REGION
Tuesday, August 16, 2016
PENDLETON
East Oregonian
Page 3A
PENDLETON
Police catch
New owners to reopen Kwong’s Cafe
to add new menu
two teens after Plan
items, hot lunch bar
backroads chase
By WILL DENNER
East Oregonian
East Oregonian
Police caught two teens
who tried to elude on Stage
Gulch Road near Pendleton.
Oregon State Police
reported a trooper
at 2:37 a.m. heard
radio chatter of
Pendleton police
in a pursuit and
drove to Stage
Gulch to intercept
the leeing vehicle.
The trooper saw
a pickup speed
through the stop
sign at Daniel and Carter
Stage Gulch roads
and head into a dirt ield.
The pickup turned back onto
Stage Gulch and the trooper
turned on his police car’s
overhead lights.
The pickup drove about
half a mile more, according
to state police, then cut into
another ield and got stuck.
The driver ran, and Pend-
leton police chased him.
The passenger, Brianna
Renee Payne, 19, took the
trooper to where she threw
a bag of methamphetamine
out the pickup window, state
police reported, but police
did not ind the
gun she said she
tossed.
A n o t h e r
trooper later that
morning near the
crash saw a male
matching
the
driver’s descrip-
tion. The trooper
caught
Dillon
Scott Carter, 18,
of La Grande,
and found he had warrants
for violating probation and
failure to appear. He now is
in the Umatilla County Jail,
Pendleton, and also faces
charges of unauthorized use
of vehicle, irst-degree theft,
attempt to elude/lee, posses-
sion of methamphetamine
and felon in possession of a
weapon.
BRIEFLY
UmCo holds
second hearing on
new health district
PENDLETON — The
Umatilla County Board of
Commissioners will hold
the second public hearing
Tuesday on the formation
of a new ambulance service
district.
The East Umatilla
County Health District
requested the new district
to correspond to the area of
the county its ambulance
actually serves. The board
held the irst hearing July
27. Tuesday’s hearing is
another opportunity for
the public to speak for or
against the proposal. After
the hearing, the board can
vote on the request.
If the board approves,
the matter goes on the
ballot for voters to decide in
November.
County commissioners
also plan to consider
approving a $10,000 grant
to the city of Pendleton to
help with the development
of unmanned aerial systems
for agriculture.
The county board of
commissioners’ meeting
starts at 9 a.m. in room
130 at the Umatilla County
Courthouse, 216 S.E.
Fourth St., Pendleton.
Pool vandalized
HELIX — The Umatilla
County Sheriff’s Ofice
is looking for leads on a
public pool vandalism case
in Helix.
The Helix pool manager
reported Thursday that the
park banner had been torn
off the building, the padlock
was broken, bottles and
chemicals were dumped in
the pool, pool noodles were
ripped and the umbrellas
and lifeguard chairs had
been moved to the gazebo.
Sheriff’s Sgt. Adam
Gregory said they have no
leads on who committed the
vandalism and are urging
anyone with information to
contact the sheriff’s ofice.
Ofice Max to close
in Hermiston
HERMISTON — The
Hermiston Ofice Max has
announced its plans to close
its doors for good.
According to Julianne
Embry, a senior public
relations manager for the
company, the store will be
shuttered though no speciic
date has been given.
Embry declined to
comment further, citing
competitive reasons.
The store currently
employs 18 people.
Ofice Depot, the parent
company of Ofice Max,
has closed nearly 400 stores
since 2014, and plans to
close 25 more by the end
of 2016 and an additional
300 stores over the next
three years, according to
its second quarter results
report.
Oregon gets B+ for
new parent support
The National Partnership
for Women and Families
gave Oregon a B+ in a
recent study on policies
regarding paid leave and
other workplace rights for
expecting and new parents.
Oregon received
recognition for its advances
in providing workers access
to job-protected family and
medical leave, job-protected
paid sick days, lexible use
of sick time, and nursing
mothers’ workplace rights.
One hundred and eighty-
three nations guarantee
paid leave for new mothers
and 79 of those nations
guarantee paid leave for
new fathers, according to
the International Labor
Organization. The United
States is the only high-
wealth country does not
provide either.
Only a few weeks after Kwong’s
Cafe planned to close its doors for good,
the restaurant will soon reopen under
new ownership.
Property owner Edward Ng recently
agreed to terms with Ji Fon, a restaurant
manager and owner from Columbia,
South Carolina and most recently,
Eastern Washington. Fon plans to have
Kwong’s Cafe open later this week
under the same name, according to his
daughter, Angelina Fon.
The new owners will have a similar
menu with some minor additions. Fon
wants to add some East Coast staples
to the area, such as hibachi, seafood
and vegetarian dishes. They also plan
to add a hot lunch bar where “workers
can come in and get their food quickly,”
Angelina said.
Angelina, who will assist her parents
in translating and other things as needed,
said the family isn’t sure what dishes are
most popular in Pendleton, but hopes to
hear from customers once the restaurant
reopens.
Ng’s parents built the irst restaurant
on the 1003 S.W. Dorion Ave. property,
then known as Gim’s Cafe, in the
Staff photo by E.J. Harris
Kwong’s Cafe closed July 24, but will reopen soon under new ownership.
mid-1950s. The Ng family owned and
operated the restaurant until 1978,
when they began leasing the property
to the Kwong family, and thus the name
changed to Kwong’s Cafe. Michael
Kwong closed the restaurant July 24
following his father’s stroke two years
ago and his mother’s retirement.
Around the time Kwong’s Cafe was
closing, Ng advertised the soon-to-be
vacant space online. He said he received
a couple inquiries from people in the San
Francisco area, but Fon, who heard from
a friend that Pendleton was a good place
to open a restaurant, was ultimately the
most interested suitor.
Ng said because the previous owners
still had a couple years left on their
lease, Fon will rent the property at the
same price until that lease expires. Ng
declined to say what that price is.
“He’s a good negotiator,” Ng said,
laughing.
———
Contact Will Denner at wdenner@
eastoregonian.com or 541-966-0809
HEPPNER
Morrow County Fair kicks off Wednesday
By TAMMY MALGESINI
East Oregonian
With a focus on country
living and supporting local
youths, the Morrow County
Fair kicks off Wednesday at
the fairgrounds in Heppner.
Country Scenes & Chil-
dren’s Dreams is the theme
for the fair, which is in its
103rd year. The gates open
daily from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
through Saturday. The fair-
grounds are located at 74473
Highway 74, Heppner. Daily
fair admission is $4 per person
or $2 for children ages 6-12.
Showcasing 4-H, FFA and
open class projects, the fair
offers viewing of animals
as well as the creativity of
Morrow County residents
with displays of arts and crafts
and hobbies. In addition, there
will be plenty of talent on
stage throughout the week.
Live
entertainment
includes The
Junebugs
(Wednesday from 11 a.m.
to 12:30 p.m. and 1:30-3
p.m.) and the Blue Mountain
Old-Time Fiddlers (Thursday
at 10 a.m.). Also, after the
Friday and Saturday evening
rodeo performances, the
Jessie Leigh Band will kick
things up a notch. People
don’t have to have rodeo
tickets to enjoy the music.
Also, Fair Secretary Ann
Jones encourages fair-goers
to catch Dr. Solar’s Magic
Medicine Show.
Dr. Solar, aka Terry
Robinson,
brings
his
solar-powered gypsy wagon
to Heppner for four days of
fun. His act includes ventril-
oquism, dazzling feats of
mental prowess, magic and
physical antics, which are
sure to tickle the funny bone.
The entertainer will roam
the fairgrounds as well as
stepping on stage for set show
times throughout the week.
“He has some puppets with
his act,” Jones said. “Also, it’s
3234 S.W. Nye Pendleton, OR
Join us at 5 pm on
August 18 th for our for our annual
ROUND-UP BBQ!
ROUND-UP QUEEN & COURT
HAPPY CANYON PRINCESSES
MAIN STREET COWBOYS
SIDE SADDLERS
GOOD FOOD
GREAT ENTERTAINMENT WITH
VENUES INSIDE AND OUT.
EO ile photo
Zeleta Masterson holds her chihuahua, Bell, during the open class pet show at the
2015 Morrow County Fair. This year’s event opens Wednesday at the fairgrounds in
Heppner.
a variety show for all ages.”
Jones said other highlights
include Wednesday’s water-
melon seed-spitting contest (1
p.m.), an open-class pet show
(3 p.m.) the RDO Equipment
Pedal Power Tractor Pull (5
p.m.) and the Pee Wee My
Favorite Outit (6:30 p.m.,
followed by the 4-H Fashion
Revue).
People can get their ill of
Tillamook Ice Cream during a
free ice cream social Thursday
at 3 p.m. In addition, Oregon
State fans can visit Benny
the Beaver from 1:30-7:30
p.m. And, for a chance to win
cash prizes, people can enter
the talent show at 3 p.m. In
addition, one person from
each division will be chosen
to participate in the Oregon
State Fair talent contest. To
enter, people don’t have to be
residents of Morrow County.
Murray’s Beer & Wine Tasting
is Thursday from 6-10 p.m.
In its 20th year, the popular
event includes family fun and
non-alcoholic beverages. The
evening also features the FFA
Basket Auction and live enter-
tainment by Nate Botsford.
The Oregon Trail Pro
Rodeo is Friday and Saturday
at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10 each
or $6 for ages 7-12. Also, the
Morrow County Rodeo is
Sunday at 1:15 p.m.
The parade gets rolling
Saturday at 10 a.m. in down-
town Heppner. Also, the FFA
Awards Program is at 1:15
p.m., followed by the Youth
Livestock Auction at 2 p.m.
For more information,
contact Jones at 541-676-
9474, mcfair@co.morrow.
or.us, visit www.morrow-
countyoregon.com.
I would like to thank the following people and businesses
for all their support as I went through treatment for
cancer - yesterday was my last day of radiation!
Pendleton High School - Class of 2016
Pendleton High School - Staff and Students
Th e community of Pendleton who
encouraged and supported me
at the rally and around town
Big John’s Pizza
Jennings Sign Co.
Liberty Cleaners
Kelsey Garton Tree Service
Marin Kennedy
Dean’s Athletic
Landmark Taxes
EOCI
Eagles Ladies Auxiliary
Pendleton Round-Up Foundation
Athena-Weston High School
Sunset Elementary
West Park Elementary
Echo School - Mrs. Owens Class
First Christian Church
Kick N’ Cancer Program
Dr. McBee and Staff
Relay for Life - Heather Mandella
Dr. Pratt and Staff
Youngman Strong Bracelets - Jackson Peterson
Sunridge Middle School -
Mrs. Sou and Students
St. Anthony Hospital -
Tough Enough to Wear Pink
Th e Saddle Restaurant- Family and Crew
Tum-A-Lum Lumber
luLaroe- SaraJane Gutierrez
and Kori Hibbard
Yvonne Carnes
Th e Primus Family Fun Run
Pendleton Lions Club
Seattle Seahawks Community Outreach
Caden Anderson
And all the other people who sent cards, brought dinners,
and helped however they could.
A very special thank you to my family who took me to appointments, stayed
with me in the hospitals, taught for me and were always there for me.
Dean and Marie Groshong
David and Rebecca Barlow
Mitch and Kate Montchalin
Jim, Chris and Becky Youngman
Th e Ellen Show was an amazing experience. I will never forget the
eff ort and kindness of everyone who helped me get through this.
Kathryn Youngman