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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 29, 2016)
REGION Thursday, September 29, 2016 East Oregonian Tribal ishers preparing for new food safety regulations CRITFC lands grant to provide training By GEORGE PLAVEN East Oregonian The Columbia River Inter- Tribal Fish Commission has received a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to help tribes prepare for new regulations under the Food Safety Modernization Act. The law, signed by President Obama in 2011, gives the Food and Drug Administration new authority to regulate how foods are grown, harvested and processed in the United States. That affects how tribal members will need to handle, process and document the salmon they harvest from the Columbia River. CRITFC — which represents the Umatilla, Warm Springs, Yakama and Nez Perce tribes — will use the $99,842 grant from USDA Rural Development on training and education. Harvesting salmon represents a multi-million dollar industry to Columbia River tribes in Oregon and Washington. Buck Jones, salmon marketing specialist for CRITFC, said there are approximately 600 to 800 individual tribal members that ish on the river. Sale of tribally caught ish most frequently takes place at sites along the river, or at farmers’ markets, restaurants and to wholesalers in major markets such as Portland and Seattle. Jones said CRITFC has already organized its own food safety group, and they will begin visiting directly with the four member tribes. “This is something that’s going to affect our tribal ishermen broadly in the next three years,” Jones said. “It’s really going to be a lot more documentation and trace- ability from the time they catch the ish themselves.” In addition, the USDA grant will help CRITFC identify commercial kitchens within tribal communities that meet federal food safety standards where members can develop specialized products and learn about packaging, labeling and other development techniques. Jones said the tribes have already made enormous strides in marketing their ish harvest, investing in stronger boats and working on projects to boost salmon runs in recent years. More than 350 members have also voluntarily taken food safety classes for hazard analysis and critical control, representing more than 5,000 hours of instruction. “We had a stigma for years of tribal ish not being a (quality) product,” Jones said. “We’ve eliminated that now. Our isheries have come a long way.” Under the Food Safety Modernization Act, tribes will have to go through extra steps to document that trib- ally caught ish are handled and processed at the highest safety and quality standards in order to maximize the market value. The increased revenue, in turn, will go back to supporting tribal families and communities, according to the USDA. ——— Contact George Plaven at gplaven@eastoregonian. com or 541-966-0825. Page 3A PENDLETON Jury convicts man of sex abuse, more East Oregonian Shaun Allen Dick of Pendleton is heading to prison after a jury convicted him of multiple sex crimes against a woman. Dick, 38, went to trial Monday at the Umatilla County Courthouse, Pendleton, on charges of sodomy, two counts of Dick unlawful sexual penetration, attempted rape, two counts of sexual abuse, all in the irst-degree, plus charges of coercion and menacing. The 12-member jury Tuesday evening returned guilty verdicts on eight counts. Dick and the victim met through an online dating site, according to court documents, and on the evening of Jan. 17, 2015, they engaged in consensual sex. But the state claims that changed the next morning, when Dick became violent and subjected the woman to “forceful, non-consensual sexual acts” and threatened to harm her if she revealed his actions. She told police the same morning, which led to an investigation and Dick’s arrest Feb. 25, 2015, making him the current longest-serving inmate in the Umatilla County Jail, Pendleton. Defense attorney Robert Klahn of Pendleton argued the woman set up his client to steal guns worth $50,000. Dick remains in the jail. His sentencing is Oct. 28. HERMISTON HERMISTON Public comment open for release of senior center funds Leah Smith recognized by Agricultural Educators East Oregonian If anyone in the public has concerns about the environmental impact of a $2 million Community Development Block Grant being used to build a new senior center in Hermiston, the time to speak up is now. The public comment period for release of the federal funds to the city of Hermiston ends Oct. 19. The city will be able to submit a request for release of the funds on Oct. 20. The city was already awarded the grant after going through a competitive application process, but a inal public comment period is required by law before the funds are oficially turned over. The city has deter- mined that there will be no “signiicant” environmental impact from the planned 11,000 square foot building on 100 E Ridgeway Ave. Anyone disagreeing with that determination can submit written comments to the Parks and Recreation Department at city hall, 180 NE Second St. in Hermiston. The environmental review record is also available for review at city hall. After the city submits a request for release of funds, citizens will have another 15 days to submit written objections to release of the funds directly to the Oregon Business Development Department at 775 Summer Street NE, Suite 200 in Salem. The city hopes to put construction of the Harken- rider Center out to bid on Oct. 31 and award the bid on Dec. 31, allowing construc- tion to wrap up in August 2017. HERMISTON Boy Scouts running pilot program for kindergartners By JADE MCDOWELL East Oregonian Hermiston kindergartners who can’t wait to become a Boy Scout now don’t have to. The Boy Scouts of America is running a pilot program for boys attending kindergarten, called Lion scouts, and Cub Scout Pack 645 has been chosen to participate. Jessica Oster, Oregon Trail District paraprofessional, said activities will be simpliied, age-appropriate versions of cub scout “adventures” that focus on teaching topics such as life skills, physical health, citizenship and respect. “It’s very minimal,” she said. “For inances, it’s not home inances or anything like that, but one of the things the Boy Scouts of America does is teach that a scout is thrifty.” Instead of a full scouting uniform, boys will wear a Lion T-shirt and hat, and will not be expected to participate in the fundraisers that the older boys do. They also meet twice a month instead of once a week. Oster said boys must join with an adult partner such as a parent, grandparent or sibling over age 18, who will be required to accompany them to troop meetings and activities. So far Cub Scout Pack 645, which is sponsored by the Elks Lodge, only has one Lion in it, but they have just started recruiting and expect to have more. Usually boys start Boy Scouts of America programs in irst grade and are known as Tiger scouts (the exception is troops run through The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which go by age instead of grade and start when boys turn 8). But Oster said the organization has found that the earlier boys are involved in scouting, the longer they stick with it. It has also found that parents are choosing extra-curricular activities for their children sooner. “They’re just inding that parents are involving their kids in things younger and younger,” she said. Oster said overall she believes that the Boy Scouts of America is a “great program” for boys of any age. “I just think the values it incorporates for these kids, it instills in them for life,” she BRIEFLY Quaempts appointed to Water Resources Commission PENDLETON — Eric Quaempts, director of natural resources for the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, has been appointed to the Oregon Water Resources Commission, a seven-member citizen panel that sets water resources policy for the state. Quaempts, along with Meg Reeves of Corvallis, had been appointed to the commis- sion by Gov. Kate Brown. The Oregon Senate conirmed their appointments Sept. 22. Commissioners serve four-year terms, and are appointed from each of the ive regional river basin areas across the state. Two other members are selected at-large. Quaempts was chosen as the North Central Region commissioner, while Reeves will serve in one of the at-large positions. Commissioners Quaempts and Reeves will attend their irst meeting Thursday, Oct. 13 in Medford. Management, Umatilla County Fire District #1, Umatilla County Sheriff, National Weather Service and Life Flight. Second grant helps police buy 11 more deibrillators PENDLETON — The Umatilla County Sheriff’s Ofice received a second grant to buy 11 more automated external deibrillators, or AEDs. The Good Shepherd Community Health Foundation awarded the sheriff’s ofice the $5,945 to buy the devices that can save lives when someone suffers a heart attack. The new grant allows the law enforcement agency to fulill its goal of having 22 auto-deibrillators that will go in patrol vehicles and sheriff’s facilities. The Wildhorse Foundation in June gave the sheriff’s ofice a $6,000 grant to buy the irst 11 devices. Sheriff’s communications sergeant John Shafer wrote the grant applications. Good Shepherd to hold disaster Funding available for preparedness drill Oct. 6 forestland stewardship plans HERMISTON — Good Shepherd Health Care System is preparing to hold a disaster preparedness drill on Thursday, Oct. 6 at about 6 p.m. Spokesman Nick Bejarano said the hospital and clinics will operate as usual during the duration of the drill. “If you have an appointment scheduled around the time of the disaster preparedness drill you may hear and see our emergency response system, and additional law enforcement oficials, but rest assured that this is only a drill,” he said. Bejarano said the simulation will train staff on their roles and responsibilities in the event of a major disaster and give them practice interacting with outside agencies responding to the disaster as well. Participating local agencies include Hermiston Police Department, Oregon State Police, Oregon State Bomb Squad, Umatilla County Emergency PENDLETON — Funding is available for private forestland owners in Umatilla and Morrow counties to develop a 10-year stewardship plan that outlines conditions, goals and enhancing resources. The stewardship plan describes the existing vegetation, soils, wildlife and ish habitat on the property, and provides guidelines for how the land will be managed for future generations. Stewardship plan funding is available for property owners with 10 or more forested acres. The program could include up to 75 percent reimbursement, if written by a professional forester. ODF will approve the cost-share amount prior to the creation of the plan, and will review the plan after it is completed. All actions are strictly voluntary, and the plan does not limit or reduce any existing rights of the landowner. For more information, call Rudolf at 541-276-3491. said. The Pack 645 Lions plan to meet the irst and third Tuesday of every month from 6-7 p.m. at West Park Elementary School, 555 SW 7th St. in Hermiston. For more information, or to join, call troop leader Toni White at 541-571-1422. East Oregonian Leah Smith, agriculture science teacher at Hermiston High School, has been recognized by the National Association of Agricultural Educators as this year’s top teacher mentor in Region I, which includes 11 Western states. The award is given each year Smith to an experienced teacher who helps motivate, encourage and guide begin- ning teachers. Smith has been an agriculture teacher for 15 years, including nine years with the Hermiston School District. Smith works collabo- ratively in multiple class- rooms to assist new teachers in developing their curriculum, and participates in two professional learning commu- nity teams where she plans lessons, writes tests and collaborates with other teachers on how they can better their class- rooms. Smith is also certiied through the Curriculum for Agricultural Science Education, and is an DuPont Ambassador and FFA advisor. Briefs are compiled from staff and wire reports, and press releases. Email press releases to news@eastoregonian.com C.T.U.I.R RECALL VOTE On October 4, 2016, tribal voters of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation will be voting on the recall election of Dr. David Close, Secretary of the Board of Trustees. The CTUIR, like all sovereign jurisdicitions, have duly approved and adopted election guidelines that must be complied with. This is to ensure that the (recall) election is conducted and carried out with fairness and impartiality. The election guidelines for the CTUIR are included in, of course, our Election Code. Chapter 5, Section 5.01 of the Election Code deines Code Enforcement and Unlawful Practices. Section 5.01. B., reads as, “No person shall use Tribal government or tribal enterprise personnel, property, equipment or work time for purposes of inluencing the outcome of a Tribal (recall) election or promoting the placement of an issue on the ballot (including preparing petitions or gathering signatures)”. This provision is very explicit that tribal employees will not use work time or tribal equipment to inluence the outcome of a tribal election, including a recall election. However, a recent Motion by the Board of Trustees clearly directs tribal employees to violate this section of the Election Code. At the September 12, 2016, BOT meeting, Vice-Chair Jeremy Wolf made the motion, “to direct the Ofice of Legal Counsel (tribal attorneys) and Ofice of Executive Director (senior management) to investigate the Board Secretary’s use of tribal resources starting December 7, 2015, and report potential violation(s) of Board resolutions in response to lawsuits against the CTUIR and report all related complaints and activities. The report is due to the Board by September 26, 2016, where then the substantiated results can be reported to the General Council members via US Mail”. The purpose of the investigation is to “dig up dirt” on Dr. Close and mail it to tribal voters to inluence them to vote “Yes” on the recall. This motion clearly directs tribal attorneys and senior managers, and the chain of command, to use their paid work time and tribally owned equipment, i.e., computers, ofice telephones, cell phones, printers, etc., to inluence the outcome of the upcoming recall election, which is explicitly prohibited by Section 5.01.B. of the Election Code. This also means that whatever information the investigation turns up and is mailed to tribal voters will have been unlawfully and improperly obtained, and should be disregarded by voters. The reasoning and rationale for this Motion is obvious: A majority of the BOT members have spent a great deal of their time trying to recall Dr. Close, they failed before at the BOT level recall process, and they have recently become aware that Dr. Close has much support in this tribal wide recall process. It is obvious they are now very worried about the outcome of the vote, so they are now resorting to tactics that violate the Election Code, they should know all of our codes and statutes. The mail-out part is a bit much, and is pretty desperate. All BOT members make a sworn Oath of Ofice that obligates them to support, “the Constitution and By-Laws, and all resolutions and codes, “. So what this Motion also brings up is an obvious violation of the oath of ofice by Jeremy Wolf, and the BOT members who voted to approve the Motion, as it does not support the Election Code, but undermines and violates it. Violating the oath of ofice clearly justiies a recall. Also, by this Motion, BOT members directed tribal employees to violate (by using work time and tribal equipment) the Election Code, and this action, in and of itself, also justiies a recall against Jeremy Wolf, and every BOT member who supported and voted in favor of this Motion. This is very serious business and consequences are clearly in order and are justiied. Tribal members should hold the BOT to higher standards. The tribal Personnel Policies and Procedures Manual is another document that has provisions that prohibit employees from using paid work time and tribal equipment for political purposes. Therefore, the Motion by the BOT directing employees to use paid work time to investigate actions by Dr. Close for the purpose of inluencing the recall election is also unlawful here as it is directing employees to violate the TPPM, as well as the Election Code. As for the merit of the four recall charges, recall advocates have never provided any evidence whatsoever to support their allegations against Dr. Close. While the recall process is not a speciic court case, the long-standing principle of being innocent until proven guilty should still apply. I respectfully ask tribal voters to do the right thing by voting “No”, on the recall against Dr. David Close. Thank You. Bob Shippentower • 541-969-3574
