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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (March 8, 2016)
Page 8A OFF PAGE ONE East Oregonian Tuesday, March 8, 2016 FRUPeU ¿UVW OaG\ NaQF\ ReagaQ GLeV aW NUDE: Took a group of LOS ANGELES (AP) — Nancy Reagan, the helpmate, EDFNVWDJH DGYLVHU DQG ¿HUFH protector of Ronald Reagan in his journey from actor WR SUHVLGHQW ² DQG ¿QDOO\ during his 10-year battle with $O]KHLPHU¶V GLVHDVH ² KDV died. She was 94. 7KH IRUPHU ¿UVW ODG\ died Sunday at her home in the Bel-Air section of Los Angeles of congestive heart failure, assistant Allison Borio told The Associated Press. Her best-known project as ¿UVW ODG\ ZDV WKH ³-XVW 6D\ No” campaign to help kids and teens stay off drugs. When she swept into the White House in 1981, the former Hollywood actress partial to designer gowns and pricey china was widely dismissed as a pre-feminist throwback, concerned only with fashion, decorating and entertaining. By the time she moved out eight years later, Mrs. Reagan was fending off accusations that she was a behind-the-scenes “dragon lady” wielding unchecked power over the Reagan administration — and doing it based on astrology to boot. All along she maintained that her only mission was to back her “Ronnie” and strengthen his presidency. Mrs. Reagan carried that charge through the rest of her days. She served as a full- WLPHFDUHWDNHUDV$O]KHLPHU¶V melted away her husband’s memory. After his death in -XQH VKH GHGLFDWHG herself to tending his legacy, especially at his presidential library in California, where he had served as governor. She also championed $O]KHLPHU¶V SDWLHQWV raising millions of dollars for research and breaking with fellow conservative Republicans to advocate for stem cell studies. Her dignity and perseverance in these post-White House roles helped smooth over the SXEOLF¶V¿FNOHSHUFHSWLRQVRI WKHIRUPHU¿UVWODG\ The Reagans’ mutual devotion over 52 years of marriage was legendary. They were forever holding hands. She watched his polit- ical speeches with a look of such steady adoration it was GXEEHG³WKHJD]H´ BIKE: 5HJLRQ¶V¿UVWPDMRUUDFHRIWKHVHDVRQ Continued from 1A a way to improve his health and has been riding in Red 2 Red for the past four years. While he used to start with the rest of the pack, the laborious nature of municy- cling meant he was forced to leave the course before he FRXOG¿QLVK So this year, he started at 6:10 a.m. and spent the next seven hours going over a course that winded many seasoned two-wheel riders. Myers is the uncle of Shayne Myers, who helped build the course and co-owns Echo Bike & Board with his wife, Stephanie. Although the shop has since moved to Pendleton, Echo Bike & Board returned to its namesake town to help RUJDQL]HWKHUDFH Stephanie said Red 2 5HG LV WKH 1RUWKZHVW¶V ¿UVW major mountain bike race of the season, given that most other bike trails are covered in snow or bogged down in mud. 7KH ¿HOG ZDV GLYLGHG into several groups based on skill level, age, gender and duration of ride, with options to bike 12 miles, 25 PLOHV RU WKH HQWLUH PLOH course. 6WHSKDQLHVDLGRUJDQL]HUV change the layout of the course each year, meaning there are no Red 2 Red records to be set or broken. By noon every group was on the course, which takes cyclists through the heart of Lloyd Piercy’s Echo West vineyards. In return for the physical punishment sustained from the winding course, race participants are given scenic views of the Umatilla River and the high desert. Driving through the rows of Zinfandel and Pinot Noir Saturday, Piercy said he views himself as a steward of the land, which is one of the reasons he allowed orga- QL]HUV 6KD\QH 0\HUV DQG Brian Cimmiyotti to build Photo by Antonio Sierra Two Red 2 Red competitors bike down the track through Echo West Vineyards Saturday. Photo by Antonio Sierra Racers travel down Main Street at the Echo Red 2 Red Cross Country Mountain Bike Race Saturday. the course 10 years ago. Before then, Piercy used the area as a cattle pasture, but he has since removed the cows to give cyclists a sense of the high desert’s natural beauty. Before returning to Echo, Piercy stopped by an area looking over the Umatilla River, where Kenji Sugahara ZDVÀ\LQJDGURQHWKDWZDV taking video of the race. Sugahara, executive director of the Oregon Bike Racing Association and a member of the state’s tourism commission, said Eastern Oregon was one of his favorite parts of the state and was an ideal place for a bike race. While operating drones was more of a hobby, Suga- hara said he was happy to use video footage that could draw tourism to the area. “Rural Oregon needs as much economic help as it can get,” he said. Piercy agreed with Suga- hara’s assessment, saying events like Red 2 Red and businesses like his own Sno Road Winery bring much- needed economic develop- ment to a city that’s been hit KDUG E\ WKH PHFKDQL]DWLRQ of the agriculture industry. 7DNLQJ KRPH ¿UVW SODFH IRU ¿QLVKLQJ WKH HQWLUH course was Red 2 Red QHZFRPHU -DPH\ <DQLN RI %RLVH ,GDKR ZKR ¿QLVKHG DOO PLOHV LQ D OLWWOH RYHU two hours. The former pro had just started to get back into competitive cycling and wasn’t expecting to take KRPH WKH WRS SUL]H RQ VXFK a tough course. “It’s such a long day and hard day, you just take what your body gives you,” the \HDUROGVDLG ——— Contact Antonio Sierra at asierra@eastoregonian. com or 541-966-0836. MURDER: No arrests yet in 2010 Morrow County murder Continued from 1A RI¿FHUJRWWR0DGULJDODVKH drew his last breath. Two weeks later, a vehicle associated with the murder turned up in southern Cali- IRUQLD 'HWHFWLYHV ÀHZ WR Los Angeles. Edmiston cred- LWHG WKH 6FLHQWL¿F 6HUYLFHV Bureau of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department IRU¿QGLQJFOXHVWKDWKHOSHG FRQ¿UPZKDWSROLFHWKRXJKW was taking place. Edmiston, though, said he could not discuss a theory of the crime or provide certain details because he did not ZDQWWRMHRSDUGL]HWKHLQYHV- tigation. Umatilla County District Attorney Dan Primus said much the same. He and Edmiston met for lunch last week and discussed the homicide. Primus, who is running for re-election, said Hermiston police keep his RI¿FHLQIRUPHGDERXWGHYHO- opments and actions in the case. He explained providing details of a crime, though — what kind of gun a shooter used, for example, or where the victim was shot — makes it harder for police to sort out what happened and then for KLVRI¿FHWREULQJFKDUJHV Law enforcement in Morrow County is in a similar hard place with the murder of 16-year-old Ariel Velasco. Someone gunned him down in the street the night of Dec. 18, 2010. So far, no arrests. Morrow County District Attorney said without a cold case team to crack the case, police have to wait for someone to spill a new clue. “I think there’s still people out there that know,” he said, “... but no one has come forward.” Nelson said Velasco’s older brother, Alexandre ³$OH[´ 3HUH] 9HODVFR is wanted on an attempted murder charge for the November 2012 shooting of 'DYLG5DPLUH]LQ%RDUGPDQ $QG5DPLUH]RI,UULJRQ ZDV RQH RI SHRSOH WKH Blue Mountain Enforcement Narcotics Team arrested in late February. He now faces drug charges. Nelson said maybe with time a person would mature and break from the gang rules of staying silent. But until then, it looks like a killer remains free. Edmiston said Hermiston police are on the right track WR¿QGZKRNLOOHG0DGULJDO even if the case is a slog. “A handful of people have intimate knowledge of what took place that night,” Edmiston said. “We’re FRQ¿GHQW NQRZLQJ WKDW WKH people involved have had criminal histories in the past and will continue to have engagements with law enforcement.” 20 people to rescue him Continued from 1A inspect the Wilson’s shed, took off running. Pendleton Police Chief Stuart Roberts said Burton dashed north, scaled a cyclone fence and dove off the side of a 40- or 50-foot bluff that borders the Umatilla River near the Riverside Bridge. When RI¿FHUV KHDUG QR VSODVK RU other indication the man had hit bottom, they ran to get a better view. “When they got there, they looked down,” Roberts said. “He was hanging upside-down in a tree.” Roberts said the appar- ently drug-intoxicated Hermiston man was combative. Burton hung, his left ankle wedged in the crotch of a tree and his head DERXW ¿YH RU VL[ IHHW IURP the bank. 2I¿FHUV FDOOHG IRU assistance from Emergency Medical Services and Umatilla County Search 5HVFXH 3HQGOHWRQ ¿UH- ¿JKWHUSDUDPHGLF -HUHP\ Keene, who made his way down a steep game trail, ZDV WKH ¿UVW WR UHDFK WKH injured man. “He was hollering for help,” Keene said. “He was struggling to get free.” Keene had been warned by law enforcement that the man was combative. He pulled back until Dwight -RKQVRQD8PDWLOOD&RXQW\ Sheriff’s Deputy and sergeant with Search & Rescue, joined him. They pondered how to dislodge the contentious fugitive. ³+H ÀDLOHG DW XV D ELW´ -RKQVRQ VDLG ³:H ZRUNHG to keep him calm.” -RKQVRQ UHFRJQL]HG that Burton seem to be in “excited delirium,” a state sometimes triggered by drugs. Drugs might also have earlier driven Burton to remove his wet clothes on the riverbank below the Wilson home. “With drugs such as PCP and acid, the physiology changes,” Roberts said. “People sometimes get hot and start disrobing.” -RKQVRQVDLGWKHUHVFXHUV had three priorities: “get this guy out of the tree, keep him from escaping and keep ourselves from getting injured.” Eventually, Burton DOORZHG -RKQVRQ WR ZUDS a rope around his chest and another around his ankle. From above, others manipulated the lines, EULQJLQJ KLP KRUL]RQWDO and then lowering him to the ground. The group of rescuers and law enforce- ment had grown to about 20, according to Keene. At one point, the agitated Burton lunged toward the weapon of Umatilla County 6KHULII¶V 2I¿FH 'HSXW\ -RKQ 5HLW] 6RRQ WKH\ talked the man into getting into a suspended stretcher, handcuffed and sedated him and had rescuers at the top of the bluff lift him to safety. )LUH¿JKWHUSDUDPHGLF -DUHG 8VHOPDQRQKLV¿UVWRI¿FLDO FDOO DV D 3HQGOHWRQ ¿UH- ¿JKWHUSDUDPHGLF FOLSSHG in to the stretcher with a carabiner and accompanied Burton as he used another rope to climb. Burton was taken to St. Anthony Hospital for an examination before heading to jail. He faces charges of burglary, harassment, disor- derly conduct and resisting arrest. Wilson said she feels JUDWHIXO WR SROLFH ¿UH- ¿JKWHUVDQG6$5SHUVRQQHO who responded. She won’t forget the kindness of Sgt. Charles Byrum who stepped inside the house numerous times during the three-hour rescue operation to check on her. Wilson remains feisty about the experience and said she moved her pistol to the front room. “I’m not afraid to use it,” she said. ——— Contact Kathy Aney at kaney@eastoregonian.com or call 541-966-0810. UAS: 7HVWÀLJKWVZHUHOHVVWKDQ 400 feet above unpopulated ares government agencies, universities and industry. data with UAS.” The PNNL team was 7KHWHVWÀLJKWVZHUHOHVV accompanied by a repre- than 400 feet above unpop- sentative from ArgenTech ulated areas during daylight Solutions, a technical hours and in accordance services company with with FAA regulations, D 8$6 RI¿FH EDVHG LQ according to the release. Vancouver, Washington. ,Q-DQXDU\+XEEHOOVDLG The Pendleton UAS the relationship between Range is part of the the test range and the labo- $ODVNDQ OHG 3DQ3DFL¿F ratory will be “longterm,” Test Site Complex, one with a crew of 8-10 pilots of the six FAA designated DQG VFLHQWLVWV IRU WKH ¿UVW testing locations in the round of training and country. Oregon supports testing and smaller groups the range through SOAR of 2-4 people for subse- Oregon, a state-funded quent trainings. QRQSUR¿WZLWKWKHPLVVLRQ Based in Richland, of fostering the growth Washington, PNNL is one of Oregon’s unmanned of 10 national science labo- aircraft industry. ratories managed by the “The City of Pendleton U.S. Department of Energy. and (ArgenTech Solutions) The lab does research for have provided the ideal DOE, the U.S. Department operational area for us to of Homeland Security, the complete our current and National Nuclear Security future missions,” Hubbell Administration, other said. Continued from 1A We have what you are looking for: • Friendly neighbors • Award-winning staff • Wellness-centered philosophy • Flexible stay options In Partnership with Adventist Health Services Cool! KOVACH: Has a master’s degree in teaching Continued from 1A position in Walla Walla. Kovach has been the prin- cipal at Ontario High School since 2012, and during that time the graduation rate has increased from 54 percent to 79 percent, according to the press release. During his open interview with the district he talked about the career and tech- nical education programs his district had added, and said new courses in engineering and bio-medicine have been added. He was previously an associate principal at the high school, an elementary school principal and the director of migrant education for the district. He also was an asso- ciate middle school principal and social studies teacher in Nyssa, and was a teacher and special services coordinator in Crane. He has a master’s degree in teaching from Willamette University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from Oregon State University. “My philosophy of education is founded on commitment and hard work,” Kovach said in the release. “To be successful we must commit ourselves to excel- lence and be willing to do the hard work and make the hard choices in order to change things for the better.” He went on to say schools must offer a safe and welcoming environment that offers a range of activities to keep students engaged. He also said he plans to spend a lot of time in Pendleton in the coming months to learn about the community and schools. “I invite anyone who has thoughts about Pendleton’s schools to contact me,” he said. “I’d like to listen.” Have you heard? 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