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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (March 23, 2016)
REGION Wednesday, March 23, 2016 East Oregonian HEPPNER Page 3A HERMISTON :RPDQZLWK06PDUFKHVRQ&DSLWRO+LOO Spring cleaning opportunities coming up Eastern Oregon MS Walk is April 23 By TAMMY MALGESINI East Oregonian Merilee McDowell, who spearheaded a fundraising walk in Heppner 18 years DJRWR¿JKWPXOWLSOHVFOHURVLV recently shared her story on Capitol Hill. 7KH+HSSQHUZRPDQZKR was diagnosed with MS in 1977, traveled to Washington, D.C., with the National Multiple Sclerosis Society Oregon Chapter to attend the NMSS Public Policy Confer- ence. The purpose of the trip, McDowell said, was to network, to inspire one another and to advocate for issues and action for WKRVH ZLWK 06 $UPHG ZLWK LQIRUPDWLRQ WKH\ VRXJKW WR increase Natural Institutes of Health research funding and address issues around the MS Congressionally Directed 0HGLFDO 5HVHDUFK 3URJUDP ZKLFK IXQGV LPSRUWDQW LQQR- vative research. 7KH 2UHJRQ JURXS PHW ZLWKPDQ\JURXSVDQGSHRSOH while in Washington, D.C., including U.S. Rep Greg Walden, R-Oregon, and Kristen Shatynski, the Health Policy Legislative Assistant in KLVRI¿FH ³, VKDUHG P\ SHUVRQDO story and I really felt heard DQGWKDWP\YRLFHPDWWHUHG´ McDowell said. “Do not XQGHUHVWLPDWH WKH SRZHU RI talking or writing to your FRQJUHVVPDQ RU UHSUHVHQWD- WLYHWKH\FDUH´ While McDowell has been DFWLYH UDLVLQJ PRQH\ DW WKH yearly Eastern Oregon MS Walk, she’s new at being a PXOWLSOH VFOHURVLV DFWLYLVW Her experience in our nation’s FDSLWDO DUPHG KHU ZLWK LQIRU- PDWLRQRQKRZVKHFDQPDNH PRUH RI DQ LPSDFW DQG KHOS others with MS by advocating and sharing her story. McDowell said funding research is a key issue in ¿QGLQJ D FXUH IRU PXOWLSOH sclerosis. In 2015, she said the MS Society invested about PLOOLRQIRUUHVHDUFK Seeking volunteers to help collect LWHPVGXULQJHYHQW By JADE MCDOWELL East Oregonian Photo contributed by Andrew Malcolm U.S. Rep. Greg Walden meets with members of the National Multiple Sclerosis So- ciety Oregon Chapter, including Merilee McDowell of Heppner (second from left) and Pamila Hussey, a native of Milton-Freewater (center), to discuss the 21st Cen- tury Cures Act. What is MS? Multiple sclerosis is a chronic disease that affects the central nervous system. It can manifest with a variety of symp- toms, including changes in sensation, visual impair- ments, muscle weakness, coordination problems, speech difficulties, fatigue and pain. In severe cases, people with MS can experi- ence impaired mobility. Staff photo by Tammy Malgesini All forms of transportation were utilized during the 2015 Eastern Oregon MS Walk. This year’s event is April 23 in Heppner. “Research is how we can stop MS in its tracks, restore what has been lost and end 06IRUHYHU´VKHVDLG When McDowell was diagnosed nearly 40 years ago, she said there were no therapies for the disease. Now, there are 13 FDA therapies for SHRSOH ZLWK UHODSVLQJUHPLW- ting MS. And currently the FDA is reviewing a therapy to treat progressive MS, she said. McDowell is thrilled with the ongoing support of the Eastern Oregon MS Walk. In DGGLWLRQWRIDPLO\IULHQGVDQG citizens of Heppner, the walk GUDZVSHRSOHIURPDFURVVWKH region. “Whenever you have a worthwhile cause in this area, HYHU\RQH VWHSV XS WR KHOS´ McDowell said. This year’s event is Saturday, April 23 beginning with registration and check-in DW DP DW$OO 6DLQW¶V (SLV- copal Church, 460 N. Gale St., Heppner. Coffee, fruit DQG FLQQDPRQ UROOV ZLOO EH DYDLODEOH 7KH ZHOOPDUNHG 5K walk, which is wheelchair DFFHVVLEOH EHJLQV DW DP There’s also a 5K run and a .ZDONZLWKDURXWHPDS$ hosted lunch and door prizes will follow. With no set registration IHHGRQDWLRQVRIDQ\DPRXQW DUH ZHOFRPH 3DUWLFLSDQWV UDLVLQJRUPRUHFDQHDUQ prizes, starting with a T-shirt (while supplies last). Those unable to participate on April 23 can still help by registering as a virtual walker. This includes walking on \RXUOXQFKEUHDNWRDQGIURP work or with other people on another day. People are encouraged to SUHUHJLVWHU DW ZZZZDONPV org or by calling 503-445- :DONRQVDUHZHOFRPH and can register the day of the event. )RU PRUH LQIRUPDWLRQ call co-chairs Barb Orwick at 541-256-0455 or Taylor Disque at 541-256-0295. ——— Contact Community Editor Tammy Malgesini at tmalge- sini@eastoregonian.com or 541-564-4539 PENDLETON BRIEFLY Bike Week anticipates big turnout Group donates SUV to Blue Mountain Action Council By GEORGE PLAVEN East Oregonian Motorcycle lovers UHMRLFH The second annual Pend- OHWRQ%LNH:HHNLVFRPLQJ July 20-24, and organizer Eric Folkestad said ticket sales are already triple ZKDWWKH\ZHUHDWWKLVWLPH last year. Folkestad kicked RIISURPRWLRQIRUWKH rally Tuesday at the Oxford Suites, highlighting a new SUR KLOO FOLPE FRPSHWLWLRQ and Saturday night concert by Three Dog Night. Last year’s inaugural event drew about 5,700 SHRSOH RYHU ¿YH GD\V WR the Pendleton Convention Center. Folkestad said they H[SHFW DW OHDVW WKUHH WLPHV DVPDQ\SHRSOHWKLV\HDU ³7KH VHFUHW LV RXW´ Folkestad told a group of local sponsors and supporters. “(Bikers) like to GLVFRYHU WKH UHDO$PHULFD That’s what we have here LQ3HQGOHWRQ´ In addition, Folkestad announced Pendleton Bike Week has donated a Ford Escape SUV to Blue Mountain Action Council, D QRQSUR¿W RUJDQL]DWLRQ that provides support services to veterans and WKHLUIDPLOLHVDFURVVQRUWK- east Oregon and southeast Washington. 'HEELH %DNHU SURJUDP director for BMAC, accepted the donation on behalf of Zach Knight, who will use the vehicle to shuttle veterans back DQG IRUWK EHWZHHQ PHGLFDO DSSRLQWPHQWV DQG KHOS WKHP DFFHVV WKHLU EHQH¿WV Knight is a Pendleton native and caseworker for WKH SURJUDP ZKR KLPVHOI ZDV LQMXUHG ZKLOH VHUYLQJ overseas in Iraq. Staff photo by George Plaven Eric Folkestad, event organizer with Pendleton Bike Week, presents a donated Ford Escape to Debra Bak- er, with the Blue Mountain Action Council. ³:H¶UHMXVWYHU\JUDWHIXO and appreciative for this GRQDWLRQ´ %DNHU VDLG ³,W will help us better serve veterans in the Oregon DUHD´ Folkestad, who lives in &DPDV:DVKLQJWRQVDLGLW was another veterans group ² WKH &RPEDW 9HWHUDQV Motorcycle Association — WKDWZDVLQWHJUDOLQPDNLQJ the donation happen. Al 5DIIHUW\ RI +HUPLVWRQ rides with the group’s QHZO\IRUPHG%OXH0RXQ- tains chapter, and said they did what they could to coordinate resources. “We helped Eric get WKLQJV JRLQJ DQG ¿QG WKH ULJKW SHRSOH WR GHDO ZLWK´ said Rafferty, whose road QDPH LV &DSRQH ³, WKLQN the car being donated to BMAC will provide a huge EHQH¿W WR =DFK JHWWLQJ WKRVHYHWHUDQVWRDQGIURP WKHLUDSSRLQWPHQWV´ Folkestad said veterans are a big part of the following at Pendleton Bike Week, and they wanted to do what they could to give EDFNWRWKHFRPPXQLW\ Looking ahead to this year’s Bike Week, “Nitro LQ WKH %OXHV´ ZLOO EULQJ LQ SURIHVVLRQDO KLOO FOLPEHUV to tackle a daunting 68 percent slope near Rieth, 6SULQJ LV RI¿FLDOO\ here, and with it are spring cleaning opportunities in +HUPLVWRQ Sanitary Disposal’s spring cleanup week will be April 1-7. Loads less than 2.5 cubic yards or 454.5 pounds can be GURSSHG RII DW WKH +HUP- iston Transfer Station for IUHH GXULQJ WKDW WLPH DQG FDVKFXVWRPHUVFDQUHFHLYH up to $13.50 off per load. Tires will be billed at the regular rate. The transfer station, at 81144 Highway 395 1RUWKZLOOEHRSHQDP WRSP0RQGD\WKURXJK )ULGD\DQGDPWRSP Saturday and Sunday. At the end of Sanitary Disposal’s cleanup week, WKH FLW\ RI +HUPLVWRQ ZLOO host a free recycling day RQ 6DWXUGD\$SULO IURP DPWRSP Last year was the city’s ¿UVWWLPHKRVWLQJWKHUHF\- cling event, and Parks and Recreation director Larry Fetter said it brought an LPSUHVVLYH WXUQRXW $ERXW 200 citizens dropped off PRUHWKDQWRQVRIMXQN including about 25 tons of old tires. “We’re hoping to expand as the years go by and turn it into a whole FRPPXQLW\ FOHDQXS HYHQW´KHVDLG City staff and volunteers ZLOO EH FROOHFWLQJ LWHPV LQ WKH 8PDWLOOD (OHFWULF Cooperative parking lot DW : (OP$YH 7KH\ ZLOO DFFHSW DOXPLQXP appliances, car batteries, FRPSXWHUV FRQFUHWH HOHF- tronics, paper, cardboard, JODVVERWWOHVMDUVSODVWLFV WLUHVVHSDUDWHGIURPULPV WLQ VFUDS PHWDO \DUG debris and clean wood. ,WHPV VKRXOG EH VHSDUDWHG DKHDGRIWLPH A paint recycling orga- nization called PaintCare will also be on hand to collect paint. Oregonians pay a tax on paint they purchase in the state, and that tax goes to PaintCare for collecting leftover paint and recycling it. Fetter said the city has been XVLQJ UHF\FOHG SDLQW IURP PaintCare for the lines on LWVVRFFHU¿HOGV ³,W¶V D JUHDW SURGXFW´ he said. Fetter said the city’s FRGH HQIRUFHPHQW RI¿FHU has been giving warnings DQG GLVWULEXWLQJ ÀLHUV WR residents with code viola- tions in their yards, letting WKHP NQRZ WKDW WKH IUHH event is a “good opportu- QLW\WRJHWULGRIWKLVVWXII´ He said the city hopes to VRPHGD\ DGG D KD]DUGRXV FKHPLFDO FROOHFWLRQ FRPSRQHQWWRWKHUHF\FOLQJ day, but that would cost about $20,000 so it is too expensive to do this year without a grant. The city will also not be taking PRWRU RLO EXW )HWWHU VDLG Sanitary Disposal does collect oil if people are looking to get rid of it. The Faith-based Advi- VRU\&RPPLWWHHLVORRNLQJ for volunteers to help FROOHFW LWHPV GXULQJ WKH HYHQW DQG PDNH VXUH WKH\ are put in the correct bins. 8PDWLOOD &RXQW\ donated $5,000 to the event, so Fetter said the recycling day will be open to all county residents and QRWMXVWWKRVHLQ+HUPLVWRQ Contact the Parks and 5HFUHDWLRQ GHSDUWPHQW DW 541-667-5018 with ques- tions. ——— Contact Jade McDowell at jmcdowell@eastore- gonian.com or 541-564- 4536. ZLWK FRPSHWLWLRQV VFKHG- uled for Friday, Saturday DQG 6XQGD\ 'DLO\ DGPLV- sion is $15 for adults and $5 for kids 6-12. There will EH RQVLWH FDPSLQJ IRRG and drinks. Three Dog Night will also play Saturday, July 23 DW+DSS\&DQ\RQ6WDGLXP Folkestad said the concert is selling out quickly, and encouraged people to buy their tickets soon. “Our goal is to keep bringing in quality events that are fun for the whole IDPLO\´)RONHVWDGVDLG )RUDFRPSOHWHVFKHGXOH of events, or to buy tickets, visit www.pendletonbike- ZHHNFRP ——— Contact George Plaven at gplaven@eastorego- nian.com or 541-966-0825. Trailer destroyed E\¿UH BOARDMAN — An IRRWWUDLOHUFDXJKW¿UH and was destroyed Tuesday PRUQLQJDW6XPPLW /DQHLQ%RDUGPDQ Fire Chief Marc Rogelstad said crews DUULYHGDIWHUDPWR ¿QGWKHYHKLFOHHQJXOIHG LQÀDPHV)LUH¿JKWHUVSXW out the blaze before it could VSUHDGWRWKHPDLQKRXVH Nobody was hurt, and WKHIDPLO\²ZKLFKZDV KRPHDWWKHWLPH²ZDV not displaced. Rogelstad VDLGLWDSSHDUVWKH¿UH ZDVHOHFWULFDO%RDUGPDQ Fire responded with three engines and six personnel, and spent roughly two hours on scene. Adams Day seeks vendors, parade entrants ADAMS — People who are looking for a place to sell their wares are encouraged to consider setting up a table GXULQJ$GDPV'D\ 7KH$GDPV/DGLHV&OXE is looking for vendors as well as parade entries for the annual event, which is Saturday, April 16. 9HQGRUKRXUVDUHIURP DPWRSPDQGWKHFRVW LVSHUERRWK)RUPRUH LQIRUPDWLRQFDOO0DU\ at 503-440-2082. Parade registration begins DWDPZLWKWKHEHJLQQLQJ DWDP7RSDUWLFLSDWHLQ the parade, contact Debi at 541-566-2902, 541-429-0348 RUFDVWRU#JPDLOFRP ——— Briefs are compiled from staff and wire reports, and press releases. Email press releases to news@ eastoregonian.com H AMLEY S TEAK H OUSE IMAC plans fundraiser breakfast IRRIGON — A pancake EUHDNIDVWWREHQH¿WWKH Irrigon Multicultural Arts Center is planned this ZHHNHQG7KHPHDOZLOOEH VHUYHGXS6DWXUGD\IURP DPDW6WRNHV Landing Senior Center, 195 N.W. Opal Place, Irrigon. The cost is $4.50 per SHUVRQ7KHPRQH\UDLVHG ZLOOKHOSWKHQRQSUR¿W group in developing a regional arts center and preserving Irrigon’s 1921 school building. )RUPRUHLQIRUPDWLRQ call Peggy Price at 541-567- 3806. It’s not like her. Mom has always been so patient, but now when I ask her questions she gets angry. We can help. 1-855-ORE-ADRC HelpForAlz.org OREGON DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES PROGRAM Sunday M ARCH 27 10am 2pm - Featuring SLOW ROASTED PRIME RIB CARVING STATION HONEY MAPLE HAM ROASTED RED POTATOES FRESH GREEN BEANS WITH BACON & BUTTER CHICKEN BUNKHOUSE PENNE PASTA WHISKEY MEATBALLS FESTIVE SCRAMBLED EGGS APPLEWOOD SMOKED BACON AND SAUSAGE HAMLEY BISCUITS AND SAUSAGE GRAVY CHEESE BLINTZES WITH BERRY SAUCE SEASONAL FRESH FRUIT SALAD HAMLEY CAESAR SALAD HAMLEY CRANBERRY SPINACH SALAD HOT ROLLS & BUTTER ASSORTED DESSERTS $ ALL YOU CAN EAT $ 26 1 6 per person kids 5-12 CALL TODAY FOR RESERVATIONS 541.278.1100 OPTION 2 COURT & MAIN, PENDLETON