REGION
Friday, April 22, 2016
East Oregonian
Page 3A
Staff Photo by Jennifer Colton
Staff Photo by Jennifer Colton
First-graders take a walk Thursday at McNary Dam.
Lynn Tompkins, of Blue Mountain Wildlife, holds up an owl pellet for kindergarteners
to see during a presentation Thursday at McNary Dam.
Students embrace Earth Day at McNary Dam
By JENNIFER COLTON
East Oregonian
Children in tie-dyed
T-shirts walked the trails
below the McNary Dam on
Thursday as Earth Day came
to life for almost 700 students.
All classes from McNary
Heights Elementary, clad in
color-coded T-shirts, trekked
down to the dam for a full
day of hands-on experiments
and exploring nature trails,
all designed to give young
students a fun and interesting
way to look at the world
around them.
Students
from
the
advanced biology class at
Umatilla High School led
eight different stations scat-
tered around the property,
teaching younger students
about
everything
from
peacock plumage to pollu-
tion.
Elijah Pine and Ethan
Holiday, for example, taught
about snakes through puzzles,
lessons, and the opportunity to
pet Alfred, a boa constrictor.
“I was worried, but
it’s going pretty good so
far,” Pine said. “They (the
younger students) thought it
was awesome. I was really
Staff Photo by Jennifer Colton
Umatilla High School junior Elijah Pine introduces a
class of second-graders to Alfred the snake Thursday
at McNary Dam.
Staff Photo by Jennifer Colton
Second-grader Kendra Chaves meets Alfred the snake Thursday at McNary Dam.
More than 600 students participated in Earth Day activities at the McNary Dam.
impressed they enjoyed it as
much as they did.”
On the other side of the
ponds, juniors Arely Ortiz
and Yesenia Flores taught
about pollution and recycling.
“It’s a big topic in the
world, and it’s effecting
everybody in their daily
lives,” Ortiz said, adding
it is important to introduce
the topic to elementary
students. “I hope that they
understand that cleaning up
after themselves is going to
make a huge difference in
our world. It may not seem
like much with one person,
but if everyone does it, it will
change everything.”
Professional
organiza-
tions, such as Blue Mountain
Wildlife rehabilitation and
education, also participated
in the event, which was open
to all students at McNary
Heights Elementary.
Staff Photo by Jennifer Colton
Umatilla High School junior Arely Ortiz helps
students plant seeds in containers made from used water
bottles Thursday at McNary Dam.
IRRIGON
BRIEFLY
Three cleared in investigation
of teacher/student relationship
but the case was forwarded
to the TSPC for investigation
in September 2014.
Four individuals were
The Oregon Teacher
Standards and Practices FRQ¿UPHG XQGHU LQYHVWLJD-
Commission is still consid- tion in the case: McElligott;
ering the fate of a local Dirk Dirksen, superintendent
educator accused of a sexual of the Morrow County School
relationship with a student, District; Craig Bensen,
but recently dismissed the former Irrigon Junior/Senior
cases of three administrators High School principal; and
that were part of the investi- Blaine Ganvoa, athletic
director at Hermiston School
gation.
A former student reported District and former athletic
she had a sexual relationship director in Irrigon.
This month, the commis-
with Jake McElligott, a
former math teacher and sion cleared the cases
coach at Irrigon High School, against Dirksen, Bensen
that began the day of her high DQG *DQYRD 763& RI¿FLDOV
school graduation in 2013. stated they can release names
The student was an adult of anyone cleared of charges.
at the time, according to a However, information on
Morrow County Sheriff’s any educators still in the
2I¿FH UHSRUW 7KH VKHULII¶V disciplinary process cannot
investigation was closed be released until the process
because there were no alle- is complete. McElligott
gations of criminal conduct, was not included in the list
By JENNIFER COLTON
East Oregonian
released by TSPC of regional
educators cleared.
The TSPC is a 17-member
board of educators appointed
by the governor and
approved by the state legis-
lature. The commission’s
mission is uphold profes-
sional standards for Oregon
educators and is known for
handling investigations of
misconduct against teachers
and administrators.
By law, every complaint
DJDLQVW DQ HGXFDWRU ¿OHG
with TSPC must be inves-
tigated, and complaints can
come from almost anyone,
including school districts,
parents, law enforcement or
community members. TSPC
sees between 250 and 300
cases a year.
———
Contact Jennifer Colton at
jcolton@eastoregonian.com
or 541-564-4534
80-year-old Chicago man
dies in motorcycle crash
PENDLETON — Oregon State Police
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Tuesday in a crash near Pendleton as
Richard R. Hutchins, 80, of Chicago.
Troopers and emergency personnel
Tuesday at about 3:30 p.m. responded to
the report of a motorcycle crashing into a
guardrail on Interstate 84 near milepost 219,
according to a written statement from state
police.
The preliminary investigation indicated
the rider was traveling eastbound on
Interstate 84, drifted out of the lane and
struck a guardrail. State police, though, do
not know why he crashed.
An air ambulance took Hutchins to
Providence St. Mary Medical Center, Walla
Walla, where he died from his injuries.
State police worked with the Walla
Walla County coroner to identify the driver.
Umatilla County search
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PENDLETON — Members of the
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and Rescue Team found a lost hiker early
Monday.
The team responded to call Sunday
around 9 p.m. for a hiker missing in “Pike’s
Peak” area, just south of the Washington
border and east of Milton-Freewater,
according to a written statement from the
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A couple from Walla Walla was hiking in
the area when they separated near nightfall.
The woman returned to their vehicle while
her 63-year-old husband did not. She called
his employer, who alerted the Umatilla
County communications center.
Dispatch located a signal from the man’s
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and search and rescue members Travis
Lundquist and Josh English responded to
the area.
They hiked up a steep slope in the dark,
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2:40 a.m. Monday found the lost man.
He was in shorts and sweatshirt and was
uninjured. They escorted him back to his
wife and vehicle.
“Both the hiker and his wife were very
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The mostly volunteer search and rescue
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overdue hunters, stranded motorist and
others, according to the statement. The team
also provides aid in medical emergencies
and even assists sheriff’s deputies and other
law enforcement agencies at major crime
scenes.
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
SATURDAY, APRIL 23
SUNDAY, APRIL 24
MONDAY, APRIL 25
MEN’S BREAKFAST, 8 am.,
Bethel Assembly of God Church,
1109 Airport Road, Pendleton.
RETIRED UMATILLA ARMY
DEPOT WOMEN’S CLUB, 9
a.m. no-host breakfast, Pheasant
Cafe, 149 E. Main St., Hermiston.
UMATILLA COUNTY POMO-
NA GRANGE, 12:30 p.m. lunch
with meeting to follow, Columbia
Grange Hall, Diagonal Road,
Hermiston.
PENDLETON
EAGLES
STEAK AND LIVE MUSIC, 6-8
p.m. dinner, music 8 p.m. to mid-
night, Pendleton Eagles Lodge
#28, 428 S. Main St., Pendleton.
Open to members and guests.
(541-278-2828).
HERMISTON
EAGLES
BREAKFAST, 8-11 a.m., 160
N.W. Second St. Members and
guests welcome.
PENDLETON
EAGLES
BREAKFAST, 9 a.m. to noon,
Pendleton Eagles Lodge #28,
428 S. Main St., Pendleton. Open
to members and guests. (541-
278-2828).
UNION PACIFIC EMPLOY-
EES CLUB, 1:30 p.m., Hermiston
VFW Hall, 45 W. Cherry Ave.,
Hermiston. All UP employees,
working or retired, are invited to
attend. Bring a main dish or des-
sert and table service. (541-567-
5260).
NATIONAL ACTIVE AND RE-
TIRED FEDERAL EMPLOYEES
OF HERMISTON, 12 noon no-
host lunch, Desert Lanes Bowl-
ing Alley. All federal employees,
retirees and their spouses are
welcome.
IRRIGON MOOSE LODGE
TACOS AND BINGO, 6-9 p.m.
tacos; 6:30-9 p.m. bingo. Bingo
open to the public, 220 N.E. Third
St. (541-922-1802 from noon-8
p.m.)
WESTON CHAMBER OF
COMMERCE, 6 p.m., Memorial
Hall, 210 E. Main St.
V.F.W. POST NO. 922 SO-
CIAL, 6:30 p.m., VFW Hall, 1221
S.E. Court Place, Pendleton.
Tonya’s House Annual Flower Sale
Friday, April 22nd, from 5-7pm and Saturday,
April 23rd, 8-11am in front of the Pendleton WalMart.
Beautiful potted arrangements make a lovely
Mother’s Day gift , or spruce up your summer space!
May 8th
Let your mother know
how much she is
appreciated & loved!
Publishes in the Hermiston Herald May 4th
Publishes in the East Oregonian May 7th
SAMPLE
Happy Mother’s Day
For a very special mother!
Your Name
Turn in a photo & short message for your mom.
Runs in EO & the HH for only $25 per spot
Contact: Stephanie Newsom
541-278-2687 • snewsom@eastoregonian.com
Your choice of a 10” diameter hanging planter or 11x7” cedar toolbox-style
planter, fi lled with a variety of colorful summer blooms, for $17 each.
You can also call in your order to Tonya’s House, Pendleton,
OR, 541-276-2900. Orders will be ready for pick up at Tonya’s House
on May 6th. Home delivery available in Pendleton for an extra $3.
**All purchases enter buyer in a drawing for a
Wildhorse Cineplex family movie night package!**
ALL PROCEEDS GO TO FUNDING A SUMMER CAMP
EXPERIENCE FOR TONYA’S HOUSE RESIDENTS
Th ank you so much for your support!
Your Name:
Phone Number:
Mother’s Name:
Message:
Send in, or drop by your photo
and information to:
211 SE Byers, Pendleton, OR 97801
333 E. Main, Hermiston, OR 97838
or email snewsom@eastoregonian.com