 2UHJRQ´ FRXOG soon be surrounded by DFUHV RI QHZO\ designated wilderness under a bill proposed by Demo- cratic Sen. Jeff Merkley. The legislation, intro- duced May 7, would create wilderness areas on four separate tracts around Sutton Mountain and the famous Painted Hills in Wheeler County. It would also transfer 2,000 acres of land to Wheeler County from the Bureau of Land Manage- ment to pursue economic GHYHORSPHQWSURMHFWV “With this legislation, we have an opportunity to make sure that future generations ZLOO EH DEOH WR H[SHULHQFH these incredible Oregon landmarks unspoiled, and WRFUHDWHMREVDQGHFRQRPLF opportunity at the same WLPH´ 0HUNOH\ VDLG LQ D statement. A spokeswoman for Merkley said their goal is to include the bill — named the Sutton Mountain and Painted Hills Area Preservation and Economic Enhancement $FW ² LQ WKH QH[W PDMRU package of wilderness bills Photo contributed by Travel Oregon that Congress passes. The bill is supported by both Wheeler County and the city of Mitchell. “As home to the Painted Hills Unit of the John Day Fossil Beds National Monu- ment, we know that tourism and recreation can help VXSSRUW EXVLQHVVHV´ VDLG Wheeler County Judge Chris Perry. “These businesses will DOVR EHQH¿W IURP WKRVH ZKR come to appreciate Sutton 0RXQWDLQ´ According to a release IURP 0HUNOH\¶V RI¿FH the county is considering SURMHFWVVXFKDVDQ59SDUN search and rescue training facility or an air strip that will make the region more attractive and accommo- dating for travelers. Wilderness areas are proposed in a variety of environments, including grasslands, riparian areas, shrub-steppe, woodlands and forest. In addition, the lands would provide access into the national monument and connect to the John Day Wild and Scenic River. The Painted Hills are named for their colorful layers that correspond to different geological eras, and were formed when the area was an ancient river ÀRRGSODLQ )RVVLOV LQ WKH monument date back to tens of millions of years ago. As a wilderness area, the public would be allowed to recreate on the land, though travel is restricted by foot or on horseback. “Working together to preserve Oregon’s unique SODFHVDQGJURZMREVDQGRXU economy at the same time is DZLQ±ZLQ´0HUNOH\VDLG ——— Contact George Plaven at gplaven@eastoregonian. com or 541-564-4547. Alzheimer’s facility breaks ground in Hermiston By JADE MCDOWELL East Oregonian Umatilla County is about WRJHWLWV¿UVWVWDWHHQGRUVHG memory care facility after Guardian Angel Homes Assisted Living broke ground on two new homes Thursday. The 16-unit homes will provide specialized care for individuals with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. ³:H¶UH VR H[FLWHG WR UROO IRUZDUG ZLWK WKLV´ -HQQLIHU Baus said at the ground- breaking ceremony. %DXVKHUVL[VLEOLQJVDQG her father Marty Frantz own several assisted living facili- WLHVLQWKH3DFL¿F1RUWKZHVW many of which specialize in memory care. The new additions to Hermiston, built behind the current Guardian Angel +RPHVDW1:WK6W will feature a Tuscan-style home and a Ranch home each with 16 bedroom/bathroom suites and a central residen- tial-style kitchen, dining and living-room arrangement. They will be staffed Matthew said based on the interest in Guardian Angel Homes’ current arrangement WKHUH LV ³DEVROXWHO\´ D demand for more care facil- ities in Hermiston, especially focused on people with Alzheimer’s. “That’s what really captures us and what we really love to do is the memory care, because we H[SHULHQFHGWKDWQHHGLQRXU RZQIDPLO\´KHVDLG The new homes are designed to meet the stan- dards to receive a memory care endorsement from the Staff photo by Jade McDowell VWDWH RI 2UHJRQ D ¿UVW LQ Lauryn Frantz, center, turns over a shovel of dirt while Umatilla County. her family and Guardian Angel Homes staff look on at Tyson Frantz told the the groundbreaking ceremony for a new Alzheimer’s community members gath- facility in Hermiston Thursday. ered to watch the ground- around-the-clock by nurses is to look and feel like a breaking that the family put a lot of thought and care into specially trained in Alzhei- KRPH´KHVDLG His father built the fami- designing their facilities and mer’s and dementia care. 7KH SURMHFW LV VODWHG O\¶V¿UVWFDUHIDFLOLW\LQ WKH\ ZHUH H[FLWHG DERXW WKH XSFRPLQJSURMHFW to begin serving residents for his own father. “I think we’re building “Grandpa passed away sometime during the fall. Matthew Frantz said his two months before it WKHYHU\EHVWLQ+HUPLVWRQ´ he said. family knows the impor- RSHQHG´0DWWKHZVDLG ——— That didn’t stop the Frantz tance of a simple, familiar Contact Jade McDowell layout for residents with family to continue to build deteriorating memories. facilities in under-served at jmcdowell@eastorego- “The goal of these homes communities, however. nian.com or 541-564-4536. BRIEFLY Spring chinook ¿VKHU\RSHQVRQ Powder River LA GRANDE — Spring FKLQRRN¿VKLQJLVH[SHFWHG to open Tuesday on the Powder River in Baker County, when the Oregon Department of Fish & :LOGOLIHUHOHDVHVDSSUR[L- mately 200 salmon into the tributary. The release will take place immediately below Mason 'DPXVLQJ¿VKWUDSSHGDW Hells Canyon Dam. The ¿VKHU\ZLOOUXQWKURXJK Sept. 1 on the river between Mason Dam and Hughes Lane Bridge near Baker City. The daily bag limit is four spring chinook per day. Fish released into the Powder River are based off anticipated strong returns to Hells Canyon Dam on the Snake River. When more ¿VKUHWXUQWRWKHGDPWKDQ are needed for broodstock, PENDLETON 0DULMXDQDEXVLQHVV license not ready for council consideration By ANTONIO SIERRA East Oregonian Sen. Jeff Merkley proposed a bill that would create wilderness areas on four separate tracts around Sutton Mountain and the Painted Hills in Wheeler County. H[FHVV¿VKFDQEHWDNHQ to tributaries to provide DGGLWLRQDO¿VKLQJ Anglers should contact the ODFW Northeast Region 2I¿FHDWWR FRQ¿UPWKHUHOHDVHGDWH )LVKUHPRYDO PHHWLQJLV0RQGD\ PENDLETON — The Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife wants to remove XQZDQWHG¿VKIURPHLJKW lakes and ponds in Umatilla, Union, Baker and Wallowa counties in order to improve UDLQERZWURXW¿VKHULHV ODFW staff will hold a public meeting Monday at the Pendleton Convention Center, room West 1, to discuss treatments on ponds in the Umatilla National Forest. Biologists plan to use rotenone, a plant-based WR[LFDQWWRHUDGLFDWHVSHFLHV that were introduced and now compete with rainbow trout, including brown EXOOKHDGFDW¿VKODUJHPRXWK bass, black crappie and JROG¿VK Water bodies to be treated in Umatilla County are Keyhole, Granite Meadows, *ROG¿VKDQG<HOORZMDFNHW ponds. “We think we can have some real positive effects on WKHVH¿VKHULHVDQGLPSURYH WKHH[SHULHQFHIRUDQJOHUV´ said Kyle Bratcher, assistant ¿VKELRORJLVWLQ(QWHUSULVH Bratcher said the depart- ment has had recent success ZLWKVLPLODUSURMHFWVDFURVV the state, including at Mann Lake in Harney County, where they used rotenone to NLOOXQZDQWHGJROG¿VKDQG fathead minnows. Rotenone LVDSSURYHGDVD¿VKWR[LFDQW by the Environmental Protection Agency, and is not WR[LFWRKXPDQVPDPPDOV or birds at the concentrations XVHGWRNLOO¿VK The public meeting will EHJLQDWSP CONCEALED CARRY PERMIT CLASS Oregon - Utah - Valid 35 States PENDLETON Red Lion - 304 SE Nye Ave. May 19 th • 1:00 pm or 6:00 pm Walk-Ins Welcome! The Pendleton City Council will discuss a PDULMXDQDUHODWHG LVVXH DW its meeting Tuesday, but not the one that would allow PHGLFDO PDULMXDQD GLVSHQ- saries in city limits. The council will consider amending the city’s nuisance ordinance that ZRXOG SURKLELW PDULMXDQD odors from leaving private property. A law that would create a special business license for dispensaries isn’t on the agenda. Although a moratorium EDQQLQJ PHGLFDO PDULMXDQD GLVSHQVDULHV H[SLUHG 0D\ FLW\ RI¿FLDOV KDYH said Pendleton’s licensing laws prohibit any business from opening that is in violation of federal law, which effectively keeps the ban in place. City Planner Evan MacKenzie presented a model ordinance written by the League of Oregon Cities at the council meeting that grants a special business license to dispensaries. He said the model was for discussion purposes and city staff would use the council’s feedback to craft a more customized law. Councilors suggested city staff look into stricter signage requirements, background checks into all employees working at dispensaries and a THC level test for product being sold. City Manager Robb Corbett said staff are still working toward incorporating the council’s suggestion into a more comprehensive ordinance DQG H[SHFWV D GUDIW WR EH ready by the council’s June 2 meeting. In the meantime, the council will render a decision about a city law WKDW ZRXOG EDQ PDULMXDQD odor from emanating beyond a person’s property. In a report to the city council, City Attorney Nancy Kerns wrote the amendment is coming at the request of the Pendleton Police Department, which has received complaints from residents about the VPHOORIGU\LQJPDULMXDQD Another provision that could be added to the nuisance ordinance is one UHTXLULQJ DOO PDULMXDQD EH kept out of public view. “For purposes of public safety it is recommended that a screening provision DOVR EH DSSURYHG´ .HUQV wrote. “Being able to see JURZLQJ PDULMXDQD IURP D public place or from neigh- boring properties invites offense to some, vandalism, WUHVSDVVLQJDQGWKHOLNH´ After a year of inaction, PDULMXDQD LVVXHV KDYH become a regular item on the agenda. Last month the council amended the city’s develop- ment code to allow dispen- saries in service commercial DQGFHQWUDOPL[HGXVH]RQHV as long as they are not within 1,000 feet of a school, park or another dispensary. 2XWVLGH RI PDULMXDQD discussion, the meeting ZLOO PDUN WKH ¿UVW UHDGLQJ for the adoption of master plans for water, sewer and storm water drainage utility systems. 2YHU WKH QH[W \HDUV a city consultant estimated Pendleton would need to VSHQG PLOOLRQ WR replace, maintain and add to the town’s water and sewer infrastructure. In order to pay for the LPSURYHPHQWV WKH ¿UP suggested doubling water rates, raising sewer rates by 57 percent and creating a systems development cost — a fee assessed to new developments. The stormwater utility, D ¿UVW IRU 3HQGOHWRQ would cover the costs of improving, operating and maintaining the city-owned levees and the city’s storm- water drainage system. )RU WKH ¿UVW ¿YH \HDUV WKH¿UPVXJJHVWHGFKDUJLQJ D ÀDW UDWH RI WR KHOS cover the $7.5 million cost of improving the storm- water system. The consultants recommended a portion of these new revenue streams be used to hire 11.5 new utility workers. Although the city plans to adopt the utility master plans at the June 2 council PHHWLQJRI¿FLDOVKDYHVDLG any rate hikes or charges would be decided upon at a later date. The Pendleton City Council will meet at 7 p.m. at the council chambers in city hall, 500 S.W. Dorion Ave. ——— Contact Antonio Sierra at asierra@eastoregonian. com or 541-966-0836. Don’t miss out on today’s great Home Loan rates! 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