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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 7, 2016)
ALTHEA GIBBS OF STANFIELD Enjoy a free large mocha at Bloomz Coffee Bar in Hermiston 9-YEAR-OLD A RISING BMX STAR KIDS GET LESSON IN LOCAL AG SPORTS/1B REGION/3A FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2016 140th Year, No. 255 Your Weekend • • • One dollar WINNER OF THE 2016 ONPA GENERAL EXCELLENCE AWARD Hermiston holds walk, vigil for victims of domestic violence Community campfi re and hayrides, Hermiston Fall Quilt Show at Boardman Senior Center Wine & Stein: Altrusa Oktoberfest, Hermiston For times and places see Coming Events, 6A Weekend Weather Fri Sat Sun 64/51 74/51 76/53 ODOT to straighten curve on dangerous highway By KATY NESBITT The Observer MINAM — The travel routes into Wallowa County can be treacherous, and the Minam Grade on Highway 82 east of Elgin is no exception. As part of its effort to make the highway safer near the Union/Wallowa County line, the Oregon Department of Transportation will straighten the worst of the curves in 2018 at a projected cost of $4.5 million. Ken Patterson, area manager of the ODOT offi ce in La Grande, said the agency is working on a project to smooth out the 25-mph curve on the descent into Minam Canyon. “It’s been a location of a number of accidents in the past,” Patterson said. “We got some money a couple years ago to build in 2018, and it’s currently under design.” The state is working to get environmental clearances because of the amount of rock that will be removed to ease the curve. The most recent project on the Minam Grade, fi ve years ago, required the removal of 100,000 tons of rock. Patterson said crews will need to haul away closer to 400,000 tons during the 2018 work. The permitting process through the Army Corps of Staff photo by E.J. Harris A small group of marchers walk towards McKenzie Park to participate in a candlelight vigil honoring victims of domestic violence on Thursday in Hermiston. Help is waiting Victims of abuse urged to reach out to Domestic Violence Services, police By JADE MCDOWELL East Oregonian A handful of Hermiston residents gathered Thursday night at McKenzie Park for a candlelight vigil honoring victims of domestic violence. The event — one of several in Umatilla County and Morrow County this week sponsored by Domestic Violence Services — was held in recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month. “Domestic violence affects If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence, call the 24-hour crisis line at 1-800-833-1161 everyone, not just the victims,” said Hermiston police and fi re chaplain Terry Cummings. “Entire families are affected, and I’ve seen the results in the lives of children fi rsthand.” During the vigil Cummings told those gathered that one in four women in the United States will be affected by domestic violence of some kind during their lifetime. He asked anyone who is experiencing abuse or believes a loved one is being abused to reach out to Domestic Violence Services, the police or a trusted friend. The nonprofi t offers a 24-hour crisis hotline, immediate shelter for people See ABUSE/8A Independent joins Brown, Pierce debate Candidates address housing, transportation, graduation rates By PARIS ACHEN Capital Bureau See MINAM/3A Staff photo by E.J. Harris McKay water levels below average Low water levels at McKay Reservoir have exposed what appears to be the remains of an old rail line on Tuesday south of Pendleton. As of Wednesday, there was approximate- ly 16,000 acre-feet of water in McKay Reservoir, according to Mike Ladd, region manager with the Oregon Water Resources Department in Pendleton. That’s about 1,000 acre- feet more than last year, though Ladd said the average for this time of year tends to be around 18,700 acre-feet. EUGENE — Candidates in the contest for governor faced off in a debate at Churchill High School Thursday, offering their take on how to address the housing crisis, transportation, a revenue shortfall and the state’s low graduation rate. The third of fi ve debates between Gov. Kate Brown and GOP nominee Dr. William “Bud” Pierce, the event also featured for the fi rst time Cliff Thomason, Independent Party of Oregon candidate and an industrial hemp farmer from Grants Pass. The candidates are seeking election to complete the last two years of former Gov. John Kitzhaber’s four-year term. As former See DEBATE/8A In turnaround, Bundy denies leading refuge occupiers By STEVEN DUBOIS Associated Press Ammon Bundy PORTLAND — Under a brief, but rapid-fi re cross-ex- amination Thursday, Ammon Bundy denied leading the occu- pation of a national wildlife refuge and defended receiving a U.S. Small Business Admin- istration loan. Bundy, 41, who’s on trial for conspiring to impede Interior Department workers from doing their jobs at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, was quickly reminded by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ethan Knight that he had earlier testifi ed that he was the leader. Bundy said he was not a leader in the way Knight considers him to be. The man who led followers to the refuge for the 41-day standoff with law enforcement said he teaches “core principles” to people and lets them govern themselves. Those principles, spoken of in great detail during three days of testimony this week, include Bundy’s belief that the federal government can’t own land within a state’s borders, except for limited purposes. Knight closed his 15-minute cross-examination by getting Bundy to acknowledge See TRIAL/8A
