REGION
Wednesday, January 11, 2017
East Oregonian
Page 3A
MILTON-FREEWATER
Council denies water lines for trailer park
Contaminated well water has been an issue for years
By PHIL WRIGHT
East Oregonian
Milton-Freewater
City
Council voted 5-0 to not
extend city water services to
the troubled Locust Mobile
Village trailer park.
City manager Linda Hall
said the council made the
decision Monday night before
“a packed house” of citizens,
and the several who spoke
were all against the extension.
“The gist of the comments
were that it was a Band-Aid
on a major wound, that
the water is not the only
problem,” Hall said.
Contaminated well water
has been a problem for
years at the park at 1501 N.
Elizabeth Street. The Oregon
Health Authority in May 2016
warned the park’s residents
to boil their water due to E.
coli. That notice remains in
effect until park owner Nancy
Shaw can comply with state
requirements for clean water.
Speakers at the council
meeting claimed the park has
safety and sanitation issues,
Hall said, and the city’s own
electrical employees were
concerned with the quality of
power service at the park.
“Which we are putting
[Shaw] on notice for as we
speak,” she said.
Although the city limits
don’t extend to the park, the
city provides the park’s power.
Hall said several electrical
connections for trailers are not
up to code.
“We can’t — nor should
we — energize those if they
are not up to code,” she said.
“It’s very unsafe.”
Shaw was not at the
meeting, Hall said. Shaw also
did not immediately return
calls Tuesday.
The Health Authority in
late 2016 found a federal grant
to provide clean water to the
park, and the Umatilla County
Board of Commissioners
agreed to act as the fiscal agent.
The grant would have paid for
the cost of Milton-Freewater
connecting its water supply to
the park. But Hall said council
members questioned if the
grant was the best use of state
or federal money and also
believed it as not fair Shaw and
her park would receive this
benefit while others in similar
situations had to resolve
problems on their own.
Larry Givens, county
commission board chairman,
said he understood where
the city council was coming
from. Extending water lines,
he said, would not have dealt
with other serious problems at
the park. Even so, he said,pro-
viding clean water would be
a “huge step” to improving
quality of life at the park.
The county lacks the legal
authority to do much more
than make Shaw clean up
trash at the park, Givens said,
and Hall raised doubts the
county could act as the fiscal
agent for the grant. To that end,
Givens said county attorney
Doug Olsen is digging into
the grant’s language “to get
the exact legal requirements”
for managing the funds.
The grant, for example,
would cover the cost of a new
well for the park, although
Givens said getting a state
permit for a commercial well
on private land “would be
almost impossible” due to
Milton-Freewater falling into
an intensive water manage-
ment area. Givens also said he
is taking his concerns to state
lawmakers.
“We still need to look at
ways to improve this situa-
tion,” he said.
Hall also said the council
would be willing to meet with
Shaw and county and state
parties to discuss problems at
the park and how to improve
conditions for the people
living there.
HERMISTON
Sergeant Clark promoted to captain
By JAYATI RAMAKRISHNAN
East Oregonian
Wall of snow
Contributed photo
Oregon Department of Transportation worked to
remove snow from highways in Eastern Oregon
over the weekend. Here is a photo of Highway
237 (Cove Highway) in Union County.
BRIEFLY
Agape House
hosts indoor/
outdoor sale
HERMISTON — A sale
benefiting Agape House is
planned this weekend.
The regular parking lot
sale, which includes indoor
shopping for clothes, is
Saturday from 8:30-11:30
a.m. at 500 Harper Road,
Hermiston. It features adult
attire at three items for a
dollar. People can pick
up the first five articles of
children’s clothing free
of charge, with additional
selections at three for $1.
Depending on the
weather, other items will
be available — including
bikes, books and furniture,
which will be priced
as marked. People can
name their own price for
knick-knacks.
Agape House serves
individuals and families
in need. For more
information, call 541-567-
8774.
Library trivia
event focuses on
Harry Potter
HERMISTON —
There’s still time to brush
up on Harry Potter facts for
a special teen event at the
Hermiston Public Library.
All youths in grades
6-12 are invited to the
Teen Trivia Get Together,
which is Tuesday, Jan. 17
from 4-5 p.m. at 235 E.
Gladys Ave., Hermiston.
Refreshments will be
served. There is no
admission fee.
For more information,
call 541-567-2882 or visit
www.hermistonlibrary.us.
Funding available
for Water Project
Grants and Loans
Approximately $5
million is now available
through the Oregon Water
Resources Department
to help pay for in-stream
and out-of-stream water
development projects.
The Oregon Water
Resources Department
is accepting applications
for Water Project Grants
and Loans, part of the
agency’s Water Resources
Development Program,
which provides funding
for projects that result in
economic, environmental
or cultural benefits.
Eligible projects
may include water
conservation, storage,
streamflow protection or
water delivery systems.
Businesses, nonprofits and
local governments are all
eligible to apply.
Applications are due
by 5 p.m. April 5. For
more information, contact
program coordinator Jon
Unger at waterprojects@
wrd.state.or.us or
503-986-0869.
Altrusa seeks
nominations for
youth award
HERMISTON — An
outstanding young
citizen will be recognized
during the upcoming
Distinguished Citizens
Awards Banquet in
Hermiston.
Altrusa International
of Hermiston is seeking
nominations for the
award. Young people
under the age of 21 will
be considered. Altrusa is
looking for someone that
demonstrates commitment,
personal responsibility
and a positive attitude, and
who goes beyond what’s
expected of them to benefit
others.
Nomination forms are
available at the Hermiston
Chamber of Commerce,
415 S. Highway
395, or by emailing
hermistonaltrusa@gmail.
com. The form and a letter
detailing the person’s
achievements must be
submitted by Friday, Jan.
20.
The awards banquet
is Wednesday, Feb. 1 at
6 p.m. at the Hermiston
Conference Center. Tickets
are $30 per person and
can be ordered at www.
hermistonchamber.com or
by calling 541-567-6151.
———
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.
The Hermiston Police Department
has promoted Sgt. Scott Clark to
captain — taking the place of Cpt.
Darryl Johnson, who will retire in June
after 20 years with the department.
Clark, a Hermiston native, has been
with the department since June 2005,
and before that worked at the Umatilla
Police Department, starting in 1997.
“When I initially started in law
enforcement, something like that
wasn’t really in my mind,” Clark said
of the promotion. “But it’s that time in
my career. I’m absolutely excited to
take that next step and become part of
the amazing management team here.”
Clark will serve as the operations
captain for the department, overseeing
patrol and reserve officers.
The promotion means Clark will be
second-in-command to the chief, along
with administrative captain Travis
Eynon. As the operations captain, he
will focus more on supervising other
officers and issues, rather than working
the daily patrol rotation.
“My time on the road will be
limited,” he said, adding that he’ll now
spend most of his time at the office.
Police chief Jason Edmiston had
previously said he hoped to fill the
captain’s position with a current Herm-
iston officer.
“I think it’s a good sign when
a department is healthy enough to
Staff photo by Jayati Ramakrishnan
Sgt. Scott Clark will assume the role of Operations Captain for the
Hermiston Police Department in May.
promote from within,” he said in
December.
Clark said he was honored to be
chosen for the job.
“I know it had to have been a tough
decision,” he said. “They realized we
had the personnel here to fulfill (the
position), so they kept the process
in-house.”
Clark said in his experience, there’s
no such thing as a regular day.
“Different challenges will pop up
throughout your career, as far as where
you focus your efforts,” Clark said.
“You see a rash of car prowls, vehicle
thefts, burglaries — and you try to find
different ways of dealing with those
problems.”
In addition to working with the
police department, Clark served as
a reserve officer in the Coast Guard
for 12 years, from 2004 to 2016 —
including deployments to Guantanamo
Bay, Kuwait and Iraq.
Clark is married and has four chil-
dren.
Pendleton to open flagship store in downtown Portland
By ANNA MARUM
The Oregonian/Oregonlive
As Macy’s vacates its
iconic home in downtown
Portland, a longtime Oregon
retailer looks to establish a
new one.
Pendleton Woolen Mills,
which was incorporated
in Pendleton in 1909,
announced Monday that
it plans to open a flagship
store at the base of the new
30-story Park Avenue West
tower at Southwest Ninth
and Morrison.
Pendleton currently oper-
ates two stores downtown,
as well as a large fabric
store in Milwaukie and a
shop at Portland Interna-
tional Airport. In addition,
it operates nearly 50 stores
and outlets throughout the
country, and distributes its
colorful woolen blankets
and flannels throughout the
world.
According to Pendleton
spokeswoman Linda Parker,
the new Portland store
is scheduled to open in
mid-June. Shortly before
that, Pendleton’s store in the
nearby Standard Insurance
building will close, she said.
Its home store at North-
west Broadway and Davis
will remain open, and its
offices will remain next door.
Pendleton
President
Mort Bishop said the new
downtown store is part of
the company’s strategy to
upgrade its existing locations
instead of adding more.
The Park Avenue store,
which
will
essentially
replace the Fourth Avenue
location, will offer a more
relaxed, “industrial chic”
vibe, he said.
At 3,000 square feet, the
new store will be slightly
smaller, and the offerings
will be more curated, Bishop
said.
The shop will offer men’s
and women’s clothing, as
well as home items and
accessories.
STUDENT
OF THE
WEEK
Austin Rice
(Senior)
I RRIGON H IGH S CHOOL
Austin Rice is a dedicated student, outstanding
athlete, and all-around nice guy. He is a shining
example of a positive attitude that has led him to
success in many areas.  Austin has been a varsity
letter-winner in football, basketball, and baseball all
four years of high school, and currently holds a GPA of
3.7.  He is considering attending either George Fox
University or OIT next year where he plans to pursue
studies in the healthcare field, and play baseball. 
Austin was selected 1st team all-state in baseball last
year as a pitcher, leading the knights to the 2A state
semi-finals.  He has been a starter for the Knights
basketball team the past two years, and was the
starting quarterback this past football season. 
Proudly Sponsored by
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PATTI BURRES, Broker
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Bishop
acknowledged
that the men’s and women’s
lines have attracted different
types of customers, and
that Pendleton is working
to infuse its womenswear
with more of the laid-back,
outdoorsy look that has
made its men’s apparel and
home items so popular.
“We have gone through
a comprehensive brand
study in the last couple of
years, and we’re bringing
the brand together with an
overall aesthetic,” Bishop
said. “There’s a more unified
brand strategy.”
As for collaborations,
Pendleton is keeping them
coming. In past years, the
brand has teamed up with
Nike, Airstream, the National
Parks, hotels, Star Wars and,
most recently, Marvel. Now,
Bishop said, Pendleton is
working on a rain boot.
“We have a lot of exciting
things coming,” he said.
Meanwhile, the company
looks to expand its distribu-
tion in Japan and Canada,
despite challenges brought
on by a strong dollar.
BEST STAND-UP
COMEDY ON IT'S WAY
TO HERMISTON!
Melonville Comedy Festival
January 28, 2017
Hermiston Community Center
The 24th edition of the Melonville Comedy Festival will
feature three headlining stand up comedians. These
comics are in demand corporate show entertainers.
C HASE M AYERS
is coming to Hermiston from Baton
Rouge Louisiana for the fi rst time.
Chase is a comedy club headliner
in the Gulf Coast area, He also
appeared in the movie "The Butler''.
Chase is a Back Porch Comedian.
G ABRIEL R UTLEDGE
Another regular on the Bob and Tom Radio show
has appeared at the 2006 Melonville Comedy
Festival. He is on the comedy stage nightly all over
America. Gabriel's TV credits include
Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, and HBO. Two of
his albums are on the Sirius Satellite radio comedy
radio top ten. Rutledge fi nds humor is in his family
and everyday life. Gabriel is based in Olympia.
D WIGHT S LADE
is a regular guest on the Bob and Tom
Radio show. He appeared on the Tonight
Show, and on Comedy Central. Dwight is a
headliner on the biggest stages of standup
comedy throughout the world. Slade start-
ed working in comedy clubs as a teen and
at the Melonville Comedy festival in 2004.
His humor covers everything from driving
to pets. Dwight is based in Portland.
Tickets $35 per person
Sponsor:
Doors open at 7pm, Show starts at 8:00
Tickets available at
Hermiston Chamber of Commerce
Reserve Tickets at: 541-561-7488 •
NO REFUNDS • 21 & OVER