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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 13, 2016)
REGION Tuesday, September 13, 2016 East Oregonian HERMISTON Page 3A PENDLETON Council approves new dispatch contract Woman’s purse went Will cost $303,487 for first year By JADE MCDOWELL East Oregonian The Hermiston city council unanimously approved a contract with Umatilla County for emer- gency dispatch services on Monday. The city combined its dispatch services with the county’s in 2014, but an advisory committee has since been working out a formula for how much cities pay per year for services. Previously, Hermiston and Pendleton were paying for services based on popu- lation, while smaller cities weren’t sharing the cost. Under the new contract, cities will pay based on assessed value. The new contract will cost Hermiston $303,487 for the irst year — about $50,000 more than it has been paying — but is still signiicantly cheaper than having the city run its own dispatch center again. City Manager Byron Smith said like any change, there have been a few bumps in the road, but overall the combined dispatch has been a beneit to the city. “I really think it’s been a good transition for us,” he said. He said the advisory committee will continue to meet, but can now turn its main focus from inances to improving operations. If citizens come to the police station to speak with an oficer about a non-emer- gency issue outside of the Monday-Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. hours it is open, a phone “I really think it’s been a good transition for us.” — Bryan Smith, Hermiston city manager, on the switch to combined dispatch services to the side of the front door will connect them straight to the dispatch ofice. Mayor David Drotzmann said he wanted to thank the county and the sheriff’s ofice for taking the time to listen to cities’ concerns through the advisory committee. In other business Monday night, the city council: • Approved a franchise agreement with Fatbeam, LLC to use the city’s right of way for its iber optic equipment in exchange for a 5 percent franchise fee. The company will be providing iber optic service for Herm- iston School District. • Approved a pair of stop signs on NW 5th Street where it intersects with Madrona Avenue. • Discussed implementa- tion of the new “Where Life is Sweet” brand. T-shirts and tank tops with the new logo and tagline are for sale at city hall for $10 apiece, and Smith said a Portland painting company should start in seven to 10 days on repainting the entire water tower, inishing by mid-Oc- tober. The tower will be an off-white color with the new “Where Life is Sweet” tagline and logo (which includes a watermelon slice) on both sides of the structure. ——— Contact Jade McDowell at jmcdowell@eastorego- nian.com or 541-564-4536. BRIEFLY Fall prescribed burning set for national forest PENDLETON — Fall prescribed burning is set on the Umatilla National Forest, which could temporarily impact roads and trails across several hunting units in the forest. Maps of the prescribed burns can be found online at www.inciweb.nwcg. gov. Burns typically take between two and ive days to complete. Hunters are advised to plan ahead and avoid camping in affected areas. “Unfortunately, hunting season coincides with prescribed burning season and can impact our hunters, but controlled burns are necessary to reintroduce ire to the landscape and encourage healthy vege- tation that will ultimately improve landscapes and forage for big game,” said Lizzy Berkley, forest wildlife biologist. Prescribed burning is highly dependent on weather conditions. The forest works closed with the Oregon Department of Forestry and Washington Department of Natural Resources to determine when, where and how much is burned on a daily basis. The next burn is sched- uled to begin Tuesday in the Grassy Butte unit of the Heppner District, on about 2,700 acres. Another 300 acres is also planned on a portion of Long Prairie. For more information, contact Chris Johnson at the Umatilla National Forest at 541-278-3704. Stanield church sets kid’s crusade STANFIELD — A bouncy castle, games, activities, stories, food, and lots of fun is planned during the Kid’s Crusade Round-up. The free event features Dan Gordanier and Friends. It runs nightly Friday through Sunday at 6:30 p.m. at Crossroads Community Church, 350 N.W. Sherman St., Stanield. Prizes will be awarded each night. For more information, call 541-449-3434. Virtual reality rides into Round-Up PENDLETON — Round-Up visitors can enjoy a virtual reality experience thanks to U.S. Cellular. Those in attendance can use Samsung Gear VR devices for virtual adventures, including travel, interactive games and more. People can get more information and use equipment Wednesday through Saturday at the U.S. Cellular booth near the Round-Up Grounds, 1205 S.W. Court Ave., Pendleton. In addition, a variety of giveaways, including concert tickets, concession vouchers and additional prizes are available. Also, a phone charging station will be available. For more information, contact Anni Murphy at amurphy@ gardcommunications.com or 503-552-5011. Senior center hosts lu shot clinic HERMISTON — A lu shot clinic is being offered through Rite Aid Pharmacy at the Hermiston Senior Center. The event is Tuesday, Sept. 20 from 8:30- 11:30 a.m. at 435 W. Orchard Ave., located on the Umatilla County Fairgrounds. There is no cost to those on Medicare but seniors must present East Oregonian PENDLETON — Treasure seekers will want to make a beeline for the McKay Creek Antique and Craft Market. The market will feature vintage, antique, retro and salvaged goods and crafts. While admission is free, donations of cash or canned goods will support the Young Life Summer Camp. The event is Saturday, Sept. 24 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 71182 Appaloosa Lane, south of Pendleton on Highway 395. Vendor fees are $40. An application and vendor informaiton is available at https://goo.gl/forms/ dD2vt0Bw0J8Hp74a2. For more information, email mckaycreekmarket@ gmail.com or visit www.facebook.com/ mckaycreekmarket. A 84-year-old woman was found early Monday at the Pendleton McDonald’s after she went missing for at least four hours. Pendleton Police Chief Stuart Roberts reported a caller at 2:57 a.m. Monday told the Umatilla County dispatch center the woman, who suffers dementia, was missing from the 600 block of Southwest 30th Street, Pendleton. “Information was obtained concerning descrip- tion, routines, etc.,” Roberts stated in an email. “Search patterns were identiied and executed.” The city ire department brought its thermal imaging device, Roberts said, which allowed searches of vacant lots, parks and similar places. And the local LifeFlight heli- copter at the Eastern Oregon Regional Airport, Pendleton, assisted with night vision and search lights. The call for help also went out to the search and rescue unit of the Umatilla County Sheriff’s Ofice, but the woman turned up before they deployed. The woman was missing for at least four hours, according to Roberts, and an ambulance took her to St. Anthony Hospital, Pend- leton, for an evaluation. Submit community news information to: community@ eastoregonian.com or drop off to the attention of Tam- my Malgesini at 333 E. Main St., Hermiston or Renee Struthers at 211 S.E. Byers Ave., Pendleton. Call 541- 564-4539 or 541-966-0818 with questions. Save the Memories, Share the Stories 2016 Round-Up Package Five Daily Papers: Tuesday-Saturday, plus our souvenir magazine, rodeo results and championship photos. $15 mailed to anywhere in the U.S. or pick up your package for just $10 2016 Souvenir Magazine $8 mailed to anywhere in the U.S. or pick up copies for just $5 each Real Estate 211 SE Byers Ave., Pendleton, OR 1-800-522-0255 AUCTION No Reserve www.MaconBros Auction.com A Pendleton man is hoping police catch whoever stole his wife’s purse as she was dying. Sandy Marie Heaton, 62, suffered a fatal heart attack Wednesday morning while in town. Her husband, John Heaton, 71, said she called and told him she was having trouble breathing. “I told her, ‘Hang up and I’m going to call the ambu- lance,’” he said. “And I did it right then.” He made the call at 11:35 a.m., according to police logs, and directed emergency responders to his wife’s gray 2005 Honda at Southeast Emigrant Avenue and Third Street. Heaton said he also headed there and saw the ambulance and crew at the scene. The ire captain, Heaton said, was looking through his wife’s large bag in the car to ind out who she was. “We couldn’t ind any ID,” he said, and that was the irst it hit him that wife’s teal colored clutch purse was missing. The purse was not in the car, he said, and he nor family have found it. Someone, he said, must have taken the purse while his wife struggled for her life. Heaton said the family reported the theft to Pendleton police Sgt. Paul Wolverton, who told them he recognized three people at the scene and talked to two of them so far. Still, Heaton said, Wolverton seemed concerned about solving the case. “I really hope that the last thing she saw on this earth was not this evil thing,” Heaton said, “but I fear it probably was.” Missing woman turns up in McDonald’s Market to offer vintage goods IRRIGON — The monthly luncheon meetings of the Irrigon Chamber of Commerce are resuming this week. This month’s luncheon is Wednesday with a meet and greet beginning at 11:45 a.m. at Stokes Landing Senior Center, 190 N.W. Opal Place, Irrigon. The cost is $8 for members and $10 for non-members. The guest speaker is Rev. Terry Haight of the Hermiston Assembly of God Church. He will share about the SUM Bible College and Theological Seminary. For more information, contact 541-922-3857 or irrigonchamber@ irrigonchamber.com. Preview Sunday Noon–2:30pm By PHIL WRIGHT East Oregonian PENDLETON their red, white and blue Medicare card. For more information, call 541-567-7805. Irrigon Chamber resumes monthly meetings 11 NW 9th St Pendleton missing as she died I would like to order the following: 2016 Round-Up Package 2016 Round-Up Magazine Both Please send my order to: Name: ____________________________________________________________________ Address: __________________________________________________________________ City: _____________________________ State: ______________ Zip:_________________ Phone: ________________________ Email: _____________________________________ 190-083116
