REGION Thursday, July 9, 2015 HERMISTON Don Horneck Memorial Building at research station breaks ground Staff, family come out for ceremony By JADE MCDOWELL East Oregonian The Hermiston Agricul- tural Research & Extension Center broke ground on a new building Wednesday that will be named in memory of the center’s former agronomist professor Don Horneck. “All of us here still miss Don,” HAREC director Phil Hamm said. “Don will always be missed for who he was and what he did for the experiment station.” Plans for the building were in the works before Horneck died in the fall of 2014. Hamm said Horneck would have worked out of the new building’s agronomy lab once it was completed. The building also will include insect-rearing facilities, a tissue culture room and various pieces of research equipment, including special super- cold freezers for RNA and DNA samples that will be equipped with a back-up natural gas generator for when the power goes out. “I won’t have to lose any more hair worrying about losing samples,” Hamm said. The $300,000 building was paid for by public and Staff Photo by Jade McDowell East Oregonian Page 3A CRIME ROUNDUP Milton-Freewater babysitter faces charges of assaulting toddler MILTON-FREEWATER — A Milton-Freewater babysitter has pleaded not guilty to accusations she assaulted an 18-month-old boy in her care. Milton-Freewater Police Chief Doug Boedigheimer reported a Walla Walla mother brought her son to the Milton-Freewater Police Department July 2 when she found bruises to his face and side of the head. The mother said the toddler was not injured when she left him with Megan Angela Elaine Hines, 22, at Hines’ residence, 1317 S. Main St., Milton-Freewater. 2I¿FHUVLQWHUYLHZHG+LQHV according to Boedigheimer, arrested her and booked her into the Umatilla County Jail, Pendleton, on charges RI¿UVWGHJUHHFULPLQDOPLVWUHDWPHQW fourth-degree assault and third-degree assault. The mistreatment and third- degree assault counts are felonies. Hines was in court Monday to Hines face the initial charges, according to Umatilla County Circuit Court records, and Umatilla County Circuit Judge Christopher Brauer set her bail at $20,000. Hines has a pretrial hearing Friday morning, which is likely to be an arraignment following a grand jury indictment. Court records also show Hines pleaded guilty in February 2012 to burglary. She served three years probation for that crime. Members of the Don Horneck family, staff of the Hermiston Agricultural Research and Extension Center and contributors to the project work to turn over shovelfuls of sod at a groundbreaking ceremony for the Don Horneck Memorial Building at HAREC. Umatilla County Sheriff’s patrol on Fourth of July nets 24 for driving drunk “Don will always be missed for who he was of the work her husband had done at the extension and what he did for the experiment station.” center and was touched by 3(1'/(721²7KH8PDWLOOD&RXQW\6KHULII¶V2I¿FH cited 21 people and arrested three for driving under the LQÀXHQFHRILQWR[LFDQWVGXULQJWKH)RXUWKRI-XO\ZHHNHQG A written statement from sheriff’s Sgt. Joshua Roberts said the agency responded to only one crash during the holiday weekend, and it was not alcohol- or drug-related and no one was injured. A grant from the Oregon State Sheriff’s Association funded the “high visibility enforcement” to increase police presence in the community and prevent deaths from impaired drivers. “Holiday weekends like the Fourth of July can sometimes be deadly on our highways,” said Roberts. “I am grateful that we had a safe holiday weekend, and that the deputies were able to remove drivers from the street that posed a risk to our citizens.” 7KUHHPRUHSDWUROVWRFXUWDLOGULYLQJXQGHUWKHLQÀXHQFH DUULYHLQWKHQH[WWZRPRQWKV7KH¿UVWLVIURP$XJ during the Umatilla County Fair/Farm City Pro Rodeo, then Aug. 21 through Sept. 7, which includes Labor Day weekend, and then from Sept. 14-19 for the Pendleton Round-Up. Roberts also reminded people to report impaired drivers WRWKHVKHULII¶VRI¿FHDWRUFDOOLIWKHUH appears to be an emergency. the tribute. She said her husband had a donation, only its second been very excited about the donation to an entity outside new building when it was in of Washington (HAREC the planning stages. “He was talking about also received the commis- VLRQ¶V¿UVWGRQDWLRQRXWVLGH the building and what was going to be in it and how of Washington). Horneck’s wife Vicki great it was going to be,” attended the groundbreaking she said. ——— ceremony along with several Contact Jade McDowell other representatives of the Horneck family. She said at jmcdowell@eastorego- the family was very proud nian.com or 541-564-4536. — Phil Hamm, HAREC director private donations. Hamm said about a third of the money came from private sources, including many local growers. “We’ve gotten tremen- dous support,” he said. Hamm said it was a mark of how important the station’s research is to the region that the Washington Potato Commission made HERMISTON City ready for 10th annual Funfest this weekend By SEAN HART EO Media Group From the roar of chainsaw sculptors to revved-up lawn mower dragsters, the sounds of Funfest will echo through downtown Hermiston this weekend. The 10th annual event provides D IXQ¿OOHG GD\ IRU WKH HQWLUH IDPLO\ including local musicians and enter- tainment, a variety of vendors and lots of children’s activities. The event is Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Main Street, Hermiston. “We’re excited about having an event that brings the families out, and there’s something really for everybody,” said Debbie Pedro, Hermiston Chamber of Commerce executive director. “That’s what Funfest is really all about: bringing out the community together and providing a fun day.” To start the day, the Hermiston Rotary Club will serve breakfast from 7:30-9:30 a.m. In addition, Pedro said “all kinds of great eats” will be available throughout the festival. East Main Street will be blocked WR WUDI¿F IURP +LJKZD\ WR )RXUWK Street, with vendors, games and an entertainment stage lining Main Street. Kid’s activities include a bounce house Milton-Freewater man gets 70 months in prison for armed robbery Staff photo by Tammy Malgesini Main Street features family-friendly activities during Funfest. In its 10th year, the festival is Saturday in downtown Hermiston. and face painting. From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., a hands-on exhibit from the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry is available inside Victory Baptist Church. Pedro said OMSI and the Outlaw Lawn Dragsters draw lots of people to the festival. Also, chainsaw wood carvers create sculptures in front of spectators. For a chance to take home a unique piece of art, be sure to attend the auction just after 2 p.m. The music alone, Pedro said, is worth a trip downtown. Entertainment includes Jacob Looper, Dallin Puzey, Dakota Brown and a mariachi band. For more information, visit www. hermistonchamber.com or call 541-567- 6151. MILTON-FREEWATER — A 26-year-old Milton-Free- water man pleaded guilty to armed robbery in a deal that netted him almost six years in prison. Christopher Nathaniel Murphy admitted in Umatilla County Circuit Court on June 29 to robbing the First Stop Mart, 85713 Highway 11, Milton-Freewater, the night of July 10, 2014. He pleaded guilty to second-degree robbery and a judge sentenced him to 70 months in state prison. 7KH8PDWLOOD&RXQW\6KHULII¶V2I¿FHUHVSRQGHGWRWKH store the night of the crime, according to a written statement IURPWKHDJHQF\DORQJZLWKRI¿FHUVIURPWKH:DOOD:DOOD &RXQW\6KHULII¶V2I¿FH0LOWRQ)UHHZDWHU3ROLFH'HSDUW- ment and the Walla Walla Police Department. A Umatilla County sheriff’s sergeant and a deputy conducted the initial investigation and gathered evidence, including DNA samples from clothing the suspect left near the store. The Oregon State Police crime lab in March determined the DNA matched Murphy’s, the statement said. And VKHULII¶VGHWHFWLYHVFRQ¿UPHGWKHPDWFKZLWKIUHVKVDPSOHV from Murphy, who was in the Umatilla County Jail, Pendleton, on other matters. The DNA evidence led to charges of second-degree robbery, menacing, and second-degree theft. The plea deal ZLWKWKH8PDWLOOD&RXQW\'LVWULFW$WWRUQH\¶V2I¿FHUHVXOWHG in a dismissal of the menacing and theft II charges. Murphy also must pay restitution to the victim and serve three years of post-prison supervision. BRIEFLY Car show revs up with Cool Rides HERMISTON — A short jaunt from Hermiston’s Funfest activities, the Cool Rides car show revs up at McKenzie Park In its 20th year, the Hermiston Classics Car Club’s show offers a trip down memory lane as people from throughout the region display their cars. The event, which runs Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., also features vendors, entertain- ment and lots of shade. Activities start at McKenzie Park Friday evening with a poker run and barbecue for those showing cars. From 7-9 p.m., everyone is invited to Hermiston’s Music in the Park, which features car club member Rusty Roe and his group, the Outsiders. The group will also crank out the tunes during Saturday’s car show. For more information about the car show, call car club president Gordon Blankenship at 541-571- 5206 or visit www.hermis- tonclassicscarclub.com. McKenzie Park offers Friday night activities HERMISTON — Hermiston’s Music in the Park program rocks this at 2 p.m. For those interested in relaxing by the lake, free camping is available Saturday night. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/ IndianLakeCampground or contact leighpinkham- johnston@ctuir.org. For directions, including GPS coordinates, visit www. campindianlake.com. Staff photo by Tammy Malgesini A 1957 Ford Fairlane 500 owned by Jerry Fisher glistens in the sun during the 2014 Cool Rides car show. This year’s event is Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at McKenzie Park in Hermiston. Friday as the Cool Rides car show gets ready to roll. 7KH¿UVWFRQFHUWLQWKH series features Hermiston Classics Car Club member Rusty Roe and his band, The Outsiders. The music runs Friday from 7-9 p.m. at McKenzie Park, 320 S. First St., Hermiston. There’s no admission charge. The Brass Fire Band performs Friday, July 17 and Latin Fusion is scheduled for Friday, July 24. The activity switches gears July 31 with Movies in the Park, which also includes Aug. 7 and Aug. 21 shows. For more information, call Hermiston Parks & Recreation at 541-667-5018 or visit www.facebook.com/ hermistonrec. Indian Lake hosts family day PILOT ROCK — A full day of family fun features group presentations, activities and a free lunch this weekend at Indian Lake. The Indian Lake Family Fun Day is Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Indian Lake, located 19 miles south of Pilot Rock off East Birch Creek Road. Family Fun Day presentations include: 9 a.m., Pendleton Bird Club; 10 a.m., National Weather Service; 11 a.m., American Indian Science and Engineering Society; and 1 p.m., LIGO Hanford Observatory. The free lunch is from noon to 1 p.m. and arts and crafts starts Recreation department stages drama camp HERMISTON — For youth interested in expressing their creativity, Hermiston Parks & Recreation has just the activity for you. Developing your acting skills, as well as working on designing a mini-play for a community performance, are featured in an upcoming drama camp. Open to students who just completed third grade up to age 17, the drama camp runs July 20-24 from 3-5 p.m. at the Hermiston Conference Center, 415 S. Highway 395. The cost is $40 for residents and $50 for non-residents. Participants need to register by Thursday, July 16. For more information, visit www. hermistonrecreation.com. To register, call 541-667-5018 or stop by the recreation RI¿FH1(6HFRQG6W Hermiston. Pulp to Paper creates cool art Display features Bujak’s photos PENDLETON — A hands-on process that transforms old scraps into cool art paper for collage, cards and scrapbooking is featured in a youth class at Pendleton Center for the Arts. Pulp to Paper is Saturday, July 18 from 2-4 p.m. at 214 N. Main St. The cost is $15 for members and $20 for non-members. The materials fee is $5. Participants will make a mushy pulp, play with it and then turn it into something awesome. For more information or to register, call 541-278- 9201. PENDLETON — The landscape photography of John Bujak is featured this month in a display at the Pendleton Public Library. The public is invited to the artist’s reception Tuesday, July 14 at 5:30 p.m. at 502 S.W. Dorion Ave., Pendleton. To view some of Bujak’s work, visit www.facebook. com/john.bujak1. For more information about library exhibits, call 541-966-0380. ——— Submit information to: community@eastoregonian. com. Call 541-564-4539 or 541-966-0818 with questions.