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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 14, 2016)
TRE NEAL TO PLAY IN FCS NAVY SAILORS RELEASED SPORTS/1B WORLD/7A 45/33 Violent crime dips in 2015 in Hermiston REGION/3A THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 2016 140th Year, No. 64 One dollar WINNER OF THE 2015 ONPA GENERAL EXCELLENCE AWARD Momentum grows for wage hike District PENDLETON Lawmakers work fast on legislation to forestall ballot measure By PARIS ACHEN Capital Bureau SALEM — State lawmakers received a sobering message Wednesday about their prospects of striking a legislative deal to hike Oregon’s minimum wage. Petitioners for a ballot initia- tive to boost the minimum to $15 statewide by 2019 said they intend to continue gathering signatures to place their proposal on the November ballot unless lawmakers meet their demands. Opponents to hiking the minimum indicated they’re gearing up to thwart the initiative. Meanwhile, lawmakers have revealed no speci¿ c numbers for a potential deal and none were expected before a public hearing at 6 p.m. Thursday at the Capitol. The lawmakers have just two weeks before the legislative session starts Feb. 1. Justin Norton-Kertson, campaign manager for Orego- nians for $15, said the group has collected nearly 40,000 signatures for its ballot initiative and projects having 50,000 to 60,000 signatures by early March. See WAGE/8A considers later start Construction won’t be ¿ nished by Round-Up PENDLETON East Oregonian A year after committing to school starting in late August, the Pendleton School District could be forced to revert to a late September start date next school year. According to a press release, Kirby Nagelhout Construction recently informed the district that the new Washington and Sherwood Heights elementary school buildings won’t be ready until mid-September while crews demolish the old facilities and install the surrounding infrastruc- ture. Kirby Nagelhout said workers won’t be able to start tearing down the old Washington and Sherwood Heights until after June 8, the last day of school. After demolition, they can begin building parking lots, playgrounds and sidewalks around the new schools. The district will form a committee to propose calendar options for the 2016-2017 school year, including opening all schools in late September after Round-Up or allowing high school and middle school students to start in August while waiting to start elementary school students in late September. The ¿ rst Monday after the 2016 Round-Up is Sept. 19. After the committee ¿ nali]es the calendar options, they’ll be presented on the district website for a public vote. Last year, the community over- whelmingly supported moving the ¿ rst day of school to late August in a similar online survey, electing to give students time off during Round-Up week. The new Washington and Sher- wood Heights will allow the district to consolidate Lincoln Primary and West Hills Intermediate schools, changing the elementary school boundaries. Although the Pendleton School Board voted on the new boundaries months ago, its members unan- imously voted Monday to make alterations to the borders between Sherwood Heights and McKay Creek Elementary School to ensure McKay Creek has only two classes per grade. ——— Contact Antonio Sierra at asierra@eastoregonian.com or 541-966-0836. Staff photo by E.J. Harris Shelley Whitney, left, and Deana Echamn are a mother-daughter duo that run Deana’s Car Biz used car lot together in Pendleton. LADIES ON THE LOT Mother and daughter run car dealership; a rarity in the business By KATHY ANEY East Oregonian When it comes to shopping for a car, the terrain is changing. Internet-savvy buyers often peruse the web for prices, mileage, features and dealer costs before ever setting foot on a car lot. Once there, customers won’t necessarily be subjected to a stressful negotiation that can take hours. The stereotypically pushy salesman might never appear. The salesperson might even be female. Deana Eckman and Shelley Whitney are two women who know their way around a car lot. You will ¿ nd the mother-and-daughter duo at Deana’s Car Bi], a small, independent dealer in Pendleton. Deana opened the business 14 years ago. Shelley came on board recently. “We are the Pendleton car ladies,” said Whitney. The women relaxed inside a co]y single-wide of¿ ce that sits on the Court See CARS/8A Staff photo by E.J. Harris Shelley Whitney, right, works on a loan application while her mother, Deana Echman looks on Tuesday at Deana’s Car Biz used car lot in Pendleton. HARNEY COUNTY STANDOFF: DAY 11 Eastern Oregon commissioners warn protest could migrate Grant County sheriff declines occupiers invitation to join cause By SEAN HART EO Media Group Members of the armed group occupying the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge traveled to John Day Tuesday to ask the Grant County sheriff to join their cause. He declined, but county commis- sioners throughout Eastern Oregon have discussed the possibility that the protest could “migrate” elsewhere in the region. Grant County Sheriff Glenn Palmer said three members of the militia asked him to travel to Harney County, but he refused to do so without the approval of the Harney County sheriff. Palmer would not say whether he Palmer agreed with the occupation, but described those participating as “patriots.” “I think it’s brought some things to light that might not have other- wise got the attention that they did,” GRAND RE-OPENING More inside Rancher says he didn’t let group remove fence Page 2A he said of the occupation. “I do believe that the resolution and solution to the way this is going to be handled, if it’s handled properly, could have a long-lasting effect on our county as well.” Palmer said any positive outcome, however, would require the govern- ment to make some concessions. January 15, 2015 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM Refreshments! Raffles! “I believe the government is going to have to concede to some- thing,” he said. “I don’t think these guys are going to give up without knowing that they’ve done some- thing that bene¿ ts the people of our country or our region.” Palmer said the members of the group did not discuss their future plans of their occupation with him. He said he met the militants Tuesday at a John Day restaurant. He was invited to lunch by a constituent and was unaware members of the militia group would be there. He See SHERIFF/8A Doherty Welding LLC Packy Built 611 NW Cedar St., Pilot Rock 541-443-3234
