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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 19, 2016)
REGION Friday, February 19, 2016 East Oregonian HERMISTON High school modulars coming to keep up with enrollment boom 3DUNLQJDQGWUDI¿F changes implemented By JENNIFER COLTON East Oregonian The Hermiston School District will add six temporary classrooms at Herm- iston High School next month. The classrooms will provide a stop-gap solution to the district’s rapid enrollment growth. Although the district planned for more students, January enrollment almost doubled those predictions: The district forecast an increase of 112 students from January 2015 to January 2016, but actual enrollment came in at 212 more students over that time period. Of district schools, Hermiston High School has the most students. The school’s current enrollment stands at 1,471; however, the senior class of 2016 has 289 students, and next year’s freshman class is expected to be about 375. Those extra 100 students could put the high school over its 1,600 student capacity — which does not include participants in the online and alternative school programs, who may use high school facilities. Facing that crunch, the Hermiston School Board discussed the rental of three modular buildings that could each house two classrooms. Funded from the district’s general fund, the rental was H[SHFWHGWRFRVWDERXWLQLWV¿UVW year and $60,000 for any additional years. In the coming weeks, the three modular buildings will be erected between the HHS parking lot and the Weber Field parking lot. The classrooms will remove 21 parking spaces. “The district is experiencing record student growth, and modular facilities are necessary to accommodate the added students,” said Mike Kay, district executive director of operations. “We realize the impact the buildings will have Graphic contributed by Hermiston School District Three modulars will be added to the Hermiston High School parking lot, changing the low of trafic on the east side of the school. on parking and appreciate the patience DQGÀH[LELOLW\RIRXUVWXGHQWVVWDIIDQG community.” The location of the classrooms had EHHQXVHGDVDEXVURXWH7UDI¿FSDWWHUQV within the parking lots will be rerouted for student safety. All buses will enter in the northern First Street entrance and exit out the southern First Street driveway. The district asks parents dropping off students to enter from Highland Avenue and either drop students off in front of the school — exiting out the southern First Street exit — or on the southern side of the high school along Highland Avenue and exiting out the western Highland Avenue exit. ,QDGGLWLRQWRWKHWUDI¿FFKDQJHVWKH district will make the northern lot in front of the school available for staff only. Staff YHKLFOHVZLOOEHLGHQWL¿HGE\DSHUPLWRQ the window. The staff parking lot is the PRVWLPSDFWHGE\WKHWUDI¿FFKDQJHVDQG school staff arrive before and leave after SHDNEXVWUDI¿F The handicapped, police and visitor parking spaces at the front of the school will remain unchanged, according to district staff. Students will be able to park in the Weber Field lot, in the southern lot in front of the building, and along Highland Avenue. The district has stated it will place the classrooms during spring break to avoid summer construction impacts on high school graduation, the Umatilla County Fair and Farm-City Pro Rodeo. Page 3A Wanted felon eludes area police Walla Walla Union-Bulletin $ PDQ ÀHG SROLFH RQ foot Wednesday night after leading local law enforcement on a car chase that started in College Place and ended in Oregon just south of the Washington state line, according to Walla Walla police. Police are seeking Cager J. York, 23, for numerous crimes as well as outstanding York warrants. “(York) is believed to be armed and extremely dangerous and should not be approached if seen,” a police news release said. York has a local crim- inal history, including rape, methamphetamine charges and attempting to elude. <RUN ZDV LGHQWL¿HG as a passenger in a white 'RGJH ÀDWEHG SLFNXS by Walla Walla’s Career Criminal Apprehension Team detectives just after 6 p.m., a police news release said. The pickup failed to stop for them in the area of Southeast Meadowbrook 6WUHHW ÀHHLQJ HDVW RQ Taumarson Road then south on Plaza Way. According to the release, the driver then jumped from the moving vehicle and was detained E\SROLFH+HWROGRI¿FHUV York had threatened him with a gun pressed to his ribs and telling him to not stop. Police withheld the driver’s identity. York moved into the driver’s seat and continued WRÀHHSROLFH 7LUHÀDWWHQLQJ VSLNH strips were deployed where Plaza Way turns into Old Milton Highway, but York continued to drive on the rims, the release said. The chase ended when York pulled into the parking lot of The Cigarette Store, south of the intersection of State Route 125 and Stateline Road in Oregon. York and a woman got out of the pickup and into a Cadillac York had parked there earlier, the release said. York was boxed in by ODZ HQIRUFHPHQW EXW ÀHG the car on foot. Milton-Freewater police, Umatilla and Walla Walla County sheriff’s deputies and Oregon State Police troopers assisted searching for York for about three hours after the pursuit, but he was not found. The woman, 24-year-old Michaela R. Garica, of Pendleton, was arrested by Milton-Free- water police on two felony Umatilla County warrants and lodged in the Umatilla County Jail in Pendleton. Anyone with infor- mation about York’s whereabouts is urged to call Walla Walla detectives at 527-1960. BRIEFLY St., Hermiston. Different books are discussed each month. For more information about the library clubs, call 541-567-2882. City removes 16 tons of debris from Pendleton home PENDLETON — The cleanup of Dave Gately’s Pendleton property didn’t come cheap. 7KHFLW\ZDLYHG¿QHV fees and assessments, but Gately will have to pay a $4,900 lien to cover the costs. According to Police Chief Stuart Roberts, the police department and contract workers removed more than 16 tons of debris from the home owned by a man commonly known as “Bottle Dave.” Roberts wrote in an email that most property owners work with police to clean their properties and do not require the forced abatement initiated at Gately’s property. “As of today, we currently have 16 properties being monitored for compliance post LGHQWL¿FDWLRQDVVHVVPHQW QRWL¿FDWLRQRIYLRODWLRQV and education,” he wrote. “We do the best we can to work with property owners so we do not have to abate properties. For example, the Gately process started in September 2015, but did not end up being abated until January 2016.” Gately attributed the RYHUÀRZRIGHWULWXVWR a hoarding habit and was planning to seek treatment at the Veterans Administration hospital in Walla Walla. A GoFundMe account has been set up to help Gately pay back the city, with the goal of raising $10,000. WW.Friends plans potluck PENDLETON — Area widows and widowers are invited to a WW.Friends event. The group meets monthly for friendship Auction rafÀe bene¿ts 'esert View EO file photo In this Jan. 14 ile photo, Pendleton Police and a work crew from Eastern Oregon Environmental Recovery clean up items from the home of Dave Gately. and to share positive experiences. The upcoming gathering features an old-fashioned dinner potluck Wednesday, Feb. 24 at 5:30 p.m. at 511 N.W. Eighth St., Pendleton. People are invited to bring a dish to share with others. For more information, call 541-276-2790 or 541-276-4708. Local leaders to discuss updating housing study PENDLETON — As Pendleton climbs out of recession, Blue Mountain Community College, Round-Up City Develop- ment Corp. and the city government are teaming up to update a 2011 housing study. Five years ago, the city commissioned Sabino Community Development Resources of Tucson, Arizona, to conduct a study on Pendleton’s housing. The study concluded that housing was scarce, low quality and aging. It recommended updating the city’s comprehensive plan and partnering with local developers. Despite some gains since then — 156 total new homes and apartment units — a lack of affordable KRXVLQJUHPDLQVDVLJQL¿- cant obstacle to Pendleton’s Live Music 9:00 PM FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19 Carter Freeman 8 S.E. COURT, PENDLETON 541.278.1100 growth. Like the last study, a committee will be comprised of local stakeholders, including representatives from the construction, real estate, HQHUJ\DQGEXVLQHVV¿HOGV Also returning to chair the effort is John Turner, a member of the RCDC, former president of BMCC and a candidate for mayor. The committee will hold LWV¿UVWSXEOLFPHHWLQJDW the community room in Pendleton City Hall Feb. 26 at 1:30 p.m. HERMISTON — A family-friendly event will KHOSUDLVHPRQH\IRU¿HOG trips, library books and classroom projects at Desert View Elementary School. In its ninth year, the $XFWLRQDQG5DIÀHLV Thursday, Feb. 25 from 5-7 p.m. at the school, 1225 S.W. Ninth St., Hermiston. Sponsored by the Desert View Parent Club, the event features a live auction, silent auction, food and games for kids. For more information, contact Shannon Picard at spicard28@hotmail.com. Relay for Life hosts bingo fundraiser PENDLETON — Five grand prizes are up for grabs during a charity bingo game Library offers WKDWZLOOEHQH¿W3HQGOHWRQ Relay for Life. activity clubs The event is Saturday, HERMISTON — The Feb. 27 from 6-8 p.m. at Hermiston Public Library Hamley Steakhouse, 8 S.E. has three clubs that meet Court Ave., Pendleton. regularly at the library, 235 People are invited to come E. Gladys Ave. early for a no-host social The Yarn Club meets from 5-6 p.m. twice weekly: Thursdays at Bingo cards, which are 5:30 p.m. and Saturdays at IRU¿YHFDOOLQJVDUH 10:00 a.m. each or 15 for $50. Those The Origami Club for planning to play can RSVP Adults is a recent addition or purchase cards at the to the library. It meets the door. The winner from ¿UVW6DWXUGD\RIHDFKPRQWK each round will draw for from 1-4 p.m. grand prizes. For more The Photography Club, information, call 541-377- which started in January, 0350. meets the second Tuesday at The Pendleton Relay 5:30 p.m. for Life event, which raises In addition, money for the American Bookminders,the library’s Cancer Society, is June book club, meets the second 17 at Sunridge Middle Wednesday of the month at School. The next team 11:30 a.m. at The Pheasant meeting is Thursday, Feb. Bar & Grill, 149 E. Main Tonia Mulcare Auto Health Home Life Tonia Mulcare 541/289-3300 • 800/225-2521 The Stratton Agency Hermiston/Pendleton • stratton-insurance.com Family Insurance Agent 25 at 5:30 p.m. in the cafeteria meeting room at St. Anthony Hospital, 2801 St. Anthony Way, Pendleton. The committee meets afterwards at 6 p.m. For more information, call Gert Hawthorne at 541-215- 9767, Carol Preston at 541-379-6294 or visit www. pendletonrelay.org. Foundation offers redbud trees NEBRASKA CITY, Nebraska — Oregon residents who join the Arbor Day Foundation during the month of February will receive 10 free Eastern redbud trees. The promotion is part of WKHQRQSUR¿WIRXQGDWLRQ¶V Trees for America campaign. The 6- to 12-inch trees, which are guaranteed to grow or will be replaced free of charge, and planting instructions will be shipped between March 1 and May 31. Members also receive a subscription to the foundation’s bimonthly publication, which contains information about planting and care. To become a member of the foundation, send a $10 contribution to 10 Free Eastern Redbud Trees, Arbor Day Foundation, 100 Arbor Ave., Nebraska City, NE 68410. For more information, visit www. DUERUGD\RUJIHEUXDU\ Spray Rodeo to hold queen tryouts SPRAY — Queen tryouts for the May 28-29 Spray Rodeo will be Saturday, March 26 at noon at the Spray Rodeo grounds. Contestants do not have to be local or Wheeler County residents, but they must be at least 15 years old and never have been married or had children. For more information or an application, call 541-468-2442. Mango offers college scholarships Area libraries provide access to an online language-learning program called Mango. The program allows learners to practice language with native speakers. They provide a fun way WREHFRPHSUR¿FLHQWLQD foreign language. This year, they’re kicking off Mango Scholarships, a new program to energize college and university campuses around language and cultural diversity. Mango Languages will award three $1,000 scholarships to undergraduate or graduate students to support academic goals and pursuits. Applications are open through March 31. The application process features one key question: How has language and culture enriched your life? Give your answer however you want — through video, song, dance, art or writing. They are looking for passionate, innovative responses. To be eligible, applicants must be enrolled as an undergraduate or graduate student at a college or university in the United States. For details on eligibility and selection criteria, YLVLWKWWSFDPSDLJQV PDQJRODQJXDJHVFRP scholarships or stop by your local library.
