REGION
Tuesday, March 1, 2016
East Oregonian
Page 3A
Two Rivers inmate
dies after being found
unresponsive in his cell
East Oregonian
Staff photo by Phil Wright
Hearts in motion
Elementary Team A from Jr. Jam Dance, Pendleton, performs an “I Love Lucy” themed dance routine
Saturday at Pendleton High School in the 29th Hearts in Motion Dance Competition. The event is the
annual fundraiser for the school’s Rhythmic Mode Dance Team. Jr. Jam chairwoman Kristen LeGore said
350 dancers on 10 teams from across Oregon participated.
An Oregon Department
of Corrections inmate died
Saturday at a Portland-area
hospital.
The inmate had
been incarcerated
at Two Rivers
Correctional Insti-
tution in Umatilla.
The death has
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the
Department
of Corrections as
an unanticipated
death and the
Oregon
State Abbot
Police Criminal
Investigation Division is
conducting an investigation.
According to the Depart-
ment of Corrections, staff at
Two Rivers found inmate
Joel Abbot, 60, unrespon-
sive in his cell on Saturday.
He was taken off-site for
medical care at approxi-
mately 10:30 a.m.
The name of the Port-
land-area hospital where
Abbot was taken was not
released. The DOC said
Abbot was pronounced dead
at 5:05 p.m. Abbot had been
in DOC custody for nearly
23 years, since March 23,
1993, and was serving a
life sentence on one count
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murder out of
Deschutes County.
According
to The (Bend)
Bulletin,
Abbot
was convicted of
killing Carolann
Payne, who disap-
peared in 1985 at
the age of 35. Her
body was never
found. Payne was
Abbot’s girlfriend at the
time of her disappearance.
Abbot was arrested in May
1992 after a prolonged
investigation
by
the
Deschutes County Sheriff’s
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Next of kin has been
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details were available at this
time.
Two Rivers Corrections
institution houses about
1,800 inmates in Umatilla.
BRIEFLY
HERMISTON — Stripe
rust was recently spotted in
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Hermiston, according to
scientists with Oregon State
University.
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fungal disease in Eastern
Oregon in 2016. Stripe rust
grows on the leaves of wheat
plants and can reduce yield in
severe cases.
Larry Lutcher, soil
scientist with OSU Extension
Service in Morrow County,
said the disease is thus far
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has not yet been found in any
dryland wheat.
Stripe rust tends to thrive
in cool, moist conditions
when farmers would
otherwise expect a promising
harvest, Lutcher said. The
last year with substantial rust
damage came in 2012.
“There’s more rain, more
humidity, more leaf tissue
and more opportunity for
the fungus to grow,” Lutcher
said.
The early start to rust
season suggests farmers
should take extra care
VFRXWLQJWKHLU¿HOGV/XWFKHU
said. Fungicides can help if
the infection is found and
treated early.
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much later than irrigated
wheat. However, growers
should be aware of the
potential for rust later in the
season.
Meetings scheduled
on forest restoration
PENDLETON — The
U.S. Forest Service has
scheduled a series of
meetings for the public to
weigh in on an ambitious
restoration project on the
Umatilla, Wallowa-Whitman
and Ochoco national forests.
The Forest Resiliency
Project aims to accelerate the
pace and scale of restoration
in the area, restoring the
Blue Mountains to healthier
condition and lowering the
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Foresters would thin a
combined 610,000 acres
of trees and brush across
the three forests, and
use prescribed burns to
reintroduce the natural role
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Treatments would span 13
counties in Eastern Oregon
and southeast Washington.
Public meetings will be
held to share information
and discuss concerns among
residents. Project leaders
will visit the Pendleton
Convention Center on
Thursday, March 10; the
Heppner Ranger District
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15; and the Blue Mountains
Conference Center in La
Grande. All meetings will
run from 6-9 p.m.
Public comments will
be accepted on the project
through April 5. For
more information, visit
www.fs.usda.gov/goto/
forestresiliencyproject or
contact Darcy Weseman at
541-278-3755.
Tom Insko, Nils
Christoffersen
reappointed to
forestry board
PENDLETON — The
Oregon Legislature has
reappointed Tom Insko and
Nils Christoffersen to the
state Board of Forestry.
The seven-member
forestry board is responsible
for appointing the state
forester and adopts rules
regulating forest practices
in Oregon. Members are
appointed by the governor
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Senate.
Insko is the president of
Eastern Oregon University
in La Grande, and a
former regional manager
of Boise Cascade, which
manufactures paper and
other wood products.
Christoffersen, of Enterprise,
is the executive director
of Wallowa Resources, a
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on stewardship, renewable
energy and business
development.
Cindy Deacon Jones, a
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from Medford, was also
reappointed to the board.
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begin Tuesday and run for
four years through Feb. 29,
2020.
The board is required to
meet once per quarter. The
next regular meeting will be
March 9 in Salem.
SALEM — Rep. Greg
Smith (R-Heppner) is
representing small businesses
on another state committee.
Smith was appointed by
House Speaker Tina Kotek
as co-chair of the newly
created Special Committee
on Small Business Growth.
Earlier in February Gov.
Kate Brown also appointed
him to the Governor’s Small
Business Advisory Cabinet.
Smith is the only Eastern
Oregon representative on
both committees.
The House committee’s
primary goals are to gather
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on small business needs,
identify solutions to maintain
Independent Beauty Consultant
www.marykay.com/bethmarquardt • 541-969-0985
and grow small businesses in
those industries and develop
recommendations and draft
legislation for the 2017
session.
In addition to his
legislative duties, Smith is
also a small business owner
specializing in economic
development and commercial
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He said in a news release
that his hope is to bring
“private sector experience
and rural perspective” to the
committee’s work.
Retired educators
meet Thursday
PENDLETON —
Students on the National
History Day Team from
Griswold High School
in Helix will tell about
their program during
the upcoming Morrow-
Umatilla Retired Educators
Association meeting.
Guests are welcome to
attend the no-host gathering
Thursday at 11:30 a.m. at
The Prodigal Son Brewery
& Pub, 230 S.E. Court
Ave. Pendleton. The event
includes a short business
meeting.
Membership in
MUREA is not limited
to retired educators but is
open to anyone interested
in education. For more
information, call unit
president Bill Mayclin at
541-276-4540.
Local author to
discuss new novel
PENDLETON — Local
author Peg Willis will sign
copies and discuss her new
book, “Rise Above.”
A historically accurate
novel, Willis tells the story
of one man’s quest to reunite
with his children following
the devastating Hepper
Flood of 1903.
Presented by the
Pendleton Public Library
and Armchair Books, the
event is Thursday at 7 p.m.
in the Community Room,
501 S.W. Emigrant Ave.,
Pendleton.
The unexpected
cloudburst turned an
otherwise mild day into one
that Heppner would never
forget. Willis blends factual
accounts and real heroes
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residents impacted by the
disaster.
For more information,
call 541-966-0380 or
541-276-7323. For a
book review, visit www.
eastoregonian.com/eo/
book-reviews/20151212/
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novel.
Sports boosters set
steak feed
HERMISTON — The
37th annual Hermiston
Booster Club steak feed is
this weekend.
The event, which includes
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live auction, is Saturday at
5:30 p.m. at the Hermiston
Conference Center, 415 S.
Highway 395. Tickets are
$40 and are available at
Eastside Market, the HHS
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For more information,
call Joe Thompson at
541-564-5811.
BABYSITTING BASICS
For babysitters ages 10-15. Learn childcare
techiques, children's developmental stages and
what to expect, basic first aid and infant and child
CPR. $30, includes lunch & all class materials.
9:00am - 3:00pm
March 12 or April 2
Must pre-register and pre-pay, call 541-667-3509
SELF DEFENSE
Learn
self-defense
techniques,
including: Awareness, home security,
verbal de-escalation, evading and
escaping maneuvers. This is a contact
class. Age 12 and up. Free, but must
pre-register. Call 541-667-3509.
March 31 • 6:00 - 8:00pm
GSMC Conference Center 2
LIVING WITH ALZHEIMER'S
MID-STAGE:
This FREE program is designed to provide
caregivers with the knowledge, tools and strategies
needed to cope with a diagnosis of
Alzheimer's disease or dementia.
March 10 • 2:00 - 6:00pm
37 TH ANNUAL
GSMC Conference Room 2
HERMISTON SPORTS BOOSTERS
STEAK FEED & AUCTION
Saturday, March 5th • 5:30pm
Auction starts at 7:00pm
Hermiston Community Center
UMATILLA — Steve
Potts is now the interim chief
of the Umatilla Rural Fire
Protection District.
Fred Sheely, chairman
of the Umatilla Fire Board,
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board had named Potts to the
position during its February
meeting.
Potts has handled most
administrative duties for the
district since September,
when Chief Michael
Roxbury went on medical
leave. Potts and Roxbury are
the only two paid employees
of the Umatilla Rural Fire
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Smith appointed
to second small
business committee
Potts named
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all eyes
on the bride
Beth Marquardt
Protection District.
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supervise the district’s
buildings, equipment and
volunteers. Umatilla’s roster
includes 20 active volunteer
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Potts became a volunteer
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1988. He accepted a full-time
position as EMS coordinator
in 2012 and shifted to
recruitment and retention
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contracted with Hermiston
Fire and Emergency Services
for ambulance services. The
Umatilla district maintains
quick response medical
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functions.
The Umatilla Rural Fire
Protection District Board
next meets Wednesday.
Roxbury remains on medical
leave.
FOR TABLE RESERVATIONS,
$
40
per pers
on
call Paul 541-567-5215 or
formore info., call Joe 541-571-4478
Everyone 21 years & over welcome.
All proceeds will assist Hermiston High
School boys and girl athletic programs.
This ad generously donated by
LUKE DYNES
POWERFUL TOOLS FOR THE
CAREGIVER:
A FREE program for family caregivers. Build a toolkit for
taking better care of yourself while caring for a loved one.
Learn how to reduce stress and relax, communicate
effectively, reduce guilt and anger, make tough decisions,
set goals and problem solve. Must attend
the first class. Registration is required
as space is limited. Sign up by 3/18.
Tuesdays • 4:00 - 7:30pm
March 22 through April 26
Call 541-667-3509
a proud community supporter
HERMISTONSPORTSBOOSTERS . COM
GIFT
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Stripe rust found
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*FREE with the purchase of two or more Merle Norman
cosmetic products. Cosmetic accessories not included.
Offer valid while supplies last at participating
Merle Norman Cosmetic Studios beginning March 1,
2016. Limit one per customer. We reserve the right
to substitute individual components of gift.
1915 Washington St.
Baker City
TRYING TO QUIT
TOBACCO?
Contact our tobacco cessation specialist
to schedule your free consultation. Call
541-667-3509 for more info or to
schedule an appointment.
HEALTHY FRIDAYS
FREE health screenings & health coaching: Blood
pressure checks, weigh-ins, body mass index,
cholesterol and glucose.
First Friday of each month
9:30 - 11:30am
Third Friday of each month
2:00 - 4:00pm
GSMC Conference Center 7 (by Education Dept)
541-523-3288
www.merlenormanstudio
.com/mn-9053
Information or to register
call
(541) 667-3509
or email
