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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (June 15, 2016)
REGION Wednesday, June 15, 2016 East Oregonian County looks to shift watermaster jobs to state on the ground to administer and enforce water laws. Department director Tom Umatilla County is Byler said in some ways working on a deal to transfer WKRVH HPSOR\HHV LQ WKH ¿HOG its watermaster division to are the referees that bring law the Oregon Water Resources and order to water use. Umatilla County’s irri- Department. The proposal comes as the county board gated agriculture, Byler said, of commissioners vote is “perhaps the most highly Wednesday morning on the administered and complex water distribution in the 2016-17 budget. County Commissioner state.” The county’s support Bill Elfering is heading for the watermaster division, up the county’s end of the he said, is vital. The county budget bargain. He said while the county hires and pays for committee proposed slashing a watermaster division, its the $228,000 division with employees effectively work ¿YH IXOOWLPH HPSOR\HHV WR for the state and the county $158,000 and 2.5 full-time no longer wants to operate employees. Elfering said that proposal is on hold and under that model. The water resources the board plans to look at a department oversees water resolution Wednesday to give law. The department’s staff funds to the state to pay the helps provide water users remaining 2.5 salaries. “So it will be a budget allo- ZLWKLQIRUPDWLRQEXWLWV¿HOG RI¿FHV ZLWK ZDWHUPDVWHUV cation rather than providing and assistant watermasters employees,” Elfering said. Blyer said the department work as the effective boots By PHIL WRIGHT East Oregonian has similar agreements with other counties and is more than willing to make county employees state employees, EXW¿QDQFLQJWKDWLVDQLVVXH because the state’s two-year budget cycle does not begin until July 1, 2017. The county will need to pay the positions until at least next summer in order to ensure those referees stay in the local water game. Byler said he was sure the county and state “can get this going in the right direction.” County commissioners are not looking to apply this plan to the district attorney’s RI¿FH HYHQ WKRXJK WKH district attorney is a state employee while his staff and deputy prosecutors are county employees. Elfering said the difference is the GLVWULFW DWWRUQH\¶V RI¿FH operates in the county court- house along with the board of commissioners and most other county departments, whereas the watermaster ZRUNHUVDUHLQWKH¿HOG Elfering also said the county’s $228,000 for the Oregon Water Resources Department is the highest cost for any county in the state, and that raises questions of determining how much support the county should be giving. He said the Associa- tion of Counties, which held its spring conference earlier this week in Pendleton, plans to have a broad discussion of this issue in its water policy committee. Umatilla County Commissioner Larry Givens is the president of the county association’s board of direc- tors. Elfering said it would take months before any suggestions are announced . The Umatilla County Board of Commissioners meets Wednesday at 9 a.m. in room 130 at the county courthouse, 216 S.E. Fourth St., Pendleton. Local libraries offer summer reading programs By TAMMY MALGESINI East Oregonian Area libraries are gearing up for summer reading programs, with many featuring activities for all ages. Area library workers said the programs help maintain skills learned in school. Umatilla library assistant Pam Johnson said the programs also offer fun activities, including games and crafts. “Let’s get our children off to a good start for the next school year by helping encourage them to read this summer,” said Erin Wells, Milton-Freewater library director. Area programs include: BRIEFLY Police: Woman shot man with stun gun over debt PENDLETON — Sarah Marie Carr of Pendleton is in jail on initial felony charges stemming from an April incident. Pendleton police arrested Carr, 24, on Sunday on a warrant for menacing, second-degree kidnapping, second- and third-degree DVVDXOWDQG¿UVWDQG second-degree use of a stun gun. Pendleton Police Chief Stuart Roberts said a secret Umatilla County grand jury indicted Carr, which led to the arrest warrant. Pendleton police on April 24 received a 9-1-1 report from a man who claimed Carr was going to pay him the money she owed. But instead of cash, she WRRNKLPWRD¿HOGRXWVLGH Pendleton and shot him with a stun gun, then left him. Roberts said Pendleton police found Carr and the victim were familiar and had some discrepancy over money, and she led the man to believe she was taking him to receive cash reimbursement for property. When they got out in the county Carr tried to stun the man with an electric stun device, Roberts said, and another man in the vehicle may have brandished a small baseball bat, though police never recovered one. The police chief also said another man drove the vehicle, but Carr may have duped him about what was going on as well. HERMISTON The Hermiston Public Library is offering programs for children, teens and adults. Registration begins Monday, June 20 at 11 a.m. for kids and noon for teens (they can also register online). Tote bags will be given away, while supplies last. Adults don’t need to register, but they can stop by the library to grab a packet. Children and youths are encouraged to participate as often as possible in order to receive an invitation to the Friday, July 29 pool party at the Hermiston Family EO file photo Amy Warner registers her children, Quinn and Avery, for the 2015 Hermiston Public Library summer reading program. Aquatic Center. The Hermiston Public Library is located at 235 E. Gladys Ave. For more infor- mation, call 541-567-2882 or visit www.hermistonlibrary. us. MILTON-FREEWATER Every Child is an Artist is the theme of the summer program at the Milton-Free- water Public Library. Open to children from birth through sixth grade, it offers unique art activities each week. The program began Tuesday and continues through mid-August. Participants will receive a log to keep track of their reading hours. Children are encouraged to participate with a chance to win prizes, including a scooter and helmet, a large doll house and a Barbie convertible, a Black & Decker tool bench, train table, Star Wars prize pack, a guitar and keyboard set, and WKUHH JLIW FHUWL¿FDWHV WR Inland Octopus. The Milton-Freewater Public Library is located at 8 S.W. Eighth Ave. For more information, call 541-938- RUYLVLWZZZPÀLEUDU\ weebly.com. offering ice cream for reading is open to all ages, The summer reading including high school program kicks off Friday at students. 6 p.m. with a visit by Ronald A pair of programs 0F'RQDOG DW WKH 6WDQ¿HOG coming up include “Vlad- Public Library. Youths up to imir Goes for Gold,” a eighth grade can register for Traveling Lantern Theater the program at the kick-off production, which is event or the following week. Thursday at 3 p.m.; and the Activities are available Dragon Theater Puppets, Monday through Fridays which is Friday, June 24 at beginning at 11 a.m. at the 2 p.m. library. Also, a free lunch The Umatilla Public is provided at noon. The Library is located at 700 program concludes with a Sixth St. For more informa- celebration Monday, July 25 tion, call 541-922-5704 or DW&RH3DUNLQ6WDQ¿HOG visit www.facebook.com/ 7KH 6WDQ¿HOG 3XEOLF umatillapubliclibrary. Library is located at 130 W. ——— Coe Ave. For more infor- Contact Community mation, call 541-449-1254 Editor Tammy Malgesini at or visit www.facebook. tmalgesini@eastoregonian. com/Stanfield-Public-Li- com or 541-564-4539 brary-165277506891547. The Umatilla Public Library’s summer program runs in July. Signups are accepted all day Friday, July 1 and Tuesday, July 5. Activities start Wednesday, July 6 at the library. Most of the activities are geared for elementary and middle school students, Johnson said. A program CONCEAL CARRY PERMIT CLASSES OREGON - UTAH | VALID 35 STATES FRIDAY June 17 1 p.m. & 6 p.m. Hermiston Best Western 2255 Highway 395 S OR/UT (valid in WA) $80 or OR-only $45 360-921-2071 *HSSVY;L_[c-PYLHYT;YHPUPUN5>'NTHPSJVTc www.FirearmTrainingNW.com Teen charged in Boardman stabbing now in local jail PENDLETON — The Idaho teen facing charges for stabbing a woman at a rest stop near Boardman is now in the Umatilla County Jail. Talon James Davis was 17 when Oregon State Police arrested him May 14 in the wake of the attack on the 51-year-old woman who suffered non-life threatening injuries. Morrow County District Attorney Justin Nelson charged Davis with second-degree assault and unlawful use of a weapon. The assault charge falls under Oregon mandatory minimum sentencing law and carries a prison term RIDWOHDVW¿YH\HDUV months. Davis pleaded not guilty and was in the juvenile facility at the Northern Oregon Regional Correc- tional Facilities, The Dalles. He turned 18 on Friday, however, and was trans- ferred to the Pendleton jail. Court records show his court-appointed defense DWWRUQH\-HII:DOODFH¿OHG a motion at the end of May WRFRQVLGHU'DYLV¶V¿WQHVV to participate in his own defense. The hearing is Thursday at 8:15 a.m. www.pendletonpsych.com 541-278-2222 STANFIELD UMATILLA Putting together all the pieces of this crime puzzle took some time, Roberts said, and now Carr is in the Umatilla County Jail, Pendleton, in lieu of $200,000 bail. P SYCHOLOGICAL S ERVICES OF P ENDLETON , LLC PENDLETON The summer reading program will get a sizzling start with the Pioneer Potluck Picnic. The family potluck event is Saturday, June 25 from 1-3 p.m. at Heritage Station Museum, 108 S.W. Frazer Ave., Pendleton. People are invited to bring a dish to share and participate in old-fashioned games. Also, be sure to register the whole family for the summer reading program at the picnic or the library. The Pendleton Public Library is located at 502 S.W. Dorion Ave. For more infor- mation, call 541-966-0380 or visit www.pendletonlibrary. weebly.com. Page 3A FOREST SERVICE HOUSE FOR SALE IN UKIAH, OREGON OPEN HOUSE: JUNE 17-18 TH FROM 10am to 2pm Accepting sealed bids beginning on May 25th. Property information, minimum bids, deposits, sale terms, and maps available at http://www.fs.usda.gov/r6. Copies of the Informa- tion for Bids are available at the North Fork John Day Ranger District or Rhodes Supply in Ukiah, Oregon. For more information, contact Karen Gamble at 541-523-1245. N F W Exchange your old flag for a new American Flag! Honoring Veterans McKay Creek Estates In honor of National Flag Week, we will be handing out free American flags. Flags may be exchanged Sunday, June 12 thru Saturday, June 18 between 9:00am and 5:00pm. Limited supply, reserve yours today! There will be a ceremonial disposal of the retired flags that are collected. You're a grand old flag, you're a high flying flag, and forever in peace may you wave. ~George M. Cohan McKay Creek Estates 1601 Southgate Pl Pendleton, OR 97801 (541) 276-1987 www.PrestigeCare.com
