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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (April 8, 2016)
TWINS RECEIVE SURPRISE OSU SCHOLARSHIPS COACH HOFFERT RETIRES EU threatens sanctions on tax havens HERMISTON/3A SPORTS/1B WORLD/5A FRIDAY, APRIL 8, 2016 140th Year, No. 125 Your Weekend WINNER OF THE 2015 ONPA GENERAL EXCELLENCE AWARD PENDLETON Apartments get approval Planning commission OKs 100-unit complex • • • Photo exhibit opens at Pendleton Arts Center Tree, shrub giveaway at Roy Raley Park Blue Mountain A’s 40th birthday celebration For times and places see Coming Events, 5A Weekend Weather Fri Sat Sun 80/52 76/47 72/47 One dollar By ANTONIO SIERRA East Oregonian The people responsible for the Pendleton Heights housing develop- ment have set their sights higher. The Pendleton Planning Commis- sion on Thursday unanimously approved a plat modi¿ cation that will accommodate a 100-unit apartment complex, instead of the 40 town- houses that were originally planned. When Jivanjee Circosta Archi- tecture initially pitched Pendleton Heights, the plan was to build 72 townhouses on land east of Olney Cemetery. Co-developer Doug Circosta said tenants are already renting the 22 townhouses completed in the ¿ rst phase and the 10-unit second phase is nearing completion. Circosta said the company began to veer from the original course when they realized some tenants were living as roommates in units that had been intended for families. “The need is strong and the rents for the duplexes are still a bit higher than what a lot of the market can See APARTMENTS/10A Forest plan discussion draws crowd from both sides of issue PENDLETON Farmers market back on Main St. East Oregonian The Pendleton Farmers Market will return to Main Street. Mary Ann McCune, pres- ident of the Farmers Market board, announced Thursday the market would open May 6 on Main Street, just as it has for the past 13 years. The market was in danger of moving off the 300 block of Main after some business owners complained about big trucks blocking views and foot traf¿ c to their stores. The city warned the market that it would lose its street closure permit if vendors continued to violate a condition of that permit — not parking in front of MaySon’s Old Fashioned General Store and Alexan- der’s Chocolate Classics. Pendleton City Manager Robb Corbett said he and McCune discussed each other’s concerns, and he credited the market with spending “quite a bit of time” talking to downtown busi- nesses. He called the market an asset to downtown. “It was always our hope that we could continue to keep them there,” Corbett said. “I think what we were able to do is reach as good of a compromise as each of us is able, to attempt to meet the minimum needs of the See MARKET/10A Staff photo by E.J. Harris OPB producer Phoebe Flanigan holds a microphone for former Joseph mayor Peggy Kite-Martin as she makes a statement about the Blue Mountains Forest Plan during a taping of ‘Think Out Loud’ on Wednesday at BMCC in Pendleton. Thinking out loud Show was hosted, aired on OPB By GEORGE PLAVEN East Oregonian An overÀ ow crowd of about 100 people gathered Wednesday evening at Blue Mountain Commu- nity College in Pendleton — coming from as far as Baker City, Joseph and even Bend — looking for answers to the same basic ques- tion. Who should be allowed to do “I think some people believe that every acre can provide every use for everyone. It can’t. It’s going to take compromise from everyone.” The stakes were laid out during Wednesday’s discussion of the forest plan, which was recorded and aired Thursday on “Think Out Loud” on Oregon Public Broadcasting. Host Dave Miller moderated a panel of guests that included Malheur National Forest Supervisor Steve Beverlin; Darilyn Parry Brown, executive director of the Hells Canyon Preservation Council; King Williams, a natural resources consultant based in — Steve Beverlin, Malheur National Forest supervisor See FOREST/10A what, and where, on the Blue Mountains national forests? Those decisions are ultimately guided by the Blue Mountains Forest Plan, which is undergoing its ¿ rst revision since 10. It has been a slow, laborious process as the Forest Service attempts to balance all manner of public interests, from access and recreation to logging and conservation. Dinner recognizes county’s ‘health heroes’ By JADE MCDOWELL East Oregonian Partners in public health gathered in Hermiston on Wednesday to discuss the state of health in Umatilla County and recognize the county’s “health heroes.” During the second annual Umatilla County Public Health Fundraiser and Awareness Dinner, Pendleton physician Jonathan Hitzman, who also serves as the county’s health of¿ cer, was named this year’s of¿ cial Health Hero. “He really walks the talk when it comes to public health,” Umatilla County Public Health director Meghan DeBolt said before telling Hitzman that the department would not be what it is today without his help. “It has been an absolute pleasure,” he responded. DeBolt also recognized Gloria Corona, who handles human resources and accounting for the department, as the Public Health Employee of the Year. She recognized two Public Health Partners of the Year. The ¿ rst was the Umatilla County Planning Department, which has See HEALTH/10A Dr. Jonathan Hitzman of Pendleton speaks about public health in Umatilla County during the Public Health Fundraiser and Awareness Dinner. Staff photo by Jade McDowell