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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 27, 2017)
REGION Friday, January 27, 2017 East Oregonian Page 3A TOLLGATE JOHN DAY Spout Springs ski area to try to resolve parking lot safety concerns Emry pleads guilty to unlawful possession of machine gun Resort remains closed EO Media Group By GEORGE PLAVEN East Oregonian The owner of Spout Springs Ski Area at Tollgate will meet with Umatilla National Forest Supervisor Genevieve Masters to try to resolve safety concerns over sharing the resort’s parking lot with snowmobiles. John Murray announced in December he would close Spout Springs for the 2016-17 season, claiming that snowmo- biles were creating an unsafe environ- ment for skiers and snowboarders. Spout Springs operates under a special use permit with the forest, and the parking area — set up on both sides of Highway 204 — is designated as a Sno-Park, which pays for the Oregon Department of Transportation to do plowing and snow removal. As a Sno-Park, Walla Walla District Ranger Mike Rassbach says multiple winter uses are allowed, including for snowmobiles to access nearby trails. Murray, however, says the parking lot has become so inundated with snow- mobiles and trailers that he’s concerned about one of his customers getting hurt. According to the ski area’s special use permit, there is an area for snow- mobile trailers to park overnight in the north lot. Larry Randall, recreation program manager for the forest, said the parking situation at Spout Springs hasn’t changed since 2004. Randall said Murray has raised the Contributed photo Spout Springs Ski Area is roughly 1,400 acres large and has been closed this season due to safety concerns over snowmobiles in the parking lot. issue of snowmobiles from time to time over the years. “We sought to try to come up with different parking arrangements that would meet everyone’s needs,” Randall said. There is a condition that would allow the Forest Service to revoke Murray’s permit if he were to essentially abandon Spout Springs. But Randall said they intend to work with him and figure out a solution together. “We want to see Mr. Murray success- fully operate that ski area,” Randall said. “That’s where our energies are being diverted.” Joani Bosworth, spokeswoman for the Umatilla National Forest, said Masters, the forest supervisor, is arranging to meet with Murray some- time in the next few weeks. Murray, who also runs a dry dock in Portland, has been trying to sell Spout Springs for the last two seasons. The resort is listed for $1.25 million. ——— Contact George Plaven at gplaven@ eastoregonian.com or 541-966-0825. BRIEFLY M-F cop seeks deal through settlement MILTON-FREEWATER — The Milton-Freewater police officer charged with assaulting a handcuffed suspect is considering settling the case. Brian David Scott, 37, had a hearing Wednesday in Pendleton before Circuit Judge Christopher Brauer. Defense attorney Sean Riddell of Portland and Scott called in. Riddell said he submitted a mitigation and settlement letter to the Umatilla County District Attorney’s Office and needs more time to have a settlement conference. District Attorney Dan Primus said the state also is inclined to go that route. “I think this is a compli- cated matter and one that would be best for a settlement conference,” Primus said. Primus asked the court to set it six weeks from now. Brauer said his clerk would get back to the attorneys with possible dates. Scott pleaded not guilty to charges of second-degree assault, unlawful use of a weapon and first-degree offi- cial misconduct. The charges stem from his Sept. 26, 2016, arrest of Jeffery Allen Fields, 46, of Milton-Freewater. IMAC serves Saturday breakfast IRRIGON — The Irrigon Multicultural Arts Center is hosting its monthly breakfast this weekend. For a hearty home- cooked meal, head to the fundraiser Saturday from 7:30-10:30 a.m. at Stokes Landing Senior Center, 195 N.W. Opal Place, Irrigon. The cost is $4.50 per person. The group of volunteers hope to preserve Irrigon’s 1921 school building and create a regional arts center. For more information, call Peggy at 541-567-3806. OHSU professor to discuss health care in rural areas PENDLETON — The topic of the upcoming AAUW meeting is health disparities for women living in rural areas. Cynthia Perry, Family Nurse Practitioner Program director and professor at the Oregon Health & Science University School of Nursing, is the special speaker. The public is invited to the no-host gathering Saturday, Feb. 4 at 11 a.m. at The Prodigal Son Brewery & Pub, 230 S.E. Court Ave., Pendleton. The American Association of University Women works to advance equity for women and girls through advocacy, education, philanthropy and research. For more about the Pendleton affiliate, contact Kathy Chaney at cecil296@ aol.com or 541-379-9997. or voice graduating spring 2017 from an Oregon high school and continuing their collegiate/university academics as a major or minor in music at any college or university in the country. Any questions may be emailed to info@omhof. org, or visit www.omhof.org where an online version of the application is available. All items must be mailed together, in order to qualify, to Oregon Music Hall of Fame, P.O. Box 82173, Portland, OR 97282. The Arc seeks Music scholarships vendors for sale HERMISTON — An available indoor yard sale provides an PORTLAND — Applications for Oregon Music Hall of Fame college scholarships are available again and the application deadline is Feb. 14, 2017. The scholarships rose this year from $1,000 each to $2,500 each, with a total of four scholarships available for 2017. Each applicant should be a student studying music with the talent of instrument opportunity for people to stay warm while shopping and support The Arc Umatilla County. People can purchase table space for $10 each to sell items during the event. The Indoor Yard Sale is Saturday, Feb. 18 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at The Arc Building, 215 W. Orchard Ave., Hermiston. For more information, call the office at 541-567-7615 or Jan Schroth at 541-567-6172. COMMUNITY CALENDAR FRIDAY, JAN. 27 PENDLETON DELPHIAN CLUB, 1:30 p.m., Vert Club Room, 345 S.W. Fourth St., Pendleton. PENDLETON MASTERS SWIM CLUB, 5-6 p.m., Roundup Athletic Club pool, 1415 South- gate, Pendleton. $5 per session coaching fee; non-RAC members pay $8 pool fee per session. (Ta- nia Wildbill 541-310-9102) PENDLETON EAGLES LA- DIES AUXILIARY KITCHEN, 6-8 p.m., Pendleton Eagles Lodge, 428 S. Main St., Pendleton. (541- 278-2828) SATURDAY, JAN. 28 MEN’S BREAKFAST, 8 a.m., Bethel Assembly of God Church, 1109 Airport Road, Pendleton. (541-276-7559) UMATILLA COUNTY POMO- NA GRANGE, 12:30 p.m., Colum- bia Grange Hall, 32339 Diagonal Road, Hermiston. Lunch will be followed by a meeting. (Tom or Doris 541-567-9742 or 541-567- 8663) PENDLETON EAGLES STEAK AND LIVE MUSIC, 6-11:30 p.m., Pendleton Eagles Lodge, 428 S. Main St., Pendle- ton. Dinner from 6-8 p.m., music from 8 p.m. to midnight. Members and guests welcome. (541-278- 2828) ly-August or Christmas-New Year. (RaNiel Dunn 541-289-4696) SUNDAY, JAN. 29 TUESDAY, JAN. 31 PENDLETON EAGLES BREAKFAST, 9 a.m.-12 p.m., Pendleton Eagles Lodge, 428 S. Main St., Pendleton. Open to members and guests. (541-278- 2828) PENDLETON TOASTMAS- TERS NO. 154, 6:30 a.m., Pend- leton City Hall community room, 501 S.W. Emigrant Ave., Pendle- ton. TOPS CHAPTER OR 1110, 8 a.m., Missionary Baptist Church, 125 E. Beech St., Hermiston. 8 a.m. weigh-in followed by meeting at 8:45 a.m. (Margaret Wetterling 541-720-0276) GREENFIELD GRANGE PI- NOCHLE, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Green- MONDAY, JAN. 30 IRRIGON MOOSE LODGE TACOS AND BINGO, 6-9 p.m., Irrigon Moose Lodge, 220 N.E. Third St., Irrigon. Tacos from 6-9 p.m., bingo from 6:30-9 p.m. Open to members and guests. (541-922- 1802) OREGON EAST SYMPHONY CHORALE REHEARSAL, 7 p.m., Pendleton High School music de- partment, 1800 N.W. Carden Ave., Pendleton. The OES Chorale will rehearse for the March 11, 2017 concert of Ola Gjeilo’s “Sunrise Mass.” Call the OES office to re- ceive a vocal score. (J.D. Kindle 541-276-0320) INLAND NORTHWEST MU- SICIANS CHORALE REHEARS- AL, 7-9 p.m., Harris Jr. Academy gymnasium, 3121 S.W. Hailey Ave., Pendleton. No tryouts; all welcome. No rehearsals June-Ju- field Grange 579, 209 N.W. First St., Boardman. (541-481-7397) BIBLE STUDY, 10 a.m., First United Methodist Church, 352 S.E. Second St., Pendleton. (Rev. Jim Pierce 541-276-2616) “THE LIFE MODEL: LIV- ING FROM THE HEART JESUS GAVE YOU” BOOK STUDY GROUP, 1-2:30 p.m., Bowman Building, 17 S.W. Frazer Ave., Pendleton. (Pat 541-276-6671) TOPS CHAPTER OR 1169, 4-5:30 p.m., Hermiston Assembly of God Church, 730 E. Hurlburt Ave., Hermiston. Use west side door. (Janell Bailey 541-571-5744) MULTI-MEDIA SALES Great work environment. Super awesome team. Good pay. Retirement plan. Weekends off. Interested? Michael Ray Emry faces up to 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine after pleading guilty to possessing a machine gun illegally in John Day. Emry, 54, pleaded guilty Monday before U.S. District Court Judge Ann Aiken to unlawful possession of a fully automatic .50-caliber machine gun that was not registered to him, according to a press release from the U.S. Department of Emry Justice. After accepting the guilty plea, Aiken sched- uled Emry’s sentencing hearing for April 3. Emry faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, a $10,000 fine and three years of supervised release. According to court documents and statements made in court, on May 6, 2016, federal agents executed a search warrant on Emry’s trailer at the Grant County Fairgrounds and RV Park in John Day and recovered a Browning M2 machine gun with an obliterated serial number. Emry told agents that the firearm was fully automatic and could fire between 550 and 650 rounds per minute, that he had stolen it from a man in Idaho and that he had removed the serial number prior to bringing it to Oregon. Prosecutors said Emry was also in negotiations to sell the machine gun in Oregon to a person he had been told was a felon and the captain of a Texas militia group, who was actually an undercover law enforcement officer. They said Emry also possessed a belt of blank .50-caliber shells for the gun and the blasting cap, which is a detonator for a bomb. They also mentioned Emry’s testimony from a 2004 case in which Emry admitted to ille- gally making a bomb out of C-4 and a silencer for a drug dealer but cooperated as a witness to avoid prison and that he illegally made 66 machine guns for a friend. “A man with a history of making a bomb and silencer for a drug dealer to kill witnesses, and manufacturing 66 machine guns for another person in preparation for a civil revolt — who then brings a .50 caliber machine gun to our state during a time of unrest and then negotiates to sell it to someone purporting to be a felon and the captain of a militia — poses a serious danger to the community,” prosecutors said. According to an article on The Voice of Idaho News website, Emry was the proprietor of that organiza- tion, as well as The Voice of North Idaho and The Voice of Grant County, Oregon. The case was investi- gated by the FBI in close collaboration with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and is being prosecuted by Nathan J. Lichvarcik, assis- tant United States attorney for the District of Oregon. PENDLETON School board to review superintendent again follow-up to a closed-door meeting the board held in For the third time since November to offer input on he started his job in July, his performance. The board also held the Pendleton School Board will meet behind another executive session on Jan. 17 to closed doors with discuss the results Superintendent of a survey where Andy Kovach to Kovach gathered discuss his job input about his performance. performance The board from 20 district called for a employees he special meeting works closely Monday, which with. McBee will be almost said Kovach entirely held in will provide an executive session, Kovach updated version which is closed to of the survey in March, the general public. Although the board is which the board will discuss convening the executive in executive session. The standard year-end session “to review and eval- uate the employment-rated superintendent evaluation performance of the chief will most likely be held in executive officer,” an allow- May, McBee said, and will ance prescribed in Oregon feature a more expansive state statute, board chair- survey with comments woman Debbie McBee said from staff and community the meetings were to offer members. Previously the principal the first-time superintendent as much input as possible of Ontario High School, Kovach currently earns during his first year. McBee said Monday’s $127,500 per year as a part meeting would be a of a three-year contract. East Oregonian OREGON HUNTERS ASSOCIATION HUNTER’S RIGHTS • HUNTABLE WILDLIFE • HABITAT Chris McClellan, Multi-Media Sales Consultant Send resume and letter of interest to EO Media Group PO Box 2048 Salem, OR 97308-2048 by fax to 503-371-2935 or e-mail hr@eomediagroup.com East Oregonian has an opening for multi-media sales. No multi-media experience? That’s fine, as long as you understand the importance of customer service, working hard and a desire to enjoy your job. Could this be you? Base wage plus commissions, benefits and mileage reimbursement. Benefits include Paid Time Off (PTO), insurances and a 401(k)/Roth 401(k) retirement plan. Banquet, Raffl e & Auction Featuring An All State ELK Tag Sponsored by the Access and Habitat Program February 11th • 5:00 pm at the Pendleton Convention Center Raffl e & Auction Items including a D&B Treasure Chest & M2D Properties Youth Hunt To Register Call Rebecca 541-379-1074 or Terry 541-231-4384 MONEY RAISED BY OUR BANQUET STAYS IN OREGON! Columbia Basin Chapter supported the following events and many others: • Youth Bow Hunt • Coyote Predation Management • OHA/ODFW Pheasant Hunt and Skeet Shoot
