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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (April 18, 2017)
REGION Tuesday, April 18, 2017 BRIEFLY New carpet will close library for two weeks PENDLETON — The Pendleton Public Library will be closed for two weeks in May while the city installs new carpet. The library will be closed from May 6 to May 19, according to a post on the library’s Facebook page. Due dates that fall within those two weeks will be extended to May 22. Although the library prefers books to be returned before or after the closure, it will still accept books at the outside return drop, which will be emptied daily. The Pendleton City Council is set to approve a $49,994 bid from Soft-Step Interiors to provide the new carpeting, the last new carpet having been installed in 1996. According to a report from facilities manager Glenn Graham, the new carpet will solve the safety hazard problems caused by curling and bulging in the carpet. The new carpet is composed of 24 inches by 24 inches commercial carpet squares that will allow for easy replacement of damaged sections by maintenance staff. Umatilla County budget under review this week PENDLETON — Umatilla County’s budget gets the once-over this week. The county’s budget committee holds public meetings to review and discuss the budget starting Wednesday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., in room 130 at the county courthouse, 416 S.E. Fourth St., Pendleton. County Commissioner George Murdock, who oversees the county budget process, said in a written statement the county cut total employees from 317 to 307 to help cover a $1.7 million shortfall and produce a balanced budget. The committee will consider an overall budget proposal of about $74 million with almost $28.5 million for discretionary general fund spending. Murdock said the county lost half a million dollars from the general fund to cover retired employees, and next year’s budget faces a similar hit. While the committee can make changes to the county budget, Murdock said the plan the group sees this week matches revenue and expenditures. The budget committee plans to meet through Thursday afternoon but could adjourn earlier or go into Friday, depending on how swift the review is. City announces budget meetings PENDLETON — The city of Pendleton will release its 2017-2018 budget proposal this week and begin TWO HOURS every morning paid off my credit card debt. Become an East Oregonian Carrier. 211 SE Byers Ave. Pendleton or call: 541-276-2211 1-800-522-0255 formally discussing it next week. The city notice announced that the proposal can be viewed in person at city hall or online at the city website beginning Wednesday. The budget committee will start meeting to delib- erate the budget and accept public comment on April 27 at 6 p.m. If necessary, the committee will also meet on May 2, May 4 and May 5 at 7 a.m. The committee will also discuss the budget proposal for the Pendleton Devel- opment Commission, the governing body that oversees the urban renewal district. The budget document will be publicly available Friday and will be discussed May 4 at 7 a.m. All budget meetings will be held at the Vert Little Theater in the Pendleton City Hall complex, which can be accessed from Southwest Fourth Street. The budget committee is composed of the mayor and the members of the Pendleton City Council in addition to nine community members. Although the committee will discuss the budgets and make a recommendation to the city council, the council has final approval over the budget. The new fiscal year starts July 1. WW.Friends meet for food, fellowship PENDLETON — All area widows and widowers are invited to a Tostada Feed. WW.Friends will meet Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. at 511 N.W. Despain Ave., Pendleton. There is no admission charge. The group meets each month for friendship and to share positive experiences. It’s not a grief support group. For more information, call 541-276-4708 or 541-969-2450. East Oregonian Page 3A UMATILLA Memories of fallen airman Austin Bieren shared at service By JAYATI RAMAKRISHNAN East Oregonian Sergeant Austin Bieren was honored Saturday at a memorial service at Umatilla High School, the school where he graduated seven years ago. Bieren, 25, an airman for the U.S. Air Force, died March 28 in Syria, in a non-combat related incident of natural causes. He was there as part of Operation Inherent Resolve against the terrorist group ISIS. According to Rose Gudex, a public affairs officer with the Petersen Air Force Base where Bieren was stationed, Bieren collapsed while exercising, and was given immediate medical care but died before he could be medically evac- uated. Saturday’s service was packed with Bieren’s family and friends, some of whom got up at the end of the service to share memories about him. Tracy Finck, Bieren’s mother, recalled her close relationship with her son. “Austin and I talked all the time,” she said. “If he was down, I’d send him quotes. I just wanted to make sure he was happy.” Finck read out a list of the medals and honors her son received during his service, and spoke about how proud he was to serve in the mili- tary. “He was an amazing young man,” she said. “He always put his best foot forward. I can’t be prouder of who he was or who he became.” Mike Mosher, Bieren’s high school football coach, spoke about his former Staff photo by Jayati Ramakrishnan Two servicemen, carrying a flag and the ashes of Sgt. Austin Bieren, lead Bieren’s family into the Umatilla High School gym for his memorial service Saturday. “He said he wanted to be part of something greater than himself, something elite. That’s who he was.” — Mike Mosher, Bieren’s high school football coach student and friend’s compet- itive nature and mischievous personality. “As you got to know him, he opened up,” Mosher said. “And once he trusted you, he’d do anything for you — but you had to earn his trust.” Mosher said Bieren had considered playing college football, but recalled when he told his coach that he’d changed his mind. “He said he wanted to be part of something greater than himself, something Bieren elite,” Mosher said. “That’s who he was.” Bieren’s grandmother also spoke at the service, noting that the last time she spoke to her grandson, he asked her to pray for him. “If I live to be 100, nothing will ever make me happier than that,” she said. Other family members and friends spoke about fun times they’d had with Bieren, and most mentioned his penchant for mischief when he was younger. One friend that grew up with Bieren recalled with a laugh the time they torched a bale of hay with fireworks — but all noted how respon- sible Bieren grew up to be. “I got to see a trouble- maker turn into a hero, and I couldn’t ask for a better friend,” she said. Bieren’s family also put together a slide show, which showcased Bieren’s happy times. The slide show highlighted Bieren’s love of sports, his adoration of his nephew Jaren, whom his mother called “his pride and joy,” and his love for his wife, Rachel. At the end of the cere- mony, Cameron Smith, director of the Oregon Department of Veteran’s Affairs, presented Bieren’s mother, his wife, his sister Brianne and his father John with flags to honor Bieren.