REGION
Friday, May 12, 2017
East Oregonian
Page 3A
TRCI, three other Oregon prisons
accused of serving sub-standard food
By MAXINE BERNSTEIN
The Oregonian/Oregonlive
A class action lawsuit on
behalf of former and current
inmates at four state prisons
alleges that Oregon’s Depart-
ment of Corrections fed them
chicken and fish marked “not
for human consumption.”
The lawsuit accuses the
Corrections Department of
civil rights violations and
“deliberate indifference to
health and safety.” It seeks
to compel state prisons to
provide adequate nutrition
and sanitary food handling.
The prisons cited in the
suit are Two Rivers Correc-
tional Institution in Umatilla,
Columbia River Correctional
Institution in Portland, the
Oregon State Penitentiary
in Salem and Coffee Creek
Correctional Facility in
Wilsonville.
Before state health inspec-
tions, prison officials would
direct inmates to clean up
kitchens and remove “not
for human consumption’’
food and move green meat
and moldy, spoiled food
to
mobile
refrigerators
and freezer trucks, only to
return the spoiled food to
the kitchen after inspection,
attorney Leonard Berman
wrote in a suit filed in U.S.
District Court in Portland on
Tuesday.
Bridgette Lewis, an inmate
at Coffee Creek in July 2013,
worked in warehousing in
Photo contributed by Umatilla County Sheriff’s Office
Jeffrey Ryan Kelsay has been reported missing in the
Blue Mountains east of Pendleton.
Search for Portland
man last seen in
Pendleton area
EO file photo
Inmates at four state prisons, including Two Rivers in Umatilla, have filed a class ac-
tion lawsuit accusing the prisons of serving sub-standard food.
the kitchen of the women’s
prison and witnessed the
delivery of food marked “not
for human consumption’’
being prepared and served to
her and fellow inmates, the
suit said.
She was ordered to serve
the “substandard food over
her objections,’’ according to
the suit.
Another former Coffee
Creek inmate, Tiffanie Lewis,
said she also worked in the
kitchen in early 2015 and saw
“not for human consumption”
bait fish and spoiled milk,
meats and produce served to
inmates. In stark contrast, she
prepared “prime beef roasts’’
for prison staff, the suit says.
The inmates were often
nauseated during and after
meals and suffered stomach
and intestinal pain and
discomfort, the suit says.
The suit seeks unspecified
economic and noneconomic
damages, including punitive
damages.
Betty Bernt, spokes-
woman for the corrections
department, said the agency
doesn’t comment on pending
litigation.
In 2009, an East Coast
food broker who was selling
imperfect sausages and other
surplus foods to Oregon
prisons was convicted of
bribery and tax fraud. He had
been bribing the state prison
food services administrator
at the time to get the sales
and was sentenced to three
months in prison. The former
food services administrator,
Farhad “Fred” Monem, fled
to his native Iran while facing
federal indictment, accused
of taking $1.2 million in
bribes while on the job over-
seeing Oregon’s prison food
program.
HERMISTON
Blue ribbons available for Law Enforcement Appreciation Week
East Oregonian
Next week, citizens are
encouraged to give a little
extra thought to the people
that keep them safe, with
National Law Enforcement
Appreciation week.
“It’s an emphasis on
just saying ‘thank you’ to
law enforcement at the city,
county, state and even federal
level,” said Terry Cummings,
chaplain for the Hermiston
Police Department.
Blue ribbons are available
at several locations around
Hermiston, and members of
the community can tie them to
the antenna or rearview mirror
of their car, so that police
officers will see them when
they’re out driving.
The ribbons are printed
with the word “COPS,”
for “Concerns of Police
Survivors,” an organization
dedicated to supporting
police officers and colleagues
affected by deaths in the line
of duty. The ribbons are free
and are furnished by this
File photo
The Concerns of Police Survivors organization created
these ribbons for people to display on their vehicles
to support police offers during National Law Enforce-
ment Appreciation Week, May 14-20.
organization.
The idea began in 1962,
when President John F.
Kennedy declared May 15
as National Peace Officers’
Day. Congress later changed
it so the entire week of May
14-20 became National Law
Enforcement Appreciation
Week.
Cummings said so far,
1,700 ribbons have been
distributed, and the week isn’t
even here yet.
But saying “thank you”
doesn’t have to be with a
ribbon.
“A card, an email, some-
thing that says ‘you’re appre-
ciated,’” Cummings said. “In
today’s very critical culture of
law enforcement, they need
all the support they can get.”
He noted that Hermiston’s
relationship with its law
enforcement seems to have
remained fairly positive.
“I’m so grateful for that,”
he said.
He attributed the Herm-
iston Police Department’s
image to the quality of
service, and to the connection
officers have with community
members.
“(The public) sees them as
real people,” he said. “They
coach sports teams, they’re
invested in the community in
different ways.”
Nevertheless, he said, even
these officers can use a boost.
“Last year, from a couple
of grade school classes, every
kid made a card,” he said.
“I think every person in the
department read every card. It
means so much to them.”
Ribbons are available in
Hermiston at Ace Hardware,
Banner Bank, BiMart, the
Chamber of Commerce, city
hall, Hermiston Drug and the
Hermiston Police Department.
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
FRIDAY, MAY 12
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. St.
Patrick’s Day feast includes
corned beef, cabbage, sides and
dessert for $10 per person.Mem-
bers and guests welcome. (541-
278-2828)
SATURDAY, MAY 13
MEN’S BREAKFAST, 8 a.m.,
Bethel Assembly of God Church,
1109 Airport Road, Pendleton.
(541-276-7559)
FRIENDS OF THE UMATIL-
LA PUBLIC LIBRARY, 9 a.m.,
Umatilla City Hall, 700 Sixth St.,
Umatilla. (541-922-5704)
EASTERN OREGON CELTIC
SOCIETY PIPERS GATHERING,
1 p.m., The Old Meeting House,
901 M Ave., La Grande. For pip-
ers of all skill levels. Instruction is
free, but a $2 donation for use of
the building is appreciated. (541-
568-4643)
BLACK
INTERNATIONAL
AWARENESS CLUB, 2 p.m.,
Starbucks, 1235 N. First St.,
Hermiston. Practicing the wisdom
of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in the
community, including all cultures
and races. Everyone welcome.
(John Cubbage 817-795-6161)
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)
SUNDAY, MAY 14
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)
MONDAY, MAY 15
BOARDMAN QUILT GROUP,
9 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Boardman
Senior Center, 100 Tatone St.,
Boardman. Quilt construction,
quilting updates, education, his-
tory and friendship. Free. (Kathy
Hyder 541-571-7009)
BLUE MOUNTAIN PIECE-
MAKERS, 12 p.m., Thimbles
Fabric N More, 1819 Westgate
Place, Pendleton.
PENDLETON
ROTARY
CLUB, 12 p.m., Pendleton Elks
Lodge, 14 S.E. Third St., Pend-
leton.
DIRT DABBLERS GARDEN
CLUB, 1 p.m., Vert Club Room,
345 S.W. Fourth St., Pendleton.
Visitors welcome.
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 TRAIL GEM &
MINERAL SOCIETY, 6 p.m.,
Pendleton City Hall community
room, 501 S.W. Emigrant Ave.,
Pendleton. (Tom Moon 541-278-
9702)
BLOOMER GIRLS GARDEN
CLUB, 6:30 p.m., location varies,
location varies, Hermiston. (Bar-
bara Chadwick 541-567-2043)
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-
ly-August or Christmas-New Year.
(RaNiel Dunn 541-289-4696)
TUESDAY, MAY 16
PENDLETON TOASTMAS-
TERS NO. 154, 6:30 a.m., Pend-
leton City Hall community room,
501 S.W. Emigrant Ave., Pend-
leton.
TOPS CHAPTER OR 1110, 8
a.m., Missionary Baptist Church,
125 E. Beech St., Hermiston. 8
a.m. weigh-in followed by meet-
ing at 8:45 a.m. (Margaret Wet-
terling 541-720-0276)
GREENFIELD GRANGE PI-
NOCHLE, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Green-
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)
GREATER
HERMISTON
AREA REPUBLICAN WOM-
EN’S CLUB, 11:30 a.m., Desert
Lanes Bowling Alley, 1545 N.
Main St., Hermiston. No-host
lunch. All women welcome. (541-
567-0006)
“THE LIFE MODEL: LIVING
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)
WESTON-MCEWEN
LI-
ONS CLUB, 1 p.m., Doubletree
Restaurant, 327 E. Main St, Athe-
na. (Ellyn 541-566-3987)
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)
STUDYING THE MIRACLES
OF JESUS, 4-6 p.m., Good Sa-
maritan Ministries, 319 W. Locust
Ave., Hermiston. (541-564-1041)
STARBOTTLE SKI CLUB, 6
p.m., location varies, location var-
ies, Pendleton. No-host dinner,
rotating restaurants. New mem-
bers welcome. (Ray Cable 541-
969-7759)
AWANA, 6:30-8 p.m., Pend-
leton Baptist Church, 3202 S.W.
Nye Ave., Pendleton. For children
age 3 through sixth grade. (541-
276-7590)
A SHARP PLAYERS OR-
CHESTRA REHEARSAL, 6:30-
8:30 p.m., Pendleton High School
band room, 1800 N.W. Carden
Ave., Pendleton. Intermediate or-
chestra for players of any instru-
ment. (JD Kindle 541-276-0320)
PRELUDES ORCHESTRA
REHEARSAL, 6:30 p.m., Blue
Mountain Community College
McRae Activity Center, 2411 N.W.
Carden Ave., Pendleton. For
beginning strings players of all
ages. (JD Kindle 541-276-0320)
HEPPNER BOOK CLUB,
7 p.m., Heppner Public Library,
444 N. Main St., Heppner. Watch
a TED Talks video and read the
corresponding book, then discuss
at the next meeting. Copies will
be available to check out. Every-
one welcome. (Kathy Street 541-
481-3365)
ODD FELLOWS EUREKA
LODGE NO. 32, 7 p.m., IOOF
Hall, 19 S.W. Dorion Ave., Pend-
leton. (Gladys Biggerstaff 541-
276-4417)
UMATILLA COUNTY EX-
PERIMENTAL AIRCRAFT AS-
SOCIATION, 7 p.m., Pendleton
Airport main hanger, 2016 Air-
port Road, Pendleton. (541-276-
1908)
HERMISTON
MASONIC
LODGE NO. 138 AF & AM, 7:30
p.m., Hermiston Masonic Lodge,
200 W. Orchard Ave., Hermiston.
PENDLETON — The
Umatilla County Sheriff’s
Office is looking for a
missing Portland man last
seen Tuesday walking
along Interstate 84 in the
Blue Mountains.
Jeffrey Ryan Kelsay, 30,
was headed to Baker City,
according to a press release
from the sheriff’s office,
when his car apparently
ran out of gas at milepost
235.
He was last seen at
about 3:30 p.m. Tuesday by
an Oregon Department of
Transportation employee,
and Kelsay contacted
his father about an hour
later and told him he was
walking toward Pendleton.
The county’s search and
rescue team responded to
the location Wednesday on
the missing person report
and found his vehicle but
no sign of Kelsay. They
stopped the search, which
included the department’s
drone, at 2:45 a.m.
Thursday and resumed it
at 5:40 a.m. Union and
Walla Walla counties are
assisting in the search.
“It is unknown if Mr.
Kelsay made it into either
Pendleton or La Grande at
this point,” Sheriff Terry
Rowan said in the release
Thursday morning, “So we
are asking law enforcement
to be on the look out.”
Kelsay
is
5-feet,
11-inches tall, weighs 175
pounds and has black hair
and hazel eyes.
The Sheriff’s Office
Search and Rescue will
continue to search the area.
Anyone with information
is asked to call the sheriff’s
office non-emergency line
at 541-966-3651.
BRIEFLY
Rocky Heights
carnival on Friday
HERMISTON —
Rocky Heights Elementary
School will hold its
biannual carnival from 5 to
8 p.m. Friday. The festival
is open to the public and
will have activities such
as a dunk tank, Hungry
Hungry Hippo, bingo, a
volleyball challenge and
bouncy house.
Individuals can
purchase an entry bracelet
for $5 or $20 for a family.
That fee will apply to all
activities except the dunk
tank.
Rocky Heights
Elementary School is at
650 W. Standard Ave.,
Hermiston.
City taking
transient room tax
grant applications
HERMISTON — The
city of Hermiston is taking
applications for transient
room tax grants.
The money can go to
any registered 501(c)3
nonprofit for a project
in Hermiston that will
benefit the community
through enhanced tourism,
marketing or lodging.
For the 2016-2017
cycle the grant committee
awarded $26,000 to nine
different projects. The
funds represent roughly
9 percent of the revenue
from the transient room
tax placed on hotel rooms
in the city.
Application materials
can be picked up and
dropped off at city hall,
180 N.E. Second St., and
must be returned by 4
p.m. on Friday, June 2.
Applicants will be invited
to give a five-minute
presentation to the grant
committee on June 21.
Seat belt safety
blitz starts Monday
PENDLETON — The
Umatilla County Sheriff’s
Office and other law
enforcement agencies will
participate in extra patrols
to enforce seat belt laws.
The seat belt safety
blitz runs Monday
through Sunday, May 28,
according to the written
announcement from
the sheriff’s office. The
Oregon Department of
Transportation funds the
extra patrol and operates
the two-week program
in conjunction with the
National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration’s
annual “Click It or Ticket”
campaign.
Oregon law requires
all occupants to use safety
restraints and children
weighing less than 40
pounds to use a child seat
or harness.
The sheriff’s office
stated vehicle crashes
are the leading cause
nationwide of death for
children ages 1-12, and
vehicle occupants without a
seat belt or proper restraint
are five times more likely
to be ejected during a crash.
You can find
information on seat belt
safety at www.oregon.gov/
ODOT/TS/safetybelts.
shtml.
———
Briefs are compiled
from staff and wire reports,
and press releases. Email
press releases to news@
eastoregonian.com