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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 9, 2015)
REGION Friday, October 9, 2015 East Oregonian New deputies get hiring bonus BRIEFLY Pendleton gears up for Oktoberfest Umatilla County down three deputies since August PENDLETON — A fall festival featuring Pendleton’s trifecta of Oktoberfest essentials — Hill Meat sausage, Barhyte mustard and craft beer from Prodigal Son Brewery & Pub — is planned at the Pendleton Round-Up Grounds. Add a pair of bands, a traditional German competition with hammerschlagen (driving nails in wooden targets) and 10 additional regional craft breweries for Oktoberfest fun — Eastern Oregon style. The all-ages event is Saturday, Oct. 17 from noon to 9 p.m. at the Pendleton Round-Up Grounds. Admission for those 21 and older is $10, which includes a stein and tasting chips. Cost for non-drinkers and those ages 13-20 is $5 and it’s free for ages 12 and under. Oktoberfest Pendleton was created to celebrate German heritage and beer. Live music is provided by Margaret Mayer & Friends and Keith and The Hankers. A portion of the proceeds from the event ZLOOEHQH¿WWKH3HQGOHWRQ Animal Welfare Shelter and Altrusa International of Pendleton. For more information, call 541-276-7411 or visit www.facebook.com/ oktoberfestpendleton. By PHIL WRIGHT East Oregonian Umatilla County has a new OXUH IRU KLULQJ VWDWHFHUWL¿HG deputies — signing bonuses worth several thousand dollars. The Umatilla County Board of Commissioners voted 3-0 Wednesday in favor of the bonuses. Sheriff Terry Rowan at the board’s meeting said this was “sort of the last stage” of a plan to improve recruitment efforts for his department, which is down three deputies since August. Rowan said the sheriff’s RI¿FHZDVQRWVHHLQJHQRXJK “lateral transfers” of certi- ¿HG RI¿FHUV IURP RXWVLGH agencies. That leaves hiring new deputies who have no WUDLQLQJ RU FHUWL¿FDWLRQ IURP the Oregon Public Safety Academy in Salem. Rowan said the county would have to pay about $70,000 for a green hire to complete the four- month academy and then three or four more months RI¿HOGWUDLQLQJ(VWDEOLVKLQJ hiring bonuses, he said, would save taxpayer dollars and increase recruitment. Under the county’s plan, DQ RI¿FHU ZLWK WKH EDVLF SROLFH VHUYLFH FHUWL¿FDWLRQ would receive a hiring bonus of $5,000, an intermediate FHUWL¿FDWHZRXOGJHWD bonus, and an advanced one would bring in $8,000. Rowan said this would apply WR RI¿FHUV ZKR DUH LQ JRRG standing with their agencies DQG KDYH YDOLG FHUWL¿FDWHV Out-of-state transfers also would qualify, he said, but would have to complete an abbreviated version of EO file photo Umatilla County sheriff’s deputy Alan Parker checks in with dispatch while out pa- trolling in the Milton-Freewater area in October 2013. The sheriff’s office will begin offering incentives for officers to seek employment and stay in Umatilla County. Oregon’s law enforcement training. The funding comes from about $24,000 the sheriff’s RI¿FH VDYHG IURP WKH WKUHH openings in the criminal division. Rowan said one former employee left for the Bend Police Department, another sought employment outside of law enforcement and a third left due to medical reasons. Commissioner Bill Elfering asked if the county FRXOG EH RQ WKH ¿QDQFLDO hook to another agency if an RI¿FHU OHIW IRU WKH VKHULII¶V RI¿FH 5RZDQ VDLG 2UHJRQ law allows police agencies to recoup their investment in staff that leave. An agency can seek 100 percent compensa- WLRQLIDQRI¿FHUOHDYHVZLWKLQ a year of graduating from the academy, Rowan said, 60 percent in the second year and nothing after that. Board chairman George Murdock said he admired the development of the signing bonus proposal. He said the sheriff’s employees union and the department’s leadership ZHLJKHG LQ DQG ¿QDQFH DQG human resources divisions vetted the proposal. Murdock suggested this could serve as a model for how the county should develop similar proposals. The board also approved a formal comment to the U.S. Bureau of Land Management in favor of relocating the large transmission line Idaho Power wants to install between Boardman and Hemingway, Idaho. The board opposed the project’s proposal to place the line through valuable farmland. Commissioner Larry Givens said the “Umatilla South” proposal would shift the line away from farms and residences while still meeting the proj- ect’s termination point. And commissioners opted to move the county’s alcohol and drug and veteran services from 109 S.W. Court Ave. to 17 S.W. Frazer Ave., both in Pendleton. The county leased the 8,450-square-foot space on Court Avenue site from the city of Pendleton for $3,000 a month. With the lease expiring, though, the city wants $3,750, a 25 percent increase. Murdock said the city wanted to get $1 per square foot for the site, so rent was likely to rise much more. The Frazer site is in the Bowman Building, which Pendleton City Councilman Al Plute owns, and will lease for $2,500 a month. County counsel Doug Olsen said the lease agreement includes a 3 percent cap per year on rent. Olsen also said the new location is smaller but more usable. ——— Contact Phil Wright at pwright@eastoregonian.com or 541-966-0833. McDonald’s restaurant in John Day to close JOHN DAY – The Golden Arches in John Day will be coming down, and 18 people will lose their jobs as the McDon- ald’s restaurant closes on Oct. 31. Owner Jorge Ribeiro of Burns said the announce- ment of the closure to his employees last Tuesday ZDVGLI¿FXOW “Here are 18 people I care about — it was the hardest day of my life,” he said. McDonald’s sits on property leased from the DR Johnson family, and the 20-year lease was up for renewal. Hundreds of McDon- ald’s restaurants have been up for closure nationwide, and Ribeiro said the low economics of the John Day restaurant was a part of the corporate decision to close the restaurant. “It was 100 percent a corporate decision,” Ribeiro said, adding he’s spent the past two months VSHDNLQJZLWKRI¿FLDOVDW WKHFRUSRUDWHRI¿FHWU\LQJ PENDLETON PDC sets goals to increase housing, downtown business on the commission’s second story improvement program has accounted for only 1 As activity in the urban percent of expenditures since renewal district has slowed the urban renewal district down in recent months, the was established in 2003. Whether it be from Pendleton Development Commission held a two-day sentimental attachment or a meeting to set goals for the SHUFHLYHGODFNRISUR¿WDELOLW\ city staff and other attendees next two years. On Oct. 2 and Oct. 3, said building owners were urban renewal consultant unwilling to invest in second Elaine Howard facilitated a story housing. Councilor Al Plute, owner discussion between members of the commission, its various of the St. George, said devel- committees, the Pendleton oping housing options in the Chamber of Commerce and downtown area is important downtown business owners. because downtown residents Councilor Chuck Wood, shop in downtown stores, the development commis- using his own tenants as sion chairman, said the examples. There was debate as to commission has set goals in WKH SDVW EXW WKLV LV WKH ¿UVW what might compel building time they’ve involved the owners to develop housing, like assistance with water larger business community. Increasing housing in suppression or more parking the downtown area was a spots, but there were no lengthy point of discussion at GH¿QLWLYHDQVZHUV Attendees also wanted the meeting. Besides a few notable to see a increased focus on success stories like the St. code enforcement for things George Plaza, many second like blighted homes and story apartments on Main time-limited parking spaces. “There’s a lot of people Street and the surrounding are underdeveloped or aren’t parking on Main Street all day long,” said Fred Brad- developed at all. Building owners don’t bury, owner of Elite Guns seem that interested in city & Bows and the president assistance either — a city of the Pendleton Downtown report states money spent Association. By ANTONIO SIERRA East Oregonian “You need to look beyond the Round-Up and the 2A basketball tournament to survive.” — Paul Chalmers, member of the Pendleton Development Commission advisory committee Discussion also centered around how to make Pendle- ton’s downtown a year-long attraction. “You need to look beyond the Round-Up and the 2A basketball tourna- ment to survive,” said Paul Chalmers, a member of the commission’s advisory Page 3A committee. Councilor Jane Hill said downtown needed more diversity, adding that Western stores like Montana Peaks Hat Co. were perfect for Round-Up week but might not appeal to shoppers during the other 51 weeks of the year. Wood said a rough draft of the commission’s goals would be released next week along with a summary of the attendees’ comments. Those forms would be passed on to the commission’s advi- sory board for review and UH¿QHPHQW EHIRUH WKH\¶UH SUHVHQWHG IRU WKHLU ¿QDO approval. ——— Contact Antonio Sierra at asierra@eastoregonian.com or 541-966-0836. to talk them out of the decision to close. Ribeiro also owned a McDonald’s restaurant in Burns which he sold one year ago. The John Day restaurant has been open since 1996, and Ribeiro bought it in July 2000. School district plans facility forums HERMISTON — Hermiston School District will hold two community forums in the coming weeks to discuss district facilities and student growth challenges. The community meetings will be at 5 p.m. Oct. 22 at Rocky Heights Elementary School and 5 p.m. Nov. 10 at Desert View Elementary School. Spanish translation services will be available, and anyone interested in learning more about the district’s capacity challenges is encouraged to attend. After record enrollment WKLV\HDUGLVWULFWRI¿FLDOV will discuss initial plans to address continued strain on school facilities. Attendees will learn about previous bond outcomes, the work of the Facility Master Planning Committee, current issues in the district and potential next steps. An opportunity for feedback will also be provided. These forums are part of the second SKDVHRID¿YHSKDVH approach to a potential capital construction bond planned for May 2017. Opportunities for community feedback will continue through January 2017 when the school board will begin considering placing the bond measure on the ballot. Councilor moves monthly meeting PENDLETON — Constituents of Pendleton’s Ward 2 will meet with their council representative a week early in October. Coffee and Conversation, a monthly gathering with Ward 2 Councilor Chuck Wood, has been moved up a week. Those wanting to share thoughts on what’s happening in Pendleton will meet Monday from 7-8:30 a.m. at The Buckin’ Bean, 405 N.W. Despain Ave. The gathering normally meets the third Monday of every month. For more information, contact Wood at 541-310- 7306 or Chuck.wood@ ci.pendleton.or.us Mike Stratton Business Health Farm Life For your entertainment Walkin’ West Mike Stratton, CIC/CFP 541/276-2302 • 800/225-2521 One Responsible Source Agent The Stratton Agency Saturday, October 10 8 pm - 11 pm Red Lion Lounge Pendleton / Hermiston • stratton-insurance.com 304 SE Nye, Pendleton 541-276-6111 1-800-733-5466 www.redlion.com/pendleton DON’T MISS OUT! Celebrate Your Loved Ones in Our SALUTE Staff Sergeant Joel Davis US Marines Veteran Honoring those who have served and those that are currently serving our country! For more information, call Paula at 1-800-522-0255 or Hermiston Herald at 541-564-4530. Service Person’s Name Your Name Your Address Your Phone Number Military Rank D e s i g n Winner of the ONPA 2015 General Excellence Award Example Bring us a picture of your servicemen or servicewomen or veteran by November 5 th along with the form below and we will include them in our “Veterans Day Salute” on November 11 th in the East Oregonian and Hermiston Herald at no charge. Military Branch t i n g W r i s o t o h P Currently Serving Veteran (Check One) Deliver to: East Oregonian 211 SE Byers Ave. • Pendleton, OR Hermiston Herald 333 E. Main. • Hermiston, OR or e-mail to classifieds@eastoregonian.com P r i n t Q u a l i t y d v e r t i s i n g Veterans Day A SAM BARBEE Sports reporter Sam has been reporting on Hermiston sports for one year, and joined the East Oregonian staff in July. He is a University of Washington graduate where he wrote for The Daily and SeattlePI.com. Sam grew up in Longview and now lives in Hermiston. He is an avid sports fan, both live and televised, specifically the Mariners, Broncos and Huskies, and enjoys a good IPA with friends. Contact Sam at sbarbee@eastoregonian.com or 541-564-4542.
