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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (May 16, 2017)
REGION Tuesday, May 16, 2017 East Oregonian Page 3A PENDLETON PENDLETON Car show cruises on, despite rain Teenagers urged to attend wellness night Event raises $7,000 for BMCC diesel tech scholarships By KATHY ANEY East Oregonian By GEORGE PLAVEN East Oregonian The bitter rivalry between Ford and Chevrolet was on playful display Saturday during the fifth annual Blue Mountain Community College Cruisin’ for Schol- arships Car Show, as Don Peck and Jim Smootz traded lighthearted barbs about each other’s snazzy rides. Peck, who showed off his high-performance 2011 Chevy SS Camaro, ribbed Smootz as they sat together on the BMCC central lawn for being a “Ford guy.” Smootz retorted that he wouldn’t trade his 1929 Ford Model A Cabriolet for three Camaros. “This car would run circles around that car,” Smootz said with a grin. Bragging rights were on the line for classic car owners at Cruisin’ for Scholarships, which featured about 60 vehicles from across Eastern Oregon and Washington. Members of the public voted for their favorites across 24 categories, including best of show, people’s choice, best convertible, best truck, best paint job, best hot rod and more. Proceeds from the show go toward scholarships for students in BMCC’s Diesel Technology program, covering expenses like books, tools, tuition and living expenses. Instructor Jeremy Pike said these schol- arships are an important lifeline for students who might not otherwise be able to stay in school. “If there are students who Staff photo by George Plaven Jim Smootz, of Pendleton, showed his 1929 Ford Model A Cabriolet on Saturday at the Blue Mountain Community College Cruisin’ for Scholarships Car Show. “It’s just fun. You might call it a sport that old peo- ple don’t have to work too hard at.” — Don Peck, of Pendleton have a passion for this and just don’t have the funding for it, this is always available for them,” Pike said, adding that 85 percent of Diesel Technology graduates go on to find employment after completing the two-year program. Along with registration fees for the car show, Cruisin’ for Scholarships raises money through raffle ticket sales, donations and sponsorships from local businesses. The Pendleton Lions Club has also attended every year to volunteer and serve refreshments. “This is a fun project for us,” said John Taylor, past president and board member of the Lions Club. “We look forward to it every year.” Peck, who lives in Pendleton and is retired, said he loves to work on cars. He bought the Camaro two years ago from a BMW dealership in the Tri-Cities and also owns three other cars, two motorcycles and three 4-wheelers. “It’s just fun,” he said. “You might call it a sport that old people don’t have to work too hard at.” Smootz agreed, saying that cars give him some- thing to do and something to tinker with. Like Peck, Smootz is retired and now heads up the Blue Mountain A’s Model A Ford Club. He said he enjoys taking the Model A Cabriolet for a spin around town, where he gets waves and cheers from people who see him drive past. Ian Shadle, car show coordinator with the BMCC Foundation, said the event raised approximately $7,000 as of Saturday morning, and expected another several thousand dollars by the end of the day. Rain showers likely kept more people from attending Saturday, he said, but all things considered he was happy with the turnout. “Even in the rain, they’re willing to bring their pris- tine cars out here to support student scholarships,” Shadle said. ——— Contact George Plaven at gplaven@eastoregonian. com or 541-966-0825. BRIEFLY into a vehicle, first-degree burglary, second-degree robbery, fourth-degree assault, and harassment (offensive physical contact). Pendleton man killed in Wasco County crash SHANIKO — A Pend- leton man died when the car he was riding in crashed during a hail storm Saturday on Highway 97 in Wasco County. Shawn Campbell, 39, was one of two passengers in a Kia Optima driven by Tiarra Burnett, 40, also of Pendleton. The car was heading north near Shaniko about 5 p.m. when Burnett lost control during the inclement weather. According to Oregon State Police, the car fishtailed, struck an embankment and overturned, coming to rest on the driver’s side. The single-vehicle crash killed Campbell, who was sitting in the back seat of the vehicle. Burnett was not injured and neither was Joseph Perilli, 28, of Pendleton, who was riding in the front passenger seat, according to state police. All occupants were wearing seat belts. Sheriff’s office responded to new strip club reports UMATILLA — A Umatilla County Sheriff’s deputy responded to reports of a strip club operating illegally on North Highway 395 but was told that the gathering was a private party. The county’s planning department had received complaints about the same address at 82090 Highway 395 North in February alleging that it was being used as a strip club despite not having the proper land use permit and licenses to do so. Activity at the building ceased for a time after code enforcement sent a warning, but Sheriff Terry Rowan said on Saturday night a deputy visited the building after a caller alleged that the strip club had resumed activity. Rowan said the deputy was told the gathering was a private party, and after observing the small number of people present and only three cars in the parking lot, the deputy left. Planning director Tamra Mabbott said the sheriff’s McNary Dam to host kids fishing derby Saturday Photo courtesy Oregon State Police A hail storm contributed to a car crash that killed Shawn Campbell of Pendleton on Saturday near Shaniko. office passed the report on to her department and code enforcement would be following up. She confirmed that there are still no existing permits for the property to be used as a strip club, juice bar or other similar business. Assistant watermaster hired in Pendleton PENDLETON — The Oregon Water Resources Department has hired Kate Fitzgerald as regional assistant watermaster for the Umatilla, John Day and Hood River basins, where she will be responsible for regulating water rights and collecting hydrological data from local streams. Fitzgerald previously worked as a flow restoration technician with OWRD in Salem, assisting the public with in-stream leasing and transfers. She has a degree in natural resources from Oregon State University, where she focused on natural resource manage- ment and agroforestry land management. Fitzgerald assumed her new duties April 25, working out of the agency’s Pendleton office located at 116 S.E. Dorion Ave. She can be reached at 541-278- 5456. British Columbia, parked their motor home at the Stanfield Rest Area on the eastbound side of Interstate 84. State police reported Victor Joseph Rivera, 57, entered the recreational vehicle at about 3 p.m. and confronted the couple, telling them he had a gun and wanted the keys. Rivera punched and kicked the man, according to state police, left the motor home and opened the door of the car parked next to it. He told the occupant he had a gun and kicked him out. But the occupant tackled Rivera and held him until state police trooper Earl Connell arrived and hauled Rivera to the Umatilla County Jail, Pendleton. He faces charges of unauthorized use of a vehicle, unauthorized entry UMATILLA — McNary Dam will host a free kids fishing derby Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon, co-sponsored by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife. Children ages 12 and younger are invited to participate at the Fountain and Experimental ponds, located within the McNary Wildlife Nature Area. ODFW will provide stocked rainbow trout, and prizes will be awarded for catching tagged fish. The ponds will be opened to the general public after the kids derby ends. To get to the ponds, travel one mile east of Umatilla and turn north on McNary Dam road. Follow the road down to Columbia River mile 292, on the south riverbank. For more information, call McNary Dam park rangers at 541-922-2268. ——— Briefs are compiled from staff and wire reports, and press releases. Email press releases to news@ eastoregonian.com Wyoming sex offender faces 30 local charges and brought to Oregon on a warrant. He appeared Monday A Wyoming convict faces 30 counts of commit- in Umatilla County Circuit ting sex crimes against two Court, Pendleton, via video girls younger than 12 in from the jail. His attorney, Jody Vaughan of Pend- Umatilla County. A grand jury in January leton, told Circuit Judge Jon Lieuallen she 2016 indicted filed a waiver to Kenneth Eugene her client’s right Christopher, 48, to a speedy trial. on the following: Vaughan said four counts of the she needed first-degree sufficient time to rape; five counts investigate the of first-degree case due to the sexual abuse; four number and age counts of first-de- of the allega- gree sodomy; tions. Lieuallen eight counts of Christopher set a pre-trial second-degree sexual abuse; and nine hearing for June 30. Vaughan also said counts of third-degree sexual abuse. The state Christopher was serving a alleges he committed the “substantial sentence” in crimes in 2009 and 2010. Wyoming. An online search He has been in the Umatilla of court records showed he County Jail, Pendleton, pleaded guilty in 2016 in since May 3, and has Wyoming to two counts of pleaded not guilty to the first-degree sexual abuse of a charges. Court records minor and received a prison show he was in Wyoming sentence of 30-40 years. East Oregonian MD-36 Lions Club State Convention & Centennial Celebration Free Health Screenings Thursday, May 18th • 9:00AM – 3:00PM Pendleton Convention Center • 1601 Westgate, Pendleton, OR 97801 DON’T MISS THIS OPPORTUNITY TO CHECK YOUR HEALTH This event includes the following free screenings: • Vision • Glaucoma • Blood Pressure • Blood Glucose Would-be vehicle thief lands in jail STANFIELD — Oregon State Police reported the arrest of a Portland man Friday near Stanfield after he assaulted one man and tried to steal his motor home. A couple from Surrey, It’s sports physical time, but with a twist. All Umatilla County adolescents and teens, not just athletes, may attend Teen Wellness Night. The event for 6th-12th graders, taking place at Pendleton High School at Warberg Court from 7-9 p.m. on Wednesday, offers free wellness exams, along with traditional sports physicals, if desired. Students who make it to every station will receive a $10 Amazon gift card and be eligible for various drawings. Prevention and early detection is the name of the game, said Kevin Camp- bell, CEO of the Eastern Oregon Coordinated Care Organization, which funded the event with a grant. “A good, thorough well- ness exam can catch things before symptoms occur,” Campbell said. “It’s important to start keeping people well, rather than react after they get sick.” Amanda Walsborn, prevention educator from the Umatilla County Public Health Department, expects 160-or-so students to show, but that’s just an educated guess — it could be more. Around 60 volunteers (medical prac- titioners, parents, nursing students and high school students) will help with the effort, along with school and health department staff. “There is a need in our community,” she said. “We anticipate that for a lot of students, this is the only opportunity to receive this level of medical care.” Health care has become prohibitively pricey for many. “There’s a pretty big gap population of folks who don’t quite qualify for Medicaid, but have difficulty affording private insurance. The county also has a sizable undoc- umented population,” Walsborn said. Students who have insurance should bring their insurance cards. All proceeds from insurance billing will go to the student’s individual school. Walsborn said students and parents will bear no out-of- pocket expense, whether they have insurance or not. Students who attend will be evaluated for participa- tion in sports activities if they wish. Signed reports will go directly to each student’s school. The county health department is partnering with Umatilla County Human Services, Pend- leton High School, Advan- tage Dental, InterMountain Education Service District Oral Health Coalition, Pediatric Specialists of Pendleton and Pendleton Family Medicine. Public health director Jim Setzer called the event “one-stop shopping.” “The idea is to make it easy for kids to get comprehensive health care services,” he said. In the gym, teens will progress through six stations after registering. At the physical health station, local doctors will conduct a musculoskeletal exam and determine height, weight, blood pressure and pulse. At mental health (upstairs in the mezzanine), mental health providers from the Pendleton School- Based Health Center and Umatilla County Health Services will talk with students about symptoms for depression and anxiety. Immunizations, dental exams and vision screen- ings are available at other stations. Before leaving, students will turn in paper- work. For students under the age of 15, parents must be present to consent to the health care exams. Walsborn said anything discussed during the well- ness night will be kept in confidence, except sports physical information. (With 3 hour fast) 1010 NW 22nd Avenue, #144 Portland, OR 97210 (503) 413-7399 | info@olshf.org | www.olshf.org The Oregon Lions Mobile Health ScreeningsProgram will offer quick, free health screenings.Please note: individuals under 18 can receive visionscreening only. To participate in additionalscreenings, a parent or guardian must be present. *The Blood Glucose screening requires a 3 hourfast; we do not screen pregnant women for bloodglucose. No appointment necessary.
