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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 15, 2016)
REGION Tuesday, November 15, 2016 Drunk driver arrests abound over weekend By PHIL WRIGHT East Oregonian Local law enforcement made multiple arrests for drunken driving this past weekend, including two following crashes near Pendleton. The first of three arrests for the Umatilla County Sheriff’s Office came Friday night. Deputy John Reitz responded to the Athena Auto Parts, 409 E. Main St., Athena, to investigate a report of a suspicious person and vehicle and found Michael Ray Kirkpatrick, 31, standing near the store. Kirkpatrick was visibly intoxicated, according to a report from the sheriff’s office, and he told Reitz he was looking for his brother, who was at a friend’s house. Reitz noticed a green Jeep Grand Cherokee near the store, and Kirkpatrick said he was not driving the Jeep and knew nothing about it. He then said he was going to find his brother and walked away. Moments later, the sher- iff’s office reported, Reitz saw Kirkpatrick driving the Jeep with its headlights off on North Third and Main streets, Athena. Reitz stopped the Jeep, had Kirkpatrick take sobriety tests, which he failed, and arrested him for driving under the influence of intoxicants and driving while suspended. Sheriff’s deputy Nathan Rankin at about 2:20 a.m. Saturday nabbed Isidro Calderon Alfonso Santana, 21, of Hermiston, for DUII. Then at about 11:30 p.m. the deputy arrested Trevor D. Revoir, 31, of Stanfield, for DUII. Hermiston police on Saturday arrested Richard Eugene Orville Wiggins, 39, of 505 W. Hatley Ave., Hermiston, for DUII. He also had a Marion County warrant for not complying with circuit court orders from 2013 to pay fees and complete a drunk driving diversion program. Pend- leton police arrested Rodrick Warren Smith, 48, of Pend- leton, for DUII, attempt to flee, resisting arrest, inter- fering with a peace officer and harassment. Oregon State Police reported a trooper caught a drunk driver after a crash Saturday night. Sara Anna Murphy, 26, no address provided, was driving a Chevrolet S10 pickup and tried to pass a semitrailer on Interstate 84 near the connection to Yoakum Road west of Pend- leton, state police reported, when she struck the right rear side of the trailer. The pickup entered the median and rolled. The trooper cited Murphy for DUII and reck- less driving. And another trooper arrested a Pendleton man after investigating a crash early Sunday. Trooper Wesley Linhart at 5:33 a.m. responded to the crash near milepost 5 on the southbound side of Highway 11 outside Pendleton and found a red Honda Civic on its passenger side. Umatilla tribal police were on the scene, and an ambulance had taken the driver to St. Anthony Hospital, Pend- leton. Linhart found Silas Elias Daniels, 20, at the hospital and he showed “multiple signs of impairment,” according to the report from state police. Daniels told the trooper he drank a bottle of Hennessy, a cognac, then later hit the road and reached about 80 mph when he tried to answer his phone. That’s when he crashed. The hospital reported Daniels had a blood-alcohol level of .21 percent, more than twice the .08 percent legal limit, according to state police. The trooper gave Daniels a sobriety test, saw he was impaired and arrested him for DUII (alcohol), reckless driving and minor in possession of alcohol. The trooper took Daniels to the Umatilla County Jail, Pendleton. By then, state police reported, Daniels had a blood-alcohol level of .13 percent. Luncheon features United Way update BOARDMAN — Kricket Nicholson, executive director of United Way of Umatilla and Morrow Counties, will provide a promotional presentation during the Boardman Chamber of Commerce meeting. The United Way offers a simple way for employees to support nonprofit organizations through payroll deductions. The no-host luncheon gathering is Wednesday at noon at the Port of Morrow, 2 Marine Drive, Boardman. The cost is $12. In addition, the Good Shepherd Community Health Foundation will share information about opportunities for planned giving. The nonprofit organization is dedicated to making the region a healthier, safer and happier place to live and raise families. For more information or to RSVP, contact 541-481-3014 or info@boardmanchamber.com. Agape House serves trouble during murder mystery dinner By TAMMY MALGESINI East Oregonian A packed house had an appetite for murder during “Gobble, Gobble Death and Trouble.” The Saturday murder mystery dinner presentation served as a fundraiser for Agape House of Hermiston. Guests feasted on a smoked turkey dinner while playing amateur sleuths during an investigation into the murder of chef Ramsey Gordon, whose turkey recipe is famous around the globe. Motives were raised as a half dozen potential murderers were questioned by dinner-goers after the celebrated chef died during an oven explosion. Among the suspects were Thaddeus Fickel of Hermiston, Jim Glover of Umatilla, Tina Ridings of Umatilla, Trish Rossell of Hermiston and Polly Van De Brake of Stanfield. Boyd Sharp of Umatilla, who played the part of a turkey farmer, was found to be the murderer. Fickel and Rossell, who is president of the Herm- iston Warming Station, are veterans with the Agape House murder mysteries. The Hermiston couple said participating in the event provides support to Agape House, an important community ally in helping people. “We do work together and support each other,” Rossell said. “It’s such a good cause and I appreciate the commu- nity support in taking care of our neighbors in need.” Glover, who minored in drama, enjoys the oppor- tunity to tap into his inner thespian. He said the murder mystery events allow more interactions with the audi- ence than standard theater productions. The camara- derie, Glover said, provides Staff photo by Tammy Malgesini Gabble Gobble, played by Boyd Sharp of Umatilla, tries to shift blame to Winifred Nerry for the murder of Ramsey Gordon Saturday during “Gobble Gobble Death and Trouble,” a murder mystery dinner fundraiser at Agape House in Hermiston. Staff photo by Tammy Malgesini Trish Rossell of Hermiston, playing the part of May- flower Vineyards owner Winifred Nerry, was fingered as the killer by her table-mates and the actual mur- derer during “Gobble Gobble Death and Trouble.” a fun time for both the actors and the guests. Dave Hughes, Agape House executive director, said the event raised about $1,000. The murder mystery events, he said, are a fun and popular way to help support the nonprofit organization. Hughes said his organiza- tion was looking for a unique way to raise money. Murder mystery presentations were few and far between when Agape House decided to start putting them on. “Everyone does golf tournaments, everyone does auctions,” Hughes said. “We thought, this way we can provide an interesting evening and a fun event and we can feed everyone and still raise money for us.” With their popularity on the rise, Hughes said Agape House plans to stage four events next year. Anyone who is interested in playing a role is encouraged to contact Hughes. “I enjoy seeing people laugh and having a good time,” he said. “If someone want to join us, I’ll find a spot for them in the next one.” Money raised from the event will help serve those in need in the community. For more information, call Hughes at 541-567-8774. ——— Contact Community Editor Tammy Malgesini at tmalgesini@eastoregonian. com or 541-564-4539 New hope for immigration, H-2A visa reform Republican control of the White House and Congress brought some optimism to agricultural leaders who for years have been working on immigration reform to help labor-intensive agriculture. Two big elements are legal work status for illegal aliens and making the H-2A visa agricultural foreign guestworker program easier for employers to use. Legal work status may actually reduce the number of farmworkers as, once legal, they feel freer to move into other occupations, farm labor leaders have said. The president can improve H-2A somewhat through regulations and Congress and the president can change or replace it. There’s apprehension about President-elect Donald Trump’s often-stated inten- tion to deport illegal immi- grants, but he also has said he will deport those who have committed crimes, build a wall on the U.S.-Mexican border and then determine what to do with non-criminal illegal immigrants. “Chances are very good that significant immigration reform legislation will be enacted,” Leon Sequeira, a Kentucky labor attorney and former assistant secretary of Youth theater stages ‘Jungle Book’ HERMISTON — A popular Disney story will be staged in Hermiston. After months of rehearsals, youths in the Hermiston Parks & Recreation’s drama program will present “The Jungle Book.” The classic production will provide entertainment for the entire family, said Gina Wicks of the recreation department. The performances are Thursday and Friday at 6:30 p.m. at Armand Larive Middle School, 1497 S.W. Ninth St., Hermiston. Pre-ordered tickets are $2 each. Tickets purchased at the door are $3. For more information, visit www.hermistonrecreation. com. For tickets, call 541-667-5018 or stop by the recreation office at 180 N.E. Second St., Hermiston. ——— Submit information to: community@eastoregonian.com or drop off to the attention of Tammy 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. Page 3A HERMISTON By DAN WHEAT EO Media Group BRIEFLY East Oregonian labor under President George W. Bush, told Capital Press. The focus will be on the Senate, he said, where the Democratic minority will still have a significant role. “There are important differences among Repub- licans on many issues, including immigration, so it is too soon to predict exactly what reforms will be passed,” Sequeira said. President Trump will enact regulatory and policy reforms, including in immi- gration and H-2A, he said. “From a national perspec- tive, growers grown weary of the Obama regulatory jugger- naut can breathe at least a sign of relief,” said Craig Regel- brugge, national co-chair of Ag Coalition for Immigration Reform and senior vice presi- dent of AmericanHort. Frank Gasperini Jr., executive vice president of the National Council for Agricultural Employers, said Congress likely will move quickly to address border security and employ- ment verification. “Their mandate will preclude anything that can be labeled ‘amnesty’ and we will be challenged to get them to include workable guestworker provisions fast enough or fully fund and assure the current H-2A process works as intended,” Gasperini said. Want Year Around Outdoor Space? W e’ve Got A Solution! Tremendous Trio Book Signing! November 19th from 5-7pm John Groupe Becky Waggoner Rick Steber 125 S. 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