REGION
Wednesday, September 21, 2016
BRIEFLY
By PHIL WRIGHT
East Oregonian
Photo courtesy Oregon State Police
Crash on Highway 82 kills Joseph man
MINAM — A Joseph man died Monday afternoon
in a crash on Highway 82 on Minam Grade.
Oregon State Police reported Gary Leonard Alford,
70, was driving an older Dodge farm pickup eastbound
on Highway 82 near milepost 31, the steep and winding
Minam Grade, when the vehicle failed to negotiate a
curve. The pickup left the road and tumbled down the
steep embankment and the crash ejected Alford.
Oregon State Police troopers and emergency
personnel responded at 3:06 p.m. to the crash.
Emergency workers freed Alford from the hillside
below the road, but he died from injuries before an air
ambulance could ly him to a hospital.
State police reported witnesses and some evidence
suggest an equipment failure may have contributed to
the crash.
State police and ODOT closed the highway for two
hours while investigating. State police also reported
it would release more information as it becomes
available.
First governor’s debate in Bend
BEND — The irst debate between Gov. Kate Brown
and challenger Dr. Bud Pierce is Saturday in Bend.
Presented by the Oregon Territory Chapter of the Society
of Professional Journalists — including sponsorship by
the East Oregonian — the questions will focus solely on
issues facing Oregon’s rural residents. Candidates will get
90 seconds for opening statements, then will ield questions
from a panel of journalists, including Tim Trainor, deputy
managing editor of the East Oregonian; Emily Cureton,
producer and host with Jefferson Public Radio; Erik
Lukens, editor of The (Bend) Bulletin; and Pedro Quintana,
reporter with KTVZ. Sara Roth, producer of longform and
investigative projects for KGW.com, will moderate.
The event is Saturday from 6-7 p.m. at Riverhouse on
the Deschutes, 2850 Rippling River Court, Bend. Due to
space limitations, tickets are required. For general seating
(free) or premium seats ($20), visit www.eventbrite.com/e/
spj-governors-debate-tickets-27499106568.
Cops to carry active shooter irst aid kits
HERMISTON — Hermiston police will now be more
prepared to offer irst aid in a crisis thanks to their new
active shooter irst aid kits.
The kits, which oficers will carry in their patrol
cars, include chest seals, tourniquets, pressure bandages
and QuickClot gauze to be used for life-threatening
trauma such as gunshots, stab wounds and injuries from
explosions.
Hermiston Police Chief Jason Edmiston said in a press
release that in the event of a large-scale event such as a
mass shooting police often assist medical personnel. The
kits will help them be prepared to administer aid.
The kits were paid for by a $4,432 grant from the
Wildhorse Foundation and oficers received additional
training on the items contained in the kit.
“This grant greatly enhances our community’s
preparedness,” Edmiston said. “The Wildhorse
Foundation continues to be incredibly generous with
numerous entities in the Umatilla County region.”
EOCI, TRCI to hold recruiting event
PENDLETON — Information about working in the
corrections system will be available at a joint recruiting
event for Two Rivers Correctional Institution and Eastern
Oregon Correctional Institution.
The event is Saturday, Oct. 8 from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. at
the Blue Mountain Community College Science Building
at 2411 NW Carden Avenue in Pendleton.
Attendees will be offered a tour of EOCI and receive
assistance with the online application and schedule for the
REACT test for correctional oficers, which has a $35 fee.
To attend, a valid photo identiication (driver’s license,
military ID or passport) is needed. Cell phones and smart
watches cannot be taken inside the facility, and attendees
may not wear clothing that is blue (including denim),
camoulage or suggestive.
For more information call 503-930-2462 or visit
odocjobs.com.
Chair-ity event canceled, online
auction still planned
PENDLETON — Due to a lack of ticket sales, the
annual Chair-ity Dinner and Auction has been canceled.
For those who have already purchased tickets for the
event, the Clearview Disability Resource Center will
provide a full refund. Individuals, businesses and groups
who have already created a chair for the event, Clearview
is looking to hold an online auction.
The dinner and auction, which started in 2014, had
served as the primary fundraiser to support Clearview’s
Medical Loan Closet. The program provides short-term
use of medical equipment, which can be checked out like
library books.
For more information, contact 541-276-1130,
clearviewofice23@gmail.com or stop by the ofice at 307
S.W. Sixth St., Pendleton.
Senior birthday party includes
Medicare information
HERMISTON — For seniors turning 65 soon, the
Senior Health Insurance Beneits Assistance program
would like to invite you to a fun and informative event.
The Medicare Birthday Party will provide basic
information about Medicare, recipients rights and
responsibilities, Social Security and Social Security
Disability. The free event is Saturday, Oct. 1 from 10 a.m.
to 1 p.m. in Conference Center No. 2 at Good Shepherd
Medical Center, 610 N.W. 11th St., Hermiston.
For more information, contact 541-667-3507 or
cherrera@gshealth.org.
———
Briefs are compiled from staff and wire reports, and press
releases. Email press releases to news@eastoregonian.com
Page 3A
Teens escape pursuers on Interstate 84
Dispute between exes
led to 30 minute chase
A Wallowa County man was killed when his vehicle
tumbled off the Minam Grade of Highway 82 and he
was ejected.
East Oregonian
A 28-year-old man and 17-year-old
boy from Hermiston face multiple
charges following a harrowing stop-
and-go chase on Interstate 84.
Oregon State Police reported a
16-year-old girl from Stanield and a
16-year-old boy from Umatilla were
eastbound on Interstate 84 from exit
182 around 7 p.m. Monday in a red Jeep
Grand Cherokee when a silver Mazda 6
passed them.
Christopher John Mallory and the
17-year-old were in the Mazda, which
slowed in front of the Jeep, eventually
making it stop in the fast lane. Mallory
and the teen got out, ran to the Jeep and
tried to open the doors. The boy driving
the Jeep took off, and the suspects gave
chase in the Mazda.
The scene played out twice more,
state police reported, before the victims
crossed the median and tried to escape
on I-84 heading west.
Mallory and the 17-year-old again
pursued, passed the victims and stopped
in front of them. The juvenile suspect
this time jumped on the hood of the Jeep.
The victims again led, and the teen fell,
suffering minor injuries.
State police Sgt. Lisa Sater said the
boy had pain in his left arm, left leg and
both wrists. Mallory lives near Good
Shepherd Medical Center, Hermiston,
she said, and he and the teen walked to
the hospital for medical treatment. That’s
where state police caught them.
Sater said a dispute between an
ex-boyfriend and girlfriend, one in each
vehicle, led to the dangerous game of
highway tag, which lasted about 30
minutes. The two 16-year-olds were not
injured, she said, but were shaken.
Troopers cited the 17-year-old and
arrested Mallory for reckless driving,
second-degree disorderly conduct, and
two counts each of harassment and
recklessly endangering another person.
The 17-year-old also faces a charge of
second-degree mischief. Mallory is in
the Umatilla County Jail, Pendleton.
———
Contact Phil Wright at pwright@
eastoregonian.com or 541-966-0833.
BOARDMAN
Harvest Festival features cornucopia of fun
Event features family
activities, kayak race
East Oregonian
With autumn in the air
and the harvest bountiful, it’s
time to celebrate in Morrow
County.
In its third year, the
Morrow County Harvest
Festival will feature a variety
of vendors with homemade
items, along with beer and
wine tasting from Ordnance
Brewing of Boardman and
Sno Road Winery of Echo.
Kids
activities
will
include horse and buggy
rides, a new obstacle course,
miniature horses, pumpkin
painting and a photo booth.
The Harvest Festival
is Saturday, Oct. 1 from 9
a.m. to 5 p.m. at the SAGE
Center, 101 Olson Road,
Boardman. All activities are
free and open to the public.
The festival is presented
by the Boardman, Irrigon
and Heppner chambers of
commerce in conjunction
with the SAGE Center, and
sponsored by the Kiwanis
Club of Boardman, Tilla-
mook Cheese, Lamb Weston,
Cascade Specialties and the
River Lodge and Grill.
SAGE Center Manager
Kalie Davis said the area
chambers of commerce and
the SAGE Center wanted to
put together a fun harvest
festival with their own spin
on it.
“Each year the event
has grown in size and
Contributed photo
Phoenix Davis and Ava Davis pet a miniature horse during the 2015 Morrow County
Harvest Festival. This year’s event is Saturday, Oct. 1 at the SAGE Center in Boardman.
the vendors have done a
tremendous job of providing
creative homemade goods,”
Davis said.
Also, held in conjunc-
tion with the festival, the
Boardman Kiwanis and the
River Lodge are teaming up
to present a kayak race at 10
a.m. on the Columbia River.
Participants, who must
be 18 and older, will paddle
their way from the River
Lodge, 6 Marine Drive to
Boardman Marina Park.
The winner will receive a
free night’s stay at the River
Lodge and breakfast for two.
There is no registration fee.
For those needing a
watercraft, a limited number
of kayaks can be reserved
on a irst-come basis. The
Morrow County Sheriff
Marine Patrol will monitor
the race for safety. In addi-
tion, kayakers must wear an
approved life jacket.
For a link to a regis-
tration form for the kayak
race, go to www.visitsage.
com/event/139. For more
information, contact debbi-
eradie@gmail.com.
For
more about the Morrow
County Harvest Festival,
visit www.visitsage.com or
call 541-481-7243.
BOARDMAN
City council tables gravel path idea
By ANTONIO SIERRA
East Oregonian
With an oficial vote, the
members of the Pendleton
City Council told themselves
to take a hike.
The council unanimously
voted to table a motion that
would have created a gravel
path between the Southwest
12th Street cul-de-sac and
the intersection of Southwest
Goodwin Lane and South-
west 13th Street and replace
the closed and decrepit 13th
Street staircase.
The council tabled the
motion at the suggestion of
City Manager Robb Corbett,
who told councilors they
could use the extra time to
walk the proposed path up
and down the bluff and settle
concerns that the 335-foot
path with a 16 percent slope
is too steep.
Three people in the audi-
ence who live in that area
testiied that the gravel path
would be a dangerous climb
and descent for kids walking
to and from a bus stop at the
Pendleton Early Learning
Center.
“It’s minor kids walking
over a football (ield) length
of an unlighted pathway,”
South Hill resident John
Bartron said. “I’ve been
down there at night. It is dark
... That is a liability. Honestly,
I wouldn’t let my kids walk
down there.”
Councilor Paul Chalmers
said the city should apply
for funding from the Energy
Trust of Oregon to install
solar-powered lights across
the path.
Councilor Chuck Wood
suggested creating steps
PENDLETON
Several Washington
students bused to wrong
school on irst day
East Oregonian
On the irst day of class
at two new schools, new bus
routes for Pendleton elemen-
tary students caused a few
mishaps Monday.
Superintendent
Andy
Kovach said four students
were dropped off at Wash-
ington that should have been
dropped off at the Pendleton
Early Learning Center.
Kovach said all of the
mis-transported
students
were under adult supervision
the entire time and were
eventually taken to the proper
drop-off site or picked up by
their parents.
Additionally,
Guy
Shanks, Midco regional vice
president, said some children
who had not registered for
bus transportation were acci-
dentally given rides.
Shanks said the buck
stops at Midco and the
company has already held a
meeting with its drivers to
address some of the issues
experienced on Monday.
Shanks
said
Midco
performed better on Tuesday,
temporarily sending one
student on the wrong bus
before correcting it.
Monday was the irst day
at the new Washington and
Sherwood schools.
along the path, similar the
ones found in nature trails,
but Public Works Director
Bob Patterson said that
would prevent city staff
from accessing the man
holes found along the sewer
easement that the path would
be built on top of.
Since the city plans to
build the path and demolish
the old staircase with
in-house labor and resources,
Patterson didn’t have a set
cost for the project, but said
the money would come out
of the sewer and street funds.
Staff wants to pave the
path next spring, but since
that aspect of the project
would have to be bid out to a
private contractor, Patterson
said he would return to the
council with a deinitive
igure.
The stairs were closed a
year ago after a child injured
himself on the stairs and his
father posted a video of the
staircase’s poor condition on
Facebook.
“I’m amazed that it’s
standing ... I think it’s an
absolute liability,” Chalmers
said Tuesday.
Corbett said he would put
the gravel path proposal on
the next city council agenda.
That meeting is scheduled
for Oct. 4.
———
Contact Antonio Sierra at
asierra@eastoregonian.com
or 541-966-0836.
YOU’RE INVITED TO A
MEDICARE
BIRTHDAY PARTY!
Are you turning 65 between
now and the end of September?
If so, we would love to see you!
Join us for a FREE and
fun event & learn more
about Medicare
• The basics of Medicare
• Your rights & responsibilities
• Social Security & Disability Benefits
Saturday, Oct. 1
10am-1pm
GSMC Conference Center #1
Sponsored by:
Good Shepherd Medical Center
SHIBA Office
Questions? Call 541-667-3507
or hosborne@gshealth.org