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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (June 10, 2015)
REGION Wednesday, June 10, 2015 East Oregonian Gearing up for summer maintenance Schools prepare to make renovations, repairs, upgrades Teachers and students may look forward to the end of the school year, but for school district employees who work in maintenance there is no such thing as summer vacation. For them, summer is prime time to complete projects without students underfoot. In Umatilla School District, for example, main- tenance director Mike Botti VDLGKLVVWDIISODQVWRUH¿QLVK WKH J\P ÀRRUV DW WKH KLJK school and middle school, complete several painting SURMHFWV¿OOLQFUDFNVLQWKH tennis courts and spruce up WKHGLVWULFWRI¿FHV “We’re pulling out a bunch of old, ugly shrubs and putting in some new landscaping,” he said. In Morrow County School District, contractors will be working all summer WR LQVWDOO HQHUJ\HI¿FLHQW upgrades to schools’ heating and cooling systems in part- nership with Energy Trust of Oregon. No one will be as busy as Pendleton School District, where a successful bond measure means the district is overseeing construction of two new elementary schools and an Early Learning Center this summer. As school wraps up, business services director Michelle Jones said construction is on schedule. “Right now so far, so good and we shouldn’t have New look, frequency and editor for Herald EO Media Group By JADE MCDOWELL East Oregonian Staff photo by E.J. Harris Fourth-graders at Washington Elementary School take a tour of the new school under construction recently in Pendleton. J\P ÀRRUV LQ DQWLFLSDWLRQ for all of the moving that facilities staff will help with this summer. The district recently signed a lease on the former Red Apple grocery store at 305 S.W. 11th Street. Once landlord Double H //&¿QLVKHVUHQRYDWLQJWKH space, Kay said about 150 GLVWULFWVWDIIZLOOEHVKXIÀHG any weather hiccups,” she Middle School. Jones said around, including about 60 said. the air conditioning is prob- people being moved into the That being said, Jones ably the most anticipated new space. said the construction upgrade. “They’re coming from all schedule is “pretty tight” “I think it’s going to make different areas,” Kay said. and the facilities staff will a world of difference,” she That includes special have to work hard to get said, noting that it’s hard for education staffers at the everything moved into the students to concentrate on Kik Center, the district new buildings in time for the learning when “it turns into RI¿FHV FXUUHQWO\ QH[W WR ¿UVWGD\RIVFKRRO an oven in there.” Rocky Heights Elementary, Meanwhile work will Over in Hermiston, and the print shop and IT go on in Pendleton’s other operations manager Mike departments currently at schools, including security Kay said the district doesn’t Hermiston High School. upgrades at the district’s have many big improvement ——— VHFRQGDU\ VFKRROV URR¿QJ projects planned, besides Contact Jade McDowell projects and the addition of routine preventative main- at jmcdowell@eastorego- air conditioning to Sunridge WHQDQFH OLNH UH¿QLVKLQJ WKH nian.com or 541-564-4536. Construction on the former Red Apple grocery store on Orchard Avenue, spurred on by Hermiston School District’s plans to move staff into the space, has displaced the community recycling bins once located behind the store. 8QWLOWKHFLW\¶VVDQLWDU\GLVSRVDOGHSDUWPHQW¿QGVDQHZ KRPHIRUWKHPWKH\DUHORFDWHGDWWKHGHSDUWPHQW¶VRI¿FHV at 81144 N. Highway 395. Residents can drop off recycling there or at the recycling center at 220 Harper Road. A cardboard recycling container is also located behind Hermiston Public Library. Trial nears for white supremacist gang founder Pendleton Police Chief Stuart Roberts has stated Mauer was the founder and The criminal case against the leader leader of the United of a Pendleton white supremacist gang Aryan Empire based that police tied to a murder plot continues in Pendleton, and the to chug toward trial, while the window gang was responsible for a plea deal is closing. IRU ¿JKWV DQG VKRRW- Jeremiah Jerome Mauer, 31, has ings in late 2014 pleaded not guilty to 17 charges in all, Browning Tinnell and early 2015. with racketeering and two counts of Mauer A n o t h e r conspiracy to murder the most serious. DWWRUQH\¶V RI¿FH DUJXHV PRWLRQV LW QR United Aryan Empire member, Warren He had a pretrial hearing Tuesday long will negotiate for a plea bargain. morning at the Umatilla County Court- Mauer’s trial stays on the docket for Browning, 35, has a pretrial hearing the house, Pendleton. Aug. 24 through Sept. 4. Attorneys for morning of Tuesday, June 16, according Umatilla County deputy prosecutor both the prosecution and defense will to court records. He faces charges akin to Jaclyn Jenkins said she believed the state check in with the judge on Aug. 4 for a Mauer’s, including the charges of racke- teering and two counts of conspiracy to provided all its evidence to the defense. WULDOUHDGLQHVVPHHWLQJ¿UVW Defense attorney Jon Lieuallen of Pend- Mauer was to appear via video from murder. Two other members, Gregory Tinnell, leton was in a trial Tuesday morning, so the Umatilla County Jail, Pendleton, DWWRUQH\0ROO\7XFNHU+DVHQEDQN¿OOHG where he has been since his arrest Jan. 44, and Steven Grangood, 22, made plea in. She said Lieuallen’s notes indicated 9, but he had to settle for talking and bargains with the state. Tinnell is in the he wanted a date for the court to consider listening over the phone. The jail video Umatilla County Jail and Grangood pre-trial motions and was waiting for was not working due to a power failure. is at the Northern Oregon Regional evidence from the state. Jail commander Stewart Harp explained Correctional Facilities, The Dalles. They Circuit Judge Lynn Hampton set June the jail operated for a few hours Tuesday could end up as witnesses if Mauer goes 24 as the deadline for defense motions, on its generator while undergoing an to trial. ——— -XO\ IRU WKH VWDWH WR ¿OH UHVSRQVHV earthquake drill. He said the exercise Contact Phil Wright at pwright@ and July 21 to hear arguments in court. may have revealed a need to address the eastoregonian.com or 541-966-0833. Jenkins told the court once the district video feed. By PHIL WRIGHT East Oregonian McKay Creek Estates presents: SAFETY Join us as we host a lecture series to increase safety awareness on fall prevention, common home injuries and provide solutions to keep you and your loved one safe! S FIRST Page 3A Changes are coming to the Hermiston Herald on July 1. On Wednesday, the Hermiston Herald will debut a rede- signed newspaper, celebrating Hermiston’s past, present and future. The new-look print edition will be distributed once a week on We d n e s d a y s . HermistonHerald. com will become West a principal plat- form for breaking news and information for the community. Kathryn B. Brown, publisher of the Hermiston Herald and East Oregonian newspapers, also announced that a new editor will take over the Herald, effective July 1. Gary L. West, 49, will replace Jessica Keller who has been editor of the Herald for the past two years. “Gary West has played an important role in EO Media Group’s transfor- mation from an old-school newspaper company to a modern and dynamic media company over the last decade,” Brown said. “He is able to combine his solid journalism skills with new technologies, recognizing that the way people get news and information from news- papers is ever-changing. We are fortunate to have him in the ever-growing city of Hermiston, which is such an important community to our company.” West is no stranger to Hermiston and Eastern Oregon. A graduate of Echo High School and Oregon State University, he has worked at news- papers in Oregon and California for more than 25 years, including previous stints at both the Hermiston Herald and East Oregonian. “It is exciting to return home and work with the talented journalists at the Hermiston Herald and East Oregonian,” West said. “We are currently working to develop a new look and new strategy for the Herald, so we will be asking readers, community members and businesses to help us deter- mine how best to cover the greater Hermiston area.” Follow incoming editor Gary West on Twitter @ GaryLWest, follow him on Facebook at www.face- book.com/journalist.glwest or email him at gwest@ hermistonherald.com Former Pendleton City Council member joins state pot committee East Oregonian A former Pendleton City Council member will serve on the rules committee for the hottest hot-button issue in Oregon. Steve Taylor is one of 16 members on the Oregon Liquor Control Commission’s Recreational Marijuana Rules Advisory Committee. Taylor served on Pendleton City Council for 16 years before losing the seat in 2010 to Al Plute. Taylor also is a former Blue Mountain Community College board chairman. Initially, no represen- tatives east of Bend were appointed by OLCC Execu- tive Director Steven Marks to the rules committee, technical advisory subcom- mittee or technical subcom- mittee on laboratories. State Sen. Bill Hansell, R-Athena, sent a letter to Marks asking for an expla- nation on how individuals were chosen to serve on these three committees. “If marijuana is going to be legal for the entire state, people from all areas of the state should have a voice in the rule making process,” according to Hansell. “That is why I felt it was essential to notify director Marks the make-up of the committee was unacceptable. People in Eastern Oregon are tired of Portland making all of the rules for the state. Eastern Oregonians should have a voice in the discussion.” Hansell reported he heard back from Marks, who stated the commission would appoint someone from the eastern part of 2UHJRQ EHIRUH WKH ¿UVW Rules Committee meeting of June 19 in Milwaukie. The OLCC made good on that Monday, according to Hansell, when Taylor became the 16th member of the rules committee. “I have known and worked with Steve Taylor for many years, and he will represent the people of Eastern Oregon very well on the OLCC Rules Commission,” Hansell stated. Oregon voters in November approved Measure 91 to legalize recreational marijuana, which goes into effect July 1. The OLCC has the charge of developing rules for the new industry, but those will not go into effect until 2016. living with alzheimer’s SafetyMan says “Always be Safe to Ensure an Active & Independent Lifestyle” Healthy Back Habits for Caregivers - C O N C L U D E D TUESDAY, MAY 26, 3:30PM Many adults spend a considerable portion of their week caring for aging parents, relatives, friends, or other adults. According to the results of a recent study, the stresses and strains of providing care to an ill loved one may take a considerable toll on the mental and physical health of care- givers — including their back and spine health. Learn healthy back habits to keep you safe. Elder-Friendly Living: Modifying Your Home for Safety TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 3:30 PM No matter when the older person’s home was built and regardless of whether it is modern or traditional in style, it likely was designed for young adults and their families. As adults age their homes also grow older, but most are not updated to accommodate the resident’s changing needs. Home adaptation or modification can provide friendlier elder living so older occupants may continue to life safely in the comfort of their home. Know Your Numbers TUESDAY, JULY 28, 3:30 PM Are you at risk for diabetes, heart disease and other chronic diseases? Learn about the numbers and what they mean for various screenings to stay in control of your health. We will talk about cholesterol, blood pressure, body mass index (BMI) numbers and more. For more information or to RSVP, call us at (541) 276-1987 or visit us today! McKay Creek Estates 1601 Southgate Place Pendleton, Oregon 97801 www.PrestigeCare.com an education program by the alzheimer’s association Living with Alzheimer’s: For Caregivers – Early Stage June 26 | 1 - 5 p.m. Pendleton Senior Center | 510 SW 10th St., Pendleton, OR 97801 In the early stage of Alzheimer’s disease, families face new questions as they adjust. What does the diagnosis mean? What kinds of plans need to be made? What resources are available to help? Join us for this class to hear practical answers to the questions that arise in the early stage. Hear from those directly affected and learn what you can do to cope with the changes that come with an early-stage diagnosis. This class is free, but registration is required. To register, call 800-272-3900. Offered in collaboration with: 24/7 helpline: 800-272-3900
