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
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recently shared her story on
Capitol Hill.
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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
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increase Natural Institutes of
Health research funding and
address issues around the MS
Congressionally
Directed
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vative research.
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while in Washington, D.C.,
including U.S. Rep Greg
Walden, R-Oregon, and
Kristen Shatynski, the Health
Policy Legislative Assistant in
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story and I really felt heard
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McDowell said. “Do not
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talking or writing to your
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While McDowell has been
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yearly Eastern Oregon MS
Walk, she’s new at being a
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Her experience in our nation’s
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others with MS by advocating
and sharing her story.
McDowell said funding
research is a key issue in
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sclerosis. In 2015, she said the
MS Society invested about
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Seeking volunteers
to help collect
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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
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When McDowell was
diagnosed nearly 40 years
ago, she said there were no
therapies for the disease. Now,
there are 13 FDA therapies for
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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
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citizens of Heppner, the walk
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region.
“Whenever you have a
worthwhile cause in this area,
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McDowell said.
This year’s event is
Saturday, April 23 beginning
with registration and check-in
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copal Church, 460 N. Gale
St., Heppner. Coffee, fruit
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5K walk, which is wheelchair
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There’s also a 5K run and a
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hosted lunch and door prizes
will follow.
With no set registration
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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
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work or with other people on
another day.
People are encouraged to
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org or by calling 503-445-
:DONRQVDUHZHOFRPH
and can register the day of the
event.
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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
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The second annual Pend-
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July 20-24, and organizer
Eric Folkestad said ticket
sales are already triple
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last year. Folkestad kicked
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rally Tuesday at the Oxford
Suites, highlighting a new
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and Saturday night concert
by Three Dog Night.
Last year’s inaugural
event drew about 5,700
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the Pendleton Convention
Center. Folkestad said they
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Folkestad told a group
of local sponsors and
supporters. “(Bikers) like to
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That’s what we have here
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In addition, Folkestad
announced
Pendleton
Bike Week has donated a
Ford Escape SUV to Blue
Mountain Action Council,
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that provides support
services to veterans and
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east Oregon and southeast
Washington.
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director
for
BMAC,
accepted the donation on
behalf of Zach Knight,
who will use the vehicle
to shuttle veterans back
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Knight is a Pendleton
native and caseworker for
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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.
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and appreciative for this
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will help us better serve
veterans in the Oregon
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Folkestad, who lives in
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was another veterans group
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Motorcycle Association —
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the donation happen. Al
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rides with the group’s
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tains chapter, and said they
did what they could to
coordinate resources.
“We helped Eric get
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said Rafferty, whose road
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the car being donated to
BMAC will provide a huge
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Folkestad said veterans
are a big part of the
following at Pendleton Bike
Week, and they wanted to
do what they could to give
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Looking ahead to this
year’s Bike Week, “Nitro
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to tackle a daunting 68
percent slope near Rieth,
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here, and with it are spring
cleaning opportunities in
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Sanitary
Disposal’s
spring cleanup week
will be April 1-7. Loads
less than 2.5 cubic yards
or 454.5 pounds can be
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iston Transfer Station for
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up to $13.50 off per load.
Tires will be billed at the
regular rate.
The transfer station,
at 81144 Highway 395
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WRSP0RQGD\WKURXJK
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Saturday and Sunday.
At the end of Sanitary
Disposal’s cleanup week,
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host a free recycling day
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Last year was the city’s
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cling event, and Parks and
Recreation director Larry
Fetter said it brought an
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200 citizens dropped off
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including about 25 tons of
old tires.
“We’re
hoping
to
expand as the years go by
and turn it into a whole
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City staff and volunteers
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LQ WKH 8PDWLOOD (OHFWULF
Cooperative parking lot
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appliances, car batteries,
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tronics, paper, cardboard,
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WLUHVVHSDUDWHGIURPULPV
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debris and clean wood.
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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
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PaintCare for the lines on
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he said.
Fetter said the city’s
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has been giving warnings
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residents with code viola-
tions in their yards, letting
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event is a “good opportu-
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He said the city hopes to
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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
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Sanitary Disposal does
collect oil if people are
looking to get rid of it.
The Faith-based Advi-
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for volunteers to help
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are put in the correct bins.
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donated $5,000 to the
event, so Fetter said the
recycling day will be open
to all county residents and
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Contact the Parks and
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541-667-5018 with ques-
tions.
———
Contact Jade McDowell
at
jmcdowell@eastore-
gonian.com or 541-564-
4536.
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uled for Friday, Saturday
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sion is $15 for adults and
$5 for kids 6-12. There will
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and drinks.
Three Dog Night will
also play Saturday, July 23
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Folkestad said the concert
is selling out quickly, and
encouraged people to buy
their tickets soon.
“Our goal is to keep
bringing in quality events
that are fun for the whole
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of events, or to buy tickets,
visit www.pendletonbike-
ZHHNFRP
———
Contact George Plaven
at
gplaven@eastorego-
nian.com or 541-966-0825.
Trailer destroyed
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BOARDMAN — An
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and was destroyed Tuesday
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/DQHLQ%RDUGPDQ
Fire Chief Marc
Rogelstad said crews
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¿QGWKHYHKLFOHHQJXOIHG
LQÀDPHV)LUH¿JKWHUVSXW
out the blaze before it could
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Nobody was hurt, and
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KRPHDWWKHWLPH²ZDV
not displaced. Rogelstad
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Fire responded with three
engines and six personnel,
and spent roughly two hours
on scene.
Adams Day seeks
vendors, parade
entrants
ADAMS — People who
are looking for a place to sell
their wares are encouraged
to consider setting up a table
GXULQJ$GDPV'D\
7KH$GDPV/DGLHV&OXE
is looking for vendors as
well as parade entries for
the annual event, which is
Saturday, April 16.
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DPWRSPDQGWKHFRVW
LVSHUERRWK)RUPRUH
LQIRUPDWLRQFDOO0DU\
at 503-440-2082.
Parade registration begins
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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
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Irrigon Multicultural Arts
Center is planned this
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VHUYHGXS6DWXUGD\IURP
DPDW6WRNHV
Landing Senior Center, 195
N.W. Opal Place, Irrigon.
The cost is $4.50 per
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ZLOOKHOSWKHQRQSUR¿W
group in developing a
regional arts center and
preserving Irrigon’s 1921
school building.
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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
